NMAT by GMAC 2026 - entrance test for NMIMS Mumbai, ICFAI, Alliance Bangalore, VIT MBA. Below: cutoffs, college list, counselling, fees comparison.
30+
NMAT accepting colleges
~85K
NMAT candidates
📅Published:|✍️Written by:Krishna Pandey, Founder & Lead Counsellor|✔️Audited by:Shijin Joy, MBA Admissions Lead
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Quick Answer NMAT by GMAC 2026 - the entrance test owned by GMAC (Graduate Management Admissions Council). Top colleges accepting NMAT 2026: NMIMS Mumbai (NMAT 220+ score for SBM Core); NMIMS Bangalore (NMAT 200+); NMIMS Hyderabad (NMAT 200+); ICFAI (NMAT 180+); Alliance Bangalore (NMAT 180+); VIT MBA (NMAT 170+); SRM MBA (NMAT 160+). NMAT 2025-26 testing window: October 2025 - December 2025 (75-day window, 3 attempts allowed).
What is NMAT 2026?
NMAT by GMAC (Narsee Monjee Aptitude Test) is conducted by GMAC (Graduate Management Admissions Council) - the same body that administers GMAT globally. NMAT is used by 30+ MBA colleges in India primarily for NMIMS and select tier-2 MBA admissions.
✅ Sourcing: figures follow official/institute disclosures (year-labeled) — verify current-year details on the official source before payment.
Key dates: Application opens August 2025 | Testing window October-December 2025 (75-day continuous window) | Result December 2025 / January 2026 | Counselling January-April 2026 | Final admission April-July 2026.
NMAT 2026 exam pattern
Mode: Online computer-based test (CBT, can take at home or test centre)
Marking: +3 correct, 0 wrong (no negative marking)
Attempts: Up to 3 attempts allowed in 75-day window; best score counts
Eligibility: Bachelor's with 50%+ aggregate (45% reserved)
NMAT 2026 cutoffs by accepting college
📌 In one line: official closing data — year/category labeled; verify the current round on the official portal.
College
NMAT Cutoff (Gen)
2-yr MBA Fees
NMIMS Mumbai SBM Core
220+ score
~₹22-25L
NMIMS Mumbai SBM Strategy/Marketing
215+ score
~₹22-25L
NMIMS Bangalore
200+ score
~₹16-18L
NMIMS Hyderabad
200+ score
~₹15-17L
NMIMS Indore
190+ score
~₹14-16L
NMIMS Navi Mumbai SBM-T
185+ score
~₹14-16L
ICFAI Hyderabad MBA
180+ score
~₹10-13L
Alliance Bangalore
180+ score
~₹10-15L
VIT MBA
170+ score
~₹6-10L
SRM MBA Chennai
160+ score
~₹6-9L
Note: NMAT score has wide range 0-360. 220+ is approximately 95+ percentile. NMIMS Mumbai SBM Core uses GD-PI-WAT after NMAT shortlist.
NMAT GD-PI-WAT counselling process
NMAT Result (December 2025/January 2026): GMAC releases scores. Apply to NMIMS (their own admission portal) and other accepting colleges separately.
NMIMS Mumbai shortlist (January 2026): Based on NMAT 220+ score (Core) + 10th/12th/graduation profile.
GD-PI-WAT rounds (February-March 2026): NMIMS Mumbai conducts Group Discussion + Personal Interview + Written Aptitude Test.
Provisional offer (March-April 2026): Final selection based on composite score (NMAT 50% + GD-PI-WAT 30% + Academic 20%).
Final admission (April-June 2026): Complete payment + documentation. Programme starts July 2026.
NMAT vs CAT vs XAT for MBA aspirants
NMAT: Easier than CAT, friendlier scoring, multi-attempt (3 attempts), at-home option. Limited college coverage (mainly NMIMS + tier-2 private). Good for NMIMS-targeting candidates.
CAT: Hardest of three. Wide college coverage (IIMs + top private + 200+ MBA colleges). Single attempt per year.
XAT: Comparable difficulty to CAT. Required for XLRI HRM. Wide coverage similar to CAT.
For NMIMS Mumbai aspirants, NMAT is mandatory. For broader MBA prep, take CAT + NMAT both (covers IIMs, NMIMS, top private B-schools).
