NMAT 2026: Syllabus, Pattern, Exam Dates, Registration, Eligibility, Results, Top Colleges

GMAC conducts NMAT with a aspirant-first approach. Candidates can appear for NMAT three times during one exam session. That means, GMAC provides one main attempt and two retake attempts for the NMAT exam. The meaning of retake of the NMAT exam implies that any applicant can attempt the test thrice, including the first attempt. In other words, the process of reappearing for the exam is known as exam retake. Candidates aspiring for a retake attempt have to apply using the NMAT retake window. However, candidates can reappear for the exam, not before 15 days after the first attempt. Similarly, third exam attempt can only be scheduled on a date 15 days after the second attempt for NMAT exam.

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.

Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) conducts NMAT exam with a aspirant first approach. Therefore, GMAC provides several facilities, including the retake attempts, rescheduling window, etc. Unlike other MBA entrance exams, the NMAT exam is held over a period of approximately 90 days. An examinee can appear for the test three times during this window, including the first attempt and two retake attempts. This opportunity is provided to the candidates to improve their score. In the previous session, an additional phase of the exam was conducted from January 11 to 15. During the additional window, candidates who did not appear for all three attempts were allowed to apply for NMAT exam for an improved score.

Graduate Management Admission Council conducts the NMAT exam within a particular exam timeline. Every year, NMAT exam is usually scheduled to be conducted in the last quarter of a calendar year. Candidates are able to take the exam until December. Candidates can appear for the NMAT exam three times during the testing window. Soon after taking the first exam attempt, candidates can fill the retake registration form to apply for the NMAT retake. However, one can schedule a retake of the NMAT exam 15 days after the first take.

NMAT 2026 exam dates will be revealed later.

NOTE: NMAT exam dates can vary every year. However, the timeline remains the same.

Yes, questions in each section of NMAT exam are to be answered within a specified time limit. Section wise time limit is as follows:

NMAT Section	NMAT Sectional Time Limit
Language Skills	28 minutes
Logical Reasoning	40 minutes
Quantitative Skills	52 minutes
Total	120 minutes

Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) conducts NMAT exam in an online mode. Online NMAT exam is conducted from Pearson VUE centres situated across India. Candidates need to appear at the chosen test centre to appear for the computer based NMAT exam. At the NMAT exam centre, each candidate is allotted a computer system where he/she has to login to take the test. Once the candidate logs in to the computer system, the responses will be recorded against the test taker ID. Further, this test taker ID will be helpful while evaluating performance of indicidual test takers.

The NMAT exam is an MBA entrance exam conducted for admission to top business schools in India and abroad. GMAC (Graduate Management Admission Council) conducts the NMAT exam every year within a testing window. B-schools including different campuses of NMIMS, TAPMI, SDA Bocconi, ISB, among others accept NMAT scores for MBA admissions.

Here are some of the key features of the NMAT by GMAC exam.

1. NMAT is held once a year with three attempts for each candidate.
2. Candidates can choose the NMAT exam date using a scheduling window.
3. Candidates have to fill the retake registration form to apply for another attempt for NMAT during the testing window.
4. The application fee for this exam is Rs. 2,300.
5. NMAT exam is administered as computer-based test (CBT).
6. Candidates have to answer as many as 108 questions within 120 minutes.
7. Each section will have a sectional time-limit.
8. NMAT is an English medium exam.

Candidates aspiring for MBA admnission based on NMAT scores can find the detailed process for NMAT registration here.

GMAC facilitates NMAT registration window once every year. Registration for the NMAT exam is accepted one time in one exam session. Since candidates can take the test thrice, GMAC facilitates the NMAT retake registration window soon after the exam window starts. For an attempt over and above the regular attempt, candidates have to use the NMAT retake registration window. Besides the NMAT registration and NMAT retake registration, the candidate portal also hosts a scheduling window. This scheduling window helps candidates to choose the exam slot and exam venue. The allotment of exam slot and test centre is done on first-cum-first-serve basis.

The NMAT exam is generally considered to be of moderate difficulty level. NMAT is a speed-based test which requires candidates to solve 108 questions within 120 minutes. Almost all test takers find NMAT easier than CAT.

NMAT scorecard is compiled of scaled and percentile scores. Here is the basic difference between scaled scores and percentile scores in NMAT exam- Scaled Scores - The test forms are equated to account for any difference in the overall difficulty and the raw test scores are normalised on a common scale to arrive at scaled scores. Percentile Score - The percentile rank or score is an indicator of score/rank of the candidate as compared to the score/rank of all the other test-takers. NMAT participating institute may accept any of the scores for admission based on NMAT exam.

Answer is yes, surely you will be eligible for NMAT based colleges for admissions, but you will have to apply on every college website one- by -one separately according to your subject preference and score card of NMAT.

Thereafter, all colleges will provide their merit list of selected students.

