100+ Free NBT Practice Questions
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Key Facts: NBT Exam
2 tests
The AQL (Academic and Quantitative Literacy) test and the separate MAT (Mathematics) test
National Benchmark Test Project - What is in the NBTs
3 hours each
AQL and MAT each allow three hours of writing time, written on the same day
National Benchmark Test Project - FAQ
No calculators
Calculators, dictionaries and notes are not allowed in any NBT test
National Benchmark Test Project - What to expect
3 benchmark bands
Scores are reported as Proficient, Intermediate or Basic, with no single pass mark
National Benchmark Test Project - Interpreting your results
2 languages
The NBTs are written in English or Afrikaans, chosen at registration
National Benchmark Test Project - FAQ
CETAP at UCT
The NBTs are administered by CETAP at the University of Cape Town for Universities South Africa
University of Cape Town - National Benchmark Tests
Grade 12 level
Questions apply National Senior Certificate knowledge to first-year university material
National Benchmark Test Project - Test Content
100
Free original NBT practice questions here across all three content areas
OpenExamPrep
The National Benchmark Tests (NBTs) are South African university admission and placement tests run by CETAP at the University of Cape Town for Universities South Africa (USAf). There are two multiple-choice tests on the same day: the AQL test (Academic Literacy plus Quantitative Literacy in one three-hour paper) and the separate MAT test (Mathematics, three hours) for programmes that require mathematics. Both are calculator-free and written in English or Afrikaans. There is no single pass mark - scores fall into Proficient, Intermediate or Basic benchmark bands, and each university sets its own benchmarks. This 100-question bank gives original National Senior Certificate-level practice across Academic Literacy, Quantitative Literacy and Mathematics.
Sample NBT Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your NBT exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1Read this passage: 'While renewable energy is often praised as clean, building the solar panels and wind turbines that capture it still consumes large amounts of energy and rare materials. The benefits are real, but they are not free of cost.' What is the writer's main point?
2In the sentence 'Although the new policy was unpopular, it ultimately reduced traffic deaths,' the word 'although' signals that the two ideas are:
3Read: 'The committee's report was exhaustive, leaving no relevant detail unexamined.' In this context, 'exhaustive' most nearly means:
4Read: 'Some commentators claim that screen time alone harms children. Yet the research suggests it is what children do on screens, and for how long, that matters most.' The writer's attitude to the claim that 'screen time alone harms children' is best described as:
5Read: 'The drought devastated the harvest; consequently, food prices rose sharply across the region.' The word 'consequently' shows that the rise in food prices is:
6Read: 'Critics argue the museum is elitist. In response, its director points out that entry is free on Sundays and that half its visitors are local students.' The director's reply works mainly by:
7Read: 'The findings, while promising, were based on a sample of only twelve patients.' What does the writer imply about the findings?
8Read: 'For instance, the city replaced street lighting with energy-efficient bulbs and cut its electricity bill by a fifth.' The phrase 'For instance' tells the reader that this sentence:
9Read: 'Far from being a sign of weakness, asking for help can be the most strategic thing a leader does.' The phrase 'Far from being' is used to:
10Read: 'The author begins with a vivid story about a single farmer before turning to national statistics on hunger.' Why does the author most likely open with the farmer's story?
About the NBT Exam
The National Benchmark Tests (NBTs) are South African university admission and placement tests administered by the Centre for Educational Testing for Access and Placement (CETAP) at the University of Cape Town on behalf of Universities South Africa (USAf). They measure a writer's academic readiness for first-year university study and are used alongside the National Senior Certificate. There are two multiple-choice tests written on the same day. The AQL test combines Academic Literacy, which assesses the ability to make meaning from academic text, and Quantitative Literacy, which assesses reasoning with quantitative information in real contexts, in one three-hour paper. The separate MAT test assesses National Senior Certificate mathematics over three hours and is required only for programmes for which mathematics is an admission requirement. The tests are written in English or Afrikaans, no calculators are allowed, and results are reported in Proficient, Intermediate and Basic benchmark bands rather than as a simple pass or fail.
