NMAT Syllabus 2026: Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) will set the NMAT question paper using the NMAT 2026 syllabus. Candidates can find the details in the NMAT syllabus on the official exam website, mba.com/nmat. Additionally, candidates can find details for the topics in the NMAT 2026 exam here. NMAT exam syllabus has questions from three sections, namely Language Skills, Quantitative Skills and Logical Reasoning. Candidates must prepare for the exam using the NMAT syllabus and exam pattern. Scroll down for more details on NMAT 2026 syllabus, along with the NMAT books, test structure, and prep tips.
Also Check: Shiksha Polls: 73% Favour Self Study for NMAT Preparation
- NMAT 2026 Syllabus PDF
- NMAT 2026 Syllabus for Language Skills
- NMAT 2026 Syllabus for Quantitative Skills
- NMAT 2026 Syllabus for Logical Reasoning
- NMAT 2026 Exam Pattern Overview
- NMAT Preparation Tips 2026
- FAQs on NMAT Syllabus
NMAT 2026 Syllabus PDF
As per the NMAT exam structure, candidates are required to answer 108 questions within 2 hours. NMAT syllabus is divided into three sections, namely Quantitative Skills, Logical Reasoning, and Language Skills. Each section has 36 questions.
GMAC does not release a PDF file for NMAT syllabus. However, we have created a PDF file for NMAT syllabus with topics that appeared in the past exam sessions. Download NMAT syllabus PDF below:
NMAT 2026 syllabus comprises three sections. Get section-wise NMAT syllabus PDF here.
Download NMAT 2026 Syllabus PDF
Commonly asked questions
Candidates must start early and make a study plan based on the NMAT pattern along with the syllabus. Candidates must clear their concepts in all three subjects, practice mock exams, solve previous year papers, and use official GMAC prep materials for an optimal strategy.
The NMAT logical reasoning syllabus covers a mix of analytical and critical thinking topics. Candidates must prepare for the following topics:
- Coding and Decoding
- Puzzles
- Series
- Arrangement
- Multi-dimensional arrangements
- Family Tree
In addition to the above topcis, questions from Numeric Grid, Syllogisms, Statement Conclusions, Course of Action, Critical Reasoning, Calendars, Strong and Weak Arguments, and Blood Relations are also included. All the topics under the NMAT logical reasoning syllabus will assess logical decision-making and reasoning ability of the test taker.
All sections of NMAT exam hold equal importance as the weighatge in terms of number of questions, and marks are similar across sections. Therefore, no particular section out of three sections hold additional importance. Candidates must prepare for all three sections based on the NMAT syllabus. However, candidates must work on theIr speed as the NMAT exam will have sectional weightage. Although all three sections have equal number of questions, each section has an unidentical time limit to answer these questions.
NMAT 2026 Syllabus for Language Skills
The language skills section of the NMAT by GMAC exam tests a candidate's knowledge of the English language. Check the detailed syllabus for Language Skills section for NMAT 2026:
| NMAT Language Skills Syllabus |
|
|---|---|
| English Grammar & Vocabulary |
|
| English Usage |
Fill in the Blanks |
| Synonyms & Antonyms |
Idioms, Phrases, Clauses |
| Sentence Error/Correction |
Word Meaning |
| Statement correction |
|
Commonly asked questions
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.
NMAT syllabus is precribed by Graduate Management Admission Council, the conducting body of the exam, prescribes the NMAT syllabus. GMAC releases the NMAT syllabus on the official website. Besides the NMAT exam structure and section wise syllabus, candidates can also find practice questions and study materials on the GMAC website. Candidates must strictly adhere to the official syllabus prescribed by GMAC to prepare for the NMAT exam.
Besides NMAT, GMAC develops standardised tests for graduate business schools globally. GMAC also conducts GMAT exam for admission to more than 2000 MBA colleges .
No, Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) does not change the NMAT syllabus every year. However, they do make minor changes to the syllabus from time to time make sure that it stays aligned with the latest trends as per the ever changing education systems. For instance, in 2020, GMAC made some changes to the NMAT syllabus and pattern to include more questions on data interpretation and critical reasoning.
The following are the major changes that have been made in the past five years:
- The number of questions in each section have been kept as 36 in each section with 108 questions in total.
- The difficulty level of the questions have been increased slightly.
The GMAC typically releases the NMAT exam details and syllabus for the current year in the month of July. Candidates can find the latest NMAT syllabus on the GMAC website.
NMAT 2026 Syllabus for Quantitative Skills
In the Quantitative Skills section of NMAT exam, candidates need to solve questions from various topics of Mathematics. Check some of the topics from NMAT Quantitative Skills syllabus below:
| Quantitative Skills Syllabus |
|
|---|---|
| Algebra (Linear/Quadratic Equation) |
|
| Quantitative Skills |
|
| Trigonometry |
Ratio/Proportion |
| Line graph, Bar graph, Pie Charts, Tables |
Profit and Loss |
| Arithmetic |
Average |
| 2D and 3 D Geometry, and Statistics |
Time, Speed, and Distance |
| Modern Math |
Work/Time |
| Mixture & Solution |
|
| Coordinate Geometry |
|
Commonly asked questions
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.
