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NMAT Exam Pattern 2024: The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) has issued the NMAT exam pattern. The exam pattern for NMAT 2024 is comparable to the previous year's exam structure. No changes have been made to the NMAT 2024 test structure. The NMAT test structure requires applicants to answer up to 108 questions in 120 minutes. The NMAT consists of three sections: Language Skills, Quantitative Skills, and Logical Reasoning, each with 36 questions.
The NMAT exam is administered throughout a 45-day testing window. During the NMAT exam scheduling procedure, candidates can select a specific day and venue to take the exam at their convenience. Learn all about the NMAT exam pattern and marking scheme below. Also, check out the NMAT syllabus PDF for a comprehensive NMAT preparation incorporating both the pattern and syllabus.
NMAT Exam Pattern 2024
NMAT paper pattern, the test is conducted online. NMAT pattern will have three main sections in the paper, namely- Logical Reasoning, Language Skills, and Quantitative Skills. The NMAT total mark is 324 for all three sections.
Some of the highlights related to the NMAT exam pattern for 2024 are tabulated below.
| Highlights | Particluar |
| Conducting Body/Authority | GMAC or Graduate Management Admission Council |
| Exam Level | National level Exam |
| Medium of the NMAT Exam | English |
| Number of Sections | 3 (Language Skills, Quantitative Skills, and Logical Reasoning) |
| Total Number of Questions | 108 |
| Time Allotted | 120 minutes or two hours |
| Type of Questions | MCQ or Objective type questions |
| Mode of Exam | Online mode or CBT (Computer Based Test) |
| Total Score Range | 36 - 360 |
Also Read: NMAT Exam Day Tips 2024
NMAT Section-Wise Exam Pattern
For a better understanding, the NMAT exam pattern for each of the three sections has been explained below:
| Section | Time Allotted | MCQs |
| Language Skills | 28 minutes | 36 |
| Quantitative Skills | 52 minutes | 36 |
| Logical Reasoning | 40 minutes | 36 |
| Total | 120 minutes (2 hours) | 108 |
NMAT Exam Pattern 2024 for Language Skills
The language skills section tests the candidate's oral thinking and comprehension skills. The main features of the NMAT Language Skills exam pattern are:
| Sections | Details |
| Number of Questions | 36 MCQs |
| Time Duration | 28 Minutes |
| Score Range | 12-120 |
| Topics Weightage |
Para Jumbles Sentence Completion Analogies Reading Comprehension Error Identification Prepositions |
Also Read: How to Prepare for NMAT in One Month?
NMAT Exam Pattern 2024 for Quantitative Skills
There is no negative marking, and the NMAT Quantitative Skills scaled score ranges from 12 to 120. The overall difficulty level of this section is moderate to high
| Sections | Details |
| Number of Questions | 36 MCQs |
| Time Duration | 52 Minutes |
| Score Range | 12-120 |
| Topics Weightage |
Arithmetic Data Interpretation Charts, Graphs, Caselets, and Tables Number Properties Probability and Algebra Geometry and Mensuration Data Sufficiency |
NMAT Exam Pattern 2024 for Logical Reasoning
Based on the previous papers, the difficulty level of this NMAT Logical Reasoning pattern is moderate. Candidates must maintain a good pace so that they do not miss any questions.
| Sections | Details |
| Number of Questions | 36 MCQs |
| Time Duration | 40 Minutes |
| Score Range | 12-120 |
| Topics Weightage |
Blood Relations Direction and Ranking puzzles Critical Reasoning Logical Deductions Statements and Assumptions Syllogisms Seating Arrangements |
Also Read: How to Crack NMAT 2024?
Changes in NMAT Exam Pattern 2024
In 2020, some changes were made in the NMAT paper pattern and continued in the 2021 exam. Important changes in NMAT test pattern are mentioned below:
- The number of questions decreased from 120 to 108.
- There are 36 MCQs in three parts of NMAT exam.
| Section | Number of Questions | |
| 2024 - 2020 | 2019 | |
| Language Skills | 36 | 32 |
| Logical Reasoning | 36 | 40 |
| Quantitative Skills | 36 | 48 |
NMAT Sectional Time Limit
- The length of the NMAT Language Skills section has been increased from 22 minutes to 28 minutes
- NMAT Logical Reasoning time increased from 38 minutes to 40 minutes
- NMAT Quantitative Skills section was shortened from 60 minutes to 52 minutes
NMAT Marking Scheme 2024
The NMAT total marks or the total score range for the exam is between 36 and 360. NMAT lowest marks is 36 and 360 is the maximum mark. According to the GMAC exam pattern, the following points about the NMAT marking scheme are:
- Total of 120 minutes is reserved to answer 108 questions.
- Each 1 mark is awarded for each correct answer to all objective questions.
- No negative marking is made.
