GMAC defines the NMAT Syllabus 2026 as having Language Skills, Quantitative Skills and Logical Reasoning as equally weighted sections. Each of these three sections contains 36 questions, for a total of 108 questions, which you must complete in 120 minutes. It is a computer-based test in English that consists of MCQ-type questions, while the NMAT score for each section varies from 12 to 120.
Each section is timed separately: 28 minutes for Language Skills, 52 minutes for Quantitative Skills, and 40 minutes for Logical Reasoning. The overall score ranges from 36 to 360, with no negative marking.
NMAT is a national-level management exam conducted by the Graduate Management Admission Council for admission to NMIMS in Mumbai and other reputed B-schools in India, Morocco, South Africa, the Philippines, and Nigeria. For the 2026 cycle, registration opened on August 20, 2026, and the exam window is scheduled from November 2 to December 20, 2026. GMAC does not release a chapter-wise PDF, so the NMAT syllabus below follows the official section topics and the question types asked in the exam.
What is the NMAT Exam Pattern?
The NMAT exam pattern has three sections with 108 MCQs to be solved within 120 minutes. The NMAT syllabus is tested through Language Skills, Quantitative Skills and Logical Reasoning, with 36 questions in each section. Candidates get 120 minutes in total and can choose the section order at the start of the test.
|
Section
|
Questions
|
Time
|
Score range
|
|
Language Skills
|
36
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28 minutes
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12–120
|
|
Quantitative Skills
|
36
|
52 minutes
|
12–120
|
|
Logical Reasoning
|
36
|
40 minutes
|
12–120
|
|
Total
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108
|
120 minutes
|
36–360
|
Key points of the NMAT exam pattern:
- Computer-based test in English with MCQ-type questions
- Each section is separately timed; unused time does not carry forward
- Going back to a previous question or skipping ahead of a question inside a section is not allowed
- No negative marking
- Up to 3 attempts in one testing year, with a 15-day gap between attempts
- Scaled scores are released, usually within 48 hours of the test. The preview scores are available immediately after the test.
This exam pattern is the base of the NMAT syllabus. Use the section-wise NMAT syllabus topics below to plan what to study for each timed block.
NMAT Section-Wise Syllabus 2026
The NMAT section-wise syllabus 2026 has three parts: Language Skills, Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Skills. GMAC tests 36 questions from each part of the NMAT syllabus.
- Language Skills: Reading Comprehension, Para Forming, Error Identification, Prepositions, Sentence Completion, Analogies
- Logical Reasoning: Critical Reasoning, Analytical Puzzles, Deductions, and Other Reasoning
- Quantitative Skills: Number Properties, Arithmetic, Algebra and Probability, Data Integration (Caselets and Tables), Data Integration (Graphs and Charts), Data Sufficiency
What is the NMAT Syllabus for Language Skills?
The Language Skills section covers the topics that test a candidate’s Verbal ability, Reading Comprehension and English Language Skills. The section has 36 questions and needs to be completed within 28 minutes.
- Reading comprehension (short passages; main idea, inference, tone, detail)
- Para forming / para jumbles
- Error identification and sentence correction
- Prepositions and sentence completion
- Analogies
- Vocabulary in context (synonyms, antonyms, fill in the blanks, idioms/phrases, cloze)
Focus: grammar fundamentals (Subject Verb Agreement, tenses, modifiers, parallelism), high-frequency vocabulary, and timed RC.
Tips to Ace the NMAT Language Skills Section
The Language Skills part of the NMAT syllabus tests three areas: comprehension, grammar and vocabulary. You get 36 questions in 28 minutes, so speed plus accuracy decide the score.
- Start RC first only if you can finish a short passage in under 3 minutes; else attempt grammar and vocabulary first, then come back to RC.
- For Error Identification, Prepositions and Sentence Completion, revise SVA, tenses, modifiers, and commonly tested prepositions every day.
- Build vocabulary from context, not word lists alone. Analogies and fill-in-the-blanks in NMAT reward usage, not rote meanings.
- Read one editorial a day to lift reading speed and word stock together.
- Practise this section in a strict 28-minute mock test. Track accuracy by question type: RC, para forming, error ID, prepositions, sentence completion, and analogies, and fix the weakest type first.
Use official NMAT practice questions for this section; the question style stays close to the real paper.
What is the NMAT Syllabus for Quantitative Skills?
The NMAT Quantitative Skills section consists of 36 questions to be solved in 52 minutes. This is the longest section of the exam. The NMAT syllabus for Quantitative Skills is given below.
Number properties
- Fractions and decimals
- Factors, multiples, LCM, HCF
- Prime numbers
- Logarithms
- Divisibility, remainders, unit digits
Arithmetic
- Percentages
- Profit, loss and discount
- Simple and compound interest
- Ratio, proportion and averages
- Time and work
- Time, speed and distance
- Mixtures and alligation
- Partnership
Algebra and probability
- Linear and quadratic equations
- Inequalities
- Sequences and series (AP/GP)
- Permutations and combinations
- Probability
Data interpretation and data sufficiency
- Tables, caselets
- Bar, line, pie, and mixed graphs
- Two-statement data sufficiency (arithmetic/algebra/numbers)
Arithmetic + DI/DS typically dominate. Mensuration, Geometry and Coordinate Geometry appear less often than in CAT but still show up in some papers.
