What Is the NBT (National Benchmark Test)?

The NBT consists of two tests: the Academic and Quantitative Literacy test (AQL) and the Mathematics test (MAT). They are run by CETAP at the University of Cape Town, on behalf of Universities South Africa, to measure university readiness independently of matric results.

Many learners hear "you need to write the NBT" without understanding what it actually is, who requires it, or how it differs from matric. This guide defines it precisely.

What is the NBT test?

The NBT is a standardised assessment of academic readiness for university, separate from the National Senior Certificate. It does not test the school curriculum directly — instead, it measures the underlying skills a first-year university student needs: the ability to read and reason with academic text (Academic Literacy), work with quantitative information (Quantitative Literacy), and handle mathematics at NSC level.

It exists because matric results alone do not always predict how a student will cope at university. Two learners with identical NSC marks can arrive with very different levels of preparedness, and the NBT gives universities an independent second data point.

The NBT is administered at designated test centres across South Africa on scheduled national dates. Results are reported in benchmark bands — Proficient, Intermediate or Basic — not as a pass or fail mark. Each university sets its own benchmarks for each programme, so the same NBT score can mean different things at different institutions.

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What does the NBT test measure?

The NBT assesses three domains, written as two tests:

The AQL test (Academic and Quantitative Literacy) is a single three-hour paper combining two sections. The Academic Literacy (AL) section assesses the ability to understand, evaluate and use academic text — the kind of reading and reasoning university study demands. The Quantitative Literacy (QL) section assesses the ability to reason with numbers, tables and graphs in real-world contexts. Every applicant who writes the NBT writes the AQL.

The MAT test (Mathematics) is a separate three-hour paper assessing mathematics at NSC level. It is written only by applicants to programmes that require mathematics — typically engineering, science, health sciences, commerce and related fields.

Both tests are multiple choice with four options per question and no negative marking, so a learner should answer every question. Both are calculator-free (except the AL section).

Do all universities require the NBT?

No — and this is the most common practical question, with a nuanced answer. Several major universities require or strongly recommend it, including UCT, Wits, Stellenbosch, the University of Pretoria, the University of the Free State and the University of the Western Cape, among others. Requirements are programme-specific: a university may require the NBT for health sciences and engineering but not for arts.

Other universities do not require it, or use it only for placement (deciding which support a student needs) rather than admission. So whether your child needs to write the NBT depends entirely on the university and programme they are applying to.

The practical guidance: check the specific university's admissions page for the programme your child is targeting. If they are applying to several universities and any one requires the NBT, write it — the results are shared across all universities applied to. Registering and writing early (ideally in Grade 11 or early Grade 12) is sensible, since results remain valid for two to three years.

What NBT score do you need for university?

There is no single passing score — each university and programme sets its own benchmarks, and what counts as "enough" varies. The NBT reports results in three bands: Proficient (ready for university-level study in that domain), Intermediate (likely to need some additional support), and Basic (significant additional support needed). Most competitive programmes look for Proficient in the relevant domains.

It is honest to note that many learners fall in the Intermediate band, and universities use this for placement and support decisions, not simply as a reject filter. So a Intermediate result does not necessarily mean rejection — it depends on the programme and the university's approach.

The advice: aim for Proficient, prepare properly, and check each university's published benchmarks so you know what you are targeting. The NBT is not a test you can cram for in a weekend — it measures underlying skills built over years, so the best preparation is consistent, skills-based work. See Teneo's extramurals for preparation support.

Frequently asked questions

What is the NBT? Two tests — the AQL (Academic and Quantitative Literacy, a three-hour combined paper) and the MAT (Mathematics, a separate three-hour paper) — run by CETAP at UCT for Universities South Africa. They measure academic readiness for university independently of matric results, and report in benchmark bands (Proficient, Intermediate, Basic), not as a pass or fail.

Is the NBT compulsory? Not universally — it depends on the university and programme. UCT, Wits, Stellenbosch, UP and others require it for many programmes, while some universities do not use it. Requirements are programme-specific: a university may require it for engineering but not arts. Check each programme you are applying to.

What does the AQL test? Academic Literacy (the ability to read, evaluate and reason with academic text) and Quantitative Literacy (reasoning with numbers, tables and graphs in real contexts), combined in one three-hour multiple-choice paper. Every NBT writer sits the AQL.

What does the MAT test? Mathematics at NSC level, in a separate three-hour multiple-choice paper. Only applicants to programmes requiring mathematics write the MAT — typically engineering, science, health sciences and commerce.

How is the NBT different from matric? Matric tests the school curriculum; the NBT tests the underlying academic skills (reading, reasoning, quantitative literacy, mathematics) a student needs to cope with university study. They complement each other — universities use both, alongside the APS, to make admission and placement decisions.

When should my child write the NBT? Ideally in Grade 11 or early Grade 12, since results remain valid for two to three years. Writing early gives time to rewrite if needed and removes one pressure from the Grade 12 year. Register through the official CETAP portal at www.nbt.ac.za.

The NBT is two tests — AQL and MAT — run by CETAP at UCT for USAf, measuring university readiness independently of matric. It is required by several major universities, programme by programme. To learn more, see Teneo's extramurals, results, or speak to the Teneo team.