Lviv Lyceum Graduate’s Mother Exposes NMT Pitfalls
Oksana Klak, whose daughter Sofia Klak scored a perfect 200 points in three subjects on Ukraine’s National Multi-Subject Test (NMT), has shared insights into the exam’s hidden challenges. Sofia is a graduate of Lviv Lyceum No. 81, named after Petro Sahaidachny. Oksana attributes her daughter’s success to consistent preparation and a strong school education. Currently, many prospective students are discussing how the 2025 NMT has become significantly more difficult compared to earlier years.
The NMT is the direct successor to the External Independent Evaluation (ZNO), which was fully implemented in 2008. The Ukrainian Center for Educational Quality Assessment (UCEQA) was responsible for developing and administering the test. Previously, ZNO scores served as the primary criterion for university admissions. According to Oksana Klak, however, this year’s graduates are encountering various obstacles.
Key Pitfalls of the NMT
Among the main traps in the test, she highlighted the complex wording of questions. As examples, Oksana Klak pointed out:
- tasks requiring identification of parts of speech;
- tasks focused on finding lexical errors.
She noted that when identifying parts of speech, students must consider not only the highlighted word itself but also the context in which it is used. Another critical aspect is the phrasing of tasks, such as 'determine which row contains all correctly written words' or 'all correctly written except.'
Graduates have been complaining about the specific nature of the questions and the intense psychological pressure experienced during the exam. According to Oksana Klak, these factors can negatively affect test results. All these circumstances highlight the importance of thorough preparation for the NMT and the need to address the new challenges facing applicants.
The increased difficulty of NMT tests compared to previous years may reflect changes in how applicants’ knowledge is assessed. These changes might aim to raise the level of youth preparedness for higher education, but they also introduce new hurdles that can impact students’ scores and stress levels during exams. This underscores the need to adapt educational programs to new requirements and support students in their test preparation journey.
As the challenges of the NMT become more pronounced, it's essential to learn from those who have successfully navigated the exam. A perfect score can seem unattainable, but understanding effective preparation methods can make a significant difference. For insights on how another Lviv graduate achieved her remarkable results and the strategies she employed, explore her preparation techniques that could help future test-takers.