NMAT 2026: pattern, sectional timing, retakes and scores

NMAT by GMAC is the entrance test for NMIMS (Mumbai and its other campuses) and several other B-schools. The 2026 testing window runs from 2 November to 20 December 2026. The test has 108 questions in 120 minutes across three timed sections, there is no negative marking, and you can take it up to three times in the cycle (the first attempt plus two retakes).

NMAT 2026 at a glance

Registration for 2026 has closed. Retakes can still be booked from 3 to 17 December on mba.com.

Pattern and timing

• Each section has its own timer; unused time does not move to the next section.
• You choose the order of the sections when you start.
• No negative marking, and a question cannot be left without an answer. Pace yourself so that you reach every question with time to think, instead of guessing a batch at the end.
• Each section is scored from 12 to 120; the total ranges from 36 to 360.

Which section order to choose

Start with your strongest section to settle in, but do not leave Quant (the longest section) for the very end if you get tired easily. Many students choose Language Skills first because it is quick, then Logical Reasoning, then Quant.

What each section tests

• Language Skills: vocabulary, grammar, sentence completion, para-jumbles and short reading passages. Just 47 seconds per question, so answer at speed.
• Quantitative Skills: arithmetic, algebra, number system, geometry and data interpretation. About 87 seconds per question.
• Logical Reasoning: arrangements, series, coding, syllogisms, critical reasoning and data sufficiency.

Using retakes well

1. Take the first attempt with enough time left for two retakes.
2. Study your scorecard: which section dragged your score down?
3. Practise that section with timed sets for two weeks before the retake.
4. Institutes see the score you send. Check each institute's rule for which score it uses.

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Frequently asked questions

Is there negative marking in NMAT?

No. Wrong answers do not lose marks, so answer every question.

Which NMAT score do institutes use?

Each institute sets its own rule. Check the admission page of every institute you apply to.

How many times can I take NMAT 2026?

Up to three times in the cycle, with at least 15 days between attempts.