NMAT Preparation 2023

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Updated on
May 20, 2023

NMAT Preparation 2023: Best Books, Strategy, How to Prepare & Score High

 

NMAT Preparation strategy for NMAT 2023 exam should ideally be finalized well in advance as per the revised NMAT exam pattern and Syllabus. NMAT 2023 will be held in a 75 day Test Window from October to December 2023 with option to choose one of the two testing modes - Online computer based exam at test centres or Centrally proctored Internet Based Test which you can take from home. The NMAT 2023 exam score will lead to admission in prestigious MBA 2024 programs at NMIMS Mumbai, XIMB, VIT and many other MBA colleges.

 

With 75 days available to appear in the NMAT exam, the question - how to finalize NMAT Exam preparation 2023 can be answered well and the preparation can be well planned with score target of 90+ score. Even if a candidate who does not start the NMAT by GMAC preparation 4-5 months in advance, he can chalk out the NMAT 2023 preparation strategy now. A moderate difficulty level exam, NMAT preparation can be done in 2-3 months. You can appear in NMAT exam after making good NMAT by GMAC exam preparation within this period.


NMAT 2023

  

NMAT 2023 Pattern Changed
GMAC, the NMAT exam conducting body has changed the exam pattern as regards to number of questions, sectional composition and scoring pattern. Accordingly, the NMAT Exam preparation must be well defined as per the changes in the NMAT exam. Following broad areas that should be kept in mind for NMAT exam preparation are:

  1. An important point which differentiates NMAT preparation is the focus on maximizing your attempts in the exam as it does not have any negative marking.
  2. The facility of three attempts in NMAT and freedom to choose the order of sections on NMAT exam day also help to improve your NMAT exam score.
  3. There is no section on GK for NMAT 2023. So, there is no need to prepare GK for NMAT 2023 exam. However, a good understanding will be required in the final selection round. Accordingly, your preparation of GK for NMAT 2023 will help you to get through the PI round after the NMAT exam is over.
  4. NMAT 2023 score card will consist of score only. The score card will not have percentile mentioned in it.
  5. GMAC offers NMAT by GMAC Official Practice Exam 1 (Free) for NMAT aspirants to practice and familiarize themselves with exam pattern.
  6. 2 free attempts to prepare with practice exam are available for the candidates.
  7. Additionally, candidates can buy “NMAT by GMAC™ Official Practice Exam 2 & 3” to practice and prepare more for NMAT exam

NMAT Preparation Strategy: Key Focus Points
Your NMAT 2023 Preparation should focus on following 8 key points:

  1. NMAT Exam structure: You need to prepare according to the changes
  2. NMAT Preparation Time: How to Utilize?
  3. NMAT Syllabus: Your preparation should be as per the revised syllabus topics
  4. NMAT Preparation Books: Get the Best Books & Other NMAT Study Material
  5. NMAT Preparation Tips from NMAT toppers & experts
  6. Preparation with NMAT Coaching or Self preparation: Which is better?
  7. NMAT Mock Tests & Previous Test Papers for NMAT Preparation
  8. Finally, How to crack NMAT 2023 with High score   

Let’s understand how to cover NMAT preparation through seven key areas:  

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1. NMAT 2023 Exam Pattern
NMAT exam pattern has very much changed for 2023 exam. With effect from 2015, GMAC has been conducting NMAT in a similar pattern, but from last year, the exam pattern has been changed substantially.

 

One of the best online MBA entrance exams, NMAT is free from any negative marking and awards a choice to take NMAT exam 3 times to improve your score. You need to devise a well chalked out plan for your NMAT exam 2023 preparation as per the NMAT exam pattern.

 

As per the NMAT exam pattern 2023, it consists of 3 sections with a total of 108 questions. There is the facility to choose order of sections and follow the same. Each section in NMAT 2023 exam is to be attempted within the prescribed sectional time limit. You need to ensure high and balanced score in each of the 3 sections as there is also a sectional score cut off in NMIMS for shortlisting.  

 

1.1 NMAT by GMAC Exam Pattern 2023
NMAT paper pattern has three sections. The number of questions in each section of NMAT 2023 paper pattern are equal. Earlier they used to be different. The NMAT paper pattern expects you to attempt the sectional questions within the allotted time limit which is different for each section. Below are shared the key components, number of questions and allotted time in NMAT pattern 2023:

Section Name
Number of questions
Allotted time in minutes
Language Skills
36
 28
Quantitative Skills
36
 52
Logical Reasoning
36
 40
Total
120
120

1.2 Key Changes in NMAT 2023 Exam Pattern
NMAT exam pattern has been substantially changed. The exam will have fewer number of questions as compared to last year. All the questions will be equally divided into three sections with a changed time limit for each section. Following are the key changes in NMAT Exam Pattern 2023 as compared to last few years:

NMAT Exam Components

NMAT 2023 & 2022
 NMAT 2021
NMAT 2020
NMAT 2019
Total Question in NMAT
108
108
108
120
Change in total Questions/allotted time in Language Skills Section
36 Qs in 28 Mins
36 Qs in 28 Mins
36 Qs in 28 Mins
32 Qs in 22 Mins
Change in total questions/allotted time in Quantitative Skills Section
36 Qs in 52 Mins
36 Qs in 52 Mins
36 Qs in 52 Mins
48 Qs in 60 Mins
Change in total questions/allotted time in Logical Reasoning section
36 Qs in 40 Mins
36 Qs in 40 Mins
36 Qs in 40 Mins
40 Qs in 38 Mins

Read More on NMAT by GMAC Exam Pattern

 

2. NMAT Preparation Time: How to Use?
As the NMAT preparation time goes on reducing month after month with every passing day, you need to revisit your NMAT preparation strategy and synchronise it with remaining NMAT by GMAC exam preparation Time. NMAT preparation tips by experts and toppers who suggest ‘How to prepare for NMAT in 2 months’; ‘How to crack NMAT 2020Exam with a planned NMAT Exam Preparation  strategy in 2 months’ and so on, are more relevant as the NMAT preparation time is short now. 

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2.1 How to prepare for NMAT 2023 Exam in 6 months?
NMAT preparation tips for beginners or for the repeaters are not much different. NMAT preparation time of 6 months is more than sufficient to crack the exam. Following should be adhered to before proceeding on NMAT preparation journey:

  • As you are left with sufficient NMAT exam preparation time, first of all go through and understand the NMAT exam structure
  • Thoroughly Read the NMAT 2023 exam syllabus as it is released officially
  • Find out your strong and weak areas
  • Start building up the fundamentals and get conceptual clarity on the topics which fall in your weak areas
  • Don’t waste too much time on theory. If you have understood the basics, attempt NMAT sectional quiz.
  • Practice after theory is a must. Accordingly take periodical NMAT 2023 Quiz, attempt NMAT Mock tests, NMAT previous years question papers
  • Get the best NMAT preparation material with best books for NMAT preparation.
  • Periodically assess yourself and overcome your weaknesses.
  • Remain confident right from the day one during your NMAT preparation journey.
  • Self -Preparation is the best NMAT 2023 preparation strategy however time is also an important factor. If a candidate gets stuck on some question due to his/her lack of conceptual clarity, the wastage of time is more and depression begins to set in. It could be a small quant formula, LR logic, or Verbal usage clarity which might need a simple push to come out of the shallow waters. This help can be provided by your mentor online or offline depending upon your preference or a mix of both.  

2.2 How to prepare for NMAT 2023 in 3 months?
NMAT preparation time of three months is not short. What you have done in last 2-3 months or whatever you have prepared can be revised now in three months with various NMAT preparation tools. NMAT preparation strategy for three months is shared below:

  • Check if you have achieved good clarity on fundamentals and have strengthened your basics
  • Alongwith going through the books for NMAT preparation, visit number of  online NMAT preparation material
  • It is time that you started taking NMAT Mock test, analyse your errors and rectify them
  • Instead of reading the theory again and again, now you should attempt the question and when you are stuck, visit the basics and clarify your point to clear the confusion
  • Solve NMAT previous year question papers
  • Join a good Test series for NMAT preparation

2.3 How to prepare for NMAT 2023 in 2 months?
Many NMAT toppers are of the view that NMAT preparation time of two months is good enough to crack NMAT exam provided you study effectively. This way even 2 months are good to score 99 percentile if you are sincere enough.

