NMAT Exam

Check out all the details about the NMAT Exam. ....

Kanika Sharma
Kanika Sharma

Dec 06, 2020 12:38:55

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Are you an MBA aspirant desiring to pursue MBA from a reputed Business School? If yes, then you should definitely appear for the NMAT Exam! It is an entrance exam for admission to MBA. Similar to CAT, XAT, and other tests, NMAT is also a reputed entrance test that has a moderate difficulty level as compared to the formers. The candidates who successfully qualify for the NMAT exam can apply for admission to B-Schools in India, the Philippines, Nigeria, and South Africa.

If you have made your mind to appear for NMAT, but want a clear and comprehensive idea of it, then you are reading the right content! Yes, here we will give you all-inclusive information about the NMAT exam. So, let's begin.

About NMAT

NMAT is a national-level MBA entrance test organized for admission to NMIMS (Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies) University and other prestigious B-Schools across the country.

NMAT is officially referred to as NMAT by GMAC. Previously, the NMAT was the abbreviation for NMIMS Management Aptitude Test (or NarseeMonjee Institute of Management Studies Management Aptitude Test). The NMIMS Mumbai was the official authority conducting the NMAT, especially for admission into its MBA courses. In 2015, The NMAT exam was acquired by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC). And then, the NMAT has been renamed NMAT by GMAC. Therefore, the NMAT exam full form now is NMAT by Graduate Management Admission Council, as GMAC conducts this test. The NMAT score is accepted by over 30 institutes in India.

Moving further, after following the same pattern from the last five years, the NMAT by GMAC 2020 exam pattern has changed. NMAT 2020 will be organized in a different structure with two modes of testing. There are overall 57 exam centers in India and abroad. Let's discuss the new pattern.

Two Testing Modes in NMAT 2020

The GMAC will organize the NMAT 2020 in two different testing modes to meet the challenges COVID-19 pandemic. The candidates now have two options to choose the favorable testing mode while appearing for the exam. These testing modes are:

1) Computer-based Test at Centres: You can give the NMAT exam at an allotted Test Center with social distancing norms and other safety measures.

2) Online Invigilated Test from Home: You can also give the online invigilated NMAT exam from your home only.

NMAT Exam: A Comparison of Previous & Revised Structure

Basis

NMAT till 2019

NMAT 2020

NMAT Testing Mode

Single Testing Mode:

Computer-based test at test centers

 

Two Testing Modes:

1. Computer-based test at test centers

2. Online Invigilated test from home

Changes in Registration Window

2 July to 3 Oct 2019

 

14 Sep to 20 Nov 2020

Total No. of Questions

120

108

Change in Total questions & time limit in Language Skills Section

32 Ques in 22 Mins

36 Ques in 28 Mins

 

Change in Total questions & time limit in Quantitative Skills Section

48 Ques in 60 Mins

 

36 Ques in 52 Mins

 

Change in Total questions & time limit in the Logical Reasoning section

40 Ques in 38 Mins

 

36 Ques in 40 Mins

 

 

So, here we can identify the key points of the new NMAT exam.

The Chief features of Revised NMAT Exam Pattern

  • Two Options for taking the test: One option is to give NMAT exam as an online computer-based test at test centers and the second option is to appear for the same from your home as an online invigilated test.

  • 108 questions in MCQ format: The NMAT exam pattern has a total of 108 questions, unlike the previous structure that had 120 questions. All the questions in this exam pattern are MCQs or Multiple Choice type questions.

  • Flexibility in order of sections: One of the notable features of the NMAT exam pattern from 2020 is that the candidate can choose the arrangement of sections. However, once the order of the sections is selected, the NMAT pattern strictly expects the candidates to follow the same.

  • Time Duration: In the revised NMAT exam pattern, the total time allotted to complete the test is 120 minutes, i.e., 2 hours, same as before. However, the questions in the exam have been reduced.

  • Individually-timed sections: In the new NMAT exam pattern, each of the three sections in the current NMAT pattern is individually-timed. You have to attempt the questions in a particular section within the allotted time limit of that respective section.

  • Moderate difficulty level and No negative marking: The difficulty level is moderate in NMAT by GMAC exam pattern as compared to IIMs-CAT and XLRI's XAT exams. Also, the NMAT exam pattern doesn't carry a penalty of negative marking. So, you can guess and mark the answer without the fear of a penalty for a wrong answer.

