NMAT logo
Changes in NMAT 2021 Exam Pattern: Check Revised Exam Structure, Dates and Scoring Pattern
Sachin Gupta logo

Sachin Gupta

Associate Content Manager

GMAC has introduced certain changes in NMAT exam structure and scoring pattern to make it more aligned with other MBA entrance exams like CAT, CMAT, etc., and at the same time make it better structured with more time allocation for attempting fewer questions. However, candidates must note that no major changes have been made in NMAT 2021 Syllabus. NMAT 2021 will be conducted for 75 days from October 14 to December 27, 2021. Check NMAT 2021 Exam Dates 

As per the revised NMAT paper pattern 2021, candidates will be given 28, 52, and 40 minutes respectively to attempt 36 questions each in the Language Skills, Quantitative Aptitude, and Logical Reasoning sections.

  • The weightage of NMAT Quantitative Skills section has been reduced from 40% to 33% while that of NMAT language skills has been increased. So, NMAT 2021 will benefit many candidates from the non-engineering background as well because of comparatively less focus on the quantitative skills section.
  • The scoring pattern has also witnessed some changes as now all three sections will have a score range of 12-120 as opposed to a separate scoring pattern for different sections.
  • NMAT 2021 will be held as a Computer-based test as well as a remote proctored Internet-based test. Candidates will have the option of choosing their preferred mode during NMAT Scheduling 2021.

NMAT by GMAC is among the country's top MBA entrance exams that NMIMS University Mumbai accepts for its 2-year flagship MBA program. Several private universities like VIT Vellore, ICFAI Hyderabad University, Shiv Nadar University Greater Noida, UPES Dehradun, LM Thapar University Chandigarh consider NMAT for their flagship MBA program. Leading b-schools such as ISB, SPJIMR, and XIMB also accept NMAT for their specialist programs. NMAT 2021 Registration window will be open from August 3 to November 10, 2021. Check NMAT 2021 Registration Fee & Process

Refer to the article below to make yourself familiar with the changes introduced in NMAT 2021 by GMAC, the exam conducting body. 

Highlights of NMAT by GMAC 2021

Exam Name NMIMS Management Aptitude Test (NMAT)
Conducting Authority  Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC)
Exam Level  National level
Exam Window 75 days window examination (Maximum of three attempts permitted)
Mode of Exam Online
Date of NMAT by GMAC exam 2021 October 14 to December 27, 2021
Medium of Exam English
Type of Questions MCQs
Participating Institutes 60 + Institutes from India, South Africa, Nigeria, Philippines

Must Read:

Key Changes in NMAT 2021

GMAC acquired NMAT from NMIMS in 2015 to attract a more diverse pool of candidates. It evolved from pen paper-based tests to computer-based tests and being more aspirant friendly. Since then no major changes were witnessed in NMAT. Here is a complete list of changes introduced in the exam from exam structure, time duration. registration window to the scoring pattern. 

Exam Pattern of NMAT 2021: Balanced paper with lesser questions

The pattern of NMAT has changed considerably. GMAC introduced a few changes last year and these changes will remain effective this year as well. As per these changes, NMAT 2021 exam would have fewer questions. All of the questions will be divided equally into three sections. The sectional time limit for all the sections has been changed. NMAT 2021 will have only 108 questions to be attempted in the same exam duration of 120 minutes.

The significant changes in the NMAT Exam Pattern 2021 compared with the last 2 years are tabulated below: 

Particulars  NMAT 2021 NMAT 2020 NMAT 2019
Total Number of Questions 108 108 120
Test Period 2 Hours 2 Hours 2 Hours

Check Best NMAT Preparation Books for All 3 Sections

Changes in the sectional division of questions in NMAT 2021

Even though NMAT 2021 will contain the same three sections, the number of questions asked in every section will remain as per the changes introduced by GMAC in 2020:

Sectional Composition of NMAT Number of Questions in NMAT 2020 Number of questions in NMAT 2019
Section 1: Language Skills Section 36 32
Section 2: Logical Reasoning 36 40
Section 3: Quantitative Skills 36  48 
Total 108 120

Quick Links:

NMAT Sectional Time Limit Changes

Apart from the number of questions asked in each section, the time period allotted to answer each section has also been changed in 2020. 

Sectional Composition of NMAT  Sectional Time Duration in NMAT 2020 Sectional Time Duration in NMAT 2019
Section 1: Language Skills Section 28 Minutes 22 Minutes
Section 2: Logical Reasoning 40 Minutes 38 Minutes
Section 3: Quantitative Skills 52 Minutes 60 Minutes 
Total Duration 120 Minutes 120 minutes

NMAT Registration Window

NMAT registration window was over 3 months long for the previous NMAT exams. In 2020, the registration window was lessened to a period of only 2 months. However, for NMAT 2021, the application window will be open for more than 3 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation.

