NMAT 2026 exam window opens November 2: 108 questions, 3 attempts, scores in 48 hours
By TUF News Desk · Published 1 November 2026 · 3 min read
Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy
The NMAT by GMAC 2026 testing window opens on November 2 and runs to December 20. Candidates who already hold a booked slot will sit the computer-based MBA entrance test on the date and time they picked, rather than turning up on one common exam day for everyone.
The Graduate Management Admission Council runs the test for MBA and PGDM admissions at more than 50 participating institutions in India and abroad. First-attempt registration has closed, so the window opening matters most to candidates who already booked. Anyone without a slot still has a route in: retake registration opens on November 3 and closes on December 17.
What the paper looks like
The paper carries 108 questions to be answered in 120 minutes. It is split into three sections of 36 questions each. Language Skills gets 28 minutes, Quantitative Skills gets 52 minutes, and Logical Reasoning gets 40 minutes. Candidates choose the order in which they attempt the sections, and each section runs on its own clock.
Each correct answer earns three marks. Wrong and unanswered questions lose nothing, so a blank answer gains nothing either. The raw score is converted to a scaled score from 36 to 360, with separate scores for each section. Colleges see both the total and the section scores, which means a weak section cannot simply hide behind a strong total.
For eligibility, the usual expectation is a bachelor’s degree with around 50 percent aggregate marks, and final-year students can apply where the target institute permits it. Institute rules differ, so the brochure of the chosen school is the final word.
Three attempts, with one catch
A candidate can sit NMAT up to three times in one cycle. Each attempt costs Rs 3,000 plus taxes, and a retake date must fall at least 15 days after the previous attempt. Rescheduling is available through the candidate dashboard for candidates whose plans change.
The catch concerns how scores are used. GMAC sends the best score to the schools a candidate selected, but Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies counts only the first attempt. Other institutes have their own rules on the same point. Before paying for a retake, a candidate should check whether the target school will even look at it.
Scores, and the separate application
The unofficial score appears on screen as soon as a candidate submits the test. The official scorecard follows within 48 hours and can be downloaded from the candidate dashboard on the official NMAT portal.
Registering for NMAT is only the exam step. Admission needs a separate application to each institute, and each institute sets its own deadline. TAPMI Manipal and KJ Somaiya are among the schools that accept NMAT scores, alongside NMIMS campuses. Candidates still shortlisting schools can work through the guide to choosing a university in India, and the admission documents checklist covers the papers most portals ask for at the application stage.
Frequently asked questions
When does the NMAT 2026 exam window open and close?
The testing window opens on November 2, 2026, and runs to December 20, 2026. Candidates sit the test on the date and slot they booked.
How many times can a candidate take NMAT 2026?
Up to three times in one cycle. Retake registration opens on November 3 and closes on December 17, and a retake must fall at least 15 days after the previous attempt.
What is the NMAT 2026 exam pattern?
The paper has 108 questions in 120 minutes across Language Skills, Quantitative Skills and Logical Reasoning, with no negative marking and a scaled score from 36 to 360.
Does NMAT registration amount to applying to a B-school?
No. Candidates must apply separately to each participating institute, and each institute sets its own deadline. NMIMS counts only the first attempt, so check the rule of the target institute before booking a retake.
Frequently asked questions
When does the NMAT 2026 exam window open and close?
The testing window opens on November 2, 2026, and runs to December 20, 2026. Candidates sit the test on the date and slot they booked.
How many times can a candidate take NMAT 2026?
Up to three times in one cycle. Retake registration opens on November 3 and closes on December 17, and a retake must fall at least 15 days after the previous attempt.
What is the NMAT 2026 exam pattern?
The paper has 108 questions in 120 minutes across Language Skills, Quantitative Skills and Logical Reasoning, with no negative marking and a scaled score from 36 to 360.
Does NMAT registration amount to applying to a B-school?
No. Candidates must apply separately to each participating institute, and each institute sets its own deadline. NMIMS counts only the first attempt, so check the rule of the target institute before booking a retake.
Sources: Shiksha, Collegedunia, PW