MBA · Entrance Exams

NMAT 2026 Registration, Exam Window, Exam Pattern, Fee, Attempts, Score and Free NMAT Mock Tests

NMAT is administered by GMAC and accepted by NMIMS and a substantial set of other business schools. Its content is conventional — language skills, quantitative skills and logical reasoning — but its rules are the most candidate-friendly of any management entrance in India.

There is no negative marking. You choose the order in which you take the sections. And you may sit the test up to three times within the testing window, with your best score counted. Together these change preparation strategy fundamentally: NMAT is the one management entrance where a first attempt genuinely costs nothing.

Take a Free NMAT MockNMAT Syllabus

NMAT · checked 19 September 2026

NMAT at a glance, from the official notices

The dates, vacancies and rules below are read on the conducting body’s own site and rewritten as each notice appears. The guide beneath carries the full pattern, syllabus, cut-offs and free mock tests.

Free NMAT mock testNMAT syllabusToday’s current affairs
10Oct 2026

Next deadline

NMAT: the facts that matter now

  1. 01

    Registration 20 August – 10 October 2026; test scheduling to 22 October; testing window 2 November – 20 December 2026; scores to schools after…

    2026 cycle

  2. 02

    GMAC (the Graduate Management Admission Council), computer-based at test centres in more than 80 Indian cities and online-proctored abroad, for…

    Conducted by

  3. 03

    108 questions in 120 minutes — Language Skills, Quantitative Skills and Logical Reasoning, 36 questions each, in the order the candidate chooses…

    Pattern

  4. 04

    Up to three in a testing year — one attempt and two retakes — with at least 15 days between attempts; the school sees the score the candidate sends

    Attempts

Notification

NMAT notification and key dates

Checked 15 September 2026 against GMAC’s NMAT pages (mba.com and gmac.com). NMAT 2026 registration opened on 20 August 2026 and closes on 10 October, with test scheduling open until 22 October and the testing window from 2 November to 20 December 2026. Candidates book a date and slot within the window at a test centre in India or, from abroad, an online-proctored session.

NMAT 2026 — the cycle from GMAC.
EventDate
Registration20 August – 10 October 2026
Test scheduling20 August – 22 October 2026
Testing window2 November – 20 December 2026
Retake schedulingWithin the window, at least 15 days after the previous attempt
Score reportsAfter each attempt; five schools included, ₹400 each beyond
NMIMS selectionCase discussion and personal interview in the new year, by campus
NMAT fees, from GMAC (taxes extra).
ItemIndiaInternational
Registration₹3,000USD 65
Retake₹3,000USD 65
Rescheduling₹1,200USD 30
Additional score report (beyond five)₹400 per schoolUSD 5 per school

What is fixed and what to check

The 108-question, 120-minute, no-negative-marking format and the three-attempt rule have been stable for several cycles; the minimum gap between attempts is 15 days on GMAC’s page (some coaching sites report a shorter gap — follow GMAC). The score is valid for the current application cycle only, and NMIMS and the other schools set their own application deadlines and cut-offs separately from the GMAC window.

Overview

What NMAT is, and who it suits

NMAT runs over a testing window of several weeks rather than on a single day, with candidates scheduling their own slot. Within that window a candidate may attempt the test up to three times, subject to a gap between attempts, and the best score is the one considered for admission.

The paper itself is a straightforward test of three abilities with individually timed sections. What distinguishes it is the absence of any penalty for wrong answers, which removes the entire calculus of when to guess, and the ability to choose which section to take first, which lets a candidate open with their strongest and build confidence.

The three rules that shape NMAT strategy

  • No negative marking — so every question should be answered, and there is never a reason to leave a blank.
  • Candidate-chosen section order — take your strongest section first if that settles you, or your weakest while fresh — but decide in advance rather than in the moment.
  • Up to three attempts, best score counted — which makes a first attempt genuine calibration at no cost to your final result.

Book early in the window

Because attempts must fit within the testing window with a required gap between them, a candidate who books a late slot may have room for only one attempt. Booking early preserves the option of two or three, which is the main structural advantage this examination offers.

Eligibility

Who can apply for NMAT

NMAT eligibility, as GMAC and the accepting schools state it. GMAC sets the test rules; each school sets the academic requirement for its own admission.

