Kazakhstan launches new SAT-style exam to modernize university admissions
Kazakhstan Develops New National Test as Alternative to Unified National Testing (ENT)
Kazakhstan is developing a new national exam that, according to officials, will be recognized abroad and serve as an alternative to the current Unified National Testing (ENT). The project is estimated to cost around $3 million, Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek announced at a government briefing, as reported by our website.
The new exam will resemble international tests like the SAT but will be free for applicants, the minister said.
"It's like the SAT, but not the SAT. The SAT itself costs about $150–160 per attempt, which is a heavy financial burden. That's why our test will be free, like the ENT, and applicants will be able to take it multiple times. The project's current cost—developing the tests—amounts to about $3 million (roughly 1.5 billion tenge)," Nurbek stated.
The test is being developed by Educational Testing Service (ETS), a global leader in educational assessment. Funding for the exam's organization and administration will come not only from the state budget but also from the National Testing Center's own revenue.
"Around 80 percent of the funding will be covered by the National Testing Center through its own income. It earns about 1.5 billion tenge annually from practice tests," the minister noted.
The new format will differ significantly from the ENT. Unlike the current exam, which primarily assesses knowledge, the new test will also evaluate critical thinking and personal qualities.
"It consists of several sections: theoretical knowledge and an assessment of personal traits—leadership, perseverance, and attentiveness. The methodology is complex; it's an entire science," Nurbek explained.
At the same time, the minister emphasized that the ENT has played a crucial historical role in Kazakhstan's education system.
"The ENT has fulfilled its mission—it systematized the admissions process and largely eliminated corruption. In the 1990s, universities selected students independently, and the system was deeply flawed," he said.
The new exam will be introduced gradually, with no immediate plans to fully abandon the ENT.
"It will run in parallel with the ENT, giving applicants a choice. Over time, as the new format becomes widespread, we will phase out the old test," Nurbek added.
A pilot launch of the exam is scheduled for 2026, with full parallel testing alongside the ENT beginning in 2027. According to the minister, the new test's certificate will be valid not only for admission to Kazakhstani universities but also to foreign institutions. Meanwhile, existing exam security measures will remain in place.
"Regional testing centers are equipped with cameras and proctoring systems. We have no plans to abandon these safeguards for now," he said.
In 2026, the ENT format will remain unchanged, with 120 questions, a maximum score of 140 points, and a four-hour duration.
Authorities promise to implement changes incrementally, without placing additional burdens on applicants, allowing them to demonstrate not just knowledge but also their readiness to apply it in education and future careers.
In 2025, the ministry reported that Kazakhstan had already begun working with Educational Testing Service to reform the ENT format.
Acting Education Minister Gulzhanat Kobeeva clarified at the time that the current testing format would remain in place for now, but the new system would be rolled out gradually—first in a pilot phase starting in 2027, then expanded by 2029.
The new test is being designed in line with international standards and is intended to allow applicants to enroll not only in Kazakhstani universities but also in foreign institutions.
Science and Higher Education Minister Sayasat Nurbek had also noted that Kazakhstan could phase out the traditional Unified National Testing (UNT) if it "no longer serves its purpose."
