NMAT

The NMAT by GMAC is an MBA entrance exam run by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), the organisation behind the GMAT. It is best known as the admission test for NMIMS, and GMAC says 56 business schools in India accept it, including K J Somaiya, XIM University and TAPMI. It is a 120-minute, computer-delivered test with no negative marking that you can take up to three times in a testing year. It suits candidates targeting NMIMS or the other accepting schools, and those who want several attempts within one admission cycle.

At a glance

Conducted by	Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC)
Mode	Computer-based; at test centres in India or online proctored (2026–27 cycle)
Sections	Language Skills; Quantitative Skills; Logical Reasoning
Duration	120 minutes
Number of questions	108 (36 per section)
Marking scheme	No negative marking; scaled score 12–120 per section, 36–360 in total
Usually held	November–December; 2026 exam window 2 November – 20 December 2026
Attempts allowed	Up to three in a testing year, at least 15 days apart
Registration	20 August – 25 October 2026; INR 3,000 plus taxes per attempt
Score accepted by	56 schools in India per GMAC, including NMIMS, K J Somaiya, XIM University and TAPMI
Official website	mba.com/exams/nmat

Exam pattern

The structure below is from the NMAT "About" page on mba.com and GMAC's guide to the 2026–27 testing cycle.

Section	Questions	Time	What it tests
Language Skills	36	28 minutes	Reading comprehension, para forming, error identification, prepositions, sentence completion, analogies
Quantitative Skills	36	52 minutes	Number properties, arithmetic, algebra and probability, data interpretation (caselets, tables, graphs, charts), data sufficiency
Logical Reasoning	36	40 minutes	Critical reasoning, analytical puzzles, deductions and other reasoning
Total	108	120 minutes

Notes on the pattern:

• Sectional time limits. Each section is individually timed, and you must answer its questions within its allotted time. You choose the order of the three sections at the start of the exam.
• No negative marking. Wrong and unanswered questions are not penalised, so you should answer every question.
• Scaled, ability-based scoring. GMAC says questions are selected from a pool based on your performance on previous questions, so stronger candidates generally see harder questions. Your ability estimate is converted to a scaled score of 12–120 per section. Because of this, there is no simple "marks per question".
• Results. You see an unofficial score as soon as you finish. The official scorecard is available within 48 hours, or within 10 working days if the test is audited for a security incident.
• Attempts and validity. You can take the NMAT up to three times in a testing year and must wait at least 15 days after a test before applying for a retake. Scores are valid for one application cycle only.
• Fees (2026–27 cycle). Registration INR 3,000, retake INR 3,000, rescheduling INR 1,200, and INR 400 for each score report beyond the first five schools; taxes extra.
• Key 2026 dates. Registration and scheduling close on 25 October 2026; rescheduling closes on 17 December 2026; retake registration runs from 3 November to 17 December 2026.

GMAC's syllabus article states that the 2026 syllabus is the same as the previous year's. Confirm the details on mba.com before you book.

What each section tests

These topic lists come from GMAC's official section descriptions on mba.com.

Language Skills

Reading comprehension, para forming (arranging sentences into a paragraph), error identification, prepositions, sentence completion and analogies. With 36 questions in 28 minutes, this is the fastest-paced section, so grammar and vocabulary questions need to be answered quickly to leave time for passages.

Quantitative Skills

GMAC groups this section into number properties (fractions and decimals, logarithms, factors and multiples, primes), arithmetic (percentages, interest, profit and loss, ratio, proportion and averages, time and work), algebra and probability (linear and quadratic equations, inequalities, sequences and series, permutations and combinations, probability), data interpretation using caselets, tables, graphs and charts, and data sufficiency. It has the most time: 52 minutes for 36 questions.

Logical Reasoning

GMAC lists critical reasoning (conclusions, inferences, assumptions, strong and weak arguments), deductions and analytical reasoning, which includes syllogisms, analytical puzzles, input-output, seating arrangements, decision-making and Venn diagrams.

How it compares with CAT

	NMAT (2026–27)	CAT
Sections	Language Skills, Quantitative Skills, Logical Reasoning	VARC, DILR, QA
Duration	120 minutes	120 minutes
Section timing	Separately timed; you choose the order	Separately timed, fixed order
Negative marking	None	Yes, for multiple-choice questions
Attempts	Up to three per testing year	Once a year
Testing	Exam window of about seven weeks; centre or online	Single day (CAT 2026: 29 November 2026)

In general terms:

• No negative marking changes your strategy. On NMAT, never leave a question blank. GMAC's own comparison notes that some candidates see the NMAT as less difficult for this reason, though you should prepare just as seriously.
• More, shorter questions. NMAT has 108 questions, so it tends to reward speed and breadth more than the long, multi-step sets in CAT.
• Different verbal emphasis. NMAT tests grammar, prepositions and analogies directly; CAT's verbal section centres on reading comprehension and paragraph-based questions.
• Data sufficiency appears in NMAT's Quantitative section but not in CAT.