Who may register.
ConditionRule
DegreeA bachelor’s degree in any discipline; NMIMS requires 50 per cent in the first attempt; other schools set their own minimum
Final yearCandidates in the final year may register and take the test; the degree is verified at admission
Age and attemptsNo age limit; three attempts in a testing year with at least 15 days between them
NationalityIndian and international candidates; test centres in India, online-proctored testing abroad
Work experienceNot required for the test; some programmes (NMIMS PGDM for working professionals, for instance) require it at admission

Also from GMAC

  • Section order — chosen at the start of the test.
  • Score reports — five schools are included in the registration; the candidate chooses which attempt’s score to send.
  • Rescheduling — allowed for a fee up to 72 hours before the appointment, subject to seat availability.

Selection process

How NMAT selection works

Each stage in order, and what it actually tests.

Stages change between cycles. Confirm the structure in the notification for the cycle you are sitting.
StageFormatWhat it involves
NMAT — the adaptive test120 minutes, 108 questions, three sections of 36 in the candidate’s orderLanguage Skills, Quantitative Skills and Logical Reasoning, each timed within the two hours; the test adapts question difficulty to the answers given, so the score is scaled (12–120 per section, 36–360 in all) rather than a raw count. No deduction for wrong answers.
Score and retakesScaled score within about 48 hours; up to two retakes 15 days apartThe official score card follows each attempt; a candidate may retake up to twice and choose which score to send, with five school reports included in the registration.
School applications and selectionNMIMS CD-PI in January–February; other schools on their own calendarsNMIMS shortlists on the NMAT score for case discussion and personal interview across its campuses; the other accepting schools apply their own cut-offs and processes to the score they receive.

Registration to interview

How NMAT runs, from the GMAC registration to the booked slot, the scaled score and the school shortlists

The steps follow GMAC’s NMAT registration and test pages.

The NMAT process

  1. Register on mba.com/nmat Create a GMAC account, complete the NMAT registration with personal, academic and work details, choose up to five schools for score reports and pay ₹3,000 plus taxes. NMIMS and several other schools also require a separate application on their own portals.
  2. Schedule the test Book a date, slot and test centre (or an online-proctored session from abroad) within the window; scheduling is open until 22 October 2026 for the 2 November – 20 December window.
  3. Test day Two hours on a computer with three 36-question sections in the order chosen at the start; the test adapts to the answers; there is no deduction for a wrong answer, so every question is answered.
  4. Score and retake The official score card arrives within days; a retake can be scheduled at least 15 days later for ₹3,000, up to two retakes, and the candidate chooses the score to send.
  5. School shortlists NMIMS shortlists by campus and programme on the NMAT score for case discussion and personal interview; the other schools apply their own cut-offs and selection rounds to the score received.

Exam pattern

NMAT exam pattern and marking

The NMAT exam pattern below is GMAC’s current structure: 108 questions in 120 minutes, three sections of 36 questions in the candidate’s chosen order, computer-adaptive, no negative marking, and a scaled score of 36–360.

NMAT paper. 120 minutes, computer-adaptive, order chosen by the candidate.
SectionQuestionsScaled scoreContent
Language Skills3612 – 120Reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, para-jumbles, fill in the blanks
Quantitative Skills3612 – 120Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, modern maths, data interpretation and data sufficiency
Logical Reasoning3612 – 120Verbal reasoning, analytical reasoning, arrangements, coding, series
Total10836 – 360
Rules.
ItemDetail
MarkingNo negative marking; the scaled score reflects the number and difficulty of correct answers
AdaptivityQuestion difficulty adjusts to performance within each section
AttemptsThree in a testing year, 15 days apart
ValidityOne application cycle
DeliveryTest centres in 80-plus Indian cities; online-proctored abroad

Why the scaled score matters more than the count

Because the test adapts, two candidates with the same number of correct answers can hold different scaled scores; a strong start in each section opens harder, higher-value questions. With no deduction, every question is answered, and the retake lets a candidate replace a weak attempt rather than average it.

Study plan

How to prepare for NMAT

NMAT is a two-hour speed test at a level below CAT with no negative marking and up to three attempts, so the preparation is accuracy at pace across three equal sections and a plan for the retakes.

