If you or your child is applying to a South African university in 2026, you've probably heard the letters NBT thrown around - often with a hint of anxiety. The National Benchmark Tests sit alongside matric results in most university admissions decisions, and yet a lot of families still aren't sure what they are, who has to write them, or how to prepare.

This guide breaks the NBTs down in plain language. We'll cover what the tests actually are, the two types you might write, why they matter for your application, and the simplest ways to prepare.

What are the NBTs in simple terms?

The National Benchmark Tests (NBTs) are standardised tests run by the NBT Project, originally developed at the Centre for Educational Testing for Access and Placement (CETAP) at the University of Cape Town. Think of them as a snapshot of how ready a student is for the kind of reading, reasoning and problem solving that university study demands — measured on the same scale, across every applicant in the country.

They exist because a Grade 12 report on its own can't always tell a university the full story. Two students with the same matric marks often arrive at campus with very different levels of preparedness, and universities use NBT results to:

• Support admission decisions, alongside the NSC (matric) results.
• Guide placement into mainstream, extended or foundation programs.
• Identify students who may benefit from additional academic support in first year.

The short answer on who should write them: any student applying to a South African university or program that requires the NBTs. In practice, this is most Grade 12 learners (and gap-year applicants) applying to research-intensive universities. If you're unsure whether your specific program requires them, use our NBT requirement checker that will show you which NBT you are required to write.

The two types of NBTs

There are two NBT tests: the AQL (Academic and Quantitative Literacy) and the MAT (Mathematics). Both are written on the same day — the AQL in the morning and the MAT in the afternoon. Each test is 3 hours long and made up entirely of multiple-choice questions.

MAT

Mathematics

Duration

3 hours

Session

Afternoon (2pm - 5pm)

Format

Multiple choice

Questions

60

Calculator

Not allowed

What it tests

• Algebra and problem solving (equations, inequalities, patterns)
• Functions and graphs (linear, parabolas, hyperbolas, exponential, log, trig)
• Basic trigonometry and identities
• Analytic geometry and 2D/3D shapes (perimeter, area, volume)
• Data handling and logical reasoning

Who writes it

Applicants to programs with maths prerequisites — Health Sciences (e.g. MBChB), Engineering, Science, and similar degrees.

AQL

Academic & Quantitative Literacy

Duration

3 hours

Session

Morning (9am - 12pm)

Format

Multiple choice

Questions

125 to 140 (approx.)

Sections

AL + QL combined

What it tests

• Making meaning from academic texts and understanding vocabulary in context
• Identifying claims, evidence, inferences and main ideas
• Interpreting tables, graphs, charts and visual information
• Applying formulae and quantitative procedures in real contexts
• Multi-step calculations, patterns, and logical reasoning

Who writes it

Every student applying to a program that requires the NBTs — the AQL is compulsory across all NBT-required programs at South African universities.

A few practical details worth knowing. The AQL is a single exam that is split into 7 timed sub-sections or mini-tests - typically with 4 AL and 3 QL sections with 20 to 30 questions each and about 25 minutes per section. In the AQL once you complete a section, you cannot go back to it and you have to hand it in.

The MAT is only required by programs with a strong maths component. Calculators are not allowed in the MAT, but students receive a formula sheet and extra paper for rough work. NBT results are valid for three years, which means students have some flexibility on when they choose to write.

Why are the NBTs important?

For most research-intensive South African universities — including UCT, WITS, Stellenbosch and Rhodes — the NBTs carry real weight. Depending on the program, they can influence:

• Whether you're admitted at all. Some programs combine NBT scores with NSC marks to form a composite admissions score.
• Which version of the program you're admitted to. Strong NBT results typically place students into mainstream (three-year) programs; lower results may lead to placement in extended or foundation pathways that add a year of academic support.
• Access to popular, oversubscribed degrees like MBChB, Engineering, Actuarial Science, and BCom Accounting, where the NBTs are often a differentiator between applicants with similar matric marks.

It's entirely possible to have solid matric marks and still miss out on your first-choice program because of a low NBT score — and the opposite is also true. A strong NBT result can push an application over the line when NSC marks are borderline. That's what makes preparing for them seriously worth the effort.

How to prepare for the NBTs

The NBTs test skills, not memorised content, which means the best way to prepare is by doing — practising with questions that mirror the real exam, reflecting on what you got wrong, and steadily building the academic thinking the tests reward.

A simple preparation plan that works:

1. Start early. Give yourself at least a few months, not a few weeks. Skills take time to build.
2. Practise with realistic mock papers. The NBT Project doesn't publish past papers, which is why we created our own free NBT mock papers with full memos — one for the MAT and one for the AQL, modelled on the real exam format.
3. Close the gaps. After each mock, write down the topics and question types you struggled with and target those in your next session.
4. Practise under timed conditions. Both tests are three hours long — stamina and pacing matter as much as accuracy.

If you want a more structured, guided path to a strong NBT score, our NBT Prep Courses are built exactly for this. They include 1,500+ practice quiz questions designed to mimic the exam, and 30+ hours of detailed video content that covers every topic tested in both the MAT and the AQL. Students use the course to diagnose weak areas, learn the underlying concepts, and then rehearse with exam-style questions until the skills feel automatic.

The NBTs can feel intimidating before you start, but they are learnable. With a clear plan, consistent practice and the right resources, a strong score is well within reach — and it's one of the best investments a Grade 12 learner can make in their university application.