Ukrainian Language on the NMT: How to Prepare

The NMT, Ukraine’s National Multi-Subject Test, is the entrance exam for Ukrainian colleges and universities, and the Ukrainian language section is required for everyone. Below is how the Ukrainian test is built, what it covers, how it is scored and how to prepare. All details refer to NMT 2026 and come from the website of the Ukrainian Center for Educational Quality Assessment (UCEQA); the center announces each new year’s rules separately.

What the NMT Is

Because of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the NMT is held instead of the traditional external independent testing (ZNO), and 2026 was its fifth year in a row. It is taken on a computer. In 2026, it covered four subjects: three required ones, namely Ukrainian, mathematics and the history of Ukraine, plus one elective. All four tests are taken on the same day in two 120-minute stages, with Ukrainian and mathematics in the first and the history of Ukraine and the elective in the second. Testing takes place at special temporary exam centers in Ukraine and abroad.

How the Ukrainian Test Works

• There are 30 tasks: 25 multiple-choice questions with one correct answer and 5 matching tasks (“logical pairs”).
• Each correct answer and each correctly matched pair earns 1 point, for a total of 0 to 45 test points.
• Test points are converted to a score on a 100–200 scale.
• There are no essay or open-ended written tasks, so participants see their test points as soon as they finish.

What It Covers

The tasks follow the ZNO program for Ukrainian, specifically its Ukrainian language part. Every section of the school course is represented in proportion:

• phonetics, graphics, orthoepy and spelling;
• lexicology and phraseology;
• word structure and word formation;
• morphology;
• syntax;
• stylistics and speech development, which get slightly less attention because of the computer format.

Since 2025, the tasks have reflected all the changes of the 2019 edition of Ukrainian Orthography. The updated standard that took effect on March 28, 2026, does not change the spelling rules; it clarifies wording, fixes inaccuracies and adds examples.

How to Prepare

1. Start with the program, since every NMT task follows the ZNO subject programs.
2. Study steadily and, after each topic, write down the key points, for example as a mind map.
3. Work through ZNO and NMT tests from past years, which are collected on the UCEQA website.
4. Find your gaps with short topic tests, such as those in the online testing tool of the Lviv Regional Center for Educational Quality Assessment.
5. Take the NMT 2026 sample test to learn how to split your time between subjects and see which topics need more work. Sample and practice versions are also available on the All-Ukrainian Online School platform.
6. Practice with the NMT practice tests on the iLearn platform, where you can track your progress and watch free webinars.

Keep in mind that Ukrainian and mathematics share one stage, with 120 minutes for both, so decide how to divide that time in advance, on the sample test. How to build a regular study routine is covered in How to Create an Optimal Schedule for Learning Ukrainian Online.

Our Ukrainian Course

In our Ukrainian course, students study grammar, learn to hold a conversation and understand spoken language, build their vocabulary and write messages, letters and essays. The teacher assesses each student’s level and builds an individual program. Lessons are open to students from age 5. A trial lesson costs $8: it is individual and lasts 45 minutes. More about the course is on the Ukrainian page.