Registration for 2013 intake starts 2 April.

The National Benchmark Tests were commissioned by Higher Education South Africa (HESA) and reflect almost ten years of research and collaboration among leading content specialists and researchers from Institutions of Higher Education across South Africa. The NBT Project is managed by the Alternative Admissions Research Project in the Centre for Higher Education Development at the University of Cape Town.

The NBTs are an assessment of prospective first year applicants into Higher Education. The assessment was designed to measure a writer’s levels of proficiency in Academic Literacy, Quantitative Literacy and Mathematics as related to the demands of tertiary study. The NBTs also provide information to assist in the placement of students in appropriate curricular routes (e.g. regular, augmented, extended, bridging or foundation programmes) and with the development of curriculum for Higher Education programmes.  In addition, they assist Higher Education to interpret school-leaving results, such as those of the National Senior Certificate (NSC).

The Tests

There are two tests. The Academic Literacy and Quantitative Literacy domains (AQL) are combined into one multiple-choice test. Each section is timed, for a total of three hours and five minutes’ writing time. 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. The MAT test is also multiple-choice and timed, with three hours allowed. These tests are described in more detail under ‘Test Content’.

General Information

• There are currently 20 NBT test dates for the 2013 intake cycle, beginning on 26 May. No writing sessions are held during November.
• In addition to Saturdays, there are writing sessions on five Sundays and three Fridays.
• Test sites are located in major cities across South Africa, with a few in neighbouring countries. Additional sessions are held in more remote locations at key times during the test cycle. The table listing NBT National Test Sites is updated frequently.
• Each university and faculty determines which tests must be written and the deadline to receive results, which generally are posted on the university’s website and in their undergraduate prospectus.
• The AQL test is written during a morning session, with applicants required to report at 7:30 AM on the test date. The MAT test is written in the afternoon of the same day, after a short break for lunch. 
• Learners are not allowed to write the AQL test on one day and the MAT test on another.
• Registration is date and site specific; learners who do not report as scheduled must register and pay again to re-schedule.
• Costs for the 2013 intake cycle are:
  

  AQL only	R 100
  AQL and MAT	R 175

• Registration is required and must be done online, with payment made through the EasyPay system. Scores are not released unless fees have been paid.
• Results will be available to institutions of Higher Education two weeks after the test. Results are available to writers three weeks after the test.
• Learners are advised to plan in advance to ensure that they are ready to write, but still meet university application deadlines.
• The NBT Project allows learners to write the NBTs twice, but not all universities and faculties will accept the second result.