Answer :
To distinguish between the Admission Point Score (APS) and the National Benchmark Test (NBT), let's break down what each of these terms means:
1. Admission Point Score (APS):
- The APS is calculated based on a student's performance in their final school examinations.
- It is a numerical score that universities and colleges in South Africa use to determine if a student qualifies for entry into their programs.
- The APS is derived from converting the marks a student scores in their school subjects into points. The higher the scores in the relevant subjects, the higher the APS.
- Each institution may have different requirements for the APS, depending on the course a student is applying for.
2. National Benchmark Test (NBT):
- The NBT is an assessment designed to evaluate a student's readiness for university-level education.
- It tests various skills through different sections: academic literacy, quantitative literacy, and mathematics.
- The purpose of the NBT is to provide additional context to a student's APS by assessing their potential to succeed in higher education.
- While the APS is based on high school performance, the NBT gives a broader insight into a student’s capabilities and learning outcomes.
In Summary:
- The APS is focused on past academic performance through school exams, while the NBT assesses future readiness and potential for higher learning.
- Both are used by South African higher education institutions to determine admission, but they serve different purposes: APS for eligibility based on marks, and NBT for assessing academic readiness.
1. Admission Point Score (APS):
- The APS is calculated based on a student's performance in their final school examinations.
- It is a numerical score that universities and colleges in South Africa use to determine if a student qualifies for entry into their programs.
- The APS is derived from converting the marks a student scores in their school subjects into points. The higher the scores in the relevant subjects, the higher the APS.
- Each institution may have different requirements for the APS, depending on the course a student is applying for.
2. National Benchmark Test (NBT):
- The NBT is an assessment designed to evaluate a student's readiness for university-level education.
- It tests various skills through different sections: academic literacy, quantitative literacy, and mathematics.
- The purpose of the NBT is to provide additional context to a student's APS by assessing their potential to succeed in higher education.
- While the APS is based on high school performance, the NBT gives a broader insight into a student’s capabilities and learning outcomes.
In Summary:
- The APS is focused on past academic performance through school exams, while the NBT assesses future readiness and potential for higher learning.
- Both are used by South African higher education institutions to determine admission, but they serve different purposes: APS for eligibility based on marks, and NBT for assessing academic readiness.