Know MBA entrance exam: NMAT

With 4-5 months left for the major MBA entrance exams including CAT, you must be ready with a preparation strategy which will work simultaneously for all such exams like XAT, NMAT, IIFT Entrance Exam, and SNAP.
Our previous article on major entrance exam brought you expected MBA entrance exam dates based on last years exam dates. While CAT and XAT have announced their exam dates in OctoberNovember and January respectively, exams dates for other major exams like NMAT, SNAP, IIFT entrance are yet to be announced.
You should, however, be ready with a preparation strategy which will help you to take other exams also post your CAT exam. This article brings you Exam pattern and other information on NMAT.
NMAT: NMIMS School of Business Management (SBM) conducts NMIMS Management Aptitude Test (NMAT) for admission to its different management programmes including two Year Full -Time programs MBA, MBA Banking, MBA Capital Market, MBA-HR, & MBA-Pharmaceutical Management at Mumbai campus and PGDM at Bengaluru & Hyderabad Campuses. The testing window for NMAT is generally spread over the month of OctoberDecember.

Last year, the online registrations for NMAT opened from 11th July 2012 and ended on 4th October. After the registration, students were allowed to choose test date within an NMAT test window period of 11th October to 19th December 2012. NMAT offered students two retakes after first attempt, subject to fulfilling required procedure, and in such cases the best of three scores were considered by NMIMS for admissions to the offered programs. The table below brings you more information on programmes and number of seats offered in the academic year 2013-15.

Programme
Number of seats
MBA
360

MBA Banking
60

MBA Capital Market
60

MBA HR
30

MBA Pharmaceutical Management
60

PGDM- Bangalore campus
120

PGDM- Hyderabad campus
60

NMAT Eligibility:
1. MBA Core: Bachelors Degree in any discipline from a recognized University with minimum 50% marks in the aggregate in first attempt 2. MBA Actuarial Science: Bachelors Degree in Statistics / Mathematics / Engineering /Economics / Computer Science with minimum 50% marks in Aggregate in first attempt. Candidates with Professional Qualifications like A.C.A. (Institute of Chartered Accountants of India) & ICWA (Institute of Cost & Works Accountant of India) can also apply. 3. MBA Banking: Bachelors Degree in any discipline from a recognized University with minimum 50% marks in the aggregate in first attempt 4. MBA Capital Market: Bachelors Degree in any discipline from a recognized University with minimum 50% marks in the aggregate in first attempt 5. MBA HR: Selection process is separate:- Bachelors Degree in any discipline from a recognized University with minimum 50% marks in the aggregate in first attempt 6. MBA Pharmaceutical Management Selection process is separate: Bachelors Degree in Pharmacy, Science, Life Sciences, Medical doctors MBBS, BDS, BSMS, BHMS, BAMS, BUMS, B.Sc and M.Sc in Biotechnology from a recognized University with minimum 50% marks in the aggregate in first attempt. Post Graduate degree in Economics, Psychology and Sociology can also apply. 7. PGDM: Bangalore campus:- Bachelors Degree in any discipline from a recognized University with minimum 50% marks in the aggregate in first attempt. 8. PGDM: Hyderabad campus:- Bachelors Degree in any discipline from a recognized University with minimum 50% marks in the aggregate in first attempt.

NMAT 2013 Paper Pattern:
NMAT is an objective type multiple-choice test. (There will be no descriptive type questions).

Section
No. of Questions
Time in Minutes

Language Skills
32
22

Quantitative Skills
48
60

Logical Reasoning
40
38

Total
120
120

The candidate should note that it is important for them to perform well relative to other candidates in each of the 3 sections of the test as the score of each section and the overall score is used to shortlist the candidate for the second stage of the selection process as well as in the final ranking. Please note that there will be no negative marking.