Eight-week plan for NMAT 2026 (window from 2 November).
WeeksWorkOutput
1–3Quantitative and reasoning basics at NMAT level; vocabulary and grammar dailySection drills of 36 questions in 40 minutes
4–6Three full 120-minute mocks a week; the section order that suits youScaled-score estimate; weakest section identified
7–8First attempt early in the window; analyse; book the retake 15 days later if the score is below the targetBest score sent to the five schools

What high scorers do

  • They answer everything — no deduction.
  • They put the strongest section first — the order is theirs to choose and the adaptive engine rewards an early run of correct answers.
  • They book early in the window — to keep both retakes available.
  • They check the school cut-offs — NMIMS Mumbai’s call score differs from the other campuses and schools.

Practice on this site

NMAT syllabus NMAT previous year papers NMAT mock tests NMAT study material SNAP guide

Sources

Official notifications and sources

Checked 15 September 2026 against GMAC’s NMAT pages on mba.com and gmac.com; mba.com uses a bot check, so the registration and fee figures were read from GMAC’s learner-resources page.

Official sources

NMAT by GMAC — official page GMAC — NMAT key information, dates and fees NMIMS — admissions GMAC

Exam resources

Everything for NMAT

Six resource pages, each kept in step with the latest official notification.

NMAT SyllabusNMAT syllabus — language skills, quantitative skills and logical reasoning topics, at a conventional management-entrance level.NMAT Exam PatternNMAT exam pattern 2026 — 108 questions in 120 minutes, three sections of 36 in your order, adaptive, no negative marking, 36–360 score, three attempts.NMAT Previous PapersNMAT previous year papers — building the pace the sections demand and practising with no negative marking.NMAT Mock TestsNMAT mock tests — sectionally timed practice with no negative marking, and rehearsal of section order.NMAT PreparationNMAT preparation strategy — building pace, planning the three attempts and using a CAT preparation as the base.NMAT Study MaterialNMAT study material — quantitative, verbal and reasoning notes, with emphasis on grammar and data sufficiency.

Related

More MBA preparation

All MBA examsEvery exam in this categoryPrevious-year papersPast papers with solutionsCurrent affairsDaily, weekly and monthlyExam updatesNotifications and results

Questions

NMAT — FAQs

Can I choose the section order in NMAT?

Yes, at the start of the test. Some candidates open with their strongest section to build confidence; others take their weakest while their attention is freshest. Either is defensible, but the choice is worth making and rehearsing in mocks beforehand rather than improvising on the day — and if you are taking more than one attempt, it is worth trying a different order and keeping whichever produces the better result.

How does NMAT compare with CAT in difficulty?

NMAT questions are individually gentler but come at a stricter pace, which makes it a test of consistent speed rather than of peak problem-solving. Its language section is more grammar- and vocabulary-based than CAT’s almost entirely comprehension-driven verbal section, and it includes data sufficiency questions that CAT does not use. A CAT preparation covers most of the ground; the additions are pace practice, grammar drilling and data sufficiency technique.

What are the NMAT 2026 dates?

Registration runs from 20 August to 10 October 2026 on mba.com, test scheduling to 22 October, and the testing window from 2 November to 20 December 2026 at test centres in India (online-proctored abroad). Retakes are booked within the window at least 15 days after the previous attempt.

What is the NMAT exam pattern?

108 questions in 120 minutes across Language Skills, Quantitative Skills and Logical Reasoning, 36 questions each, taken in the order the candidate chooses. The test is computer-adaptive, there is no negative marking, and the result is a scaled score of 12–120 per section and 36–360 in all.

How many times can I take NMAT?

Three times in a testing year — one attempt and up to two retakes — with at least 15 days between attempts; each retake costs ₹3,000 plus taxes. The candidate chooses which attempt’s score to send to schools.

What is the NMAT fee?

₹3,000 for registration, including five score reports, plus taxes; ₹3,000 for each retake, ₹1,200 to reschedule and ₹400 for each additional score report. International candidates pay USD 65, 65, 30 and 5.

Is there negative marking in NMAT?

No. Wrong answers are not penalised, so every question should be answered; the scaled score reflects the number and difficulty of the questions answered correctly in the adaptive test.

Who is eligible for NMAT?

A bachelor’s degree in any discipline — NMIMS asks for 50 per cent in the first attempt and other schools set their own minimum — or final-year status; there is no age limit. The score is accepted by NMIMS and 56 schools in India and is valid for the current application cycle.

Are there free NMAT mock tests?

Yes. The free NMAT mock tests here follow the GMAC format — three 36-question sections in 120 minutes in the order you choose, without negative marking — and report a section-wise estimate on the 36–360 scale.

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