Top 5 Reasons to Take the NMAT by GMAC™ Exam

If you’re considering attending business school in India, the Philippines, South Africa, Nigeria, Hungary, or Morocco, then the NMAT by GMAC™ exam could be your ticket to a top MBA degree. 

Every year, more than 75,000 business school aspirants take the NMAT exam, a computer-adaptive MBA entrance exam, to prove that they’re ready for an MBA. The exam is designed to be candidate-friendly, can be taken online or in person, and is accepted by top business schools globally. 

But with multiple MBA entrance exams to choose from—such as CAT, XAT, IIFT, and SNAP—what makes the NMAT a top choice for business school applicants?

Why choose the NMAT Exam?

1. Which schools accept the NMAT?

The NMAT is accepted by reputed business schools in India and abroad.

More than 50 business schools in India accept the NMAT by GMAC exam, including:

• Indian School of Business (ISB)
• SP Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR)
• IILM University
• Great Lakes Institute of Management

The NMAT is also accepted by schools in South Africa, such as the Nelson Mandela University Business School, Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), and Wits Business School. 

In total, the NMAT exam is currently accepted by more than 80 business schools globally, with more institutions in Europe, Africa, and Asia being added to the list every year.

2. How many attempts does the NMAT exam allow?

The NMAT exam allows for multiple attempts.

A notable feature of the NMAT exam is that you can take it up to three times within each testing window. 

With three opportunities to take the exam, including no-shows, you can ensure that you’re putting down the best score you can—and it gives you the chance to improve your score with further study. 

There is a mandatory gap of at least 15 days between NMAT attempts, and you can book a retake only after taking the previous attempt. You are advised to schedule your first attempt at the earliest available date, so that you can use all three available attempts. 

3. Can the NMAT be taken online or at a test center?

The NMAT exam is a two-hour proctored test (monitored and timed) that you can take online or in-person at one of the 70+ NMAT test centers in India. This flexibility enables you to play to your strengths and choose a location that will allow you to give it your best effort.  

Whether you’re completing the test at home or a testing center, you’re free to choose your test date and time slot, provided there is still availability.

4. What skills does the NMAT test?

The NMAT exam is made up of three sections: 

• Language Skills
• Quantitative Skills
• Logical Reasoning

Across the three NMAT sections, you’ll be tested on a range of MBA-relevant skills, including decision-making, reading comprehension, and arithmetic. The exam is computer-adaptive, meaning the level of difficulty of each question is determined by your response to the previous question. 

Each section has 36 questions and is given an equal weighting in the scoring. Since each section is individually timed, you’re free to decide the order in which you wish to attempt the three sections, giving you even more flexibility.

5. How many schools can you send your NMAT score to?

An unofficial NMAT scorecard is available instantly at the end of the test, and an official scorecard is available within 48 hours. Your score can be sent to up to five business schools for free, allowing you to take full advantage of a strong exam performance.

If you’d like to send your score to more schools, you can do so for an additional fee.

Why I Chose the NMAT by GMAC Exam

"I chose NMAT because it gave me a competitive advantage over other conventional exams. It is accepted in 40+ business schools in India and abroad, and there is no negative marking, which is a big plus point for me.”
 
—Tata Bharath Sharma, BML University, Gurgaon, MBA

"My reasons are twofold. Firstly, I chose it for the wide variety of colleges that accept the NMAT score, and secondly, it allows you three attempts.”

—Rayna Periera, SDA Bocconi Asia Centre, IMB

"I chose NMAT over other competitive examinations because, unlike other traditional exams, it does not have a GK [General Knowledge] section, and it is accepted by various globally renowned universities.”

—Mitul Panwar, Shiv Nadar University, MBA iglobal

Choosing the right MBA entrance exam is crucial, as not only will it improve your chances of an MBA acceptance, but it will also help prepare you for your studies. Considering its flexibility, broad skills testing, and wide acceptance at business schools in India and abroad, taking the NMAT by GMAC™ is an essential first step towards your MBA degree.