Go to college and complete your procedure of admission.

Yes. Candidates will have to fill the NMAT application form to appear for the exam. To apply for admission based on NMAT scores, candidates will have to fill the application form at desired college website. All NMAT participating institutes have a separate admission window. Therefore, candidates must be cautious of crucial deadlines to apply for admission based on NMAT exam scores. Besides a separate application form, several participating institutes have a criterion to only accept the NMAT score from the first attempt. Therefore, candidates must check the eligibility as well as the admission deadline of the desired college that accepts NMAT scores for MBA Admission.

NMAT registration typically commence in the first week of August every year. Candidates must complete the NMAT registration before the deadline to appear for the exam. Candidates who wish to retake the exam later within the current testing widnow are also required to apply before the last date.

For real-time updates on exam dates of NMAT exam, follow NMAT exam date and schedule.

NMAT exam is conducted for admission to more than 45 b-schools in India. The exam eligibility criteria can vary from the eligibility criteria of a particular institute. Additionally, MBA eligibility conditions for all participating institutes can vary. However, the NMAT exam eligibility remains the same. The space below mentions the NMAT eligibility criteria:

• Candidate must have a bachelor's degree, completed under 10+2+3 or four years of education pattern, irrespective of the stream.
• Aggregate score in the graduation degree level should not be less than 50 per cent the final year of the degree course.
• Candidates waiting for results or are currently in the final year of graduation are eligible to apply for NMAT exam.

Those who are yet to pass the bachelor's degree course get a provisional admission until the graduation mark sheet and certificate of the qualifying examination are submitted at the participating institute.

NMAT by GMAC registration is now open. As per the NMAT examination process in the past exam sessions, GMAC conducts the NMAT exam from within a testing window facilitated until the third week of December. Candidates can appear for the NMAT exam thrice during this window. Candidates have to complete the retake registration to apply for another exam take.

No. GMAC does not provide any facility for NMAT form correction. Candidates who make errors during the NMAT registration will have to fill the form again.

Retake option for the NMAT exam is available in the candidate's existing registration account after the first attempt. The option to retake the test is present in the Retake tab in the dashboard of the candidate account. Candidates have to wait 15 days before retaking the NMAT exam again. It is subject to payment of the application fee. Candidates can retake the NMAT exam twice during the test window. That brings total attempts in one exam session to three. To apply for each attempt, candidates have to pay the application cum exam fee. Besides applying for retake, candidates who wish to take only one attempt can also do so. In such cases, the available score will be sent to the selected colleges.

The date, time slot and exam venue will be printed on the NMAT admit card. It is a chain of the process; first, the candidate will have to schedule the test using the 'schedule test' option available under the exam tab on the candidate dashboard in NMAT by GMAC account. The test scheduling option will be available after they have received a confirmation email from the exam conducting authority about the receipt of the NMAT application fee. Candidates can then choose the date and time slot of the test as per their convenience for NMAT by GMAC exam. The facility to book date and time slot along with the selection of preferable locations of the test centre is available on a first-come-first-serve basis.

NMAT scheduling refers to booking slot for the test. In case of any change in the scheduled date, candidates can choose NMAT rescheduling window and choose a new date.

Candidates can reschedule the NMAT exam via the login dashboard. However, candidates will have to pay a processing fee for the same.

Yes, the NMAT is easier than the CAT exam. This is due to the following reasons:

1. There is no negative marking in the NMAT unlike one-third negative marking for wrong answers in the CAT.
2. You can do guess marking in a last-minute rush and get three marks even if only one choice is right.
3. NMAT allows you to schedule the order of sections during the test. This makes it easier to attempt the sections for which you are well prepared.
4. According to the updated pattern, the CAT has only 66 questions, compared to the NMAT's 108 questions, but the level of difficulty is higher.
5. The CAT is a concept-based exam where you need to understand each question, and therefore, you need accuracy as well as speed in this exam.
6. The competition in the NMAT is less than that in the CAT. As most MBA aspirants aim for IIM.

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.

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.

NMAT exam is conducted by GMAC three times during one MBA admission session. GMAC facilitates the three exam takes within a testing window. The test window for NMAT ranges around 45 days. Once the candidate has a valid score, he/she can compete the retake registration process and schedule any date that is 15 days after the previous attempt.

Candidates can choose to appear for NMAT up to three times on chosen dates within the test window specified by GMAC. Of all the three test scores, best exam score is sent to the NMAT participating colleges, chosen by the applicant while filling the form.

No, you cannot join NMIMS without NMAT. Candidates need to appear for the course specific entrance exams conducted by the University. NMIMS also accepts several national-level entrance tests to admits students for UG, PG and PhD courses. 

