National Benchmark Tests (NBTs) – www.nbt.ac.za: NBT results, NBT test registration, NBT application 2023 NBT account number, NBT guidelines, NBT test past papers, etc…
What Are the NBTs?
The National Benchmark Tests (NBTs) are assessments for first-year applicants into higher education institutions. It was designed to measure a writer’s ability to transfer understanding of Academic Literacy, Quantitative Literacy, and Mathematics to the demands of tertiary coursework.
NBTs was commissioned by Universities in South Africa. Formerly Higher Education South Africa – HESA, with the task of assessing academic readiness of first-year university students as a supplement to secondary school reports on learning achieved in content-specific courses.
The Universities of South Africa – www.usaf.ac.za
Universities South Africa, formerly known as Higher Education South Africa (HESA), is a membership organization representing South Africa’s universities.
The new name was launched on 22 July 2015 in order to reposition the organization as a representative body of South Africa’s public universities, that aims to promote a more inclusive, responsive and equitable national system of higher education.
This event marked a new dawn for South Africa’s public universities as our leadership re-committed themselves to advancing the key mission of research, teaching, and learning and community engagement, in a consultative and transparent manner.
The NBTs assess the ability to combine aspects of prior learning in competency areas;
- Academic Literacy (AL),
- Quantitative Literacy (QL) and
- Mathematics (MAT)
Preparing for The NBTests
There are two booklets available to assist in preparing you for the tests, each of these booklets contains questions for you to practice and get a feel for what is in the tests. You may download these individually in the pdf below:
The AQL test is written by applicants to all programmes. The second test is Mathematics (MAT), which is written by applicants to programmes for which mathematics is a requirement.
Requirements for NBTs Registrations
Below are the listed terms and conditions to apply for the NBTests.
You must have your official ID booklet or foreign passport. You are required to enter your ID number and your name exactly as it appears in your ID booklet.
You will need a unique email address – i.e. – one that no one else has used to register for the NBTs. This means that each sibling in a family needs their own email address to register.
You also need to check the following before you select the date and test site:
- Your school’s calendar for sporting and social events, holidays, and exams;
- Closing dates and application deadlines at all institutions where you intend to apply;
- The language of instruction where you are applying; and
- Your transportation options to the test site.
Links to Universities
Every university has its own policies and admission requirements. Check the links below to find out application procedures, deadlines, and NBT guidelines. The NBTP provides tests in Afrikaans on select dates at many of the test sites across South Africa.
The NBTP will provide your results to any university, but only upon written request.
Payments for NBTs Registrations
Costs for the 2023 registrations cycle are as follows;
- AQL only R100
- AQL & MAT R200
- Re-mark R250
All NBT fees must be paid through EasyPay.
- see the NBT INSTRUCTIONS FOR EFT Payments
How To Register for NBTs
To register for NBTs see the step-by-step guide here,
Note that you can only choose one language; there is no option to write one test in English and the other in Afrikaans.
Learners intending to apply to universities must act responsibly. You must register, pay, and show up on time!
How to Register as A Remote Writer
A remote writer/student is someone who is unable to write at an institution that generally facilitates the national benchmark test sessions.
Usually, it is a writer who is in another country or in an area too remote to be able to make a trip of a reasonable distance to the nearest testing centre.
1. A test proctor, which is the test invigilator, needs to be appointed. This should be a person with credibility and not a friend or relative of the writer.
The responsibilities of the test proctor/invigilator are to:
- Serve as a receiver for mailed tests and not receive the tests directly from the writer/student;
- Maintain test security and confidentiality, and invigilate the test in a quiet environment;
- Ensure that the writer does not use any texts, notes or outside help;
- Personally mail the original written script(s) to the NBT Project
- Not photocopy or reproduce the tests or the student’s answers
2. Email the NBT mailbox (nbtremote@uct.ac.za) stating your request.
A response email will be sent within 2 days with the following:
- A cover letter
- A concession form requiring the applicant, proctor and test site details.
- A “Confidentiality and Non-disclosure agreement” is to be completed by the Proctor.
- An “Invigilator Responsibilities and Agreement form” is to be completed by the Proctor.
3. On application approval, confirmation letters will be sent to the applicant and the Proctor. The applicant confirmation letter has the payment details and collection/delivery address for the couriers. This form needs to be completed and returned with the proof of payment to the NBT contact person.
4. The Proctor confirmation form should be completed and returned to the NBT contact person.
5. On receipt of proof of payment, the applicant will receive his/her NBT reference number.
Please Note!
- The Writer/ Student is responsible for all payments such as proctor/invigilator, courier, venue, and test.
- Test material will only be released to couriers once all payments have been made.
- Courier companies need the Proctor’s name and address when collecting test material at the NBT office.
- The NBT reference number is required for application to most Universities/Tertiary institutions.
- It is the writer’s responsibility to stay in touch with the proctor/invigilator.
National Benchmark Tests (NBTs) dates Schedule
It is advised to write the NBTs when you are ready. However, you must also meet the closing dates and deadlines for the institutions where you are applying. Remember also that you must allow time for your NBTs to be processed, scored and the results sent to institutions.
Different institutional and faculty requirements determine the deadlines for learners to submit NBT results, which may be as early as June or July.
How to Get NBTs Results
Results are uploaded to the writers’ NBT account approximately four weeks after the writing session, by 12 noon on the date listed on the NBT Test Schedule.
To log in, your ID/Passport number, username, and the password created when you registered will be required. Have you forgotten your password? Reset here.
Performance on the National Benchmark Tests (NBTs) places your scores into one of three performance levels or benchmark categories. These are; Proficient, Intermediate, or Basic.
How Long Are My Results Valid? NBT results are valid for three years. However, Applicants should enquire with the tertiary institutions/universities to which they have applied regarding their unique admission requirements.
National Benchmark Tests (NBTs) Contact Details
- Official website – https://www.nbt.ac.za/
Telephone: 021-650 3523 and from 7 am-10 am on test weekends
Email: nbt@uct.ac.za
Meet the dedicated Help Desk?
Call them for assistance between 8 am and 4 pm during the week 0216503523