The National External Testing (NMT) in 2026 took place against the backdrop of sharp public debates. Despite the difficulties, the Ukrainian Center for Evaluation of Education Quality (UCEQO) assesses the results as successful. The head of the agency, Tatyana Vakulenko, emphasized in a comment to RBC-Ukraine that the conditions for conducting the exam were adapted to the realities of wartime.
Safety and equal access
According to the director of UCEQO, NMT is not just an exam, but a mechanism guaranteeing equal access to higher education under martial law. All stages of the organization of testing were developed taking into account current security threats.
The final decision on the format of NMT is made at the level of the relevant committee of the Verkhovna Rada and the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. After the format is approved, the Ministry of Education develops the necessary regulatory framework. UCEQO is convinced that the current system in 2026 is optimal and ensures fair conditions for all applicants.
Results of the main session
Statistics of the main session of 2026 demonstrate a high pass rate for the exam. Out of 275,934 participants, 85.09% crossed the threshold for four subjects. For those who did not have time or could not take the test on time, an additional session will start on July 17.
Why were there complaints?
An analysis of appeal applications and appeals from participants revealed that most complaints were related not to the content of the exam, but to external factors. The main reasons for dissatisfaction were force majeure circumstances:
- Security threats (alarms, shelling);
- Technical failures at testing centers.
UCEQO notes that regional centers for the evaluation of education quality have considered all incoming appeals and made reasoned decisions strictly in accordance with the regulatory framework of 2026.
