NMAT 2021 (NMIMS Aptitude Test 2021) is a national level MBA Entrance test which grants admission in the flagship PGDM programme of NMIMS Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bangalore. Apart from NMIMS, there are several top tier b schools that will accept the NMAT 2021 score I.e XIM Bhubaneswar, Xavier School of Human Resource Management, ICFAI University, Alliance University, SOIL Gurgaon, VIT Vellore and ISB Hyderabad (Certification courses). You can take your NMAT by GMAC exam at most up to 3 times I.e. one attempt and 2 retakes. NMAT 2021 registration window is expected to remain active for three months I.e from the first week of July to the first week of October 2021. The NMAT 2021 exam can be taken anywhere between the first week of October 2021 to the third week of December 2021, tentatively.
GMAC , the NMAT 2021 test administrator, has introduced a major change in the previous year NMAT exam’s delivery i.e it can be either taken from candidate's preferred test center or at home in an online proctored mode keeping in mind the current COVID-19 Crisis. The NMAT exam is usually taken by more than 85000+ candidates every year but the number may increase for NMAT 2021 because of the option of taking NMAT in a remote proctored mode i.e from home which will reduce the hassles of travelling on the day of the exam. Apart from this, NMAT 2021 is expected to be held at more than 66+ test centers across 55+ cities in India, along with 4 international centers. NMAT exam has always been a student friendly examination where the student is able to reschedule the date and time according to his/her convenience within the 88-day test window. There will be no negative marking in NMAT and the scores will be accepted in 35+ b-schools in India and more than 20 b-schools in South Africa, Nigeria, Philippines etc. which are newly emerged education markets.
To know more about NMAT 2021 important dates, NMAT exam notification, NMAT 2021 exam schedule and NMAT registration, click here.
NMAT 2021 registration will begin in the first week of July 2021 and will end in the first week of october 2021. Candidates need to fill the application form and pay the application fees online in order to register successfully. The registration forms will be available on NMAT by GMAC's official website. Here are all the important dates pertaining to NMAT 2021 examination:
Event |
Date Related Information |
NMAT 2021 Main Online Registration |
Date of Commencement: First week of July 2021 |
Late Submission of Application form |
Date of |
Exam Scheduling Window |
Date of |
Exam Rescheduling Window |
Date of |
NMAT 2021 Examination |
Date of Deadline: Third week of December 2021 |
Registration for Exam Retake |
Date of |
Exam Retake Scheduling |
Date of |
NMAT 2020 result |
Second to third week of January 2021 (tentative) |
Given below are some important changes announced in NMAT by GMAC 2021:
It is mandatory for candidates to do a quick run-through of NMAT 2021 eligibility criteria before registering for the examination. NMAT is set as per international standards of GMAC. Hence, it is mandatory for candidates to adhere to GMAC guidelines along with the eligibility criteria of the B-School they wish to apply for. Candidates who match the criteria can carry on with the online registration and pay the registration fees through various modes I.e credit/debit/net banking within the required time.
Only the candidates who comply with the policies of GMAC and register timely for NMAT 2021 will be allowed to take NMAT 2021. In case you register for NMAT 2021 and change your mind afterwards, the application fees would not be refunded. Also, if any Information entered by you is found out to be frivolous or fraudulent, GMAC have all the rights to revoke your examination and cancel your candidature.
Given below is the eligibility criteria of NMAT 2021:
Academic Qualification |
Students should have completed their graduation from a UGC/AICTE recognized institute or equivalent. Candidates in their final year can also apply subjected to submission of their final |
Nationality |
There is no nationality barricade for NMAT |
Age Limit |
There is no age limit barrier for NMAT |
Professional Qualification |
Candidates having at least 2 years of work experience will be preferred. However. Work Experience is not mandatory |
Maximum Attempts |
Candidates can attempt for GMAT 3 times I.e One examination attempt and two retakes which incur the âno showsâ |
Minimum Aggregate |
Candidates should have scored at least 50% in their graduation to be eligible for NMAT |
Candidates who fulfill the eligibility criteria of NMAT 2021 should keep in mind that they would not be considered viable to take NMAT 2021 until they fill their online application form along with the requisite documents and application fees. Sufficing the above-mentioned eligibility criteria is not enough for a candidate to appear for NMAT 2021 Now, as we know all about NMAT notification, let us understand the NMAT 2020 Exam Pattern.
