UNT-2025: THE MAIN TESTING PHASE STARTED IN KAZAKHSTAN

Today, May 16, began the main UNT-2025, which will last until July 7. On the first day of testing, Gulzat Kobenova, Chairperson of the Committee for Higher and Postgraduate Education of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan, visited one of the testing centers in Astana and wished the applicants good luck.

All applicants were given the opportunity to pass the main UNT twice and participate in the grant competition with the best result. At the same time they could choose only one combination of profile subjects for two attempts.

About 216 thousand applicants applied to take part in the test, taking into account two attempts, about 399 thousand applications were accepted (in 2024 – 186 thousand applicants, taking into account two attempts, there were 342 thousand applications). Of these, 75% of those taking the UNT expressed a desire to take the test in the Kazakh language, about 25% – in Russian, 266 people – in English.

“When applying applicants independently determined the date, time and place of testing. On the first day of the UNT across the country, 4,589 people are testing, including 323 applicants in the capital. The UNT is organized in 46 testing points. The most popular combination of profile subjects for several years remains “Mathematics-Physics” – it was chosen by 16.5% of entrants. This indicates the aspiration of applicants to the professions of engineers, teachers, power engineers, builders and other technical specialties. Next in popularity are combinations of “Biology-Chemistry” (15.6%), oriented to future medics, and “Mathematics-Informatics” (9.7%), attracting applicants interested in the IT-sector”, – said Gulzat Kobenova.

The number of subjects on UNT remains the same: three compulsory and two optional. The number of tasks – 120, including 20 on “History of Kazakhstan”, 10 on “Reading Literacy”, 10 on “Mathematical Literacy” and 40 on two specialized subjects. The maximum number of points is 140.

The testing time is 4 hours (240 minutes). For children with special educational needs there is an additional time – 40 minutes.

The Chairman of the Committee of Higher and Postgraduate Education emphasized that all necessary conditions for effective preparation for the UNT are created. In particular, an individual thematic analysis of results for each subject has been introduced. This allows graduates to quickly identify and purposefully work out their weaknesses after each passing of UNT (January or March). Moreover, even after the first test attempt, applicants have enough time to adjust their preparation and increase their chances of success during the second UNT.

In order to assess the level of readiness and adapt to the format of the exam, an online trial test is available. In addition, at the beginning of the school year, the National Testing Center’s website publishes all the necessary materials for preparation: a list of recommended textbooks; a detailed test plan; a list of 100 important historical dates in the history of Kazakhstan and world history; a glossary of terms in computer science; lists of literary works in Kazakh and Russian literature. All these resources are designed to provide applicants with a full set of tools for confident and successful preparation for the UNT.

In order to ensure academic integrity, each UNT participant will receive an individually generated test version. During the exam, the calculator, Periodic System of Chemical Elements and the table of solubility of salts will be available in the testing program. Additionally, paper versions of the tables will be provided to applicants for their convenience.

Appeals on the content of test tasks can be filed within 30 minutes after the end of testing, and for technical reasons can be filed during the test. The certificate with the results will be available in the personal cabinet after the appeal is considered. In the personal cabinet of the entrant displays information about the dates of the meeting of the Republican Appeals Commission. Withdrawal of the application for appeal is carried out in the personal cabinet before the meeting of the Republican Appeals Commission. When withdrawing the application for appeal within one working day in the personal cabinet of the entrant displays a certificate.

The threshold scores for admission remain the same: for “Law” and “Pedagogical Sciences” it is necessary to score at least 75 points, for “Health and Social Security (Medicine)” – at least 70 points; for admission to national universities – at least 65 points; for other universities – at least 50 points. – not less than 70 points; for admission to national universities – not less than 65 points, in other universities – not less than 50 points.

In order to ensure security and prevent violations, handheld and frame metal detectors will be used at the entrance to the testing to exclude the carrying of prohibited items, such as phones, cribs, etc.

In the testing classrooms there will be used devices to suppress mobile and electronic communication signals within the limits of permissible magnetic waves, as well as video surveillance.

After the completion of UNT-2025, until October 31, the video recordings will be analyzed. In case of revealing the use of prohibited items or other violations of the rules, the results of the UNT will be canceled.