Admissions 2026: Oldest registered NMT participant is over 70 years old

The number of people wishing to take the national multi-subject test has increased significantly in Ukraine: this year, 355,000 people registered for the National Multidisciplinary Test (NMT) (including a 70-year-old applicant), compared to 317,000 last year.

Tetiana Vakulenko, director of the Ukrainian Center for Educational Quality Assessment, reported this on Ukrinform’s program “Ye Rozmova.”

“This year we have some rather interesting data, as 355,000 people registered during the main registration period. For example, last year there were 317,000 applicants. We have a significantly larger number of potential NMT participants,” she noted.

According to Vakulenko, 18,500 applicants plan to take the test abroad this year.

“For example, last year there were 317,000 applicants. This means we have a significantly larger number of potential participants in the National Multidisciplinary Test. And abroad last year, up to 20,000 applicants were expected to take the assessment, but in reality, up to 16,000 applicants actually took it. This year, there are 18,500 registered applicants,” explains Vakulenko.

The Assessment Center has also recorded a significant increase in the number of participants compared to previous years. This year, there are over 100,000 people who have already completed their general secondary education. “Many of them are last year’s graduates who want to try their luck again or improve their scores,” explained Vakulenko.

At the same time, there are also older participants. The oldest registered NMT participant this year is over 70 years old. “This year, our oldest participant is over 70 years old. I hope this is still for admission, but perhaps it’s, for example, to support her grandchildren—I don’t know. The experience of our 70+ participant shows that even a poor result isn’t a death sentence,” emphasized the director of the Ukrainian Center for Educational Quality Assessment (UCEQA).

Read also: No fundamental systemic changes to NMT planned – Vakulenko

According to Vakulenko, the UCEQA also has not observed a mass exodus of applicants abroad, as Ukrainians have the opportunity to take the NMT both in Ukraine and in 33 countries around the world.

As reported by Ukrinform, the main NMT sessions in Ukraine will take place from May 20 to June 25, with additional sessions from July 17 to 24.