NMAT 2021 is a computer-based test which consists of 3 sections - Language skills, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Skills. The overall test duration is 2 hrs. There is an individual time limit for each section. Students can choose the order in which they wish to attempt the paper. All the questions in the NMAT exam are MCQ type questions. Each question carries 3 marks and there is no negative marking for incorrect attempts. Overall, the NMAT 2020 exam is of moderate level of difficulty. The medium of instructions of NMAT 2021 will be English.
Here is the NMAT 2021 Exam Pattern
Section |
No of Questions |
Sectional Time Limit |
Range of Marks |
Quantitative Skills |
48 |
60 |
0-144 |
Logical Reasoning |
40 |
38 |
0-120 |
Language Skills |
32 |
22 |
0-96 |
Total |
108 |
120 |
0-360 |
The NMAT Exam Pattern has not undergone any changes in the last few years, except NMAT 2020. However, the NMAT 2021 Exam Pattern is expected to be similar to NMAT 2019 pattern. Here are the key points that you need to essentially remember while studying for NMAT 2021
The level of difficulty will be moderate as compared to other entrance examinations i.e CAT, XAT and IIFT.
Keeping in mind the NMAT 2021 test analysis, we know that NMAT 2021 syllabus will not be prescribed or fixed. NMAT is a national level entrance test which is conducted by GMAC (Graduate Management Admission Council) leading to admissions in some of the top tier B-Schools in the country and other emerging markets. The admission will be offered into various domain specific management courses, including the flagship NMIMS MBA program. The NMAT 2021 syllabus is released by GMAC, along with preparation guidelines and previous test papers on the NMAT official website.
According to the analysis of the last 2 years, the most dominant topics in NMAT have been:
This is one of the most important sections in the NMAT entrance as it covers all the conceptual basis of 8-10th class mathematics. However, in keeping with the syllabus and exam pattern for NMAT 2021, this section would not only contain questions based on mathematics but also Data Interpretation and Data Sufficiency. Major part in the NMAT by GMAC Syllabus 2021 on Quant section remains moderate. Still a few difficult questions are placed randomly on some of the topics covered in NMAT by GMAC syllabus. Ideally, the quant section consists of 48 questions and the time frame allotted to a candidate is 60 minutes.
Here is an overview of NMAT 2021 Quantitative Skills syllabus:
Arithmetic |
Algebra |
Geometry & Mensuration |
Modern Math |
Data Interpretation |
Time & Work |
Equations |
Lines, Angles and Triangles |
Permutation & Combination |
Line Graphs |
Simple & Compound Interest |
Inequalities |
Polygons |
Probability |
Pie Chart |
Ratio-Proportions |
Logarithm |
Circles |
Coordinate Geometry |
Bar Chart |
Percentages |
Linear Equations |
Square & Rectangles |
A.P, G.P and H.P |
Tabular Graphs |
Integers |
Quadratic Equations |
3 Dimensional Figures |
Set Theory |
- |
HCF-LCM |
Absolute Value |
Cylinder, cones and spheres |
Venn Diagrams |
- |
Others |
Others |
Quadrilaterals |
- |
- |
The Language Skills section in NMAT 2021 Syllabus of NMAT by GMAC exam covers the topics to test Reading Comprehension, Verbal Ability and English Language Skills. The number of questions expected in this section should be 32 which you need to complete within a time duration of 22 minutes. The Language Skills section as per the NMAT syllabus will test you on the following major topics spread in three broad segments namely Vocabulary. Grammar and Reading Comprehension. Refer the below mentioned table in order to get an idea of the NMAT Verbal Section syllabus.
Vocabulary |
Grammar |
Comprehension |
Synonyms |
Identify the Error |
RC Passages |
Antonyms |
Choose the Correct Preposition |
Jumbled Sentences |
Analogies |
Sentence correction |
Para Jumbles |
Fill in the Blanks |
Tenses |
|
Cloze Test |
Parts of speech |
Paragraph Summary |
Idioms |
Phrasal verbs |
|
This section is a scrupulous evaluation of the test taker's analytical, critical as well as logical reasoning skills. It is designed to measure your caliber and implicitly synthesize the information given in the question, without checking the truth about the information. You should brush up on your visual as well as logical reasoning skills in order to be able to identify patterns, understand family trees, code and decode and have a sense of complex directions. You should decide based on the information provided in the questions, rather than relying on real time scenarios and your assumptions. There will be 40 questions in this section that a candidate can complete within 38 minutes.
