A new Unified National Testing exam, to be called the Admission Insight Test, will include tasks assessing critical thinking, communication skills and artificial intelligence literacy. The announcement was made by Nursseit Baizhanov, director of the National Testing Center, according to infohub.kz.
The new format will consist of two parts. The first is subject tests in 14 specialized disciplines: the tasks will be updated in line with the state standard, with the emphasis shifting from simple recall of information to a deeper understanding of the material. The second is a skills test comprising five modules designed to assess academic writing, research skills, quantitative and digital literacy, and creative and design thinking.
Baizhanov noted, however, that subject knowledge remains crucial. The skills component is intended to complement, not replace, its assessment.
In April 2026, the National Testing Center and the international organization ETS conducted a study involving about 4,000 respondents, organized eight focus groups and four in-depth discussions in Astana. Universities, teachers and other participants in the education system are being involved in the development. The next stage will be piloting the AIT, scheduled for spring 2027.
Nursseit Baizhanov recalled that the National Testing Center is implementing the new UNT format (AIT) jointly with the international organization ETS. The project started in February 2026 and is designed to run until 2030. Its goal is to update approaches to entrance assessment in light of changes in the education system and the demands of the modern world.
"Knowledge is no longer scarce. Judgment is. An exam that tests the reproduction of knowledge today measures what AI does faster than an applicant," he concluded.
Earlier, Kursiv wrote that from 2027 Kazakhstan will gradually introduce a test that will become an alternative to the UNT. The Unified National Testing will be retained until the majority of applicants begin choosing the new format.
Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek said that artificial intelligence will be used in developing the test tasks. It will be involved in both composing and checking answers.