GUIDELINES FOR THE USE OF THE NATIONAL ... - Matie

GUIDELINES FOR THE USE OF THE
NATIONAL BENCHMARK TESTS (NBTs)
FOR THE 2013 INTAKE
Stellenbosch University
February 2012
Page
1. Background 2
2. Purpose and use of NBTs 2
3. Management and administration of NBTs 3
3.1 Dates and test centres 3
3.2 Battery of tests 3
3.3 Cost of and booking (registration) for NBTs 3
3.4 Announcement of NBT results 4
3.5 Candidates with special learning needs (disabilities) 4
4. Guidelines for the writing of NBTs for registration at SU 4
4.1 Who must write NBTs? 4
4.2 Test combinations 4
4.3 Calculation of NBT average 5
4.4 Deadlines for the writing of NBTs for faculties that use the NBT 5
results as part of their selection process
4.5 Language 5
4.6 Second test opportunity 6
4.7 How long are NBT results valid? 6
4.8 Are SU’s AT results still taken into account? 6
4.9 Candidates who have already matriculated 6
4.10 International students 7
5. Further information and enquiries 7
Appendix A: NBT dates (2013 intake) 8
Appendix B: The booking and registration process for a NBT session 9
Appendix C: NBT test combinations 10
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1. BACKGROUND
1.1 In view of the new enrolment model at Stellenbosch University (SU), as of 2012 (for the
2013 intake), all prospective first-year students at SU must write the National
Benchmark Tests (NBTs).
1.2 As regards the new enrolment model, the Institutional Rationale, Principles and
Procedure for Enrolment Management accepted by the Senate in March 2011
determines the following in respect of the assessment of prospective first-year students:
1.2.1 The system where the results of SU’s Access Tests (ATs) and the National Senior
Certificate (NSC) examinations count in a 60:40 ratio for admission purposes will
apply for the last time to the 2012 intake.
1.2.2 All prospective students for the 2013 intake and later years must write NBTs.
1.2.3 These NBT results may be used for the following purposes, provided that these
are set out in the guidelines and procedures for enrolment management of the
faculty concerned:
a) decision-making regarding the placement of students in extended degree
programmes with a view to stronger support
b) selection
c) curriculum development
2. PURPOSE AND USE OF NBTs
2.1 The NBTs are a tool to assess prospective first-year students for admission to higher
education. The goal of the NBTs is not to replace the NSC.
2.2 In line with the requirements of higher education study, the purpose of this assessment
is to measure candidates’ skills levels in academic literacy (language skills), quantitative
literacy (numeracy skills) and Mathematics.
2.3 The NBTs also provide information for the development of curricula for higher education
programmes and additional information for interpreting NSC results.
2.4 In respect of the 2013 intake, the NBT results at SU will be used for
2.4.1 Selection purposes, for example for programmes in the Faculty of Health
Sciences and all programmes in Law
2.4.2 Placement purposes, for example for additional information with regards to
placement in extended degree programmes in the Faculties of Science,
Agrisciences and Arts and Social Sciences 2.5 For MB,ChB, Dietetics,
Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech-Language and Hearing
Therapy the average mark for the NBTs (in combination with the grade 11
results and the non-academic merit mark) is used during the selection process
as part of the selection formula that determines your place on the merit list.
The ratio is as follows: NBT average mark – 30%: grade 11 average – 45%:
non-academic merit mark – 25%. It is of the utmost importance that
applicants to these programmes write the NBTs before the end of July, in
order for the marks to be available early September, in time for the selection
process. Complete information on the selection guidelines for the five
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undergraduate programmes of the Faculty of Health Sciences will be available
at www.maties.com by the end of March.
2.5 For more information on the application of NBT results for selection to mainstream and
placement in extended degree programmes in the other faculties, the relevant faculties’
enrolment-management plans may be consulted at www.maties.com. 1
3. MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF NBTs
The NBT project is managed by the Alternative Admissions Research Project of the Centre for
Higher Education (CHED) at the University of Cape Town.
3.1 Dates and test centres
3.1.1 Throughout 2012 there will be 21 official NBT test sessions, held at various
centres countrywide – in all big cities and at centres in rural areas.
3.1.2 The list of test dates for 2012 is attached as Appendix A. The list of test centres
will be available on the NBT website (www.nbt.ac.za) from February 2012 and
will be continuously adapted and updated.
3.2 The battery of tests
3.2.1 The NBTs comprise two tests, namely:
(i) the Academic and Quantitative Literacy test (AQL); and
(ii) the Mathematics test (MAT)
3.2.2 In the Academic and Quantitative Literacy test academic (language proficiency)
and quantitative (numerical proficiency) domains are combined in one multichoice
test (AQL). All applicants must write this test.
3.2.3 The second multi-choice test, Mathematics (MAT), must be written by applicants
for programmes for which Mathematics is required.
