The NMAT, or Narsee Monjee Aptitude Test, is a prominent national-level entrance exam designed for admission into various management programs across India and other countries. Since March 2015, the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) has managed this exam, previously overseen by the Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS). This transition rebranded the exam as the NMAT by GMAC.
The NMAT serves as a critical pathway to prestigious MBA and other management courses, guiding students toward a successful career in management. For those aspiring to advance in this field, understanding the eligibility criteria, syllabus, and overall exam structure of the NMAT is essential.
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NMAT Eligibility Criteria
A bachelor’s degree in any discipline with a minimum of 50% marks from a recognized university. There is no upper age limit to the exam. Candidates can take the NMAT by GMAC up to three times. However, the best of all three scores will be used for admission.
NMAT Exam Overview
The important details about the exam are as follows:
EXAM DURATION | 120 Minutes |
PATTERN | 3 Sections (Language Skills, Quantitative Skills, and Logical Reasoning) |
TOTAL QUESTIONS | 108(Language Skills: 36, Quantitative Skills: 36, Logical Reasoning: 36) |
MARKING | Each question carries 1 mark, and there is no negative marking. |
APPLICATION FEE | INR 2000/- |
RESULT/ SCORE | Valid for: 1 yearRange: 0-360Percentile: The exam score is converted into a percentile score. |
FORMAT | Computer-Base Test (CBT) |
PARTICIPATING INSTITUTES | – NMIMS Mumbai: Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) Mumbai- NMIMS Bengaluru- NMIMS Hyderabad among others |
Overview of NMAT Exam Subjects
Here is an overview of the NMAT Exam subjects:
The exam consists of three sections namely, language skills, quantitative skills and logical reasoning. The section-wise subjects involved in the exam are as follows:
LANGUAGE SKILLS | Vocabulary, English Grammar, Reading Comprehension |
QUANTITATIVE SKILLS | Arithmetic. Algebra, Geometry and Mensuration, Data Interpretation |
LOGICAL REASONING | Analytic Reasoning, Coding and Decoding, Verbal Reasoning |
Click here to download the syllabus of the NMAT exam in PDF format.
NMAT Exam Admission Process
The admission process for eligible students is as follows:
- The exam score is used for admission to various management programs.
- Candidates are shortlisted based on their NMAT score and other criteria (such as work experience, academic background, and achievements).
- Shortlisted candidates are invited for interviews and group discussions.
- The final selection is based on the candidate’s performance in the interview and group discussion rounds.
NMAT Exam Preparation Tips
Understanding the exam pattern and syllabus is key to NMAT preparation.
- Divide your syllabus based on your stronger and weaker areas to concentrate more on the weaker areas to improve the score.
- Practicing the previous year’s question papers is important to identify recurring questions and prepare for the actual exam.
- Time management during the exam is crucial, so allocate your focus wisely.
- Keep revising and focus on consistency while facing hurdles.
Reference Books
The resources available online are in the form of websites like NMAT Official Website, GMAT Club, Pagalguy, or mobile apps like NMAT Prep by GMAC, MBA Prep by Career Launcher, and NMAT Mock Test by Disha Experts. The books are listed below section-wise:
Language Skills:
- The Official Guide to the NMAT by GMAC
- Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension by Arihant Publications
- English Grammar and Composition by Wren and Martin
Quantitative Skills:
- Quantitative Aptitude by R.S. Aggarwal
- Data Interpretation and Data Sufficiency by Arihant Publications
- Mathematics for NMAT by Disha Experts
Logical Reasoning:
- Logical Reasoning by Arihant Publications
- Analytical Reasoning by M.K. Pandey
- Logical Reasoning for NMAT by Disha Experts
Conclusion
In conclusion, the NMAT exam is a challenging but fair assessment of a candidate’s skills and knowledge. With thorough preparation and a well-planned strategy, candidates can overcome the exam’s challenges and achieve their goal of securing admission to a top business school. By staying focused, managing time effectively, and utilizing the right resources, candidates can maximize their chances of success on the NMAT exam and take the first step towards a rewarding management career.
NMAT exam ensures that only the most deserving candidates are selected for admission to top business schools, making it a fair and reliable measure of a candidate’s potential to succeed in management.
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FAQs
NMAT is way easier than CAT, and most of the candidates who prepare for CAT can easily attempt NMAT. So, if a student is well prepared for CAT, NMAT should not be an issue. Apart from some minor topics, most topics also remain the same for both exams.
The time needed to prepare for the NMAT exam would be as little as around two months when a well-rounded study plan is in place. NMAT is conducted to get into some of the most elite business schools in India and tests a candidate on the aspects of Language Skills, Quantitative Skills, and Logical Reasoning.
No, the calculators are not allowed in the NMAT Examinations. In, fact NO electronic devices such as scientific calculators, smart watches, etc. are permitted at the NMAT exam center. Inside the NMAT exam hall, only the NMAT Admit Card and a photo ID card for proof are allowed.
The NMIMS School of Business Management offers a total of 990 seats across all its MBA programs and campuses.

Prachi, a student pursuing bachelor’s in English and Philosophy from University of Delhi is a knowledge-driven, hardworking individual. Having interest in content writing, research and still exploring other domains, she has a knack for learning.