Direct admission at NMAT-accepting colleges
NMIMS Mumbai SBM Core does not offer direct admission - strictly NMAT-based. NMIMS sister campuses (Bangalore, Hyderabad, Indore) and other NMAT-accepting colleges may offer institutional admission for non-top NMAT candidates. Read: Direct Admission MBA Bangalore.
NMIMS Mumbai SBM Core cutoff: NMAT 220+ score (approximately 95+ percentile from ~85K NMAT-takers). Final admission requires NMAT 220+ + strong GD-PI-WAT performance + 60%+ graduation aggregate. Highly competitive - one of India's top private MBA programmes.
Can I take NMAT multiple times in 2026?
Yes - NMAT 2025-26 allows up to 3 attempts within 75-day testing window (October-December 2025). Best score from any attempt counts for college applications. Many candidates take 2-3 attempts to maximise score.
Is NMAT easier than CAT?
Yes - NMAT is generally considered easier than CAT. No negative marking (+3 for correct, 0 wrong), shorter test (2 hrs vs 3 hrs), and multi-attempt structure all make NMAT more accessible. However, NMAT requires high absolute scores for NMIMS Mumbai (220+), which still demands strong preparation.
Which colleges accept NMAT 2026 besides NMIMS?
Beyond NMIMS, NMAT 2026 is accepted by: ICFAI Hyderabad MBA, Alliance Bangalore, VIT MBA, SRM MBA Chennai, K J Somaiya MBA Mumbai, Welingkar (we accept NMAT alongside CAT/XAT), and 25+ tier-2 MBA colleges.
Can I get NMIMS Mumbai with NMAT score 200?
NMAT 200 score doesn't reach NMIMS Mumbai SBM Core cutoff (220+). However, NMAT 200 gets NMIMS Bangalore, NMIMS Hyderabad, NMIMS Indore, or NMIMS Navi Mumbai SBM-T. For NMIMS Mumbai SBM Core, reattempt to reach 220+ percentile.
NMAT by GMAC 2026: NMIMS Management Aptitude Test
The NMIMS Management Aptitude Test (NMAT), conducted by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) since 2015, is a national-level MBA entrance examination accepted by over 30+ B-schools across India. The headline B-school accepting NMAT is the SVKM's Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) — including NMIMS Mumbai, NMIMS Bengaluru, NMIMS Hyderabad, NMIMS Indore, NMIMS Navi Mumbai, NMIMS Chandigarh, and the NMIMS Dharamshala campus. Other major NMAT-accepting B-schools include the SP Jain Institute of Management & Research Mumbai, MISB Bocconi Mumbai (the joint Indian-Italian programme), VIT Vellore Business School, ICFAI Business School (IBS), and several others.
NMAT 2026 is expected to be conducted across a window of approximately 75 days from October to December 2025, allowing candidates flexibility to choose convenient examination dates. The examination is conducted at over 80 test cities across India and internationally. Each candidate can attempt NMAT up to 3 times during the window, with the best score considered. This multi-attempt flexibility is a unique distinguishing feature of NMAT compared to CAT, XAT, and other one-shot MBA entrance examinations.
NMAT Examination Pattern and Scoring
The NMAT examination pattern includes 3 sections: Language Skills (LS) with 36 questions in 28 minutes, Quantitative Skills (QS) with 36 questions in 52 minutes, and Logical Reasoning (LR) with 36 questions in 40 minutes. Total examination duration is 2 hours (120 minutes) with 108 questions. Marking is +3 for correct, no negative marking. NMAT scores are scaled to a maximum of 360 (120 per section), with NMIMS Mumbai cutoffs typically requiring 210+ overall NMAT score (90+ percentile) and section-specific cutoffs of 70+ in each section.