Assessment
Two multiple-choice tests written on the same day. The AQL test combines Academic Literacy and Quantitative Literacy in one three-hour paper; the MAT (Mathematics) test is a separate three-hour paper required for mathematics-dependent programmes.
Time Limit
Three hours of writing time for the AQL test and a further three hours for the MAT test, written on the same day with a break between them.
Passing Score
No single pass mark. Results are reported in three benchmark bands - Proficient, Intermediate (Upper and Lower) and Basic - and each university applies its own benchmark scores per programme for admission and placement.
Exam Fee
Fees are set annually by CETAP and paid after online registration. Recent guidance places the AQL test around R145 and the AQL plus MAT combination around R290; confirm the current fee on nbt.ac.za. (Centre for Educational Testing for Access and Placement (CETAP), University of Cape Town, on behalf of Universities South Africa (USAf))
NBT Exam Content Outline
Academic Literacy
Part of the AQL test. Practice here covers comprehension of academic passages, inference and implied meaning, vocabulary in context, argument and claim-evidence structure, text relations and cohesion, register and tone, distinguishing main idea from detail, and interpreting the function of words and sentences in a text.
Quantitative Literacy
Part of the AQL test. Practice here covers interpreting tables and graphs, percentages and percentage change, proportions, ratio and rates, averages and basic statistics, reading and comparing data, and measurement and spatial reasoning in real higher-education contexts, all without a calculator.
Mathematics (MAT)
The separate MAT test. Practice here covers algebra and equations, exponents and surds, functions and graphs, trigonometry, Euclidean and analytical geometry, sequences and series, and probability at National Senior Certificate level, applied to unfamiliar problems without a calculator.
How to Pass the NBT Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: No single pass mark. Results are reported in three benchmark bands - Proficient, Intermediate (Upper and Lower) and Basic - and each university applies its own benchmark scores per programme for admission and placement.
- Assessment: Two multiple-choice tests written on the same day. The AQL test combines Academic Literacy and Quantitative Literacy in one three-hour paper; the MAT (Mathematics) test is a separate three-hour paper required for mathematics-dependent programmes.
- Time limit: Three hours of writing time for the AQL test and a further three hours for the MAT test, written on the same day with a break between them.
- Exam fee: Fees are set annually by CETAP and paid after online registration. Recent guidance places the AQL test around R145 and the AQL plus MAT combination around R290; confirm the current fee on nbt.ac.za.
Keys to Passing
- Complete 500+ practice questions
- Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
- Focus on highest-weighted sections
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
NBT Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tests make up the NBTs?
There are two multiple-choice tests. The AQL test combines Academic Literacy and Quantitative Literacy in one three-hour paper, and the separate MAT test assesses Mathematics over three hours. Both are written on the same day.
Who has to write the MAT test?
The MAT (Mathematics) test is required only for applicants to programmes that list mathematics as an admission requirement, such as many engineering, science, commerce and health-science degrees. The AQL test is required by most programmes that use the NBTs.
Is there a pass mark for the NBTs?
No. Results are reported in three benchmark bands - Proficient, Intermediate (Upper and Lower) and Basic - and each university sets its own benchmark scores per programme for admission and placement decisions.
Can I use a calculator in the NBTs?
No. Calculators, dictionaries and notes are not allowed in any NBT test, including the MAT mathematics test. Scrap paper is provided for working.
In what languages can I write the NBTs?
The NBTs are available in English and Afrikaans, the main languages of instruction at South African universities. You choose one language at registration and write both tests in that language; Braille versions exist for some candidates with disabilities.
Are these official NBT practice questions?
No. These are original OpenExamPrep questions modelled on the published NBT skills. Official NBT questions are confidential and not released; CETAP provides separate exemplar questions on nbt.ac.za.