- Marks are not deducted for unanswered questions.
| Response | Marks Awarded/Deducted |
| Correct Answer | +3 Marks |
| Incorrect Answer | No negative marking |
| Unattempted Question | No addition or deduction |
NMAT Marks Distribution 2024
The candidates must always attempt the paper in order to maximize the NMAT paper total marks. The marks distribution as per the NMAT by GMAC exam pattern 2024 is given below.
| Subjects/Sections | Number of Questions | Score Range |
| Logical Reasoning | 36 | 12 - 120 |
| Language Skills | 36 | 12 - 120 |
| Quantitative Skills | 36 | 12 - 120 |
NMAT Section-Wise Time Limit
The candidates must complete the NMAT sections or the subjects within the given time period. The total time allotted to complete the NMAT 2024 is 120 minutes or two hours. The table for the NMAT section-wise time limit is given below.
| Sections/ Subjects | Time Allotted |
| Logical Reasoning | 40 Minutes |
| Language Skills | 28 Minutes |
| Quantitative Skills | 52 Minutes |
Time Break-up of NMAT 2024
The time break up of the online NMAT test 2024 are given below.
| Action | Time Allowed |
| Accepting Non-Disclosure Terms And Conditions | 2 Minutes |
| Tutorial Before Test | 10 Minutes |
| Selection Of Section And Sequencing | 3 Minutes |
| Attempting The Computer-Based Test (Mcqs) | 120 Minutes |
Also Read: How to Prepare for NMAT and CAT Simultaneously?
Comparison With Other Management Exams Pattern
NMAT is preferred by a lot of MBA aspirants. Since the difficulty of paper and competition in NMAT 2024 is relatively less compared to other management exams in India. It is helpful for all the candidates to look at the comparisons between the NMAT and other exams.
NMAT Exam Pattern vs CAT Exam Pattern
CAT 2024 is the most challenging exam in the bunch or family of management exams. A candidate who wants to take a similar but easy exam can very well choose NMAT over CAT and still make it to one of the good B-schools in India. Here below we have displayed the differences.
| Particulars | NMAT Exam Pattern | CAT Exam Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Sections |
Verbal - 36 Logical Reasoning - 36 Quant - 36 |
Verbal & RC - 26 DI & LR - 24 Quant - 26 |
| Option to Choose the Order of Exam | Yes | No |
| Total Questions | 108 | 76 |
| Total Duration | 2 hours | 2 hours |
| Negative Marking | No | 1 mark for incorrect answers |
| Top B- Schools Accepting Score |
NMIMS VIT XIMB |
IIMs FMS MDI SPJIMR IMI IITS XIMB |
NMAT Exam Pattern vs XAT Exam Pattern
Again XAT Exam becomes one of the most challenging management exams. So a student who wants a comparatively easier exam can very well choose XAT over NMAT. Here are a few points to consider.
| Particulars | NMAT Exam Pattern | XAT Exam Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Sections |
Verbal - 36 Logical Reasoning - 36 Quant - 36 |
Part 1: Verbal & Logical Reasoning - 26 Quant & DI - 28 Decision Making - 21 Part 2: General Knowledge - 25 |
| Option to Choose the Order of Exam | Yes | Yes |
| Total Questions | 108 | 100 |
| Total Duration | 2 hours | 3 hours |
| Negative Marking | No | 1/4 of the marks for incorrect answers |
| Top B- Schools Accepting Score | NMIMS, VIT, XIMB | XLRI, SPJIMR, IMT, TAPMI XIMB |
NMAT Syllabus 2024
The candidate must also update the NMAT Syllabus 2024 along with the NMAT exam pattern 2024 to prepare better.
| Section | Type of Questions | Important Topics |
| Language Skills | MCQs | Fill in the blanks, Para Jumbles, Error Detection, Sentence Completion, Para Completion, RC Passages |
| Quantitative Skills | MCQs | Mensuration, Arithmetic, Trigonometry, Algebra, Geometry, Data Interpretation (DI) |
| Logical Reasoning | MCQs | Statements-Assumptions-Arguments, Critical Reasoning, Puzzles, Ranking, Seating Arrangement, Syllogisms, Blood Relations |
Also Read: How is the NMAT Exam Different from the CAT?
NMAT Exam Analysis
The NMAT exam is generally of medium difficulty. Below is the NMAT Exam Analysis 2024 of difficulty level and number of ideal attempts based on previous years NMAT paper analysis:
| Section | Difficulty Level | Good Attempts |
| Quantitative Skills | Moderate | 24-27 |
| Language Skills | Easy-Moderate | 25-28 |
| Logical Reasoning | Moderate | 22-25 |
| Total | Moderate | 75-84 |
NMAT Exam Pattern: Key Points
NMAT exam has a unique exam structure with below mentioned user-friendly features.
- Three Attempts: An applicant may take the exam three times during the enrollment period - one exam and two retakes.
- Exam Schedule: Candidates can choose the date, time, and venue of the exam at their convenience.
- Determining the order of sections: Candidates can select the ranking of the sections of the NMAT when writing the exam. For example, you can try the QA section first, followed by VA and LR.
- Checking: Candidates can check their answers at the end of each section and try again if necessary.
FAQs on NMAT Exam Pattern
Q: What is the exam pattern of NMAT 2024?
Q: What is a good score in NMAT?
Q: Is there any sectional time limit for NMAT exam?
Q: Which is the most important section in the NMAT exam?
Q: What is the NMAT scaled score?
Q: What is the mode of the NMAT exam?
Q: How many times is NMAT exam conducted in a year?
Q: What is the test window in NMAT?