  • Uniform Marking scheme: There is a uniform marking system in the NMAT exam. Each right answer is awarded a +1 mark, and 0 marking is there for an un-attempted question. The scaled score for each section, in the range of 12 to 120 with a total scaled score for all the three-section coming between 36 and 360, awards equivalent sectional weightage.

  • Facility to review answers: The candidates giving the NMAT have the facility to review the answers of each section within the time allotted to them before moving to another section of the exam. It is because once you close out a section, you may not come back to it again.

  • Choice of Self-scheduling NMAT by GMAC & Three Attempts allowed:  NMAT is one of the few liberal national exams which offer you the chance to select your test appointment time, date, and test center location. Also, you can give the NMAT by GMAC three times in a given admission cycle. So, you can improve your score.

Now, look at some key benefits of this test.

MBA in USA

Key Benefits of the NMAT Exam

  • Entry to Top MBA Colleges: NMAT scores are accepted for MBA admission at NMIMS University, VIT Vellore and 30, and many other renowned universities and MBA institutes.

  • Similar to CAT and SNAP but with a moderate difficulty level: NMAT is an online computer-based test, similar to CAT, XAT, SNAP with only a difference in the number of questions and the difficulty level.

  • No Negative Marking: There is no negative marking in NMAT for any wrong answer, unlike some other entrance exams. This rule allows you to maximize your score by freely utilizing your guesswork without the fear of penalty.

  • Two Retakes for score enhancement: After giving the NMAT exam for the first time, you have two more chances to enhance your score. This thing provides an opportunity for students to do their best. 

  • The 88 days Test window: NMAT exam dates have 88 days testing window. You are allowed to self-schedule a suitable exam date to give the exam. Thanks to this facility, you can easily appear for the exam with no worry for date-clash with other exams or important events.

NMAT Paper Pattern

The GMAC has released the NMAT exam pattern to help the aspirants to nicely understand the revised structure of the NMAT exam so that they can prepare well. Three sections are there in the NMAT paper pattern, that is - Logical Reasoning, Language Skills, and Quantitative Skills. All the three sections in the NMAT exam are individually-timed, as prescribed by the revised NMAT paper pattern. Also, there is no negative marking.  Here's a tabulated view for you to have a glance at the pattern:

 

Section Name

Number of questions

Allotted time in minutes

Language Skills

36

28

Quantitative Skills

36

52

Logical Reasoning

36

40

Total

108

120

 

The NMAT by GMAC paper is of moderate difficulty level. The candidate preparing for NMAT can expect a good score on the NMAT exam.

One of the prime advantages of the NMAT paper pattern is, in case your NMAT exam score on the first attempt is not satisfactory, there's a facility to re-attempt the NMAT exam.

How to Attempt the NMAT Exam

In the NMAT exam, each of the three sections has its sectional timings, and the candidate must answer and review the questions of a specific section within the allotted time. In case you have completed the section both the answering and reviewing earlier than the section time expires, the balance of this time will not be added to the next section(s). The next section has its separate time limit, and you are required to complete that section within the specified time limit.

Further, NMAT by GMAC exam allows the candidates to select their favorable order of the sections. This essentially means you can choose the sequence of answering the NMAT exam sections. You will be presented with a review screen at the end of each section to spot the questions that you have left un-attempted, incomplete, or flagged for review while giving the test. You can directly jump to that specific question by clicking on its number on the Review screen. 

Leading MBA Colleges Accepting NMAT Score

There are 30-plus MBA institutions, including many leading MBA colleges across India, that accept the NMAT exam score for MBA admissions. Some of the Leading MBA colleges accepting the NMAT by GMAC score are:

  • NMIMS University, Mumbai

  • ISB Hyderabad, Mohali (Advanced Management Programme in Business Analytics or AMPBA)

  • VIT University Vellore, Chennai

  • Xavier University, Bhubaneswar

  • ITM Navi Mumbai: ITM Group of Institutions

  • ICFAI IBS Dehradun, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Gurgaon Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune

  • Thapar School of Management, Mohali

  • ISBR Business School, Bangalore, Chennai

  • Jindal Global Business school – Sonepat, Delhi/NCR

  • Amrut Mody School of Management, Ahmedabad University

  • Mody University School of Business, Jaipur

  • Myra School of Business, Mysuru, Karnataka

  • Universal Business School, Mumbai

You can apply to these institutions as per your preferences.

We wish good luck to all those individuals aspiring to make a flourishing career in the management field.