Tips to Ace the NMAT Quantitative Skills Section
The Quantitative Skills section of the NMAT syllabus covers Number Properties, Arithmetic, Algebra and Probability, Data Interpretation (caselets, tables, graphs and charts) and Data Sufficiency. You get 36 questions to be solved in 52 minutes. The difficulty level is moderate, but several questions are calculation-heavy.
- Increase your Arithmetic speed first, with percentages, ratios, averages, P&L, SI/CI, time-work, and TSD appearing most frequently.
- Keep a small formula sheet for numbers, algebra, logs, P&C and probability and revise it twice a week. Don't just memorize it, use each formula in mixed sets.
- In DI and Data Sufficiency, read the question before the full data. Many DS items can be closed without full calculation.
- Since NMAT is a computer adaptive test, questions cannot be skipped. In case of lengthy questions, candidates can either solve the question by taking the requisite time or make a calculated guess and submit the question.
- Take 52-minute Quant mocks. After every test, log errors as concept gap, calculation slip, or time miss, and drill that bucket the next day.
Practise official NMAT-style Quant and DI sets so the adaptive feel and DS format match the real paper.
What is the NMAT Syllabus for Logical Reasoning?
The NMAT Logical Reasoning section consists of 36 questions within 40 minutes.
Verbal / critical reasoning
- Conclusions and inferences
- Assumptions
- Strengthen / weaken arguments
- Strong vs weak arguments
- Course of action
- Decision making
Analytical / other reasoning
- Analytical puzzles and arrangements
- Input–output
- Syllogisms and deductions
- Blood relations
- Coding–decoding
- Series
- Direction sense
- Venn diagrams / set-based reasoning
- Ranking
Critical reasoning and puzzles together usually form the bulk of the section.
Tips to Ace the NMAT Logical Reasoning Section
The Logical Reasoning part of the NMAT syllabus tests analytical ability, verbal reasoning, and decision-making. You get 36 questions to be solved in 40 minutes. Official topics are Critical Reasoning, Analytical Puzzles, Deductions and Other Reasoning.
- Do not spend equal time on each set. Questions have to be attempted as per their appearance, and candidates cannot choose the sequence/order since skipping ahead/going back is not allowed.
- For Critical Reasoning, mark the conclusion before you look at the options. That cuts assumption, strengthen, and weaken errors.
- Puzzles and input-output need a fixed method: write the conditions, draw the grid, then eliminate. Do not take too long to solve a question to avoid wasting the 40-minute cap, but at the same time avoid premature guessing to lose marks.
- This section does not have a formula bank. Timed sets beat theory every day. Track accuracy by type: CR, puzzles, deductions, arrangements and drill the weakest type.
- Take full 40-minute LR mocks and review every wrong answer for the exact miss: misread condition, extra assumption, or slow setup.
Practise with official NMAT-style questions so that the CR language and puzzle format match the real exam.
NMAT Syllabus FAQs
Q1. What is the syllabus for the NMAT?
A. The NMAT syllabus is set by GMAC, and has three sections. These are, Language Skills, Quantitative Skills, and Logical Reasoning. Language Skills covers Reading Comprehension, Para Forming, Error Identification, Prepositions, Sentence Completion and Analogies. Quantitative Skills covers Number Properties, Arithmetic, Algebra and Probability, Data Interpretation (caselets, tables, graphs and charts), and Data Sufficiency. Logical Reasoning covers Critical Reasoning, Analytical Puzzles, Deductions and Other Reasoning. Each section has 36 questions.
Q2. Is the syllabus of the NMAT similar to that of the SNAP exam?
A. The NMAT syllabus and the SNAP syllabus overlap in English, Quant and Logical Reasoning, but they are not the same exam. NMAT has 108 questions in 120 minutes across three separately timed sections and no GK. SNAP is a shorter paper (60 questions, 60 minutes) with General English, Quant-DI-DS and Analytical & Logical Reasoning. NMAT also uses scaled scores of 12–120 per section and allows up to three attempts. You can use common topic prep for both, but you must practise each exam’s timing, question mix and mock format separately. NMAT is a computer-adaptive test, whereas SNAP is a computer-based test.
Q3. Does GMAC release an official NMAT syllabus PDF?
A. No. GMAC does not publish a chapter-wise NMAT syllabus PDF. The official topic list on the NMAT Official Guide are the syllabus references.
Q4. Is there negative marking in NMAT?
A. No. NMAT does not have negative marking scheme. Each section is scored on a 12–120 scale. The total score range is 36–360.
Q5. Which book covers the NMAT syllabus?
A. The NMAT by GMAC Official Guide is the official source for format, question types and past official items. Use the official practice exams on mba.com with it.