Tips for Preparing for the National Benchmark Tests
Once you’ve registered for the National Benchmark Tests (NBT), it’s important to prepare for test day. Thankfully, there are resources to help you feel ready and confident.
Preparation Resources
The NBT website offers two downloadable booklets—one for the AQL (Academic and Quantitative Literacy) test and one for the MAT (Mathematics) test. These booklets include sample questions that give you a good idea of the types of questions you can expect on the test.
Please note, there are no past NBT papers available for practice. The sample questions in the booklets are your main preparation resource.
What to Expect on Test Day
On the day of your test, you will need to check in at the test venue. A list of test venues is available on the NBT website. Check-in begins at 07:30 and doors close at 08:30, so make sure to arrive on time.
To check in, you’ll need to bring:
Your South African ID, foreign passport, or a birth certificate with an affidavit from the police, including a recent photo.
Pencils and an eraser.
Lunch and water if you are taking both tests.
The AQL test is written first, followed by the MAT test in the afternoon for those taking both. The AQL is a timed test lasting 3 hours and 25 minutes, and it consists of seven sections. The MAT test is also timed, with a duration of 3 hours.
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