NMT-2027: UACO clarifies test format — tasks will be based on the current ZNO programs

The Ukrainian Assessment and Quality Control Center (UACO) is continuing its work on the model of the National Multi-Subject Test (NMT) for applicants entering in 2027. According to data obtained from primary sources, the NMT-2027 tasks will be based on the current external independent assessment (ZNO) programs for all subjects. In terms of content, they will be similar to the tasks previously used during the ZNO. However, the final format of the test has not yet been approved at the time of preparing this material: the specific forms and number of test items, the time allowed to complete the test, and the scoring schemes for individual items have not yet been determined.

Why the ZNO programs will be retained for 2027 applicants

Under current legislation, changes to assessment programs must be approved no later than a year and a half before the corresponding exams are held. This is why the current ZNO programs will apply to those entering in 2027. This means that graduates preparing to enter universities will not encounter fundamentally new content in the tasks: the structure and themes of the tests will remain within the framework of what has already been established in the external assessment system over the past few years.

One-day or two-day model: what UACO is discussing

One of the key issues currently under consideration by UACO is the duration of the NMT. Previously, the decision on a one-day assessment model was made by a team of specialists who spoke about the possible risks of this model. “We can ensure it technologically and procedurally,” explained UACO Director Tetyana Vakulenko in a comment to RBC-Ukraine. At the same time, the body is considering a two-day format for the NMT: technologically, UACO is capable of providing it, however, in that case, applicants would have to come to temporary examination centers twice. Such a format could create additional difficulties for applicants located in temporarily occupied territories, in combat zones, or abroad.

Retake option and other changes

In addition to the format of administration, UACO is discussing the possibility of allowing applicants to retake the test before the start of the admissions campaign. This could become a significant concession for those participants who, for one reason or another, will not be able to pass the NMT successfully on the first attempt. At the same time, according to Tetyana Vakulenko, the number of subjects and the content of the tasks are not planned to be changed. The final model of the NMT-2027 still needs to be processed and approved, so all current discussions are of a preliminary nature.

Context: results of NMT-2026 and the president's position

The discussion of the NMT-2027 format is taking place against the backdrop of the results of the recent session. More than 48,500 participants of the NMT-2026 failed to reach the threshold score in at least one subject, and almost 40,000 applicants did not pass mathematics. These figures indicate the continuing difficulty of certain disciplines and the need for careful development of the assessment model. In late summer 2026, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on the Ministry of Education and Science to review the format of the NMT-2027 in order to reduce the burden on graduates amid the ongoing war. This statement, in essence, set the direction for further discussions at UACO and the Ministry of Education.

Contradictory data

No direct factual contradictions between UACO's statements and the data on the results of the NMT-2026 have been recorded in the provided sources. At the same time, there is a certain inconsistency in the emphasis: on the one hand, the body emphasizes that it does not plan to change the number of subjects or the content of the tasks, while on the other hand, the presidential directive to review the format may imply broader changes in the organization of the exam. Moreover, although UACO states its readiness to provide a two-day format, it simultaneously points to risks for certain categories of applicants, which creates a contradiction between the technical feasibility and the practical expediency of such a decision. The final model will be approved later, and until that moment, any details may be adjusted.