3.2.4 Please note that the MAT test is curriculum-based.
3.2.5 More information on the areas covered in the tests may be obtained from
www.nbt.ac.za.
3.2.6 The duration of the AQL and the MAT test is three hours each and the two tests,
where applicable, are written during the same test session.
3.2.7 Consult 4.2 for guidelines on the NBT combinations required for applicants to SU.
3.3 Cost of and booking (registration) for NBTs
3.3.1 Prospective students are guaranteed a place in the test session only once they
have registered as well as paid for their test session.
3.3.2 The cost for writing only the AQL test is R90. The cost for writing both the AQL
and the MAT tests is R165. Costs include processing and administration fees.
1 The website for prospective students (www.maties.com) will publish the various faculties’ enrolmentmanagement
plans by the end of February 2012.
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3.3.3 Applicants who fail to report for their registered test(s) must re-register and pay
the full cost again to reschedule their opportunity to write the test(s).
3.3.4 The complete steps on how to register (via computer or cell phone) is available at
www.nbt.ac.za.
3.3.5 After registration applicants should take their NBT registration letter to an
EasyPay pay-point to pay the test fees, or alternatively make the payment on the
EasyPay website (see Addendum B for the complete registration process).
3.3.6 Applicants must bring both their registration letter and their proof of payment to
the test venue on the day of their test session to be allowed to write their NBTs.
3.4 Announcement of NBT results
3.4.1 The higher education institutions are informed of NBT results within two weeks
after each test session (the schedule is provided in Appendix A).
3.4.2 Approximately three weeks after their NBT session candidates may access their
results from www.nbt.ac.za by logging on with their ID number or sending a
request to adp-aarp@uct.ac.za. Alternatively, a month after their NBT session
candidates may check on www.maties.com whether their NBT marks have been
uploaded. Please note that candidates will be unable to obtain their NBT results if
the above-mentioned fees have not been paid.
3.4.3 It is the responsibility of the candidates themselves to ensure that their NBT
results have been uploaded onto www.maties.com. Candidates whose results
have not been uploaded must send their NBT number, ID number, SU student
number and official results to the SU Client Service Centre at info@sun.ac.za or
fax this information to 021 808 3822 (telephone 021 808 9111). SU will then
verify the results and upload them onto the system.
3.5 Applicants with special learning needs (disabilities)
Candidates with special learning needs must contact the NBT project team directly at
www.nbt.ac.za to make arrangements.
4. GUIDELINES FOR THE WRITING OF NBTs FOR REGISTRATION AT SU
4.1 Who must write the NBTs?
All prospective first-year students, irrespective of their year of matriculation or the
examination system that they followed, must write NBTs to register at SU.
4.2 Test combinations
4.2.1 All applicants for any programme must write the AQL test.
4.2.2 Only applicants for programmes for which Mathematics is required need to write
the Mathematics (MAT) test. All faculties do not, however, require this. It is the
responsibility of the applicants themselves to ascertain whether Mathematics is a
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equirement. Appendix C lists the faculties and programmes for which
Mathematics is required.
4.2.3 Applicants may not write the MAT test if they took Mathematical Literacy as a
subject.
4.2.4 Applicants who finished school two or more years ago (in other words, who
matriculated in or before 2010) have to write the AQL test only, not the MAT test.
4.2.5 Applicants should note that they have only one test opportunity to write all their
required tests. They should therefore take the following into account:
They should ensure that they write the MAT test if this is required for
their programme, since they will not get another opportunity to write an
additional test at another test session.
If they are unsure about their programme choices, they are strongly
advised to write the MAT test in any case.
They will be unable to switch to a programme that requires Mathematics
if they have not written the MAT test. This is why they are strongly
advised to take the precaution of writing the MAT test.
The MAT mark is taken into account in the calculation of applicants’
average final mark only if the MAT test is required for their programme.
Applicants will therefore not be disadvantaged if they write the MAT test
only to keep their options open.
4.2.6 Applicants may not write the MAT test if they took Mathematical Literacy as a
subject.
4.3 Calculation of NBT averages
4.3.1 NBT averages for the two test combinations are calculated as follows:
(i) For programmes that do not require Mathematics for admission: the average
of the academic literacy test component and the quantitative literacy test
component.
(ii) For programmes that do require Mathematics for admission: the average of
the academic literacy test component, the quantitative literacy test
component and the Mathematics test.
4.3.2 Applicants should note that, if they do not write one of their required tests, they
will be accorded a zero mark for that test. For example, if an applicant should
have written Mathematics but did not do so, that applicant will be accorded a
mark of 0 for Mathematics.