See our CAT guide for the CAT format.

How Pareto Academy helps

NMAT area	Covered by Pareto?	What to use
Reading comprehension	Yes	VARC questions, daily reading, RC strategy
Para forming	Yes	Para-jumble questions in VARC
Error identification, prepositions, sentence completion, analogies	Not yet	Grammar and vocabulary practice from official NMAT material
Quantitative Skills (number properties, arithmetic, algebra, probability)	Yes	Quant questions, formula sheet, improve your Quant score
Data interpretation	Yes	DILR questions
Data sufficiency	Limited	Official NMAT practice material
Logical Reasoning: analytical puzzles, seating arrangements	Yes	DILR questions, arrangement puzzle strategies
Logical Reasoning: critical reasoning, syllogisms, input-output, Venn diagrams	Not yet	Official NMAT practice material
NMAT-pattern mocks	Not yet	Our mocks follow the CAT pattern; use GMAC's official NMAT practice tests

For the areas we do not cover, GMAC publishes official NMAT preparation material on mba.com. Regular reading of a good newspaper also helps with vocabulary and usage.

Colleges that accept it

GMAC's list of accepting schools includes:

• SVKM's Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS)
• K J Somaiya Institute of Management, Mumbai
• XIM University, Bhubaneswar
• T. A. Pai Management Institute (TAPMI), Manipal
• Great Lakes Institute of Management (PGPM)
• IFMR Graduate School of Business
• FLAME University
• S.P. Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR) – for its Global Management Programme (GMP) only; the flagship PGDM uses CAT or GMAT (see our SPJIMR page)
• Indian School of Business (ISB) – for its Advanced Management Programme in Business Analytics (AMPBA) only

NMAT registration and B-school applications are separate: you must apply to each school on its own website, and each sets its own eligibility and deadlines. Browse more on our colleges page.

Preparation tips

• Answer everything. With no negative marking, a blank answer is a lost chance. Before the timer runs out in each section, mark a best guess on anything left.
• Train each section to its own clock. The times differ (28, 52 and 40 minutes), and you cannot carry time across. Practise each section separately at its exact time.
• Pick your section order deliberately. You choose the order at the start. Try different orders in full-length practice and keep the one that works for you.
• Speed up Language Skills. At about 47 seconds per question, it is the tightest section. Quick grammar, preposition and analogy questions give you time for the reading passages.
• Learn the non-CAT topics. Data sufficiency, syllogisms, input-output and critical reasoning need their own practice if you have prepared mainly for CAT.
• Use the attempts as a plan. You can take the test up to three times, at least 15 days apart. Leave enough time between attempts to review your weak sections.
• Note the deadline. Registration for the 2026 window closes on 25 October 2026, and test slots are allotted first come, first served.

Frequently asked questions

Is there negative marking in NMAT?

No. GMAC confirms that wrong or unanswered questions are not penalised.

How many times can I take the NMAT?

Up to three times in a testing year, with at least 15 days between a test and applying for the retake. Each retake costs INR 3,000 plus taxes.

Can I switch between sections during the NMAT?

No. Each section is separately timed and must be completed within its own time. You choose the order of sections at the start of the exam.

Can I take the NMAT from home?

Yes. In India you can take it at a test centre or as an online proctored exam. Outside India it is available only online.

How long is an NMAT score valid?

For one application cycle only. To apply in a later year, you need to take the test again.

Sources

• NMAT by GMAC: About (mba.com): exam structure, sectional timings, section topics, scoring and scorecard timing (accessed 23 October 2026)
• NMAT Important Dates & Fees (mba.com): 2026 registration, scheduling, exam and retake dates; fees (accessed 23 October 2026)
• NMAT Accepting B-Schools (mba.com): list of accepting schools and programmes (accessed 23 October 2026)
• What is on the NMAT syllabus? (mba.com): detailed sub-topics per section; statement that the 2026 syllabus is unchanged (accessed 23 October 2026)
• NMAT 2026-27: Key info, dates, fees, registration process (gmac.com): number of accepting schools, attempts and retake gap, score validity, test modes, negative marking, comparison with CAT (accessed 23 October 2026)