NMAT by GMAC 2026 is a national MBA entrance test conducted by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC). Its testing window runs from 2 November to 20 December 2026, and registration and slot scheduling are open till 25 October 2026 (extended from 10 October). NMIMS and other participating B-schools use NMAT scores for MBA and PGDM admission.
NMAT 2026
This page covers NMAT 2026 dates, registration and fee, slot scheduling and retakes, eligibility and the exam pattern.
| Full name | NMAT by GMAC |
|---|---|
| Conducted by | Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) |
| Exam level | National; scores used by participating B-schools |
| Courses / Purpose | Admission to MBA, PGDM and other management programmes |
| Exam date | 2 November to 20 December 2026 (testing window; you book your own slot) |
| Application | 20 August to 10 October 2026; slot booking until 22 October 2026 |
| Application fee | Rs 3,000 + taxes; each retake Rs 3,000 + taxes |
| Eligibility | Set by each B-school; NMIMS needs a bachelor's degree with 50% aggregate (final-year students can apply) |
| Mode | Computer-based, computer-adaptive test |
| Questions and marks | 108 questions in 3 timed sections, 120 minutes; scaled score 36 to 360 |
| Negative marking | None |
| Official website | mba.com/exams/nmat |
NMAT 2026 Important Dates
NMAT is not held on a single day. You register, then book your own date, time and centre inside the 2026 testing window.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Schedule announced | By 3 August 2026 Closed |
| Registration | 20 August to 25 October 2026 Open |
| NMIMS application deadline | 20 August to 25 October 2026 Open |
| Exam slot scheduling | 20 August to 25 October 2026 Open |
| Rescheduling window | 20 August to 17 December 2026 Open |
| NMAT 2026 testing window | 2 November to 20 December 2026 Upcoming |
| Retake registration and scheduling | 3 November to 17 December 2026 Upcoming |
| Official scorecard | To be announced |
How to Apply for NMAT 2026
You register for NMAT 2026 online at mba.com, the GMAC candidate portal, between 20 August and 25 October 2026 (extended from 10 October). Registration with GMAC is only the test booking: you still apply separately to each B-school that accepts NMAT scores.
Apply Online for NMAT 2026
Applications for NMAT 2026 are open: 20 August to 25 October 2026.
- Open the official NMAT page and create a GMAC account with your email ID.
- Fill in the NMAT registration form with your name exactly as on the photo ID you will carry to the test.
- Pay the registration fee online by card or net banking.
- Choose the B-schools that should receive your score.
- Schedule your exam date, time and test centre by 25 October 2026. Slots are given on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Apply to each B-school on its own portal. For NMIMS, register at nmat.nmims.edu before your NMAT test date.
| NMAT 2026 fee item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Registration | Rs 3,000 + taxes |
| Retake (each) | Rs 3,000 + taxes |
| Rescheduling | Rs 1,200 + taxes |
| Extra score report (beyond the first five) | Rs 400 each + taxes |
The 2026 dates and fees above are from GMAC’s official NMAT dates and fees page on mba.com. The NMIMS application has its own non-refundable fee of Rs 3,000, payable on the NMIMS portal from 20 August to 25 October 2026 (extended from 10 October).
How do I schedule, reschedule or retake NMAT 2026?
After registering, you book your NMAT 2026 slot from your mba.com account, and the scheduling window closes on 25 October 2026 (extended from 22 October).
- Scheduling: pick a date between 2 November and 20 December 2026, a time and a test centre. You get a confirmation from GMAC once the booking is done.
- Rescheduling: you can move your slot until 17 December 2026, subject to availability, for Rs 1,200 + taxes.
- Retakes: you can take NMAT up to three times in the cycle (one first attempt and two retakes). Retake registration and scheduling run from 3 November to 17 December 2026.
- Before you plan a retake, check which attempt each school uses. NMIMS counts only your first NMAT attempt.
Your booking confirmation is what you take to the test centre. See the NMAT 2026 admit card page for what to carry.
Who can apply for NMAT 2026?
Anyone can register for NMAT 2026, but admission eligibility is set by each B-school that accepts the score, so check your target schools before you pay.
- NMIMS MBA programmes need a bachelor’s degree in any discipline with at least 50% marks in aggregate.
- Students in the final year of their bachelor’s degree can apply to NMIMS, provided they meet the rule by admission.
- Some NMIMS programmes, such as MBA Business Analytics and MBA Pharmaceutical Management, add subject-specific conditions.
- Other schools publish their own minimum marks and rules in their admission notices.
What is the NMAT 2026 exam pattern?
NMAT is a computer-adaptive test of 108 questions in three separately timed sections, to be finished in 120 minutes.
| Section | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Language Skills | 36 | 28 minutes |
| Quantitative Skills | 36 | 52 minutes |
| Logical Reasoning | 36 | 40 minutes |
| Total | 108 | 120 minutes |
- You choose the order in which you attempt the three sections.
- There is no negative marking.
- All three sections carry equal weight. Each section is scored from 12 to 120, so the total runs from 36 to 360.
- Unused time in one section does not carry over to the next.
Topic lists for each section are on the NMAT 2026 syllabus page.
NMAT 2026 Official Notices and Downloads
- LINKNMAT by GMAC official website (registration, scheduling and scores)Official site · mba.comOpen
- LINKNMAT 2026 important dates and fees (registration and scheduling extended to 25 October 2026) (19 October 2026)Official site · mba.comOpen
- PDFNMIMS Admission Handout for NMAT 2026 (eligibility and selection process)Official site · nmat.nmims.eduOpen