4.4 Deadlines for the writing of NBTs for faculties that use the NBT results as part of their
selection process
Candidates who want to study one of the programmes below must write their NBTs
before the following dates:
4.4.1 All programmes in the Faculty of Health Sciences – end of July
4.4.2 All programmes in Law – BA (Law), BComm (Law), BAccLLB and LLB (four-year
programme) – end of June
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4.5 Language
4.5.1 NBTs are available in both English and Afrikaans. The option to write the tests in
either of these languages is offered during the registration process for a test
session. The number of tests in each language that are sent to the test centres is
based on the language that every applicant selected during registration.
4.5.2 For studying at SU applicants may write their NBTs in either English or Afrikaans.
4.5.3 All SU applicants must also write SU’s own Academic Literacy Test in both English
and Afrikaans during the welcoming week in 2013 to determine whether they
would require any language support. This test is managed by SU’s Language
Centre.
4.6 Second test opportunities
The following arrangements apply to the writing of NBTs at a second opportunity:
4.6.1 For SU, applicants may write NBTs only once per application year.
4.6.2 If applicants write the same NBT more than once in the same application year,
only the results of the first test will be used.
4.6.3 Applicants may write both NBTs (if required for their programme of choice) only
once and must write these during the same test opportunity. They may not, for
example, write the MAT test and the AQL test during two separate opportunities.
4.7 How long are NBT results valid?
4.7.1 NBT results are valid for three intake years. It should be noted that an intake year
extends from the February of the application year to the January of the
registration year. Therefore, prospective students who wrote their NBTs after
January 2010 do not have to write them again. If, however, they wrote their NBTs
before or during January 2010, they must repeat the tests.
4.7.2 If applicants write the NBTs in more than one application year, the results of the
most recent application year (and not the best marks over the application years)
will be used.
4.7.3 Applicants who wrote their NBTs in any of the previous three application years
must check on www.maties.com whether their marks are available. It is the
responsibility of the applicants themselves to ensure that their NBT results have
been uploaded onto www.maties.com. If their results have not been uploaded,
the candidates must send their NBT number, ID number, SU student number and
official results to the SU Client Service Centre at info@sun.ac.za or fax this
information to 021 808 3822 (telephone 021 808 9111). SU will then verify the
results and upload them onto the system.
4.8 Are SU’s AT results still taken into account?
SU’s AT results, valid until and including the 2012 intake year, will no longer be taken into
account as of the 2013 intake. All applicants will therefore be obliged to write NBTs to
register.
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4.9 Applicants who have already matriculated
4.9.1 Applicants who finished school two or more years ago (in other words, who
matriculated in or before 2010) have to write the AQL test only, not the MAT test.
4.9.2 Applicants who apply for a second university degree do not have to write NBTs.
The same applies to applicants with a BTech degree; previous learning applies in
this case.
4.9.3 Students who have studied at another university, did not complete a degree and
who have enrolled as first-years at SU but have never written their NBTs in an
earlier application year must write them. Applicants who have written their NBTs
during the previous three application years must send their results to SU (refer to
4.7.3).
4.9.4 Applicants who are to do a bridging year may write their NBTs in January before
the start of the SU academic year. They should bear in mind, however, that they
expose themselves to specific risks and practical implications if they write their
NBTs at such a late stage; for example, they cannot register before their NBT
results are available. It is therefore strongly recommended that applicants write
their NBTs in their matriculation year.
4.10 International students
4.10.1 All international students must write NBTs. They may write their NBTs at the
latest in January before the start of the SU academic year.
4.10.2 The guidelines for the required test combinations (refer to 4.1) and for
exemptions (refer to 4.6) also apply to international students.
4.10.3 The implication that the NBT results might not be available before the deadlines
for selection processes in the various academic programmes (refer to 4.2), is
managed by the respective faculties themselves.
