Exam preparation

International English Language Testing System

required for universities in the UK, Australia, Canada and Europe, for work visas and for the Bolashak scholarship

0–9 band score, reported separately for four sections · 3–6 months from B1 to band 7.0

Test of English as a Foreign Language (iBT)

primarily required by universities in the US and Canada

0–120 points, 30 for each of four sections · 3–5 months to 100+ from B1–B2

Scholastic Assessment Test

required for US universities, and accepted by NU, KIMEP and other universities across Kazakhstan and Central Asia

400–1600 total: Math and Reading & Writing, 200–800 each · 4–8 months to 1400+

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

a school programme whose diploma is accepted by universities in most countries

up to 45 points: six subjects out of 7, plus 3 for TOK and the Extended Essay · a two-year programme; targeted preparation from 3 months

GCE Advanced Level

the British school programme and the main route into UK universities

grades A*–E in each chosen subject · a 1–2 year programme; exam preparation from 4 months

Advanced Placement

university-level courses taken at school: they earn US college credit

1–5 points per course · one school year per course

Unified National Testing (UNT)

mandatory for admission to Kazakhstani universities and for state grants

up to 140 points: compulsory subjects plus two specialised ones · 6–9 months to reach the grant range

Nazarbayev University Entrance Test

the entrance exam for the Nazarbayev University Foundation programme

Critical Thinking and Mathematics, up to 200 points combined · 5–8 months