What is on the NMAT syllabus?
If you’re planning on starting business school in 2027, the NMAT exam by GMAC could offer you the best route into the school of your choice.
Launched by GMAC, the NMAT is an MBA entrance exam for applicants to top business schools in India and other emerging markets, including Hungary, Morocco, Nigeria, the Philippines and South Africa.
Like the GMAT exam, the NMAT prepares you for the rigors of a business school degree. The schools that accept it have said that strong NMAT scores demonstrate that an applicant has the necessary attributes for success.
“Students who come through NMAT are definitely good in communication and have good academic scores. Students who have taken the NMAT are pretty serious about making it into a management program,” explains Dr Pritee Saxena, director and campus head of ICFAI Business School (IBS) Mumbai. in India.
The NMAT exam is a candidate-friendly test: it has no negative marking, and you can complete the test sections in any order you like. You can also take the NMAT exam up to three times each year. Nevertheless, it remains a challenging exam, with a syllabus that covers a broad range of topics and tests a wide array of skills.
So what is on the NMAT syllabus? Here’s everything you need to know about the NMAT exam syllabus in 2026.
What is on the NMAT syllabus in 2026?
The NMAT is a computer-based exam administered in English, consisting of multiple-choice and objective questions. The exam’s content and structure are reviewed by GMAC each year; as it stands, the current NMAT syllabus is the same as the previous year, comprising 108 questions across three sections.
Candidates have 120 minutes to complete the exam, and, as with the GMAT exam, you are free to tackle the sections in the order you prefer. The scores for each section of the NMAT range from 12 to 120.
What is on the Quantitative Skills section of the NMAT?
The Quantitative Skills section is the largest portion of the NMAT exam—there are 36 questions, and you have 52 minutes to complete them. This section requires you to solve problems that test your numerical and mathematical skills, and also assess your data sufficiency and data interpretation abilities.
Broadly, the NMAT exam pattern for the Quantitative Skills section is split across five topics, each containing a number of subtopics. These are:
Number properties
- Fractions and decimals
- Logarithms
- Factors and multiples, including least common multiples (LCM) and highest common factors (HCF)
- Prime numbers
Arithmetic
- Percentages
- Simple and compound interest
- Profit and loss
- Ratio, proportion, and averages
- Time and work correlation
Algebra and probability
- Linear and quadratic equations
- Inequalities
- Sequences and series
- Permutations and combinations
- Probability
Data interpretation and data sufficiency
- Caselets
- Graphs and charts
- Tables
What is on the Logical Reasoning section of the NMAT?
The logical reasoning section of the NMAT exam assesses your analytical and critical thinking ability. You’ll be required to analyze arguments and draw conclusions, thereby demonstrating how well you make judgments. There are 36 questions in this section to be completed in 40 minutes.
The logical reasoning section is split into two sections, each covering a range of topics.
Verbal reasoning
- Critical reasoning (conclusions, inferences, assumptions, strong/weak arguments, verbal logic)
- Deductions
Analytical reasoning
- Syllogisms
- Analytical puzzles
- Input-output
- Seating arrangements
- Decision-making
- Venn diagrams
What is on the Language Skills section of the NMAT?
The Language Skills section of the NMAT syllabus tests your verbal and English language skills, as well as your reading comprehension. It focuses primarily on grammatical concepts and vocabulary. There are 36 questions in this section, and you have 38 minutes to complete them.
The Language Skills portion of the NMAT syllabus is split across the following sections:
- Reading comprehension
- Para forming
- Error identification
- Prepositions
- Sentence completion
- Analogies
When will I receive my NMAT score?
You can expect to receive your NMAT score via email within 48 hours of completing the exam. The official score card will provide you with scaled scores across the various exam sections, and your NMAT result will be automatically sent to the schools and colleges that you listed on your application.
How should I prepare for the NMAT exam?
As with any other admissions exam, the best way to prepare for the NMAT is to devote time to regular study and exam practice.
The amount of time you need to prepare for the NMAT syllabus will vary depending on how quickly you gain a firm understanding of all of the various concepts covered on the exam. The NMAT by GMAC Official Guide outlines a six-week preparation schedule.
In your revision, you should dedicate time to each section and the topics within it. You may find that it helps to separate the exam elements into strong and weak topics to better prioritize your time.
But don’t make the mistake of neglecting your strong points, says Rayna Pereira, a graduate of the International Master in Business at SDA Bocconi Asia Center. “While it’s important to focus a lot on your weaknesses, also focus on your strengths." Failing to do this could lead to underperformance in an are you're good at, she adds.
The NMAT Official Guide can provide you with a breakdown of key concepts on the exam, as well as tips and strategies for success. It also contains practice tests, which you can use to hone your exam strategy and time management. The NMAT Official Guide contains 264 questions from previous NMAT exams, plus 475 additional questions, with answers and explanations.
“My advice would be: stay consistent with your preparation, take mocks, mocks, and more mocks, and analyze each mock, identifying the areas that require improvement and working on them,” says Tarunika Khanna, an MBA graduate of Shri Vile Parle Kelavani Mandal Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) in Mumbai.
You can find more prep materials for the NMAT online. If you think you’re ready to take the test, you can register for the NMAT and schedule your exam either at a test center or at home.