NMAT 2015: Every detail you need to know about the exam

By Jaimin Shah

NMIMS Management Aptitude Test (NMAT) is an entrance test conducted by NMIMS for admission into various courses of Business Management Studies in (Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad Campus).

The test has already commenced. It will be conducted till December 20, 2014. The long test window provides candidates a convenience to choose a test date based on their comfort level. This is the only test which gives an opportunity to a student to take two retakes after first attempt to improve their scores, though it is not compulsory to take a retake. The best of three scores (considering sectional cut-offs are cleared) are considered by NMIMS for admissions.

Structure of NMAT paper

The paper pattern of the NMAT exam is more or less same every year and hence once can strategise in advance.

Every candidate who takes NMAT gets a unique question paper which is equally challenging. The test comprises of three sections viz; Language Skills, Quantitative Skills and Logical Reasoning. All three sections are individually timed. Language Skills has 32 questions to be attempted in 22 minutes, Quantitative Skills has 48 questions to be attempted in 60 minutes and Logical Reasoning has 40 questions to be attempted in 38 minutes. There are no negative marking in NMAT but students should note that it is important for them to perform well relative to other students in each of the 3 sections of the test as the score of each section and the overall score is used to shortlist the candidate for the second stage of the selection process.

Ideally, the candidate scores are declared in a span of 4-5 weeks after the exam. Their scores are normalised and equated to bring about parity and fairness. 

Feature of NMAT

• NMAT is more student-friendly as you can pre-decide the order of the sections you like to attempt. Although, once you select the section and start the test, you cannot change the order midway. 
• Each section is time bound but you can end your section before the schedule time. However, this time would not be added in the next section. Also the candidates are allowed to take breaks during the exam. But these breaks are time bound which means timer keeps on running. So, if you manage to finish a section before the scheduled time, you can utilize that time for your break. 
• Initially, you cannot review all questions at one go. You can review all questions only when you have reached the last question in that particular section. This means you cannot jump directly to the last question or in that case to any other question. But you go to previously seen questions by clicking previous button.
• When you start a group question, you don’t know how many questions that set has. This makes planning of attempts difficult.
• Highlighting the text in RC and DI is not allowed, so finding relevant data may become difficult. So, you need practice NMAT RC accordingly. 

Difficulty Level of NMAT

NMAT exam is of average difficulty. The time constraint is what makes it difficult. NMAT is more about speed than it is about accuracy (though accuracy is also important). Since there is no negative marking, you should ideally attempt all 120 questions within the two hours, which leaves you with one minute for each question. Focus on your speed and time management during the mock exams to achieve best results in the final exam.

Language skills

This section has two RC passages (300-400 words) with 4-5 questions each. Each passage usually has a good blend of reasoning, inferential and direct questions. You need to strengthen your grammar and vocabulary skills. Grammar questions are fairly simple wherein you simply need to apply basic rules. If you know words that you would find in novels or magazines or newspaper columns that will NOT help you to solve synonyms and antonyms based questions. You need to be really good at it. This section also has questions based on fill in the blanks (double, cloze and preposition based) and paragraph jumble. Ideally solve only one RC and then focus on rest of the questions and leave one RC for the end, and come back to solve it if time permits.

Difficulty: Easy to Average

Good attempts: 24-26 questions with 80% accuracy and remaining questions as blind attempts.

Quantitative skill

This section consisted of Data Interpretation (DI), Data Sufficiency (DS) and Quantitative Aptitude (QA) questions. Questions in QA are generally asked from almost every topic and are comparatively easier few tricky one. You should ideally attempt all QA and DS questions first and then if time permit solve DI questions as DI questions are very lengthy and time consuming with very close options. Also you should look at elimination of options if possible and then blind attempt that question.

Difficulty: Average to Difficult

Good attempts: 33-35 questions with 80% accuracy and remaining questions as blind attempts.

Logical Reasoning

About 10-12 questions are based on verbal reasoning (Conclusion, Inference, Assumption, Syllogism and strong & weak argument). If you have the basic idea about questions pertaining to arrangement, coding decoding, numerical grids, direction based, series, sequential input output etc topics which are part of logical reasoning than this section would be a cake walk. Also, this section can actually act as a booster to your overall score if your speed is very good. It is advisable to should stay away from Input-Output questions as in NMAT most often these questions take quite a lot of time.

Difficulty: Easy to Average

Good attempts: 30-32 questions with 80% accuracy and remaining questions as blind attempts.

Strategy

One should have the target in mind before practicing the mocks. If the trend of the level of difficulty of paper continues than the cut-off would more or less be the same. Last year’s cut-off is as under:

But one should always aim at around 220 marks overall, which should be possible if you plan your paper properly and practice your mocks accordingly.

Important tips

Avoid last minute hassle and ensure that you carry each of the following:

a) Primary ID

b) Secondary ID

c) Admit card

d) Confirmation Email

e) Photocopy of primary ID.

All The Best !!

About the author

Jaimin Shah is the author of Pearson textbook “Quantitative Aptitude for the CMAT and other MBA Entrance Examinations”. He is a telecom engineer by profession, graduated from Vidyavardhini's College of Engineering and Technology (University of Mumbai). He has more than six years of experience in teaching MBA aspirants. His book is designed for candidates who are appearing for various management entrance examinations.