NMIMS Mumbai MBA: Top NMAT Destination
NMIMS Mumbai School of Business Management (formerly Mukesh Patel Institute of Management Studies and Research, now NMIMS School of Business Management) is the flagship MBA programme of the NMIMS deemed university. Established 1981, the programme has consistently ranked among the top 15-25 Indian MBA programmes. NIRF Management Rank is in the band 25-35. 2024-25 placement report highlights include: 100% placement participation, average CTC Rs 26-28 LPA, highest domestic CTC Rs 65+ LPA, top recruiters Deloitte, EY, KPMG, BCG, McKinsey (limited), Accenture Strategy, JP Morgan, HSBC, Citi, Goldman Sachs, ITC, HUL, Aditya Birla Group, Asian Paints, Marico, Mahindra, and dozens of other leading Indian and multinational employers across consulting, BFSI, FMCG, and conglomerate sectors.
Disclaimer: Cutoffs, fees and counselling dates are sourced from official authority notifications and college disclosures. Figures are subject to annual change. Verify with the relevant counselling authority before action. FindUrCollege is an independent counselling platform.
📋 Data Accuracy Notice (April 2026)
Data Sources: Fees, cutoffs, rankings, and placement data are sourced from official institutional records and educational portals.
Verification: Figures are subject to change; always verify details on the official university website before making admission or payment decisions.
Platform Status:FindUrCollege is an independent platform. We are affiliated with many, but not all, listed institutions.
NMAT in 2026: how it really works
MBA/PGDM admission in India is a two-stage game: an entrance score earns a shortlist, and a profile-plus-interview round decides the offer. NMAT connects to that system through national tests (CAT, XAT, CMAT, NMAT, GMAT) followed by GD/PI/WAT, and many schools also run an institutional or management route for strong profiles just below the test cut-off.
Test: register and score on the relevant entrance — it earns a call, not an admit.
GD-PI-WAT / profile: academics, work experience, diversity and communication carry decisive weight here.
Institutional route: transparent fee-based seats for near-cut-off profiles — see our management-quota guide.
How B-school cut-offs and calls really work
A "cut-off" at this level is only a shortlisting threshold, not an admit guarantee. Schools convert your test percentile into a call based on their own weighting of academics, work-ex and diversity, then your interview performance does the rest. Use published cut-offs to build an ambitious-realistic-safe list, and remember a sharp profile with a crisp interview frequently beats a higher score with a weak narrative.
Building a B-school list that pays back
Choose the school whose strongest specialisations and recruiter list match your target function — finance and consulting are the most competitive, while marketing, operations, product and HR have deep, reliable demand. Weigh the fee against the realistic post-MBA salary and payback period, not the headline number. Our city guides such as MBA Mumbai, MBA Pune and MBA Delhi NCR help you map options.
Who qualifies, and the papers you need
You generally need a recognised bachelor's degree (usually 50%%+), a valid entrance score and an application that shows clarity of purpose. Keep degree marksheets and certificate, entrance scorecard, work-experience letters, ID and photographs ready. Confirm any work-experience expectation per programme before you apply.
Fees, funding and scholarship options
Premier MBA fees are significant but well-funded: merit and need-based scholarships can cut your net cost, and banks lend against the admission letter, with the post-MBA salary uplift usually servicing the EMI comfortably (see our education-loan guide). Judge every option on net cost after scholarship.
Getting our help with NMAT
We map your score and profile to a realistic B-school shortlist, prepare you for GD-PI-WAT, and explain fees, scholarships and the institutional route where it fits. Write to us free on WhatsApp at +91 91126 50438 for a profile-specific plan.
Your MBA application year, mapped
For a 2026–28 batch targeting NMAT: Aug–Nov 2025 — sit CAT/XAT/NMAT/CMAT, finalise essays and recommendations; Dec–Jan — results and shortlist calls; Jan–Mar — GD-PI-WAT and profile rounds; Mar–May — offers, scholarships and seat acceptance. Working professionals should plan prep around notice periods and keep essays ready early.
Building a stronger application
Beyond the test score, schools reward a coherent story: clear goals, evidence of leadership and impact, quality work experience and diversity. Sharpen your CV, line up strong recommenders, and prepare crisp answers on "why MBA, why now, why this school" — these decide borderline calls more often than a few extra percentile points.
How to weigh two B-school offers
Weigh the offers on recruiter fit for your target function, net cost after scholarship versus realistic post-MBA salary and payback, specialisation strength, cohort quality and alumni network — not just the headline day-zero average. Talk to recent alumni in your target role before you commit.