Yes, there is an option to review answers in the NMAT exam. Candidates can review as well as make changes in the answers in different sections within the slated sectional time limit. There is no option to move back and forth between sections. If a test taker moves to the next section, they will not be able to make any changes in the previous section. After the candidate submits the responses, NMAT score will appear on the screen. Once the candidate knows the NMAT score, he/she can plan the next attempt for the exam. The retake registration window is open for the candidate immediately after appearing for the NMAT exam.

Candidates can take NMAT up to three times during one admission session. Candidates are allowed to register for NMAT and schedule an exam attempt. However, the acceptance of NMAT scores depends on the NMAT participating colleges. All NMAT colleges will have different selection criteria. Some of the NMAT colleges, such as NMIMS will only accept the NMAT score from first exam attempt. Therefore, attempting NMAT exam three times will be of no use if the applican t is desirous of admission to any of the campuses of NMIMS.

NMAT exam is conducted by GMAC three times during one MBA admission session. GMAC facilitates the three exam takes within a testing window. The test window for NMAT ranges around 45 days. Once the candidate has a valid score, he/she can compete the retake registration process and schedule any date that is 15 days after the previous attempt.

Candidates can choose to appear for NMAT up to three times on chosen dates within the test window specified by GMAC. Of all the three test scores, best exam score is sent to the NMAT participating colleges, chosen by the applicant while filling the form.

GMAC conducts NMAT with a aspirant-first approach. Candidates can appear for NMAT three times during one exam session. That means, GMAC provides one main attempt and two retake attempts for the NMAT exam. The meaning of retake of the NMAT exam implies that any applicant can attempt the test thrice, including the first attempt. In other words, the process of reappearing for the exam is known as exam retake. Candidates aspiring for a retake attempt have to apply using the NMAT retake window. However, candidates can reappear for the exam, not before 15 days after the first attempt. Similarly, third exam attempt can only be scheduled on a date 15 days after the second attempt for NMAT exam.

Candidates can download the NMAT admit card from the website. NMAT admit card is made available around 7 days before the scheduled exam date inside the login dashboard.

Retake option for the NMAT exam is available in the candidate's existing registration account after the first attempt. The option to retake the test is present in the Retake tab in the dashboard of the candidate account. Candidates have to wait 15 days before retaking the NMAT exam again. It is subject to payment of the application fee. Candidates can retake the NMAT exam twice during the test window. That brings total attempts in one exam session to three. To apply for each attempt, candidates have to pay the application cum exam fee. Besides applying for retake, candidates who wish to take only one attempt can also do so. In such cases, the available score will be sent to the selected colleges.

Yes. GMAC issues the NMAT admit card as soon as the candidates completes the scheduling process. Candidates are able to choose the NMAT reschedule option at least 72 hours before the exam date. Hence, the option to change the exam date is available after the issuance of the admit card. However, with only 72 hours left for the exam, GMAC will not allow the candidates to access the rescheduling window.

Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) releases the NMAT scores immediately after the exam has been submitted. However, the scorecard is not downloadable immediately after the submission of responses. Candidates can download the NMAT scorecard within 48 hours of the test date. The scorecard can be downloaded and kept for future references while applying at different participating institutes. GMAC will share best of three exam scores within the NMAT participating institutes selected by the candidate while applying for the exam.

Candidates who take the NMAT exam get an email regarding the release of the scorecard. The scorecard is to be downloaded for future references at the time of admission. Graduate Management Admission Council, the conducting body of NMAT, will intimate the test takers about the release of the scorecard via an email. Typically, GMAC send an email for the release of official scorecard within 48 hours of the exam delivery. Alternatively, candidates will get the realtime updates on the release of NMAT results from shiksha's NMAT result article.

Yes, there is an option to review answers in the NMAT exam. Candidates can review as well as make changes in the answers in different sections within the slated sectional time limit. There is no option to move back and forth between sections. If a test taker moves to the next section, they will not be able to make any changes in the previous section. After the candidate submits the responses, NMAT score will appear on the screen. Once the candidate knows the NMAT score, he/she can plan the next attempt for the exam. The retake registration window is open for the candidate immediately after appearing for the NMAT exam.

Graduate Management Admission Council releases the NMAT scorecard online on the official exam website. Candidates need to access the NMAT scorecard from the login dashboard which was used while filling the online application form. The official NMAT scorecard is downloadable within 48 hours of taking the exam. The login credentials required to download the NMAT score card include:

- Email ID
- Password (generated at the time of registration)

In addition to the login credentials mentioned above, candidated may have to enter the captcha code as displayed on the login window.

NMAT sectional cutoff is the minimum score required in each section of the exam for admission to a particular B-school. NMAT exam has three sections.

Candidates appearing for the NMAT exam will come across the unofficial scorecard immediately after submitting the test responses on the exam day. The score report for NMAT appears on the screen on submission of the responses. Candidates will recieve the NMAT scorecard with the sectional and overall scaled scores within 48 hours of appearing for the NMAT exam. However, the issuance of official scorecard for NMAT can be delayed subject to any test delivery incidences or audit of online exams. The issuance of the official NMAT scorecard will not take more than 5 to 7 working days.

