NMAT by GMAC guide: pattern, scoring, attempts, fees and pacing
NMAT by GMAC: 108 questions in 120 minutes, no negative marking, 36-360 scoring, three attempts a year, fees, window dates and section pacing maths.
7 min read · updated 2026-11
NMAT at a glance
NMAT by GMAC is run by Graduate Management Global Connection (India) Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of GMAC. It is a computer-adaptive, all-multiple-choice test that you schedule yourself inside a window. Test centres cover 80+ Indian cities; test-takers outside India sit it online, proctored.
| Item | NMAT by GMAC 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Length | 120 minutes, 108 questions |
| Marking | No negative marking |
| Score | 12 to 120 per section; 36 to 360 total |
| Fee in India | Rs 3,000 plus applicable taxes. Retake Rs 3,000. Reschedule Rs 1,200 |
| Attempts | Up to three per testing year (first attempt plus two retakes). Wait at least 15 days between attempts |
| Score validity | One application cycle only |
| Score reports | Up to five schools at no extra cost. An additional report costs Rs 400 |
| Result | Unofficial score right after the test; official score within 48 hours |
GMAC publishes no minimum graduation percentage or work-experience rule. The institute you apply to sets its own, so read its page. The pages we could open give no list of accepting institutes.
Where the 2026 window stands on 6 November
- Registration: 20 August to 10 October 2026. It is closed.
- Test scheduling: 20 August to 22 October 2026.
- Exam delivery: 2 November to 20 December 2026.
If you registered, your slot sits inside that delivery window. From 6 November to 20 December is 44 days. If you did not register, the next window's dates are not in our sources; check mba.com/exams/nmat-by-gmac.
The three sections
| Section | Questions | Minutes |
|---|---|---|
| Language Skills | 36 | 28 |
| Quantitative Skills | 36 | 52 |
| Logical Reasoning | 36 | 40 |
| Total | 108 | 120 |
Each section is timed on its own. You choose the order, but once you finish a section you cannot go back to it. So plan to use the whole clock on each section, because spare minutes cannot buy time elsewhere.
Pacing and budgeting, worked out
- Language Skills: 28 / 36 = 0.78 minutes, about 47 seconds.
- Quantitative Skills: 52 / 36 = 1.44 minutes, about 87 seconds.
- Logical Reasoning: 40 / 36 = 1.11 minutes, about 67 seconds.
- Whole test: 120 / 108 = 1.11 minutes.
Answer: Language Skills is the tightest at about 47 seconds a question. Quant is the most generous at about 87 seconds.
- 52 / 4 = 13 minutes per quarter.
- 36 / 4 = 9 questions per quarter.
- Checkpoints: 13 min at question 9, 26 min at question 18, 39 min at question 27, 52 min at question 36.
Answer: If you are behind at a checkpoint, speed up the next block instead of rushing the last few questions.
- Three attempts: 3 x 3,000 = 9,000 (the first registration plus two retakes at Rs 3,000 each).
- One reschedule: 1,200.
- Eight schools, five free: 3 extra reports x 400 = 1,200.
- Total = 9,000 + 1,200 + 1,200 = 11,400.
Answer: Rs 11,400 plus applicable taxes. A retake costs as much as the first attempt, so each retake you avoid saves Rs 3,000.
Adaptive, no negative marking: what it means for you
- No negative marking means you never leave a question blank. Use the last seconds of each section to answer everything you have not reached.
- The test is computer-adaptive, so the difficulty you see depends on how you answer. A tough question is not a sign you are failing, and you cannot compare difficulty with a friend who sat a different test.
- Sections are timed individually and cannot be revisited. Answer, then move; there is no second pass.
- Scores are given per section (12 to 120) and in total (36 to 360). Your target school may weigh sections differently, so check its page.
Preparation by section
GMAC's pages we hold name the sections but do not list question types, so confirm the syllabus on GMAC's site. Use the skills below as a study frame.
- Language Skills: at about 47 seconds a question, reading speed is your main constraint. Read one passage and one set of vocabulary or grammar items daily, against a timer.
- Quantitative Skills: arithmetic, algebra and number basics from your CAT notes. At 87 seconds a question, you have time to set up cleanly, so write the equation before you compute.
- Logical Reasoning: puzzles, arrangements and deduction. Practise 18 questions in 20 minutes, which is half a section at the 67-second average.
A plan by how many days you have left
The delivery window runs to 20 December 2026. Use the table that matches your own slot date.
| Days to your slot | What to do |
|---|---|
| More than 28 | Daily 45-minute timed section blocks, rotating the three sections. Build an error log with the topic, the cause (gap, slip or time) and the fix. |
| 14 to 28 | One full 120-minute mock every third day, taking sections in your chosen order. Review each mock the next morning. Drill the topic behind your most common error. |
| 7 to 13 | Two full mocks. Practise the 28-minute Language block twice, since it is the tightest. Stop learning new topics. |
| Last 6 days | One light mock, then review only. Sleep on a fixed schedule. Check your slot, centre and ID. |
If you plan a retake, the 15-day gap is your whole revision cycle: one day to analyse the score report, ten days of drills on the fix, three days of mocks, one day of rest. That adds up to 15.
Before test day
- ☐ Confirm your slot date, time and centre or online-proctoring instructions in your confirmation.
- ☐ Check the section minutes on your scheduling screen against the table above.
- ☐ Pick up to five schools to receive your score. An additional report beyond the five costs Rs 400 (GMAC's India price).
- ☐ Time yourself on all three sections in one sitting at least twice.
- ☐ Keep a copy of your fee receipt and your official score when it arrives within 48 hours.
Common questions
Is there negative marking in NMAT?
No. GMAC states there is no negative marking in the NMAT, so answer every question.
How many times can I take the NMAT?
Up to three times in a testing year, with at least 15 days between attempts. A retake costs Rs 3,000 in India, excluding taxes.
What is the NMAT score range?
Each section is scored 12 to 120, and the total runs from 36 to 360.
How long is an NMAT score valid?
Only one application cycle, according to GMAC. Do not plan to reuse it in the next admission season.