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.
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.
NMAT 2026 Syllabus for Logical Reasoning
The section of NMAT assesses critical thinking, logical reasoning as well as the decision-making skills of the candidates. Listed below are the important topics of this section:
| Logical Reasoning Syllabus |
|
|---|---|
| Coding & Decoding |
Numeric Grid |
| Series |
Critical Reasoning |
| Strong Arguments and Weak Arguments |
Calendars |
| Multi-dimensional arrangements |
Syllogisms |
| Puzzles |
Statement Conclusions |
| Arrangement |
Course of Action |
| Family tree |
Blood Relations |
Commonly asked questions
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
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
Yes, candidates must refer to at least two books for each section while preparing for the NMAT exam. It is highly recommended to use the official GMAC guide along with other standard competitive exam preparation books.
NMAT 2026 Exam Pattern Overview
Check an overview of NMAT exam pattern below:
| Particular | NMAT Exam Details |
|---|---|
| Exam name | NMAT by GMAC |
| NMAT exam mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Total questions | 108 |
| Score range | 36-360 |
| Duration | 120 minutes |
| Sections | Language Skills, Quantitative Skills, Logical Reasoning |
| Questions per section | 36 |
| Negative marking | No negative marking |
Commonly asked questions
A total of 2-3 months of consistent and focused preparation is considered sufficient for NMAT. Many candidates may require more than three months if they are find the topics in NMAT syllabus on a tougher side.
GMAC designs NMAT question papers with three sections, namely Language Skills, Quantitative Skills, and Logical Reasoning. NMAT sylabus has sections similar to other MBA exams.
Divide your six months into three focused phases. Allot three months to thoroughly cover the NMAT syllabus. Dedicate two months to practice a minimum of 30 mock tests, and use the final month to revise formulas and concepts
NMAT Preparation Tips 2026
Check some NMAT preparation tips below:
Effective preparation strategy: To score well in the NMAT exam, candidates should plan accordingly. They should target each topic of the syllabus, practise previous years’ NMAT question papers separately, and prioritise among the sections depending on their strengths and weaknesses.
Improve speed and accuracy: Another way of scoring well in the exam is by reducing the time to solve the questions. This is because the faster the aspirants solve the questions, the more time they will be able to save to solve tricky questions. Speed can be improved by practising the previous year’s NMAT question papers as well as online mock tests.
Take NMAT mock tests: GMAC provides an online mock test facility for candidates appearing for the NMAT exam. Candidates can practice the NMAT mock test series to get a real-time exam experience. The online mock test also provides an overall analysis of the preparation level of the candidate, which is important for knowing about focus areas that candidates need to work on to score well in the exam. Shiksha has created a free NMAT mock test for candidates to practice.
Prepare for the test day: Exam preparation is about how to score well and how to attempt the exam. Sometimes, because of anxiety, candidates cannot perform well in the exam even after enough preparation. Therefore, they should be prepared for the exam day by doing yoga and mind-calming activities. They must also eat healthily to avoid getting sick on exam day.
NMAT Mock Test
NMAT aspirants should try out Shiksha's NMAT mock test to check their preparation level, assess their strong points and weak areas and calibrate skills accordingly.
Read More:
Commonly asked questions
A good NMAT score, generally considered 215–230. Most of the bschools accepting NMAT score will have their cutoff scores within this range or below.
The Graduate Management Admission Council notifies the sections under NMAT syllabus on the official exam website. Candidates can find NMAT syllabus PDF designed based on the past question papers.
The Quantitative Skills section is generally considered the most difficult to prepare during NMAT exam preparation. Quant is tough because its calculation-intensive nature and inclusion of complex Data Interpretation (DI) sets.
FAQs on NMAT Syllabus
Here are some of the frequently asked questions related to NMAT syllabus:
The most highly recommended preparation material is the NMAT by GMAC Official Guide. Additionally, refer to Quantitative Aptitude by R.S. Aggarwal, Logical Reasoning by Nishit K. Sinha, and Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis
Completing NMAT syllabus varies across candidates. Different candidates may have different strengths and weaknesses. Some candidates may need only a week or two. Whereas some might need months.
The NMAT exam is considered to have a moderate to tough difficulty level. However, compared to exams like CAT and XAT, NMAT is on the easier side. Its difficulty standard is generally considered similar to the SNAP exam
NMAT exam comprises as many as three sections. Candidates can invest in one book which covers the syllabus for all the three sections. Alternatively, candidates may consider to study from three different books, one for each section. GMAC official guide for NMAT is considered the best sourse to study for the competitive exam. Candidates can also prepare using the books recommended for CAT exam preparation or any other MBA entrance exam preparation.
