How long are ZNO results valid?

The answer matters to anyone planning to apply to Ukrainian universities now or in the coming years. The validity period of certificates shapes your strategy: whether you need to retake testing, which years you can combine, and when to submit documents.

In this article, we’ll clarify how the validity period is defined officially, when it’s better to retake a test, and which mistakes most often cost applicants a budget (tuition-free) seat. We’ll also show how the TeMa platform helps you prepare faster and more confidently.

What ZNO is and why result validity matters

ZNO (in recent years, admission relies on the NMT format) is standardized testing whose results universities recognize as competitive scores for admission. When you understand the rules in advance, it’s easier to plan a retake, choose substitute subjects, and build an achievements portfolio for specific majors.

It’s important not to confuse terms and to watch the wording: regulatory documents are updated every year, and they define the “shelf life” of NMT/ZNO certificates. For planning, it helps to keep an admissions calendar and mark deadlines for submitting applications and original documents. If you’re unsure about how to interpret the rules, it’s easiest to discuss details with a curator — TeMa can help: an expert will map your ZNO results to current university requirements and suggest a safe strategy.

Validity of ZNO results: official information

Each year the Ministry of Education and Science (MES) approves the Admission Procedure and explains which years’ NMT/ZNO results may be submitted. This is the key source of “official” information: it sets how many past years fall into the “window” of acceptable certificates for the current campaign. In recent years, this window has consistently covered several years.

As of the 2025 campaign, MES and sector sources indicate that universities accept NMT results from 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. The specific norm is fixed annually in the Admission Procedure, while the general principle — at least three years — is regularly confirmed in official comments.

How many years certificates are valid

The question “how long are ZNO results valid” basically comes down to the norm for a given year: the Admission Procedure defines the validity period. In recent cycles, the rule has been stable: results from several previous years — at least three — are valid. This means if you tested in 2022, your scores remain “usable” in 2025, and you may retake individual subjects to boost your composite score.

If you plan to apply 1–3 years after graduation, you don’t have to retake all subjects annually. It’s more efficient to improve one or two weak spots or rebuild your subject combination for a chosen major. If you’re unsure how to allocate effort, contact TeMa — together we’ll plan what to keep and what to retake.

When you need to retake testing

Retaking makes sense in three situations. First, your scores are objectively below the average cutoff for the target major — then even “valid” certificates won’t help; it’s better to improve them deliberately. Second, you’re changing tracks (say, from a humanities major to engineering) and need a different subject mix. Third, the validity for your target year is expiring, and certificates older than the allowed period aren’t accepted by the Admission Procedure. In practice, many applicants choose a “hybrid” strategy: keep strong subjects from previous years and retake only the weak ones.

Applicant mistakes: when a certificate no longer helps

Even “fresh” scores won’t guarantee success if typical mistakes are made. Most often, applicants underestimate the calendar (miss application submissions, fail to confirm priorities) or rely on last year’s cutoffs without noticing changes in competitive subjects/coefficients. There’s also the reverse: a year lost to unfocused self-study, leaving them a few points short of a budget seat. Below are two especially costly mistakes.

Lost time and missed admission opportunity

Time is the main nonrenewable resource. Some applicants hope to “make up” points with electives or motivation letters but miss university deadlines: submission, confirmation of applications, providing originals.

Sometimes, by the “hot” phase of admissions, you’re short 5–10 points in one subject and it’s too late to retake. The result is paid tuition or deferring admission by a year, losing money and motivation. To avoid this, start with a benchmark (where you stand vs. cutoffs), then build a prep calendar and “hedge” risky subjects.

Not knowing rule changes

Admission rules are updated every year: combinations of competitive subjects, emphasis on motivation letters, coefficients, and the list of admissible years all change. Because they don’t track such nuances, many miss a stronger major — simply because they didn’t apply to the right university or didn’t retake one necessary subject.

A common question — whether you can apply with last year’s ZNO results — is decided not by “tradition” but by the line in the Admission Procedure for that specific year: if your year is on the admissible list, yes; if not, you need a retake. To avoid parsing nuances alone, keep an expert nearby: a TeMa mentor will quickly cross-check your scores and the universities where they “work” this season, and advise where to add points with minimal time cost.

How the TeMa platform helps you prepare for ZNO

Preparing alone is hard: it’s easy to get lost in materials, waste hours, and underestimate weak spots. TeMa mitigates these risks: you prepare by a structured plan, see numeric progress, and get feedback from instructors with dozens of successful campaigns behind them. At TeMa we start with diagnostics — a short placement test and an interview resulting in a personal plan.

What you can use:

• Online courses in key subjects. Modular flow: theory → demonstration → trainer → error analysis. Content is updated to reflect task-format changes, and each module has “checkpoints” for quick pre-test refresh.
• One-to-one tutoring. The teacher works to your goals: tighten a specific topic, build a subject “from scratch,” or run an intensive to deadline. Lessons target your “pain points” — faster than generic courses.
• Practice tests and mock exams. Rehearsals under conditions close to official ones: timing, structure, scaling. We give a clear read of mock ZNO results and show how to map them to real cutoffs to set priorities.
• Progress analytics and retake advice. A personal dashboard visualizes where you gain/lose points; the system suggests whether it’s better to retake a subject or strengthen the current one.
• Subject mix for target majors. A mentor will assemble combinations for your target programs (and suggest safe “backup” options if cutoffs come in higher than expected).
• Deadline calendar and organizational support. Reminders for key admission dates, submission checklists, and review of applications and priorities.

With TeMa you get not just “lessons,” but a system that turns prep into a measurable plan with clear steps to day X. Need a consultation? Leave a request — an expert will contact you and offer a quick start.

Advantages of learning with TeMa over self-study

Self-study seems free but often proves costly due to mistakes and lost time. Without external expertise, it’s hard to gauge where you stand vs. cutoffs and how changes to the Admission Procedure affect your strategy. At TeMa, we bridge that gap.

What you get with us:

• Time saved on finding materials. We select up-to-date sources and tasks aligned with the year’s format. You spend time solving, not searching.
• Access to top instructors. Subject-matter experts with ZNO/NMT prep experience and clear methods for explaining difficult topics.
• Support through exam day. Your mentor doesn’t disappear after the course: together you polish weak spots, build momentum before the exam, and set a Plan B.
• Individual retake strategy. If your certificates are formally valid but competition is tight, we’ll recommend pinpoint retakes of the “highest-impact” subjects.
• Motivation and discipline. Regular meetings, weekly goals, and reports — all of this keeps pace and reduces procrastination.
• Assistance with document submission. Checklists for applications, priorities, deadlines, and final steps — so bureaucracy doesn’t cost you a chance.

With TeMa you follow a roadmap and miss neither points nor deadlines. Want to see how it looks for your major? Message TeMa — we’ll craft a plan and assemble your teaching team.

Takeaways: use ZNO results on time and prepare with TeMa

Don’t postpone decisions: assess your current level, check whether your ZNO results fall within the window of valid years, and decide which subjects are worth retaking. If you want to reduce risk and speed up prep, join TeMa — we’ll help plan your strategy, strengthen weak spots, and get you to your target scores without extra detours.