  • Focus more on NMAT Exam Quiz, NMAT Mock tests, different types of questions as appeared in NMAT
  • Don’t leave any NMAT Mock Test without analyzing it
  • Go through the Books for NMAT preparation and the NMAT study material and ensure  that you have gone through the sectional and overall quiz and practice tests in these NMAT preparation books.
  • Get the NMAT by GMAC 2023 preparation guide released by GMAC, it contains lot of NMAT study material, practice tests, previous test papers, Mocks
  • There are some strong areas within your weak areas and some weak areas within your strong areas. Try to focus on all the weak areas and see if you are able to improve them. However, you should not waste more time on them. Instead focus more on your strong areas and improve them further.

3. NMAT 2023 Exam Syllabus
NMAT 2023 exam Syllabus consists of multiple choice objective type questions (in English). Going by the previous trend of NMAT questions, the NMAT 2023 Syllabus covers the following major topics in each of the three sections:

  • Language Skills: Grammar, Vocabulary, Comprehension
  • Quantitative Skills: Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Mensuration, Trigonometry & other topics
  • Logical Reasoning: Verbal Reasoning, Analytical Reasoning

The NMAT Syllabus is revamped with different type of questions appearing in each NMAT exam. GMAC releases every year the changes in test taking strategy and expected type of questions in the exam as per the NMAT syllabus. Recently, GMAC has also released the NMAT preparation guide with NMAT syllabus to help the candidates prepare better for NMAT by GMAC exam 2023.

 

To prepare for NMAT exam as per NMAT exam Syllabus, it should be kept in mind that there is no repetition of NMAT exam questions in NMAT by GMAC exam although difficulty level of the questions in NMAT exam would not go out of NMAT exam syllabus.

 

3.1 No NMAT preparation without NMAT Syllabus
You will find it difficult to proceed with NMAT exam preparation even if you have all the NMAT preparation material, unless you know the NMAT exam syllabus. NMAT by GMAC exam syllabus is much wider than one can anticipate and is updated every year.

 

NMAT syllabus does not leave any study topic untouched. If you go through the NMAT exam syllabus, it will help you to decide when to begin NMAT preparation, How to prepare for NMAT 2023; What important topics covered in NMAT syllabus need your focused attention in NMAT preparation and so on so forth... Read More about NMAT Exam Syllabus

 

4. NMAT Preparation Books
Books for NMAT preparation and NMAT study material online or offline play a major role in helping you score high in the NMAT by GMAC exam. A few of the best NMAT preparation books recommended by toppers are:

 

4.1 NMAT Preparation Book by GMAC
Graduate Management Admission Council has released a comprehensive ‘NMAT by GMAC 2023 Preparation Guide’. This NMAT preparation book is the authentic and official NMAT 2023 preparation guide. The book contains NMAT by GMAC 2023 syllabus, fundamentals to prepare, access to NMAT Mocks, CD to prepare, previous NMAT questions, probable NMAT questions among others. 

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4.2 Section-wise Important Books for NMAT Preparation:

 

4.2.1 Language Skills

  • How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT’- by Arun Sharma & Meenakshi Upadhyay
  • Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT’ - by Nishit K Sinha
  • Latest RC Passages and practice questions provided by Study centres like TIME, CL among others
  • Editorial and short articles published in English news papers
  • ‘Word Power Made Easy’ – by Norman Lewis
  • ‘High School English Grammar & Composition’ – by Wren & Martin
  • Regularly solve the Verbal Ability questions from your study material especially on Para summary, Jumbled Paragraphs

4.2.2 Logical Reasoning

  • ‘Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT’ - by Nishit K Sinha (Published by Pearson)
  • ‘How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for the CAT’ - by Arun Sharma (Published by McGraw Hill)
  • ‘Logical Reasoning and data Interpretation for the CAT’ - by Nishit K Sinha (Published by Pearson)

4.2.3 Quantitative Skills
Following books and study material have remained a good NMAT preparation tool for Quant for past many years:

  • ‘How to prepare for Quantitative for the CAT’ - by Arun Sharma, published by MGH Education
  • ‘Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT’ – by Nishit K.Sinha, Published by Pearson
  • ‘The Pearson Guide to Quantitative Aptitude for competitive exams’
  • Quant study modules by TIME, CL, IMS

5. NMAT Preparation Tips from NMAT toppers & experts
NMAT Preparation Tips 2023 from toppers and experts will guide you how to start NMAT 2023 Exam Preparation. When you begin your NMAT Preparation Online or offline, you should keep in mind to go through, understand NMAT Exam Pattern, NMAT 2023 Syllabus, whether you wish to go for NMAT preparation Online, with coaching or can self prepare. Also check the time left for NMAT preparation and follow the rigorous preparation schedule with time management.

 

The next part is to gather right NMAT preparation books and study material, enroll for mock tests, collect previous test papers to get hands-on experience of actual NMAT exam. Your sectional preparation strategy according to the toppers should be:

 

5.1 Language Skills: Devote 30-45 Minutes a Day
If you start your preparation at least 4-5 months before the exam date, 30 minutes a day can be good to prepare for this section. But if you start your preparation late, you need around 1 hour daily. This section will have direct questions. You may not be asked to draw inferences in passages as happens in CAT. To ace this section you need to improve your vocabulary bank, read books and editorial part in news papers. Regularly practice on RC passages, vocabulary, fill in the blanks and grammar based questions.

 

5.2 Logical Reasoning: Devote 30-45 Minutes a day
The ideal time to prepare for this section in 5 months is 45 minutes a day with at least 4-5 problems solved daily. The questions in this section are based on two main topics – Analytical reasoning and Verbal Reasoning. While the questions on Verbal Reasoning need more time to solve, Analytical reasoning questions can be solved in shorter time. You need to divide your time accordingly depending upon your ability and skills.

 

Reasoning section requires more and more practice on variety of questions. So choose diverse type of question sets to crack this section with high score.

 

5.3 Quantitative Skills: Devote 45 – 60 Minutes a day
How much time you should spend to prepare for Quant depends upon your strong and weak area in Mathematics. You need to clear your basics to get high score in Quantitative skills. You should not jump to advanced questions before your concepts and basics are clear on the topic. The speed to solve the question comes to you if you have clarity and practice more questions. Also improve your calculation speed without the help of calculator or any other device. NMAT gives more emphasis on Arithmetic, Modern Maths, Algebra & Geometry. Keep track of time while attempting the Quant questions.

 

5.4 Take More Mocks
Mock tests are the best tool to assess your preparation level and analyzing the errors. After taking each mock, analyse errors made in it. This will help in eliminating the errors in future. 

 

6. Preparation with NMAT Coaching or Self preparation: Which is better?
With the available NMAT by GMAC preparation time, you need to find out whether to go for NMAT coaching or start NMAT Exam 2023 Preparation at home. One of the important NMAT by GMAC preparation tips for beginners is to come out of this dilemma of moving between NMAT coaching and NMAT preparation at home.

 

If you wish to prepare with NMAT Coaching, it is important to find out the best coaching for NMAT exam preparation. Even the best coaching for NMAT exam may have its draw backs in regard to imparting NMAT by GMAC coaching on certain topics. So alongwith your preparation through the best NMAT coaching, you should find out the best coaching for NMAT exam preparation 2023 for the topics where you feel you are weak and need greater attention but not catered at your coaching institute.

 

If you wish to go for self-preparation for NMAT by GMAC, you need to understand first how to prepare for NMAT exam at home with the help of NMAT Preparation Books, NMAT by GMAC official guide, and other appropriate NMAT preparation Material like NMAT Mocks and NMAT previous test papers. So instead of getting involved into NMAT coaching, focus on NMAT preparation books recommended by experts, toppers and NMAT by GMAC exam conducting authority.

 

The comprehensive NMAT by GMAC preparation material is available in NMAT by GMAC official Guide 2023 and the best section wise NMAT preparation material is included in the preparation books by Arun Sharma,  preparation book by Nishit Sinha, online and offline NMAT 2023 Study Material for NMAT preparation, NMAT exam Quiz 2023, NMAT Mock test 2023 and so on. These NMAT Preparation Tips 2023 can guide you in right direction to NMAT Exam 2023 Preparation and make you aware how to prepare for NMAT exam leading to high score in NMAT by GMAC.

 

6.1 How to Crack NMAT 2023 by Preparing at home?
NMAT Exam preparation 2023 should be started at home now without waiting any further.  GMAC that conducts NMAT by GMAC since 2015 suggests self preparation for NMAT exam by taking its help. NMAT Exam preparation tips to start NMAT preparation at home are:

  • Go through the NMAT exam pattern
  • Read thoroughly the NMAT syllabus 2023
  • Pick out your strong and weak areas in all the sections
  • Gather the best books for NMAT preparation and other study material for NMAT 2023 preparation
  • Improve on your weak areas and monitor the improvement regularly
  • Take as many NMAT Mocks during your NMAT exam preparation and do the analysis of each Mock. Without analysis of Mock, attempting a mock test may not be useful.

6.2 How to Crack NMAT 2023 without coaching and with self study?
There is no substitute of NMAT preparation with self study which does not require any coaching until and unless you are stuck. Experts therefore, recommend that you should start your NMAT 2023 exam preparation by self study and later make it a mix of self study as well as help from coaching to avoid wastage of time.

  • Self Preparation is the best preparation strategy for NMAT 2023 however time is also an important factor. If you get stuck on some question, don’t waste time and move on. Later take help of NMAT preparation expert to come out of the dilemma.  
  • Most of the candidates coming from Engineering or other technical background find it easy to get along well with Quant, DI and LR but when it comes to Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, they find the section too difficult. It is where they need an expert guidance.
  • NMAT 2023 preparation needs improvement in your speed and accuracy as the time to solve per question is less than one minute. It will therefore, not be sufficient to score overall high in 2023; your section wise score should also be high to become eligible for shortlisting at NMIMS, XIMB or other top B-schools accepting NMAT scores.
  • NMAT 2023 preparation should equip you with continuous sitting for 2 hours without break. To achieve this you are required to take more Mocks, NMAT previous year test papers.

6.3 NMAT Preparation with Coaching
NMAT coaching helps you overcome many weak areas. Choose for the best coaching for NMAT preparation, if you wish to prepare for NMAT 2023 exam with the help of coaching. TIME, CL, IMS are considered as some of the best coaching institutes to prepare for NMAT by GMAC exam.

 

NMAT coaching online is a good answer to the working professionals who find it difficult to attend regular class room coaching for NMAT. During the past few years preference for NMAT online coaching has gone up many times. In fact, NMAT online preparation through online coaching for NMAT is more cost effective, less time consuming and offers you more time to practice NMAT by GMAC question papers and NMAT exercises.

 

7. NMAT Mock Test for NMAT Preparation 2023
NMAT 2023 Mock Tests and NMAT Previous Years Question Papers are the major NMAT preparation tools for NMAT 2023 exam. Alongwith the NMAT Mock tests, NMAT exam quiz, also play a major role in improving your speed and accuracy in NMAT preparation.

 

NMAT Mock test alongwith NMAT previous years test papers and NMAT sample test papers for NMAT 2023 are also released by GMAC. Besides, prepared by top experts and NMAT toppers, the NMAT sample papers are available to help in your NMAT preparation. Don’t miss them...Take NMAT Mocks, Previous NMAT test papers

 

8. How to Crack NMAT 2023 with 95 Percentile
It may be noted that NMAT has no negative marking so the attempts are more by test takers. Besides, you have the opportunity to retake the NMAT exam two more times to improve your score. If you have prepared well, it is not very difficult to score high in NMAT by GMAC. Even half of the total questions in NMAT exam are correct, you will get full marks and can fetch you a percentile in the range of 92 to 95. So prepare accordingly.

 

NMAT 2023 Preparation does not require you to study round the clock, instead you need to study smartly and with intelligent approach to crack the questions correctly in minimum time to achieve high score. 

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Read More: NMAT 2023 - Exam Date, Registration, Application Form, Syllabus and Pattern

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