NMAT 2026: Exam Date, Registration, Eligibility, Pattern & Fees

Course: MBA

If you're eyeing an MBA seat at NMIMS, TAPMI, SP Jain, KJ Somaiya, or any of the other top B-schools that accept this score, NMAT 2026 is one exam you can't afford to be casual about. What makes NMAT a little different from CAT or XAT is the flexibility it offers — you pick your own exam date, you get up to three attempts, and the whole process is self-scheduled. But that flexibility only helps if you know the calendar properly. Here's everything currently confirmed about NMAT 2026.

What is NMAT?

NMAT by GMAC — sometimes still called NMIMS NMAT because of where it originated — is a national-level MBA entrance exam conducted by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), the same body that runs the GMAT globally. Around 75,000 candidates take this exam every year, and its scores are accepted by roughly 56 B-schools in India, including NMIMS Mumbai, TAPMI, XIMB, KJ Somaiya, and SDA Bocconi.

NMAT 2026 Exam Date

NMAT 2026 will be held over a 45-to-49-day testing window, from November 2 to December 20, 2026. Unlike CAT, which is a single-day exam, NMAT lets you choose your own date and time slot within this window — available on a first-come, first-served basis, so registering early genuinely improves your chances of getting your preferred slot and centre.

NMAT 2026 Registration Dates

• Registration opens: August 20, 2026
• Registration closes: October 10, 2026

Registration is a fully online, self-scheduling process done through the official website — mba.com/exams/nmat. Once you register and pay the fee, the "Schedule Exam" option activates on your dashboard, where you choose your exam date, time, city, and mode.

NMAT 2026 Registration Fee

• Registration fee: ₹3,000
• Includes up to 5 B-school score reports at no extra cost
• Retake fee: ₹3,000 (same as the original registration fee, applicable for each retake)

Eligibility Criteria

• A bachelor's degree under the 10+2+3 or 10+2+4 pattern from a recognised university
• Minimum 50% aggregate marks in the final year of graduation
• Final-year students and those awaiting results are also eligible to apply
• No minimum work experience required — freshers can apply without hesitation

Exam Pattern

NMAT is a computer-adaptive test with the following structure:

Since there's no negative marking, attempting every question — even the ones you're unsure of — generally works in your favour.

Exam Modes

NMAT 2026 can be taken in two modes:

1. Test Centre Mode — at a designated exam centre
2. Online Proctored Mode — from home, under remote supervision

Choose carefully during registration, as switching modes later isn't always straightforward.

Admit Card

The NMAT 2026 admit card is released seven days before your scheduled exam date, available for download from your candidate dashboard. Carry a printed copy along with a valid photo ID to the test centre — the same ID that was uploaded during registration.

Retake and Rescheduling

• Candidates can retake NMAT up to twice within the same testing window, in addition to the first attempt
• The best of your scores across attempts is considered for admission
• Rescheduling an already-booked exam is possible for an additional fee

Result Date

NMAT scores are typically available within 48 hours of taking the exam, which is one of the quickest turnarounds among management entrance exams in India — a big relief compared to the weeks-long wait for CAT or XAT results.

Quick Recap — NMAT 2026 Key Dates