Registration for NMAT  NMAT 2021 NMAT 2020 NMAT 2019
Registration Window August 3 to November 10, 2021 September 14 to November 30, 2020 July 2 to October 3, 2019
Major Change More than 3 months Reduced to around 2 Months 3 Months

What do these changes imply? 

  • The applicants will have to select their desired test date and slot and exam re-take date in a shorter span of time to avoid unavailability. 
  • Applicants will now reschedule their test date and slot in 88 days.

Key changes in NMAT scoring pattern 

NMAT 2021 has a scaled score within the range of 36 to 360 overall and 12 to 120 for every section. Previously, the score range would vary for every section. Now, it is more streamlined. The scaled score pattern for sectional and overall parameters of NMAT 2021 are given below: 

Section of NMAT 2020  Score Range
Section 1: Language Skills 12-120
Section 2: Logical Reasoning 12-120
Section 3: Quantitative Skills 12-120
Total Scaled Score Range 36-360

Read How are NMAT Scaled Scores Calculated

How will the scaled score be calculated?

GMAC, the administering agency of the NMAT exam, published the calculation procedure for the scaled score as follows: 

  • Questions for the GMAC NMAT are chosen for every examinee from the question pool depending on his or her results for the questions answered previously. 
  • The questions which a candidate gets are focused on his or her level of competence. 
  • A candidate with high scores would receive a more challenging question than a candidate with low scores. 
  • The NMAT exam gets the final ability of the candidate first and then transforms it into a scaled score that ranges from 12 to 120.

Candidate-friendly changes to NMAT 2021 Result Availability

While the overall results of the NMAT 2021 will be tentatively released in January 2022, you can review your scorecard immediately after answering the test. 

Given below are the candidate-friendly changes introduced by GMAC with regard to NMAT 2021 declaration of results and downloading of the scorecard:

  • Check results immediately after the test: Candidates will be able to view an unofficial scorecard displayed on the screen after the test has been completed successfully.
  • Download the scorecard within 48 hours: Candidates will also receive an email notification within 48 hours of successful test completion after the official scorecard is made available for download through the candidates' dashboards.
  • Final results with percentile: In February 2021, the final NMAT 2021 result with scorecard and percentile will be released.

Implications of Changes in NMAT 2021 Exam Pattern

  • For NMAT 2021, the total number of questions has been decreased by 12, with the same time period of 2 hours. It provides the exam-taker more time to maximize attempts per question. 
  • Every NMAT 2021 segment will have the same number of questions, i.e., 36, in contrast to 2019 which had a varying number of questions. This change was introduced by GMAC in 2020 to make NMAT a more balanced examination.
  • Weightage to the segment of Quantitative Skills is reduced to 33 percent from 40%. As a result, In the Quantitative Skills segment, more proportionate time is given for resolving every question.
  • Weightage to the Language Skills segment has gone up from 26 percent to 33 percent. Those students from commerce and humanities backgrounds who find it difficult to answer the Quantitative section will profit from this change. 

Changes in NMAT 2021 Exam Fee, Scheduling, and Retakes

While much has been modified in NMAT 2021, certain procedural aspects have been kept unchanged except for NMAT registration fee.

  • NMAT application fee has been increased from INR 2000 to INR 2300 (plus taxes).
  • The facility to schedule, reschedule, retake the exam is still available to the applicants taking NMAT 2021 exam. The exam continues to require candidates to choose the order of sections before beginning their NMAT examination.
  • The time limit for each of the NMAT exam’s 3 sections is set like that of CAT. Candidates must finish every section within the time limit. As with CAT, during NMAT 2021 exam, candidates will not be allowed to move between the sections. 

NMAT by GMAC 2021 Changes FAQs

Ques: When will the registration for NMAT 2021 start?

Ans: The registration for NMAT 2021 exam has begun on August 3, 2021. 

Ques: What changes have been made in the NMAC 2021 exam pattern?

Ans: The changes made in NMAT 2021 exam pattern are - the number of questions is reduced to 108 and the number of questions in the quantitative skills section has been reduced to 36. The sectional time limit for language skills is 28 minutes, logical reasoning is 40 minutes, and quantitative skills is 52 minutes. 

Ques: Is there any age limit to apply for NMAT 2021?

Ans: According to the eligibility criteria released by GMAC for NMAT, there is no age limit to apply for NMAT 2021. 

Ques: When is NMAT 2021 going to be held?

Ans: As per the notification released by GMAC, NMAT 2021 exam will be held from October 14 to December 27, 2021, for 75 days.

Ques: How many times can I attempt NMAT 2021?

Ans: NMAT 2021 can be attempted a maximum of three times a year. 

Comments



No Comments To Show