NMAT official scorecard will be considered for admission to NMAT participating colleges.

Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), the conducting body of NMAT exam, do not release the NMAT cutoff scores or percentile. The cutoff scores are released by the NMAT participating institutes at the time of the admission process. For NMAT exam conducted from October 10 to December 19, the MBA admission process at participating b-schools typically start from the month of November. While some b-schools also conduct the NMAT based MBA admission process from the month of February in the subsequent admission cycle.

The NMAT scores obtained by a medical school applicant at any given examination year are deemed sufficient and valid as basis for evaluating applicants for admission to a college of medicine. NMAT by GMAC allows you to self schedule the preferred NMAT by GMAC exam date to appear in NMAT exam. NMAT by GMAC exam offers three chances of taking the test including two retakes to improve your score. This gives students opportunity to do their best. NMAT is an important national level MBA entrance test leading to MBA Admission in NMIMS Mumbai and other top MBA colleges. GMAC is the exam conducting body for NMAT by GMAC. A score range between 230 to 240 which is around 90 percentile is a good score in NMAT Exam.

NMIMS offers admission to MBA course (Part-time) on the basis of NMAT scores. Candidates seeking admission to NMIMS Mumbai must appear for the NMAT exam and qualify for the same. Tabulated below is the NMIMS Mumbai NMAT cutoff 2023:

Master of Business Administration (MBA) (Part Time) - NMIMS School of Business Management, Mumbai : NMAT score Cutoff (General-All India)
Section	2022
Overall	212

 

More than 50 colleges accept NMAT scores. Some NMAT colleges are:

• SVKM's Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies
• K J Somaiya Institute of Management
• Indian School of Business (ISB) (Advanced Management Programme in Business Analytics (AMPBA)
• SPJIMR (For PGMPW and GMP) 
• SDA Bocconi Asia Center (formerly MISB Bocconi)
• XIM University
• T. A. Pai Management Institute (TAPMI), A Constituent Unit of MAHE, Manipal All MBA Programs, India
• ICFAI Business School
• SOIL Institute of Management
• FLAME University 
• Stoa School
• Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab
• ISBR Business School
• Athena School of Management, Mumbai
• School of Business, Woxsen University
• IFMR Graduate School of Business
• Thapar School of Management
• SRM University, Delhi NCR, Sonepat
• Shiv nadar Institute of Management Studies
• School of Petroleum Management, PDPU
• Jain University
• CMS Business School
• ITM Business School, Navi Mumbai
• GITAM Deemed to be University, Visakhapatnam
• BML Munjal University
• Bennett University
• Universal Business School
• Indus Business Academy (IBA), Bangalore
• SRM University, Chennai 
• Chitkara university
• Alliance University
• Amrut Mody School of Management, Ahmedabad University
• MIT World Peace University, Pune
• BSE Institute Limited
• Amity University
• Jindal Global Business School, Delhi/NCR
• VIT University
• University of Petroleum & Energy Studies (UPES)
• IILM University
• Myra School of Business
• Mody University
• Hyderabad Business School, GITAM University
• Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab
• IIHMR University, Jaipur, Rajasthan
• IFIM College
• Jagdish Sheth School of Management
• ATLAS SkillTech University
• ISME School of Management and Entrepreneurship
• iMET Global
• Ansal University, Gurgaon
• Rishihood University

NMAT, like any other Amity exam, is a speed-based test. Thus, the entire preparation must be aligned with this thought. Candidates need to follow NMAT preparation strategies, which helps them build speed and the accuracy level to answer questions in the test. To build speed and accuracy, candidates need to catch hold of the best books for NMAT preparation, five years of NMAT sample papers and attempt the mock tests. Keep the following points in mind to prepare for the test:

• Devote three to four months to build conceptual clarity on topics included in the Galgotias syllabus
• Analyse your preparation level by practising NMAT question papers
• Create notes of each topic while studying and revise them from time to time
• Discuss your doubts with peers and mentors to clear them

The table below shows some of the top NMAT accepting MBA colleges in Delhi NCR along with their NIRF ranking:

College Name	NIRF 2023
Amity University, Noida	28
Amity University Gurugram	81
Galgotias University	91

Amity University admission 2024 to MBA course is based on MAT,  XAT,  CAT,  NMAT,  CMAT,  GMAT and CUET. The 2024 CAT cutoff is yet to be released for admission to Amity University. The expected NMAT cutoff 2024 based on previous years' cutoff data will be estimated nearly around 140 to 150 in the upcoming admission session 2025. Candidates seeking admission to Amity University through NMAT can check previous year scores in the table below: