NMAT by GMAC (originally the NMIMS Management Aptitude Test) is a postgraduate-level management entrance exam conducted by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), the same body that administers the GMAT globally. NMAT scores qualify candidates for MBA and PGDM admission at NMIMS University and over 50 leading B-schools. NMAT is one of India's largest MBA entrance exams after CAT, taken by over 60,000 aspirants each year, with international acceptance from select schools in South Africa, the Philippines, Nigeria, Hungary, and Morocco.

Governing BodyGMAC

Official Portalmba.com/exams/nmat

Course LevelPostgraduate entrance

▸ WHO THIS IS FOR

MBA / PGDM aspirants

▸ ELIGIBILITY & PREREQUISITES

One of the most accessible certifications in India.

NMAT by GMAC is open to all graduates from any discipline. Final-year students may apply, provided they complete their degree before the participating institute's admission deadline.

3-yr

Minimum Qualification

Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university (10+2+3 or 10+2+4 pattern)

No Limit

Age

Open to all age groups · freshers and working professionals both eligible

Attempts per cycle

1 initial + 2 retakes · minimum 15-day gap between attempts

▸ PREREQUISITES

1GMAC itself does not prescribe a minimum graduation percentage, but most participating B-schools, including NMIMS, require 50% aggregate in graduation.

▸ EXEMPTIONS & RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER EXAMS

There are no paper-wise exemptions (NMAT is a single integrated test)

No cross-course exemptions from CAT, XAT, or GMAT.

Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university (10+2+3 or 10+2+4 pattern).

▸ EXAM & ASSESSMENT

Pattern, marking & cut-offs.

Format

Computer-based test with three equally weighted sections, each individually timed. Candidates can choose the order in which they attempt sections.

Total score range

Total score range is 36–360 (scaled 12–120 per section). No negative marking — attempt every question

Section 1

36 Q — Language Skills — 28 minutes

Section 2

36 Q — Quantitative Skills — 52 minutes

Section 3

36 Q — Logical reasoning — 40 minutes

▸ MARKING SCHEME

Correct Answer

Negative Marking

CBT

Computer Based Test

▸ EXAM MODE

Computer-based test with three equally weighted sections, each individually timed. Candidates can choose the order in which they attempt sections.

EXAM WINDOW

Total duration: 120 minutes (2 hours). Per-section time: Language Skills: 28 minutes; Quantitative Skills: 52 minutes; Logical Reasoning: 40 minutes. PWD candidates time: The official NMAT format is section-timed, and the standard published duration is 120 minutes; PWD-specific extra time depends on the exam authority’s accommodation approval and applicable testing rules. Exam slots: Test takers book a preferred date and time from available online proctored slots; time slots are shown in the candidate’s time zone

▸ PASSING CRITERIA & CUT-OFFS

NMIMS Mumbai — Indicative Cutoff 208–235 — Highest among NMIMS campuses · first-attempt score only
NMIMS Bengaluru / Navi Mumbai / Hyderabad / Indore — Indicative Cutoff 200–225 — Common cutoff framework across campuses
SPJIMR (Global Management Programme) — Indicative Cutoff 80th %ile+ — Percentile-based · score range 240–300
TAPMI Manipal — Indicative Cutoff 220+ — All MBA specialisations
KJ Somaiya — Indicative Cutoff 222+ — Sectional cutoffs apply
XIM University Bhubaneswar — Indicative Cutoff ~90–92 %ile — MBA HRM accepts NMAT
SDA Bocconi Asia Center — Indicative Cutoff 200+ — International curriculum
ISB Hyderabad (AMPBA) — Indicative Cutoff Programme-specific — Advanced Management Programme in Business Analytics
IMT, Great Lakes, IFMR, ICFAI, Jindal, BML Munjal, FLAME, Woxsen, Thapar, Shiv Nadar & more — Indicative Cutoff 160–220 — Refer to each institute's admissions page

▸ NUMBER OF ATTEMPTS & RETAKE POLICY

Maximum attempts: Maximum 3 attempts in a testing cycle: 1 original attempt + up to 2 retakes
Cooling period: If the previous attempt has a valid score, the next attempt can be scheduled only after at least 15 days; if the status is No Show, NDA Refused, or Exam Incomplete, rescheduling can be done after 24 hours
Score validity: NMAT scores are valid for 2 years

▸ REGISTRATION & FEES

How to register for NMAT.

NMAT 2026 registration opens on the official GMAC portal, mba.com/exams/nmat. Unlike most Indian entrance exams, NMAT applies uniform fees across all categories. Important: GMAC does not provide any form-correction window. Details entered at registration cannot be edited later. GMAC also does not offer official fee waivers or category-based concessions, participating B-schools offer their own scholarships at the admission stage.

Create your GMAC account: Visit mba.com/exams/nmat and register with a valid email ID and phone number. GMAC will issue an NMAT ID and password by email.

Fill the application form: Enter personal, academic, and optional work-experience details. Double-check — the form cannot be edited after submission.

Select B-school preferences: Choose up to 5 B-schools for free score reporting. Additional schools can be added later at ₹400 + taxes each.

Schedule the exam & pay: Pick date, time slot, and either a test centre or secure online proctored mode. Pay the registration fee online to confirm your slot.

▸ FEE BREAKDOWN

Direct from GMAC portal

Initial Registration

₹3,000 + GST

Retake (per attempt)

₹3,000 + GST

Reschedule Fee

₹1,200 + GST

Additional Score Report (per institute)

₹400 + GST

Free score reports to

5 schools

What's included

Validity of score

1 cycle

What's included

Reschedule window

72 hrs

What's included

Refund policy

Non-refundable

What's included

Source: Direct from GMAC portal

▸ AT REGISTRATION

Passport-sized photograph (JPEG)

Signature (JPEG)

Valid government photo ID

Passport / PAN / Aadhaar (for test centre verification)

Class 10 certificate (date of birth proof)

Bachelor's degree mark sheet (or expected completion proof)

▸ Scholarships, Waivers & Financial Aid

1GMAC does not provide any form-correction window. Details entered at registration cannot be edited later. GMAC also does not offer official fee waivers or category-based concessions, participating B-schools offer their own scholarships at the admission stage.

▸ CERTIFICATION & RENEWAL

What you get & how to stay current.

▸ CERTIFICATE / CREDENTIAL AWARDED

NMAT Score Report (no certificate awarded)

— issued by GMAC

No certificate or qualification credential is awarded by NMAT itself.
NMAT is an entrance exam for admission to management programs, so it provides a score report, not a pass certificate or degree.
There is no merit certificate or separate institutional credential issued for clearing the exam.
The score is used by participating institutes during the admission process.

▸ RENEWAL & RECERTIFICATION

Certificate validity: NMAT scores are valid for 2 years

To renew before expiry, do one of the following:

NMAT is an annual admission test, scores are not renewable certifications, but the retake structure within a cycle gives candidates flexibility most other Indian MBA exams don't offer.

▸ Designation / Title Permitted

1Passing NMAT does not confer any professional designation or post-nominal title.

2The exam does not authorize the use of titles such as MBA, PGDM, or any professional suffix on its own.

3Any degree or title is earned only after admission to and completion of the chosen program.

4NMAT is only an entrance route to business schools, not a qualification that creates a designation.

▸ Completion & Certification

Testing window: 44 days

Single cycle runs Nov–Dec annually · all 3 attempts must fit inside

Gap between attempts: 15 days

Mandatory cooling period before each retake

Score validity: 1 cycle

Valid for the admission cycle following the exam · no CPE/CPD renewal

▸ CAREER & MARKET DATA

Where this certification takes you.

Entry-level

Indicative range · India

Business Analyst

Marketing Executive

Management Trainee

Mid-level

Indicative range · India

Product Manager

Brand Manager

Strategy Consultant

Senior

Indicative range · India

Director of Strategy

VP Marketing

CFO

▸ TOP RECRUITERS

Industries and organisations that recruit NMAT qualified candidates.

Top Recruiting Companies

McKinseyBCGBainDeloitteAccentureJP MorganGoldman SachsHDFC BankICICI BankAmazonMicrosoftGoogleTCSHindustan UnileverITCAsian PaintsP&GNestléReliance Industries

▸ INDIA vs. GLOBAL DEMAND

NMAT qualifies candidates for admission to MBA/PGDM programmes, career outcomes flow from the B-school programme completed. Figures below reference published placement reports of major NMAT-accepting B-schools.

Across consulting, BFSI, technology, FMCG, and operations — drawn from published placement reports of NMIMS Mumbai, SPJIMR, TAPMI, and KJ Somaiya.

NMIMS Mumbai: ₹26–28 LPA

▸ AFFILIATED / ACCEPTING ORGANISATIONS

NMIMS Mumbai

NMIMS Bengaluru / Navi Mumbai / Hyderabad / Indore

SPJIMR (Global Management Programme)

TAPMI Manipal

KJ Somaiya

XIM University Bhubaneswar

SDA Bocconi Asia Center

ISB Hyderabad (AMPBA)

IMT, Great Lakes, IFMR, ICFAI, Jindal, BML Munjal, FLAME, Woxsen, Thapar, Shiv Nadar & more

▸ HOW IT STACKS UP

NMAT vs. close alternatives.

A factual side-by-side against the certifications people most often compare it to.

Difficulty Level & Pass Rate

Difficulty Level

NMAT is widely rated moderate in difficulty, generally easier than CAT and XAT, comparable to SNAP. The challenge is speed, not depth.

Official Pass Rate

No universal pass rate: GMAC does not declare a universal cutoff, selection depends on each B-school's score and percentile thresholds. The 99th percentile typically corresponds to ~240+, and a score of 200 is generally considered decent for mid-tier NMAT-accepting B-schools. NMIMS Mumbai cutoffs sit in the 95th+ percentile band.

Pass Rate Outlook

Speed over difficulty: 108 questions in 120 minutes works out to roughly 67 seconds per question on average. With no negative marking, the test rewards candidates who can move fast and attempt every question rather than those who slow down to over-verify each answer.

CertificationDurationCost (India)RecognitionKey Distinction

NMAT

120 minutes total

₹3,000 + GST

MBA/PGDM entrance test used by participating business schools · Flexible testing window with scheduled slots; retakes allowed within the test cycle · Score validity: 2 years · Up to 3 attempts in one testing cycle, with a mandatory 15-day gap between attempts

Section-timed: 28 min Language Skills, 52 min Quantitative Skills, 40 min Logical Reasoning · Usually seen as moderate and more predictable because of fixed structure

CAT

Typically

₹2,600 (General)

MBA entrance test for IIMs and other business schools · Score validity: Valid for one admission cycle in practice · Conducted on a single day, one attempt per cycle

Section timing is fixed during the test · Often considered more competitive and demanding

SNAP

Typically

₹2,250 per session

MBA entrance test mainly for Symbiosis institutes · Score validity: Valid for that admission cycle · Conducted on a single day, one attempt per cycle

Section timing is fixed during the test · Often considered shorter but fast-paced

XAT

Typically

₹2,200

MBA entrance test mainly for XLRI and other institutes · Score validity: Valid for that admission cycle · Conducted on a single day, one attempt per cycle

Section timing is fixed during the test · Often considered moderate to difficult, with a distinct verbal/LR profile

Can be pursued alongside other studies or work.

Yes. NMAT preparation can be pursued alongside work or regular studies.

It is commonly taken by college students and working professionals who prepare part-time while managing classes or jobs.

The exam does not require mandatory classroom attendance or practical training.

Many candidates use flexible study schedules, mock tests, and revision plans to fit prep around their routine.

▸ UPDATES & RESOURCES