NMAT Exam Pattern 2025: Know Latest Pattern, Marking Scheme & Exam Duration

NMAT exam is an online MCQ based test conducted for MBA admission. Candidates need to choose one correct option among multiple answer options available in the NMAT exam. The marking scheme for NMAT exam is mentioned below:

• 1 mark for each correct response
• No negative marking is there for icnorrect responses
• No negative marking prevails for the unattempted questions

Since there is no negative marking, candidates can rely on guess work for the questions where they do not know the answers.

While answering questions in the NMAT exam, a candidate receives a question based on his/her answer accuracy in the previous questions. The questions a candidate receives in the NMAT exam are tailored to their ability level; hence, a high-scoring candidate is typically presented with a more challenging set of questions compared to a low-scoring candidate. The scoring of the NMAT exam involves deriving the candidate's final ability estimate using the probabilistic model approach of modern test theory, which is then converted into a scaled score that ranges from 12 to 360.

As per the NMAT exam pattern, as many as 108 questions are asked from three sections collectively. Each section of NMAT exam has 36 questions. The sections for NMAT exam with question weightage is as follows:

• Language Skills: 36

• Logical Reasoning: 36

• Quantitative Skills: 36

Candidates need to answer all the questions within 120 minutes. The 120 minute time-frame of NMAT exam is divided into sectional time frames. Questions under each section must be answered within the specified time limit.

Yes, all questions of NMAT exam have a similar marking scheme. Candidates attempting MCQs in NMAT will fetch 1 marks for each correct response. For incorrect response, candidates are not marked negatively or positively. Additionally, the candidates are not scored for any question which was left unattempted while taking the NMAT exam.

Questions across all three sections fetch equal marks if found correct or incorrect. Additionally, each section has equal weightage of questions. Therefore, no particular section in NMAT exam is termed important or less important. All three sections of NMAT exam have equal importance.

The NMAT exam is conducted for MBA admission across multiple B -schools across India and abroad. Based on feedback from test takers of the past exam sessions, test takers found the exam to be moderate to tough in terms of difficulty standards. If compared with other MBA entrance exams, NMAT is comparatively easy as the candidates have the liberty to appear for the test three times and use the best scores for admission. Additionally, candidates can schedule the exam based on his/her convinience.

However, the level of difficulty can vary from year to year. Success in any entrance exam ultimately depends on the candidate's preparation and performance on the exam day.

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.

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 mock test and the actual exam are identical in terms of the exam structure and overall difficulty standards of the exam. The user interface of the NMAT mock test may vary across service providers. However, candidates practising using the official NMAT mock test will get taste of the actual exam user interface.

NMAT mock test released by GMAC is a simulation of the actual exam. Questions, pattern, syllabus, and test structure are similar to the actual exam. However, the score of the NMAT mock test will not affect the admission process at the NMAT participating colleges. Mock test only helps in practicing and revision of the questions.

To score high in NMAT exam, a candidate must follow an approach to attempt the questions for which he/she knows the answer, and guess the question for which he/she doesn't know the answer. Since there is no negative marking, candidates must attempt all questions in NMAT exam. In the speed-based test, one must aim to answer the questions as soon as possible.

Coming to NMAT exam, a test taker has to answer each question keeping in mind the sectional time limit. Additionally, candidates get to choose the section chronology before the test starts. One can use their analysis from NMAT mock tests to devide a good exam day strategy. Speed and accuracy can also be improved by practising previous years papers and mock tests.

NMAT mock test holds the utmost importance during the preparation phase of the exam. Some of the key benefits of integrating mock test in the NMAT preparation strategy are mentioned below:

1. Understanding the nature of the exam
2. Getting aware of the exam pattern, and syllabus
3. Getting rid of exam anxiety
4. Preparing an exam day plan
5. Helps in designing better exam strategy
6. Helps in accessing the preparation levels throughout
7. Helps in revising the syllabus and concepts
8. Helps increasing speed and accuracy
9. Analysing strengths and weaknesses
10. Getting aware of the NMAT exam UI