NMAT Exam Pattern: Exam Only in Single Testing Mode; Testing Window Reduced to Half; Exam from Nov 5 to Dec 20, 2024; Check Revised Pattern

NMAT 2024 is the mandatory exam for MBA admission in NMIMS Mumbai and its other campuses. NMAT score is accepted by more than 50 MBA colleges in India including K J Somaiya, Great Lakes Institute of Management, XIMB, TAPMI, VIT Vellore, SDA Bocconi, IFMR-GSB among others. NMAT 2024 Question Paper has 3 sections, namely– Language Skills, Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Skills. For the convenience of the test takers to understand the structure of NMAT exam, and prepare accordingly, it may be noted that NMAT exam pattern is similar to other leading national level MBA entrance exams like CAT and XAT but NMAT has a lower difficulty level and does not have negative marking. You need to ensure high score in each of the three sections as there is also a sectional score cut off in NMIMS for shortlisting. Below are shared the key highlights of NMAT Exam Pattern:

NMAT 2024 Highlights

NMAT Sectional Pattern for NMAT 2024 exam is given below. The table shares the NMAT exam pattern from Section-1 to Section-3, number and type of questions in each section, sectional time duration and scoring pattern

NMAT 2024 Exam Pattern

The Language Skills section in NMAT carries overall 33% Weightage in the exam and has sectional time limit of 28 minutes to attempt questions. Out of total 108 questions, 36 questions are based on Language Skills section. The Language Skills Section in NMAT paper is divided into 2 parts. The 1^st part covers topics on Verbal Ability and the 2^nd Part covers Reading Comprehension passages. Below is shared the topic wise Language Skills sectional pattern with number of questions in the exam and actual NMAT questions that appeared last year in the exam to help you familiarise with the type of questions in NMAT:   

Exam Wise Section wise Topics & Types of Questions Table

Year: NMAT 2023

Section: Language Skills

The Logical Reasoning section in NMAT carries overall 33% Weightage in the exam. Out of total 108 questions, 36 questions are based on Reasoning only. The Logical Reasoning Section has an individual time limit of 40 minutes to attempt the questions. The questions are based on three topics, namely- Verbal Reasoning, Critical Reasoning and Analytical Reasoning. Below is shared the topic wise Logical Reasoning sectional pattern with number of questions in the exam and actual NMAT questions that appeared last year to help you familiarise with the type of questions:

Exam Wise Section wise Topics & Types of Questions Table

Year: NMAT 2023

Section: Logical Reasoning

The Quantitative Skills Section in NMAT also carries overall 33% Weight in the exam. It has individual section time limit of 52 minutes to attempt the section which comprises 36 questions out of total 108 questions. Major topics on which questions are based include Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Number system, Data Interpretation, Data Sufficiency among others. Below is shared the topic wise Quantitative Skills sectional pattern with number of questions in the exam and actual NMAT questions that appeared last year to help you familiarise with the type of questions:

Exam Wise Section wise Topics & Types of Questions Table

Year: NMAT 2023

Section: Quantitative Skills

Each correct answer adds +1 mark in NMAT. There is no negative marking scheme in NMAT and each wrong answer gets 0 mark but no deduction is made from the already obtained score.

The NMAT by GMAC exam score is awarded by first obtaining the candidate’s final ability estimate based on the probabilistic model approach of modern exam theory, and then transformed to a scaled score ranging from 12 to 120.

6.1 Questions are Given as per Candidate’s Ability

Questions in the NMAT by GMAC exam are selected from the question pool for each examinee, based on his/her performance on the questions previously answered. The questions, which a candidate receives are targeted at his or her ability level; therefore, a high- scoring candidate generally receives a more difficult sample of questions than a low- scoring candidate.

• (1) Two Testing Modes: NMAT 2024 exam pattern is online computer based test (CBT) at test centres; or Proctored Internet based test (IBT) from home
• (2)  Self-Schedule NMAT by GMAC Exam Date: The NMAT by GMAC is one of the few national exams which offer you the liberty to choose your test appointment date, time and test center location.
• (3) Facility to Choose Order of Sections: One of the unique features in NMAT exam pattern is that Test taker can choose order of sections. However, NMAT pattern strictly expects you to follow the same order, once you decide the order of the sections to attempt
• (4) Individually Timed Sections: In the revised NMAT exam pattern, each of the three sections is individually timed and the candidates have to attempt the questions in the respective section within the allotted sectional time limit.
• (5) Facility to Review Answers: NMAT Test takers are advised to review answers of each section within the allotted time before moving to another section of the exam, as once the candidate closes out of a section, he/she may not come back to the section
• (6) Three Attempts allowed:  This is the biggest benefit of NMAT by GMAC exam pattern. You can take the NMAT by GMAC three times in a given admission cycle. This gives you the opportunity to improve your score
• (7) Uniform MCQ Format: All the questions in NMAT exam are of Multiple Choice type (MCQs)
• (8) Number of Questions Reduced: NMAT exam now has 108 questions. Earlier the exam had 120 questions
• (9) No Negative Marking: NMAT is without any penalty of negative marking. So, instead of skipping a question in the question paper, you can use your calculated guess and mark the answer without the fear of a penalty for a wrong answer as there is no negative marking.
• (10) Moderate Difficulty Exam: The difficulty level is not so high in NMAT by GMAC exam as that of IIMs-CAT and XLRI-XAT exams

