NMT-2026: What to Do During Air Raid Alerts, Technical Failures, or Internet Outages

The Ministry of Education and Science explained what to do during air raid alerts, technical failures, or internet outages during NMT-2026.

The NMT is an important stage in the life of every person who has decided to enter a higher education institution. In wartime conditions, organizing and taking the national multidisciplinary test requires special attention. The state must ensure decent and accessible conditions for all participants in the process.

They reminded that there is a clear procedure for each applicant in case of unusual situations, including technical difficulties during the test.

"Regarding the situation that occurred during testing in the Odesa region. If an air raid alert lasts more than two and a half hours (cumulatively over two testing stages), those responsible for the temporary examination centers (TEC), together with the regional center, decide on the advisability of continuing the testing.

In this case, the responsible persons at the TEC offered participants to complete the assessment and submit an application to participate in an additional session. 105 participants made such decisions and submitted the corresponding applications. At the same time, approximately 1,000 participants insisted on continuing the testing. Some institutions on their own initiative provided participants with additional water and food or organized access for parents to deliver food or drinks to the applicants. No complaints were received from test participants or their parents.

Regarding the situation that occurred during the NMT on June 1 at Vinnytsia Lyceum No. 22, there was a broad public discussion. Currently, the appeal of an applicant regarding technical difficulties and the possibility of taking the NMT during an additional session has been reviewed by the Vinnytsia Regional Center for Educational Quality Assessment. The final decision on her admission to the additional session will be made by the Ukrainian Center for Educational Quality Assessment.

The Ministry of Education and Science also explained how to act if there was a massive shelling the day before the test, an air raid alert was announced during the NMT, or technical failures occurred.

Shelling Before the Test

If applicants, after a night of shelling or prolonged air raid alert, realize they cannot come to the test due to deteriorated health and psycho-emotional state, they can submit an application to the regional center for educational quality assessment within three working days requesting the opportunity to take the NMT during additional sessions.

The relevant decision will be made by the regulatory commission at the regional center for educational quality assessment.

Air Raid Alert During Testing

If an air raid alert is announced before the start of the NMT, testing and participant access will begin after the all-clear. We recommend staying in shelter during the alert. The start of the NMT will be postponed.

If an air raid alert is announced during the NMT, TEC staff and participants must go to the shelter.

Participants’ work will be blocked, and their answers saved.

After the air raid alert ends, participants can return to their seats and continue testing.

Important:

• If the air raid alert lasts less than two and a half hours (cumulatively for both testing stages), participants will be able to continue completing the NMT tasks;
• If the air raid alert during the NMT lasts more than two and a half hours (cumulatively over two testing stages), the person responsible for the TEC together with the regional center will decide on the advisability of continuing the testing;
• If a decision is made not to continue testing, participants must submit an application requesting the opportunity to take the NMT during additional sessions. This can be done either before leaving the TEC through the responsible person (the application can be handwritten, and a sample should be available at the TEC) or independently within three working days from the day of the main session in which they were supposed to participate, sent to the regional center for educational quality assessment in the area where the testing took place.

Decisions regarding suspension, resumption, or possible early termination of testing, as well as possible participation in an additional session, are communicated to applicants by TEC staff, who also provide explanations about the further procedure and actions participants must follow.

In many regions of Ukraine, especially where air raid alerts are frequent, TECs are located in shelters. This ensures the safety of all participants during testing and prevents interruption of this important process.

Poor Health of the Applicant

If an applicant feels unwell during the NMT, he/she must inform the instructor present in the room. If further testing is impossible, the participant must submit an application through the TEC responsible person or within three working days to the regional center requesting the opportunity to take the NMT during additional sessions. It is important that information about the health condition is recorded in the TEC documents.

Technical Problems

In case of no internet access, power outage, or other technical failures in the testing service, the instructor in the room stops the test time — this can be for the entire room or an individual participant.

After the issue is resolved, the lost time will be added to the test time.

If the problem cannot be resolved, testing will be terminated early by decision of the TEC responsible person and in agreement with the regional center. In this case, participants also have the right to submit an application requesting the opportunity to take the NMT during additional sessions. This can be done either before leaving the TEC or sent to the regional center.

Important: If you are an NMT participant and believe that a procedure violation occurred during testing, you have the right to submit an appeal, indicate the violation you believe took place, and request the opportunity to participate in an additional session.

The application must be submitted on the day of the NMT before leaving the TEC through the responsible person.

Recall that the air raid alert in the Odesa region effectively disrupted the normal conduct of the NMT — children had to stay in shelters for almost 13 hours.

The Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets noted that information about gross violations during the organization of testing at one of the examination centers was received by the Representative Office in the Odesa region.

"Due to constant stops, the procedure lasted from 09:00 AM to about 10:00 PM — more than 13 hours of continuous stress for the children," he said.

According to participants, during this entire time they were not even provided with basic conditions — access to water and food. Communication with parents was significantly limited.

Only thanks to the personal initiative of teachers and parents were participants able to gain access to drinking water and food.

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