5. FURTHER INFORMATION AND ENQUIRIES
5.1 Questions on the writing of tests and the availability of results:
NBT Client Service Centre
Telephone: 021 650 3523
Website:
www.nbt.ac.za
Physical address: Centre for Higher Education Development (CHED)
Level 3, Hoerikwaggo, North Lane, UCT
Rondebosch 7701 South Africa
5.2 Questions on the application of NBT results for selection and placement at SU:
SU Client Service Centre
Telephone: 021 808 9111
Fax: 021 808 3822
E-mail: info@sun.ac.za
Website: www.maties.com
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APPENDIX A
Last date for
bookings
Last date for
payment of fees
IMPORTANT NBT DATES (2013 intake)
NBT sessions:
days and dates
Results
available from
NBT
Results made
available to faculties
by the Registrar’s
division
08 May 2012 12 May 2012 Saturday 26 May 2012 11 June 2012 18 July 2012
22 May 2012 26 May 2012 Saturday 09 June 2012 25 June 2012 2 July 2012
22 May 2012 26 May 2012 Sunday 10 June 2012 25 June 2012 2 July 2012
05 June 2012 09 June 2012 Saturday 23 June 2012 09 July 2012 16 July 2012
05 June 2012 09 June 2012 Saturday 30 June 2012 09 July 2012 12 July 2012
19 June 2012 23 June 2012 Friday 06 July 2012 23 July 2012 30 July 2012
19 June 2012 23 June 2012 Saturday 07 July 2012 23 July 2012 30 July 2012
03 July 2012 07 July 2012 Saturday 21 July 2012 06 Aug 2012 13 Aug 2012
03 July 2012 07 July 2012 Sunday 22 July 2012 06 Aug 2012 13 Aug 2012
17 July 2012 17 July 2012 Saturday 04 Aug 2012 20 Aug 2012 27 Aug 2012
31 July 2012 04 Aug 2012 Saturday 18 Aug 2012 03 Sep 2012 10 Sep 2012
31 July 2012 04 Aug 2012 Sunday 19 Aug 2012 03 Sep 2012 10 Sep 2012
14 Aug 2012 18 Aug 2012 Saturday 01 Sep 2012 17 Sep 2012 24 Sep 2012
28 Aug 2012 01 Sep 2012 Saturday 15 Sep 2012 01 Oct 2012 8 Oct 2012
11 Sep 2012 15 Sep 2012 Friday 28 Sep 2012 15 Oct 2012 22 Oct 2012
11 Sep 2012 15 Sep 2012 Saturday 29 Sep 2012 15 Oct 2012 22 Oct 2012
25 Sep 2012 29 Sep 2012 Saturday 13 Oct 2012 29 Oct 2012 5 Nov 2012
25 Sep 2012 29 Sep 2012 Sunday 14 Oct 2012 29 Oct 2012 5 Nov 2012
14 Nov 2012 17 Nov 2012 Saturday 10 Dec 2012 18 Dec 2012 To be confirmed
19 Dec 2012 22 Dec 2012 Friday 11 Jan 2013 28 Jan 2013 To be confirmed
19 Dec 2012 22 Dec 2012 Saturday 12 Jan 2013 28 Jan 2013 To be confirmed
NOTES:
Registration for all NBT test sessions opens 2 April 2012.
Additional dates may be added after September 2012.
The venues will be announced on the NBT website (www.nbt.ac.za) by the end
of February 2012.
Take note that there will not be test opportunities on all the test dates at all venues.
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APPENDIX B
REGISTRATION PROCESS
The number of seats at the test venues is reserved according to the number of paid registrations, and test
material is sent to the venues on the same basis. It is therefore essential that candidates both register and
pay to ensure a place for themselves at the test session.
Steps to be followed for registration
Candidates register on the Internet via a computer or cell phone. Registration is not complete until
payment has also been made.
(i) REGISTRATION
Via computer
Go to the NBT website, www.nbt.ac.za and click on ‘Register to Write’.
Follow the instructions.
After having clicked on ‘Submit’, a letter confirming registration (with an EasyPay barcode) is
made available for downloading and immediate printing.
Via cell phone
Go to the NBT website, www.nbt.ac.za in the same way as for MXit or Facebook.
After importing your personal information, you can obtain your NBT registration letter and
EasyPay barcode in one of the two following ways:
1. Type in your e-mail address. The letter will be sent to you for downloading and printing at a later
stage.
2. If you have immediate access to a computer and printer, go back to www.nbt.ac.za, log on with
your ID number and print out the letter.
(ii) PAYMENT
Take your NBT registration letter to your nearest EasyPay pay point and pay your test fee (a list of
pay points is available from www.NNT.ac.za).
Or go to the EasyPay website, www.easypay.co.za, pay your test fee on the website and print out
your proof of payment.
Candidates must show both their registration letter and their proof of payment at the test venue on the
day of their test session to be allowed to write their NBTs.
(iii) CHANGE OF REGISTRATION TO ANOTHER TEST DATE
Registration for NBTs is specific to the date and centre selected. As soon as candidates have registered,
they may not make ANY changes. If candidates nonetheless want to change their test dates, they must
both register and pay again.
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APPENDIX C
PROGRAMMES AND REQUIRED TEST COMBINATIONS
Faculty
Faculties and programmes that
require the AQL (language and
numerical skills) as well as MAT
(Mathematics)
Faculties and programmes that
require only the AQL
(language and numerical skills)
Agrisciences
Economic and
Management
Sciences
All programmes, except BAgric of
Elsenburg
All programmes
BAgric of Elsenburg
None
Health Sciences
MB,ChB
B in Occupational Therapy
BSc in Dietetics
BSc in Physiotherapy
B in Speech-Language and Hearing
Therapy
Engineering All programmes None
Science All programmes None
Law
BAccLLB
BComm (Law)
BA (Law)
LLB (four-year programme)
Arts and Social
Sciences
None
All programmes
Theology None All programmes
Education None BEd (General Education)
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