Documents & Time

1. On NMAT by GMAC exam day, arrive at the test centre at least 45 minutes prior to your test time. 
2. Bring the Confirmation email from GMAC (this can be shown on your mobile or taken as a printout) 
3. Bring your Admit Card Hard Copy 
4. Bring One valid Photo ID and another Signature ID in original for example Passport, PAN Card, Voter's ID, Aadhaar Card, Debit/Credit Card, Driver's License

Carry Admit Card, ID & Photograph

1. Carry the Admit Card to the test centre and get it signed by the test administrator at the designated place on the day of the test
2. If you are opting to retake the exam you must retain the ‘same’ Admit Card that you carried for the first / previous attempt (signed and stamped by the test administrator). 
3. You will be required to produce the ‘same’ Admit Card and will have to get it signed and stamped at the test centre where you appear, for you to retake the exam. 
4. You may or may not get the same test centre as allotted to you for your previous attempt(s).
5. B-Schools may ask you to present a signed Admit Card to verify that you have completed the NMAT by GMAC exam
6. Check that your printed photograph on your Admit Card is clearly visible. 
7. If the photo is blank or not clearly visible, contact the NMAT help desk on mail to update the photo
8. Retain the signed Admit Card until your admission process is complete. 

Before Start of NMAT Exam
After you are seated at your designated computer system you need to take following steps: 

• Computer will display welcome screen, after which you will see a Non-Disclosure Agreement screen. You must click on 'Yes' at the screen in order to proceed with the test.
• If you click on “No, I do not Accept” deliberately or by mistake, you will be prompted to change the option and if you still click on “No, I do not Accept”, your test will end and you will not be able to resume the test that day under any circumstances. 
• Test centre staff will not be able to reverse the acceptance and you will lose the test attempt and forfeit the test fee 

How to Attempt the NMAT Exam
NMAT by GMAC exam allows you to select your preferred section order, which means you can choose the order of NMAT exam sections.  At the end of each section, you will be presented with a Review screen to identify the questions that you have left incomplete or flagged for review while attempting the test. You can go directly to specific questions by clicking on the number on the Review screen.  

Each of the three sections has individual section timings and you have to answer and review the questions of the particular section within the allotted time. In case, you complete the section (answering and reviewing) before the section time expires, any balance of time will not be added to the next section(s) The next section has its own time allocation and you must complete the section in the allotted section time. 

After following similar pattern for many years, NMAT by GMAC exam pattern is changed due to Covid 19 pandemic. Now, NMAT has fewer questions as compared to previous years. All the questions are equally divided into three sections with a changed time limit for each section. Following are the key changes in NMAT Exam Pattern 2024 as compared to earlier exams:

NMAT: Key Changes in Exam Pattern over the years

NMAT exam pattern as compared to CAT and XAT has many similarities. A comparative analysis of NMAT Vs CAT and NMAT Vs XAT is shared below:

NMAT Exam Pattern 2024 V/s CAT

NMAT by GMAC exam pattern 2024 and IIM- CAT have many similarities which give the opportunity to the candidates to synchronize their sectional and overall exam preparation. Still NMAT pattern has a few dissimilarities as compared to CAT:

NMAT Pattern 2024 Vs XAT 2025

Similarities and dissimilarities in NMAT by GMAC exam pattern and XLRI XAT exam are more yet many similar points in both the exam pattern help the test takers to prepare for them simultaneously:

Q. In how many days NMAT exam will be conducted
A. The exam will be conducted in a long testing window from November 5 to December 20, 2024 

Q. What is the NMAT 2024 Marking Scheme
A. NMAT awards +1 Mark for each correct answer and 0 mark for wrong answer. The obtained score is converted into scaled score  

Q. What is the Mode of NMAT 2024 exam?
A. NMAT has two testing modes – Computer based exam at test centres and Online proctored test from home 

Q. Is NMAT a difficult exam?
A. No, as compared to CAT and XAT NMAT has moderate difficulty level

Q. Can I attempt any section in NMAT within over all time limit?
A. No, first you need to choose the order of sections as each section has individual time limit

Q. Can I take NMAT more than once?
A. Yes, you can take NMAT three times including first take of exam and two retakes of exam

Q. Do I need to pay exam fee again for NMAT retake?
A. Yes, you need to pay the prescribed retake fee

Q. Can I apply to NMIMS Mumbai with the score of any of the three NMAT attempts?
A. No, NMIMS Mumbai accepts score of only first Take of NMAT exam 

Read More: NMAT 2024 - Exam Date, Registration, Application Form, Syllabus and Pattern