Educators
What is difference between the National Benchmark Test (NBT) and the National Senior Certificate (NSC)?
THE NBT
In respect of each domain NBT examines: Reflects to what extent a school-leaver, who is applying to University is prepared for the core academic literacy, quantitative literacy and mathematics demands of higher education study.
THE NSC
In respect of each subject NSC examines: Reflects to what extent a Grade 12 student has met the Curriculum Statement expectations as expressed in the Subject Assessment Guidelines.
In respect of each domain NBT examines: Reflects to what extent a school-leaver, who is applying to University is prepared for the core academic literacy, quantitative literacy and mathematics demands of higher education study.
THE NSC
In respect of each subject NSC examines: Reflects to what extent a Grade 12 student has met the Curriculum Statement expectations as expressed in the Subject Assessment Guidelines.
Benchmark levels:
Revision And Resetting Of Benchmarks Are Conducted Every Three Years.
Preparing your learners:
Writing of the NBT is reserved for applicants to higher education institutions in South Africa. Teachers are not permitted to write the NBT with a view to preparing their learners for the tests. “Teaching to the test” limits real engagement with the topics that are being assessed.
Educators’ booklets
The following booklets have been provided to assist teachers to prepare their learners for the NBT Mathematics (MAT) test and the Academic and Quantitative Literacy (AQL) test.
MAT booklet:
English
Xhosa
Zulu
AQL booklet:
English
Afrikaans
Xhosa
Zulu
Educators’ booklets
The following booklets have been provided to assist teachers to prepare their learners for the NBT Mathematics (MAT) test and the Academic and Quantitative Literacy (AQL) test.
MAT booklet:
English
Xhosa
Zulu
AQL booklet:
English
Afrikaans
Xhosa
Zulu
Demystifying the NBTs:
In June 2017, the Centre for Educational Testing for Access and Placement (CETAP) held a workshop for educators to “Demystify the NBTs”.
The workshop was primarily aimed at Life Orientation educators, but was attended by a variety of other subject educators.
We focussed on answering the following questions:
- Why are the NBTs used by universities?
- How do the NBTs complement the NSC?
- How have learners performed on the NBT in the past, compared to their NSC performance?
- What kind of work will learners face at university and how should educators prepare them for this?
View the presentations on our YouTube channel.