Walk into the NBT knowing exactly what to expect.
The National Benchmark Tests help decide university admission and placement. Our workshops make sure the first time you see the format isn’t on test day.
MAT Component Covered
Practice Papers Included
Timed Test Conditions
Taught by a Qualified Teacher
Online & In Person
What is the NBT — and why it matters
The National Benchmark Tests are written by learners applying to South African universities. Many institutions use the results for admission decisions, degree placement or to identify learners who need extra academic support. Our workshops focus on the Mathematics (MAT) component — the test that matters most for maths-intensive programmes, and the one preparation improves most.
Mathematics
- Grade 10–12 curriculum maths, tested in unfamiliar ways
- Problem-solving and insight, not just recall
- Multiple-choice format written under strict time pressure
- No calculator — technique and number sense are everything
New workshop dates will be announced soon. Contact us to be first in line.
What the workshop covers
A structured programme that takes learners from “what even is the NBT?” to writing with calm confidence.
Know the test
Format, timing, question styles and scoring — everything demystified so there are no surprises on the day.
Revise the maths that matters
Targeted revision of the Grade 10–12 topics the MAT leans on hardest — functions, algebra, trigonometry, geometry and more.
Master strategy & timing
Multiple-choice tactics, pacing plans, when to skip and return, and how to work without a calculator under pressure.
Practise under real conditions
Timed practice papers written under test conditions, followed by detailed feedback on exactly where marks were won and lost.
How the workshop runs
The full programme runs over two intensive sessions — 7 hours in total — ahead of the national NBT test dates each year, online and in person.
MAT Content Intensive
NBT orientation — format, scoring and strategy — then targeted revision of the high-mark topics: algebra, functions, graphs and number sense, all in the NBT’s multiple-choice, no-calculator style.
3.5 hours
Advanced Topics + Timed Practice
Trigonometry, geometry, probability and the trickier problem-solving styles — then a timed practice paper under test conditions with worked feedback and a final strategy debrief.
3.5 hours
New workshop dates will be announced soon. Contact us to be first in line.
Why learners leave the workshop confident
The NBT catches strong learners off guard because it tests familiar maths in unfamiliar ways. Preparation closes that gap.
- No format shock. Learners have already seen the question styles, the pacing and the pressure before the real thing.
- Sharper university applications. Stronger NBT results support admission and placement into competitive programmes.
- Matric revision built in. Preparing for the MAT doubles as high-value revision for the final maths exams.
- Workshop-tested teaching. Hosted by Nabeela Hoorzook — a qualified maths teacher with 13 years of experience and a track record of NBT workshops.
Practise the way you'll be tested
Workshop learners work through NBT-style questions that mirror the real tests — the question styles, the multiple-choice format, the no-calculator rule and the clock. Every paper is followed by worked feedback, so learners understand not just what the right answer was, but why — and how to find it faster next time.
- NBT-style MAT practice papers
- Written under timed, test-day conditions
- Fully worked feedback after every paper
NBT Practice Questions
- A. x = 1 or x = 3
- B. x = −1 or x = −3
- C. x = 2 only
- D. x = 4 only
Timed
Test-day conditions
NBT questions, answered
Who should attend the NBT Workshop?
Any learner applying to a South African university that requires or recommends the NBT — typically matric learners, though strong Grade 11s preparing early are very welcome. If your target programme is maths-intensive, the MAT preparation is especially valuable.
When should learners write the NBT?
Test sittings run at various points through the year, and universities have their own deadlines for receiving results. Check the requirements of the universities you’re applying to, then book your NBT sitting — and your workshop — well ahead of that date. We’re happy to help you plan the timing.
Is the workshop online or in person?
Both. In-person workshops run in Johannesburg, and the full programme is also available live online for learners anywhere in South Africa — same content, same practice papers, same feedback.
Can the MAT really be prepared for?
Absolutely. The MAT tests curriculum maths, but in unfamiliar, multiple-choice, no-calculator formats that reward familiarity and strategy. Learners who have practised the style, sharpened their number sense and rehearsed their timing consistently perform closer to their true ability.
How big are the workshop groups?
Groups are deliberately kept small so every learner gets individual feedback on their practice papers. Because of this, workshops do fill up — enquire early to secure a seat for the next intake.