Here is a brief overview of the topics that can be asked for NMAT 2021:
Verbal Reasoning |
Analytical Reasoning |
Statement and Argument based Questions |
Linear and Circular Arrangements |
Statement and Assumption based Questions |
Classification and syllogisms |
Statement and Inference based Questions |
Blood Relation Questions |
Decision making |
Coding and Decoding |
Course of Action |
Series and direction questions |
Critical Reasoning |
Matrix Type Questions |
- |
Blood Relation and Input-Output Questions |
Solving all these topics should hold you in good stead.
The NMAT 2021 registration process is expected to commence from the first week of July 2021 and end in the first week of October 2021 (tentatively). The exam will be conducted in a 88-day window expected to commence from the second week of October 2021 to the third week of December 2021. Candidates need to register for the exam before the first week of October 2021 to avoid late fees. There is a provision to register by the second week of October 2021 with late registration fee.
Here are the distinguished levels of NMAT 2021 registration that you must understand before applying for the examination :
Level 1 |
Visiting the official NMAT website and creating an account using a valid email ID and other personal credentials. |
Level 2 |
Open your email account and click on the verification link received by GMAC and sign up successfully for NMAT 2021. |
Level 3 |
Enter your personal credentials, academic credentials, work experience details, choice of MBA courses of various colleges accepting NMAT scores (You can select up to five courses and b-schools), preference of test cities and ID number i.e Aadhaar, PAN, Driving License, etc. |
Level 4 |
Scan and upload your photograph and digital signature as per the resolution (Max 1 MB) and the format (JPG/JPEG, PNG, GIF) specified by GMAC. If the document will be more than the specified format, GMAC would not allow its upload. |
Level 5 |
Save and submit all the above entered information and proceed to payment. After remitting the fees, you would get your "NMAT ID" that will be provided by GMAC itself. Take a print out for future reference. Now, you will be notified by GMAT for scheduling your exam, booking your slot and downloading your hall ticket. The same will be reflected on your NMAT dashboard. |
As we are aware by now that NMAT 2021 has undergone major changes and that GMAC is capable of introducing even more changes in the upcoming NMAT exam, here are some important points that you must make a note of during NMAT 2020 registration.
Also learn about: NMAT Exam Analysis 2020
NMAT 2020 application will be the same for everyone. If you register for NMAT before the first week of October 2021, you need to remit Rs 2000/- (with additional taxes). If you register between the first week of October 2021 and 2nd week of October 2021, you would have to pay a late fee of Rs 500 along with the fixed registration fee i.e Rs 2000/-. Hence, the total amount to be paid for late registration is Rs 2500/- (with additional taxes). If you want to attempt for NMAT more than once, you have to pay an additional fee of Rs 2000 (with additional taxes) per attempt. For rescheduling your NMAT 2021 on a different date, You need to pay an additional amount of Rs 1100/- (with additional taxes). You can freely select up to 5 MBA colleges and 5 MBA courses for free. But after that, you need to remit Rs 200/- (with additional taxes) per B school. The mode of payment needs to be online via credit/debit card (VISA/Mastercard/Rupay) , Net banking and UPI.
You can schedule your exam after creating your NMAT account between the first week of July 2021 and third week of October 2021. Here are the necessary steps to schedule your NMAT exam correctly:
You have an opportunity to retake the test twice after the first attempt. The option of retaking the test would be activated on your student dashboard after you appear for NMAT once. Also, you will be required to pay the retake fees per attempt, which is Rs 1100/-
NMAT candidates have the feasibility of rescheduling their NMAT examination under some urgent circumstances. If you have pre-booked your NMAT slot and are unable to follow that schedule, you can very well postpone your exam to a later-on date. However, you will not be permitted to reschedule your exam to the former exam date set by you. The fees for rescheduling the exam will be Rs 1100 +taxes
NMAT hall ticket will go live on your student dashboard within 24 hours of NMAT registration. You can visit your NMAT dashboard by visiting nmat.org.in logging in to your NMAT by GMAC account. NMAT 2020 hall ticket can be downloaded online from the NMAT dashboard. NMAT exam window will last from 4th November 2020 to 30th January 2021. You need to carry this hall ticket along with your govt. ID proof on the exam day. Here are the details which will be mentioned on your NMAT 2020 hall ticket.
