The National Benchmark Tests (NBTs) are an important part of university admissions in South Africa for many institutions.
The NBTs are standardised tests used by many South African universities to assess academic skills beyond your school exam results.
The tests help institutions evaluate your readiness for the demands of tertiary study.
They are often required in addition to your National Senior Certificate (NSC) results for admission and placement decisions.
Most universities, faculties or programmes will list whether NBT results are required and by what date you must submit them.
Always check the university’s official prospectus or admissions page when planning your test.
When Can You Write the NBTs in 2026?
For the 2026 intake cycle, the National Benchmark Test Project publishes a schedule of national test dates available throughout the year.
The tests are offered on multiple dates and at venues across South Africa, as well as some online sessions.
Common test dates for 2026 include weekends from mid‑May through the end of October, with sessions at many centres nationwide.
Some of the available dates are:
- 17 May 2026
- 31 May 2026
- 07 June 2026
- 28 June 2026
- 05 July 2026
- 06 July 2026
- 12 July 2026
- 19 July 2026
- 02 August 2026
- 03 August 2026
- 16 August 2026
- 23 August 2026
- 30 August 2026
- 06 September 2026
- 13 September 2026
- 27 September 2026
- 11 October 2026
- 10 January 2027 (often included as a later session)
In addition, there may be online testing sessions offered on specific days, such as mid‑May, late June, late July and early October.
These dates give you flexibility to choose a test day that works with your university application deadlines.
However, you should register early because seats at test centres fill up quickly.
How Do You Register for the NBTs?
- Visit the official registration page on the website.
- Use your official ID or passport if you are not a South African citizen.
- Select your preferred test date and venue.
- Complete the online registration and pay the test fee via the EasyPay number generated during registration.
- You will receive an SMS and email confirming your test venue and date two days before the test.
Registration closes for each test date once capacity is reached, so signing up early gives you the best choice of dates.
Which Tests Do You Write and When?
All test sessions include the AQL test (Academic and Quantitative Literacy) in the morning and the MAT test (Mathematics) in the afternoon of the same day.
You cannot write the MAT test separately from the AQL on a different day.
Most universities require that you sit both tests if your chosen programme needs them.
For example, programmes in engineering or health sciences may require you to do both tests and submit results by specific deadlines.
What Are Institutional Deadlines for NBT Results in 2026?
Each university sets its own deadline for when they must receive your NBT results. These deadlines vary by institution and faculty:
- Some faculties require NBT results before application closing dates in June or July.
- For example, certain health sciences programmes ask applicants to write the NBT by mid‑August 2026.
- Other faculties and universities accept NBT results later in the year, sometimes up to 31 October 2026.
Therefore, you must check the requirements of your specific university and programme to determine the latest acceptable NBT date for your application.
When Are NBT Results Released?
NBT results are typically made available about four weeks after your test date on the official NBT portal.
Universities also receive results directly once they are processed.
Planning your test date early allows you enough time for the results to reach your university before its application or assessment deadlines.
How to Contact the NBT Project
If you have questions about registration or test dates:
- Official website for registration and dates:
- Email: nbt@uct.ac.za (for general enquiries)
- Telephone: 021 650 3523 (help desk)
