Key Takeaways: The University Entry Filter
- The Purpose: The National Benchmark Tests (NBTs) evaluate your academic readiness for university. Universities use these scores alongside your Matric marks to decide if you get accepted or if you need to be placed in an extended degree programme.
- The Two Papers: There are two tests: AQL (Academic and Quantitative Literacy) written in the morning, and MAT (Mathematics) written in the afternoon.
- Registration: Bookings for the 2026 NBT calendar officially open on 1 April 2026. You must register and pay independently on the NBT website; your high school will not do this for you.
- The Health Sciences Rule: If you are applying for Medicine or Health Sciences at universities like Wits for 2027, you cannot write the NBT online. You must book a physical, “Pencil and Paper” venue-based test.
- The Cost: Expect to pay approximately R195 if you only write the AQL, and R390 if you write both the AQL and MAT.
Getting stellar marks in your final Matric exams is a fantastic achievement, but it does not guarantee your entry into South Africa’s top universities.
Because grading standards can vary drastically between different high schools across the country, universities rely on a standardized, independent assessment to level the playing field: The National Benchmark Tests (NBTs).
If you are applying for the 2027 academic intake at universities like UCT, Wits, Stellenbosch, or UP, your NBT score can make or break your application.
Here is the definitive guide to exactly how the tests work, when to book them in 2026, and how to avoid the most common administrative traps.
1. What Are the NBTs? (AQL vs. MAT)
You do not simply “write the NBT.” You write specific papers depending on the degree you are applying for. The tests are entirely multiple-choice and each lasts for 3 hours.
The AQL Test (Morning Session)
- What it stands for: Academic and Quantitative Literacy.
- Who must write it: Almost every applicant to a university that requires the NBT must write the AQL. Whether you are applying for Law, Humanities, or Engineering, the AQL is the baseline.
- What it tests: It evaluates your ability to understand complex academic vocabulary, draw conclusions from texts, interpret graphs and charts, and handle basic numerical concepts used in university lectures.
The MAT Test (Afternoon Session)
- What it stands for: Mathematics.
- Who must write it: Applicants applying for degrees that require a strong mathematical foundation (e.g., Engineering, Health Sciences, Medicine, Actuarial Science, and Commerce).
- What it tests: It measures your grasp of the core high school mathematics curriculum, focusing heavily on algebra, trigonometry, and calculus without the aid of a calculator.
- The Rule: You cannot write the AQL on a Saturday and the MAT on a different Sunday. If your degree requires both, you write them on the exact same day (AQL at 08:00 AM, MAT at roughly 13:00 PM).
2. 2026 Booking Dates and Deadlines
Do not leave your NBTs until after your Matric final exams. By then, the university selection committees will have already filled their quotas.
The NBT Project runs testing sessions nearly every weekend from May to December. However, different university faculties have strict cut-off dates by which they must receive your scores.
The 2026 Timeline:
- 1 April 2026: Registration officially opens on the NBT website.
- May 2026: The first writing sessions begin across the country.
- 15 August 2026 (The Crucial Deadline): This is the target date you must aim for. Universities like Wits strongly advise applicants to write their tests by mid-August to ensure their applications are considered for early admission feedback.
- 31 October 2026: The absolute last chance to write the NBT for placement at institutions like UCT. If you write in November, your results will arrive too late.
Tip: Book your test for June or July. This gives you enough time to study, but gets it out of the way before your Matric Preliminary (Prelim) exams start in August.
3. Paper vs. Online: The Health Sciences Rule
Since the pandemic, the NBT Project has offered both physical “Pencil and Paper” tests at designated venues (like university halls or large high schools) and remote online tests.
However, universities have tightened their security measures for highly competitive degrees.
The 2027 Wits Standard Operating Procedure:
If you are applying to the Faculty of Health Sciences (which includes the MBBCh/Medicine degree) at Wits University for the 2027 intake, you must take note of their new mandate:
- No Online Tests: Wits will only consider Pencil and Paper (venue-based) NBT results for current Matriculants applying to Health Sciences.
- The Exception: Only international applicants residing outside the borders of South Africa are permitted to write the online version, as there are no physical venues outside the country.
- Other Faculties: If you are applying for Engineering, Commerce, or Humanities, both online and venue-based results are currently still accepted.
To be safe, regardless of where you are applying, book a venue-based test. It eliminates the risk of your internet dropping, load-shedding interrupting your session, or your camera malfunctioning and invalidating your test.
4. Registration and Costs: Step-by-Step
You must register for the NBTs yourself.
Step 1: Get Your ID Ready
You must register using the exact name and ID number that appears on your official South African ID card/book (or passport). If your ID says “John David Smith” and you register as “Johnny Smith,” you will be turned away at the door on test day.
Step 2: Book Online
- Go to the official NBT portal:
www.nbt.ac.za. - Click on “Book a Test”.
- Follow the prompts to select your test date, your nearest physical venue (or online slot), and whether you are writing AQL only, or AQL & MAT.
Step 3: Pay the Fees (via EasyPay)
Once you hit submit, the system will generate an official registration letter containing an EasyPay Reference Number.
- AQL Only: ± R195.
- AQL and MAT: ± R390.
- You can pay this fee via EFT or at any EasyPay point (like Pick n Pay, Checkers, or Woolworths). Your booking is not confirmed until the fee is paid.
5. What to Expect on Test Day
If you booked a physical, venue-based test, you must treat it like a Matric final exam. The rules are uncompromising.
What to Bring:
- Your original South African ID book/card or Passport. (Driver’s licenses or certified copies are strictly forbidden. No original ID = No entry).
- Your paid test fee receipt/confirmation letter.
- Two sharpened HB pencils and an eraser.
- Water and a packed lunch (there is a break between the morning AQL and the afternoon MAT sessions).
What to Leave at Home:
- Calculators are NOT allowed. You must perform all mathematical calculations manually.
- Dictionaries, scrap paper, and smartwatches are banned.
- Cellphones must be switched off and placed on the floor for the entire 3-hour duration.
Note: You must arrive at the check-in desk by 07:30 AM. Check-in takes time because invigilators physically verify every ID document against the registration roster.
Summary: Act in April
Your NBT results are valid for three years. Writing the test early does not put you at a disadvantage; it simply secures your administrative profile before the rush.
Action Plan:
- Check University Requirements: Go to the prospectus of the universities you are applying to. Confirm whether your specific degree requires just the AQL, or both the AQL and MAT.
- Set an April Reminder: Put a reminder in your calendar for 1 April 2026. Log onto the NBT website that week to secure a booking at a venue close to your home before it fills up.
- Target July: Book your test for a Saturday in late June or July. This ensures your results are finalized before the August cut-offs.
Disclaimer: Test dates, fees, and university-specific requirements are strictly controlled by the NBT Project (CETAP) and the respective university admissions offices. Always verify the latest fees, valid ID requirements, and venue rules directly on www.nbt.ac.za before booking.