Step 1: Get your basics in place
The first step is to develop a sound understanding of the basic concepts. It is suggested that you accomplish the same at most by 15th August, so that you can spend the remaining time revising. At this stage, you should be able to solve the basic level questions across topics and should be ready to take your first mock.
Step 2: Practice Advanced Level problems
The next step in the process is to increase the difficulty level of the questions you are solving. Through this, eventually, you will be able to develop a command over the topics. The vital aspect is to continue solving questions religiously. You should aim to finish solving the advanced level problems by 10th September. Meanwhile, you should take your second NMAT mock.
Step 3: Take Mocks
This step needs to take place in conjunction with steps 1 and 2 as well as on its own. At this juncture, you should take one mock per week. Don't forget to thoroughly analyse each mock. Each analysis will point to the areas of improvement and will help you tackle them before you take the next mock. Keep following the mock-analysis-mock loop till your exam.
Read in detail: How to prepare for NMAT
NMAT Test Series will help you get familiarized with the nuances of the paper pattern and put your preparation in the right direction. By taking mocks you will be able to determine which order of section works best for you and accordingly develop a well-tested strategy for the exam day. This is even more important for aspirants as the NMAT Exam has shifted to the computer adaptive mode rather than the general online exam.
The official NMAT 2021 marksheet will comprise of an individual sectional scaled score and overall score and percentile of a candidate. The candidate's final percentile will be informed to them.
Calculation of NMAT 2021 is done in two parts I.e scaled score and final percentile score. Calculation of scaled score is done before calculating the final percentile. The scaled score procedure ascertains that the scores are comparable across all test forms resulting in a final score irrespective of candidate's test-taking modes, difficulty level and other factors. Based on the scaled score, the final percentile score is calculated by the authorities and updated in the official scorecard that will be sent to b-schools.
Also read: NMAT Score vs Percentile
The cut-off will be the minimum marks candidates will have to score to qualify the examination. The NMAT cut-off will be released for each MBA specialization after the declaration of NMAT result. Each participating institute will release a different cut-off. Candidates will be able to check cut-off marks for each section. Candidates who reach the cut-off will get selected for the further admission procedure and have to clear all the shortlisting rounds like Group Discussion (GD), PI (Personal Interview) and WAT (Writing Test Ability) of the participating institute.
Today the NMAT by GMAC™ is accepted by the following leading institutions and this list is growing. Pursuing a management degree at one of these institutions makes the pursuit of your dreams that much easier. Kindly find the below mentioned list by GMAC to get a clarity on top B-Schools in India accepting NMAT scores.
Read in detail: Top NMAT colleges you should target
NMAT by GMAC is one of the most prestigious MBA entrance exams in the country. NMIMS, along with many other renowned B-schools, accept the NMAT score for MBA admissions. Naturally, it is a hot topic among the MBA aspirants of India each year. The NMAT exam has a different pattern than the other entrance exams of the country, and it needs a unique approach. However, just like any other entrance exam, you can crack it, given that you have a sound preparation strategy and dedication. Moreover, focus on concept clarity rather than remembering boatloads of formulas. Practice each section every day for at least 45 minutes to 1 hour. You can start with 30 minutes on each section, but you should gradually increase it. Avoid neglecting the entire section for any reason whatsoever. If you feel it's too easy, you might be overconfident and take it lightly which might backfire on the day of the exam. If you think a section is tough then you can always take the help of a teacher, your peers or any other medium. Also, don’t underestimate the significance of mock tests. Give plenty of mocks before the exam. Mocks not only familiarize you with the questions but also improves your time management ability. If you keep all of the above in mind and walk in to give your NMAT exam, cracking it would be walking down a smooth slope. We hope that this article cleared any doubts you had regarding NMAT 2021.
All the best!
Team CL