For the NMAT Quantitative Aptitude section, candidates can refer to Quantitative Aptitude for CAT by Arun Sharma, Quantitative Aptitude by RS Aggarwal and How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT by Arun Sharma. For Languagew Skills, Noman Lewis' Word Power Made Easy is among the recommended books for competitive exams. For Logical Reasoning section, candidates can choose Logical and Analytical Reasoning by Ashok Gupta.
Besides the books mentioned above, candidates can choose from a ton of books available for competitive exam preparation. Refer to the NMAT books article by Shiksha for complete preparation books guide (https://www.shiksha.com/mba/nmat-exam-books)
A total of 108 questions appear in NMAT exam. Each section of NMAT exam has 36 questions. All three sections have equal weightage in NMAT exam.
Similar to other top NMA entrance exams, NMAT exam also comprises three sections. These three sections have equal weightage in terms of maximum marks, number of questions, and a similar marking scheme. NMAT exam sections include the following:
- Language Skills
- Lgical reasoning
- Quantitative Skills.
Candidates need to answer questions from all three sections of the NMAT exam. Each section of the NMAT exam has a time limit collectively making the NMAT exam duration as 120 minutes.
Yes, cracking the NMAT exam through self-study is highly achievable. Candidates must have a structured plan, the right set of study materials, and consistently practice mock tests and question papers to clear the exam independently
A good NMAT score is generally considered to be in the range of 215 to 230. Most of the top B-schools accepting NMAT scores will have their cutoff scores within this specific range or below for MBA admissions
Based on feedback from test takers, NMAT exam is moderate to tough in terms of difficulty standards. Compared top other exams like XAT, and CAT, NMAT is on an easier side. NMAT difficulty is considered similar to SNAP exam.
GMAC conducts NMAT exam with three sections. These sections are in line with any other MBA entrance exam conducted in India. The space here mentions NMAT exam sections along with some important topics from the same.
NMAT Exam Sections and Important Topics
- Language Skills: Reading Comprehension, Para jumbles, Sentence Correction, Fill in the blanks (Grammar-based), Antonyms & Synonyms, Sentence Completion, Analogies, Idioms, Phrases, Clauses, English Grammar & Vocabulary, Sentence Error/Correction, Word Meaning, and more.
- Quantitative Skills: Arithmetic problems, Number System, Algebra, Probability, Percentage, DI Caselets and Tables, Profit & Loss, Mensuration, Permutation and Combination, Simple and Compound Interest, Ratio and Proportion, Alligations and Mixtures, Logarithms, Equations, Venn Diagram, atc.
- Logical Reasoning: Puzzles, Linear & Circular Arrangement, Coding-Decoding, Family Tree, Syllogisms, Alphanumeric Series, Symbol based Logic, Blood Relationship, Input-Output, Odd one Out, Course of Action, Arguments, Assumptions, Inference-based questions.
Besides the above topics under each section, NMAT exam sections may have a vast topic bank. Therefore, candidates must consider preparing for as many topic as possible as per the NMAT section-wise syllabus.
MBA exams you must check out
Exams for which registrations will start soon
15 Jun '26
NMAT Exam
Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 2 weeks ago
The NMAT registration is generally open from August to October. Students have to apply for the exam through its official website. The exam results are announced around November/December. Students can check the results on official website by logging in with their registration number. Selected applica
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Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
CAT is widely accepted across most the top-tier private MBA colleges in India besides all the top IIMs, but the scores alone are not enough, especially in institutes like Management Development Institute, SPJIMR, MICA, etc. There are interview rounds and candidate profile selections to go through af
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Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 weeks ago
Yes, students have to apply separately for NMIMS Navi Mumbai 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.
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Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
No, you cannot join Jindal Global Business School without an entrance exam if you want admission to the MBA course. For admission to the management courses, the institute accepts various national-level exams, like
- CAT
- MAT
- ATMA
- GMAT
- NMAT
- XAT
- CMAT
Students who attain qualifying percentiles for these exams are
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Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
No, you cannot join UPES Dehradun for its MBA programme without appearing for the accepted entrance examination. To gain admission to this institute, students would need to take one of the following exams after they clear the basic eligibility rules.
- NMAT, XAT and MAT
Students who attempt the previou
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Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
| Parameter | Your Score | Impact |
| CAT | 72.33%ile | Tier-2/3 Eligibility |
| NMAT | 187 | Target non-Mumbai NMIMS campuses |
| 10th/12th | 72.6% / 65.4% | Average; may limit "Old IIMs" even if scores were higher |
| BE | 77.6% | Strong Point helps in engineering-preferred pools |
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
Candidates need to score 160 or above in NMAT in order to apply for Jain University MBA admissions. If the candidates scores the aforementioned marks, they get to skip JET and proceed to the essay writing and personal interview round. However, candidates who scored below the aforementioned limit nee
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Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
No, NMAT is not mandatory for admission to the MBA+PGPM programme at Amity Global Business School (AGBS), Ahmedabad. While NMAT scores are accepted, the school offers multiple pathways for admission, and the exam is not the sole requirement.
J
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months 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
4.1
When is NMAT exam for MBA admissions at NMIMS Hyderabad?