NBT AQL exam-day guide
NBT AQL · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Test confirmation / admission letter
Bring the confirmation you received when you registered, in whatever format your provider issues it (printed copy is safest). Confirm with the provider whether a digital copy on your phone is accepted, since some venues require paper.
Valid original identity document
Bring the original ID document or passport you used when registering - the name must match your registration exactly. Confirm with the provider which document types are accepted and whether a certified copy is permitted if the original is unavailable.
Two or more HB pencils and an eraser
Multiple-choice answers are usually marked by filling in bubbles on an answer sheet, so bring spare sharpened pencils, a good eraser and a sharpener. Needs_review: confirm with the provider whether answers are marked on a separate sheet or in the question booklet.
A blue or black pen
You may need a pen to complete the cover/details section of the booklet or answer sheet. Bring one even if the test itself is pencil-only.
Venue, date and arrival time details
Write down the exact campus, building, room and reporting time the day before, and confirm the reporting time with the provider - arriving early is expected and late arrivals may not be admitted.
No calculator or formula sheet
This test is designed to be answered without a calculator or reference sheet. Needs_review: confirm with the provider which items are prohibited in the test room before you pack.
Phone switched off and stowed
Plan to switch your phone off (not silent) and store it out of reach as instructed. Smart watches and fitness bands should also be removed.
Water and a snack for afterwards
The session is long and mentally demanding. Check with the provider whether drinks or snacks are allowed at your desk during the test; if not, keep them for after.
Glasses, contact lenses or other personal aids
Bring whatever you normally need to read comfortably, plus any prescription medication you may require during the session. Confirm with the provider in advance if you need to bring medication into the room.
Pre-approved accommodation documentation
If you require extra time or other arrangements, this must be applied for and approved before test day. Confirm with the provider what evidence is required; it cannot usually be arranged on the day.
Transport and backup transport plan
Confirm the route, travel time and a backup option (lift, shuttle, taxi number, fare in cash). Aim to be at the venue well before the reporting time to absorb delays.
Watch or time awareness plan
Confirm with the provider whether a plain analogue watch is permitted in the room and whether remaining time will be displayed or announced. Smart watches are almost certainly not permitted.
Plan the day
Re-read your registration confirmation and verify the venue, date and reporting time. Check that your ID document is valid and that the name on it matches your registration exactly. If anything is inconsistent, contact the provider immediately - do not wait until test day.
Familiarise yourself with the test format: it consists of an academic literacy component and a quantitative literacy component, each made up of multiple-choice questions based on short passages, tables, graphs and everyday numerical reasoning. Confirm the total duration and section structure with the provider and plan your pacing accordingly.
Do short, timed practice sets rather than long cramming sessions: 20–30 minutes of reading-and-reasoning questions, then 20–30 minutes of graph/table/percentage/ratio questions. Focus on accuracy under mild time pressure, not on learning new content.
Reset your sleep schedule so that you are awake and alert at the time the test starts. Arrange transport and, if you are travelling far, confirm accommodation.
Pack your bag: confirmation, ID, pencils, eraser, sharpener, pen, water, snack, glasses, and any pre-approved accommodation letter. Place it by the door.
Do a final light review only - remind yourself of the two components, the question types, and your time strategy. No new material, no all-nighters.
Charge your phone, set two alarms, check the weather and traffic forecast, and confirm your lift or transport booking. Eat a normal meal and go to bed at a reasonable hour.
Eat a proper breakfast and drink water. Dress comfortably in layers so you can adjust to room temperature. Leave earlier than you think you need to.
Report at the stated time, have your ID and confirmation ready for checking, switch your phone off and stow it, and use the bathroom before the session begins - you may not be able to leave during the test.
Listen carefully to the invigilator's instructions, check that your name and details on the booklet or answer sheet are correct, and read the printed instructions and timing information before you start answering.
Read each passage once for overall meaning, then go back to the lines the question refers to. Watch for questions asking what is implied, what is assumed, or what weakens/strengthens an argument. Eliminate clearly wrong options first, and do not let one difficult passage consume your time - mark it and return.
Read the question before studying the table or graph so you know what to look for. Estimate first, then check the options - most questions are designed so that rough reasoning eliminates several answers. Watch units, percentages versus percentage points, and whether a question asks for a rate, a total or a difference.
Check that every question has an answer recorded and that your answer sheet entries line up with the question numbers. Confirm with the provider in advance whether unanswered questions are scored as incorrect; if there is no penalty for a wrong answer, never leave a blank.
Rules to check
You must present a valid original identity document and your test confirmation at check-in. The name on the document must match your registration; if it does not, contact the provider before test day to correct it.
Arrive at the reporting time stated on your confirmation. Candidates who arrive late may not be admitted and may forfeit the fee - confirm the exact late-arrival policy with the provider.
Electronic devices, including phones, smart watches, calculators and earbuds, must be switched off and stored as instructed. Possession of unauthorised material in the test room may lead to your result being invalidated.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the test, do not look at another candidate's work, and do not remove test materials from the room. Follow all invigilator instructions immediately.
Breaks are usually limited because of the length of the session. Confirm with the provider whether any break is scheduled and whether you may leave the room during the test - plan to use the bathroom beforehand.
Results are used by universities alongside your school results as part of admission and placement decisions; they are not a pass/fail examination. Confirm with the provider how and when your results are released and whether they are sent directly to the universities you applied to.
If you are unwell on the day, or if something goes wrong during the session (a disruption, a misprinted paper, a timing problem), report it to the invigilator immediately and follow up with the provider in writing. Do not simply leave without raising it.
Do not assume any specific rule about calculators, dictionaries, scrap paper, extra time or re-marking. Confirm each of these directly with the provider before test day, since arrangements vary by test centre and registration category.