By Gautam Bawa
This October, the MBA entrance exam season kicks off with the NMAT by GMAC, IIFT and CAT exams. In the coming six weeks, it is of critical importance to reassess and consolidate our exam taking strategy. NMAT by GMAC, being the season-starter, is the first exam in the sequence. Here are a few enlightening points regarding the NMAT by GMAC exam.
More about NMAT by GMAC
NMAT by GMAC is a fairly unique exam. The highlights of the exam have been listed below:
- No negative marking in the exam.
- Two retakes allowed after your first attempt.
- Sectional time limits wherein you are expected to solve questions at a speed better than 1 question per minute
- Also, a candidate is allowed to choose the order in which the paper can be attempted (which section should be section 1, which should be section 2 and so on).
More about NMIMS
NMIMS runs three campuses in India. Its oldest campus (and the most reputed of the three) is in Mumbai. NMIMS has also established campuses in Bangalore and Hyderabad. NMAT by GMAC scores are accepted by various top-notch B-Schools like ICFAI Business School (IBS), VIT University, Shiv Nadar University to name a few.
Who should write the NMAT by GMAC?
Explore popular MBA colleges for you
NMAT by GMAC should be one of the top, non-IIM, choices for students aspiring to pursue a career in the BFSI sector, as NMIMS witnesses the maximum placements in this sector. Apart from this, NMIMS is an exam that should be written by every serious MBA aspirant.
With the privilege of taking three attempts in one exam season, NMAT by GMAC gives the candidate enough chances to prove competency. No negative marking gives the candidates a cushion to experiment and take risks with quite a few questions.
Also, it always makes sense to take an official online exam before CAT. This will be a good experience before you face your biggest test.
One caveat that must be put out is that getting into NMIMS has become extremely expensive. The fee is as follows:
| Service |
Fee |
| Test Registration (Early) |
Rs 2000 + applicable taxes |
| Test Registration (Late) |
Rs 2500 + applicable taxes |
| Retake |
Rs 2000 + applicable taxes |
| Reschedule |
Rs 1100 + applicable taxes |
| Additional Score Reports (beyond first seven) |
Rs 200 per Score Report + applicable taxes |
If a candidate does go for more than one attempt, he/she shall be investing a huge sum of money even before taking admission in the B-school.
A smart way would be to prepare well, be confident and clear the cutoff in one or at max two attempts. 215+ will always be a very safe score. 220+ should ensure conversions. All the Best!!
About the Author
Gautam Bawa is an IIM C Alumni & MBA Head at Career Launcher.
About Career Launcher
Career Launcher is one of Asia's leading edu-corporate, with focus on diverse segments of education, and across learners of multiple age-groups. Led by a team of IIT-IIM alumni, with a passion for excellence in education, CL Educate Ltd. has shaped the lives and careers of millions of students in the eighteen years of its existence.
News & Updates
Explore Other Exams
Jul '26 | IBSAT 2026 Registration |
27 Dec '26 - 28 Dec '26 | IBSAT 2026 Exam Date |
Jul '26 | XAT 2027 registration dates |
Sep '26 | XAT 2027 mock test |
8 Mar '26 | MAT Feb 2026 CBT |
5 Mar '26 | MAT Feb 2026 CBT admit card |
9 Jan '26 | SNAP 2025 result announcement |
20 Dec '25 | SNAP 2025 session 3 |
7 Apr '26 - 8 Apr '26 | MAH MBA CET 2026 exam |
9 May '26 | MAH MBA CET 2026 exam 2 |
10 Mar '26 - 28 Mar '26 | GE & PI |
Apr '26 | MICAT Final Results |
17 Oct '24 - 5 Dec '24 | IIFT 2025 registration and app... |
5 Aug '26 - 23 Sep '26 | CAT 2026 application |
29 Nov '26 | CAT 2026 exam |
17 Feb '26 | CMAT 2026 result |
31 Jan '26 - 2 Feb '26 | CMAT 2026 exam answer key obje... |
Mar '25 | IRMASAT 2025 Final Result Anno... |
Feb '25 | IRMASAT Personal Interviews |
Student Forum
Answered 6 days ago
Yes, students have to apply separately for NMIMS MBA admission after NMAT results are out. Students must go to the NMIMS website and register online. To submit the form, candidates have to provide documents and application fees.
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 weeks ago
The maximum scaled score a candidate can achieve in the NMAT exam is 360 marks. Since there are 108 questions and each correct answer carries three marks, the total score ranges between 36 and 360.
V
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 3 weeks ago
The NMAT exam consists of three distinct sections. These sections are Language Skills, Quantitative Skills, and Logical Reasoning. Each of these three sections has equal weightage and contains exactly 36 questions for candidates to solve.
D
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 3 weeks ago
In the NMAT exam marking scheme, candidates are awarded three marks for each correct objective-type question. There is no negative marking for incorrect attempts, but zero marks are deducted for any unattempted questions during the online test.
N
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 3 weeks ago
The total duration of the NMAT exam is 120 minutes. NMAY has a sectional time limit with 28 minutes for Language Skills, 40 minutes for Logical Reasoning, and 52 minutes for the Quantitative Skills section.
R
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 3 weeks ago
The NMAT exam pattern features 108 objective-type questions to be completed in 120 minutes. It is a computer-based test divided into three equal sections: Language Skills, Quantitative Skills, and Logical Reasoning, each containing exactly 36 questions.
B
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 3 weeks ago
Yes, candidates can efficiently prepare using the books recommended for CAT exam preparation or any other MBA entrance exam. The syllabus for these entrance exams is mostly similar, covering Language Skills, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Skills.
S
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 3 weeks ago
Based on test-taker feedback, the NMAT exam is moderate to tough. It focuses heavily on speed, accuracy, and basic conceptual understanding. Almost all candidates find the NMAT exam easier than CAT, and its difficulty is comparable to SNAP
A
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 3 weeks ago
Yes, candidates can prepare for NMAY exam in one month by planning a focused approach. Practice the free NMAT question paper, analyse your weak areas, and divide your time to cover one section per week, leaving the final week for revision
J
Contributor-Level 7

