The Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, Oksen Lisovyi, has expressed his strong disagreement with a draft law that proposes to make mathematics optional in the National Multiple Subject Test (NMT) in 2027. He stressed that mathematics should remain a mandatory component of the NMT to confirm basic numeracy skills. Currently, the test follows the current scheme with three compulsory subjects.
- The Ministry of Education does not support the draft law on the optional mathematics at the NMT in 2027.
- The 2026 NMT follows last year's model with three compulsory subjects.
- An alternative draft law proposes mathematics as an elective subject only for specialised majors.
- The main NMT sessions will run until 25 June.
The Ministry of Education's position on the compulsory nature of mathematics at NMT
Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Oxen Forest opposed the draft law that would reduce the number of compulsory subjects in the national multi-subject test (NMT) in 2027. He stressed that mathematics remains a key subject for testing basic numeracy skills and should not become an optional subject. «Cancelling maths or history, removing them from the compulsory NMT subjects is absurd, it will not lead to any positive changes for us as a country,» Lisovyi said.
New legislative initiatives and their context
In the wake of discussions on social media about the difficulty of this year's mathematics tests, the chair of the Verkhovna Rada Subcommittee on Education, Yulia Hryshyna, together with a group of MPs, registered an alternative draft law No. 15254-1. It stipulates that in 2027, only the Ukrainian language and history of Ukraine will remain compulsory, and mathematics will be an optional subject for admission to specialised majors. This initiative contrasts with the government's draft law, which preserves the current NMT conditions.
Current NMT model and public debate
NMT 2026 This year's admission process follows last year's model: applicants take three compulsory subjects - Ukrainian language, mathematics, history of Ukraine - and one subject of their choice from the list. The main sessions will last until 25 June. Social media continues to discuss the complexity of the tasks, particularly in mathematics, compared to last year.
The role of NMT in the education and admissions system
The Minister stressed that the NMT is designed to confirm the basic competencies of reading, writing and arithmetic. Therefore, mathematics is an integral component that ensures an objective assessment of applicants' skills. According to Lisovyi, abolishing the compulsory nature of this subject will not improve the quality of education or the admission process.
Official reactions to criticism of NMT
In 2025, the Ukrainian Centre for Educational Quality Assessment (UCEQA) refuted information about the excessive complexity of the NMT, particularly in history, mathematics and English. The Centre also confirmed that the test tasks did not contain elements of international exams such as IELTS. This demonstrates efforts to maintain standards and transparency in the assessment system.