Questions applicants commonly ask
Can I get a top MBA with a low score? A sharp profile and interview can offset a modest percentile at many schools. Is the management/direct route legitimate? Transparent institutional seats exist at private B-schools; treat cash-for-seat promises as fraud. Is the fee worth it? Judge on net cost and payback, and use education loans against the offer letter.
NMAT: eligibility and how to prepare
Before anything else, make sure you meet the basics for NMAT: in essence, a recognised bachelor's degree and a valid CAT/XAT/CMAT/NMAT/GMAT score. Eligibility details — minimum percentages, subject combinations, age limits and category relaxations — vary slightly by institution and change from year to year, so always confirm them against the official notification for the current admission cycle. On the preparation side, the strongest applicants start early, build a realistic target list well before results, and prepare for every stage of selection — not just the written test — so they are ready when timelines compress.
The full NMAT process, stage by stage
The journey is more predictable than it looks once you break it down:
Confirm eligibility and register for the MBA entrance test within the official window.
Obtain your scorecard/rank and build an ambitious–realistic–safe shortlist.
Complete counselling or institutional applications — choice-filling, interviews or portfolio rounds where applicable.
Secure the allotment or offer, verify documents and pay fees only through official channels.
Report on time, complete admission formalities and arrange any education loan against the offer letter.
Keep a single, well-organised folder of scanned documents throughout — it is the difference between a smooth admission and a missed round.
What people ask about NMAT
How early should I start preparing?
As early as you realistically can — the candidates who place or admit best almost always began their shortlisting and preparation months ahead of the deadlines.
Are the figures on this page final?
No. Fees, cut-offs, seat counts and eligibility are revised every season, so treat every figure here as indicative and reconfirm it on the official source for the current year.
What if my score or rank is on the margin?
Run parallel routes — merit, state and institutional — so a single weak round never costs you the year, and keep realistic safety options on your list.
Is "direct admission" legitimate?
Transparent institutional or management seats at private institutions are legal and fee-based; any "guaranteed seat" sold for cash outside official channels is not — treat it as a warning sign.
How do I fund it?
Check for merit and need-based scholarships first, then use an education loan against the admission letter; the salary or career uplift usually services the cost over time.
Can FindUrCollege help for free?
Yes — our initial counselling and shortlisting is free; you can reach us on WhatsApp at +91 91126 50438.
Funding NMAT: fees, scholarships and loans
Think in total cost, not year-one tuition. Add hostel, mess, materials and one-time charges, then subtract any merit or need-based scholarship you can realistically expect to reach your true net cost. For management programmes, nationalised banks lend against the admission letter — loans up to a threshold are often collateral-free — and our education-loan guide and scholarships guide walk through the details. Compare options on net cost versus realistic outcome and payback, not on the headline number alone.
Spotting red flags in the admission process
The admissions space attracts touts. Protect yourself with a few rules: deal only with official portals and the institution's own admissions office; get every promise — fees, seat, scholarship, recognition — in writing on official letterhead; never pay cash into a private account for a "confirmed" seat; and verify accreditation and recognition independently on government sources. A genuine pathway to NMAT is transparent and documented at every step.
How we can take it from here
You do not have to navigate NMAT alone. Our counsellors map your profile to a realistic, well-balanced shortlist, explain every route honestly, verify the latest official fees and cut-offs, and keep your documents and deadlines on track. Explore the main admission guide for this stream, or message us free on WhatsApp at +91 91126 50438 for a plan built around your rank, score and budget.
Plan your application calendar now
Map every deadline for the current cycle onto a single calendar — registration, test, results, counselling, document verification and reporting — and work backwards. Applicants who miss seats rarely do so on merit; they miss a date. A simple timeline, checked weekly, removes most of that risk.
Keep your documents verification-ready
Maintain one folder with clean scans of your marksheets, scorecard, ID, photographs and category/domicile certificates in both PDF and image formats. Counselling portals routinely reject oversized or mismatched uploads, and a single missing certificate can push you to a later, weaker round.
Decide on evidence, not hype
When you finally choose, decide on hard evidence — recognition, the recruiter or progression record, total cost after scholarship and genuine fit — rather than brochures or rankings alone. Speak to current students or recent graduates before you commit; their experience is the most honest data you will find.
