NMAT 3-Month Preparation Strategy: A Comprehensive Guide

Narsee Monjee Management Aptitude Test (NMAT) is one of India's top MBA entrance exams. Students often question how to crack NMAT in 3 months. In this article, we discussed how to prepare for NMAT in 3 months and devised an NMAT 3 Months Preparation Strategy which will be useful for students.

Why Preparing for NMAT in 3 Months is Achievable

Preparation for the NMAT in 3 months is achievable with a clear understanding of the syllabus, pattern of the exam, and well-devised guidelines.

The difficulty level of questions asked in NMAT is easy to moderate.

NMAT exam allows students to choose test dates, which is flexible for students per their preparation plan. With a good NMAT scores the candidates can get admission to top MBA colleges in India.

Overview of NMAT Exam Pattern and Syllabus

The NMAT exam is divided into 3 sections.

• Language skills

• Quantitative skills

• Logical reasoning

There will be 108 questions in this exam and the time limit is 120 minutes. Every section carries an equal amount of questions i.e., 36 questions. All the questions will be objective-type MCQ questions with 5 options.

The allotment of time for each section is as follows:

Key Points:

• No negative marking

• Sectional NMAT cut-offs

• Each section has a specific time limit

• You can review your answer

• Unique exam for each student with equal difficulty level

• Single registration is allowed

Every question carries an equal value and there is no negative marking for wrong answers or not attempting an answer.

Candidates are allowed a maximum of 3 attempts in NMAT.

Step-by-Step NMAT Study Plan for 3 Months

Here is the step-by-step guide for 3 months to prepare for NMAT.

Breaking Down Your NMAT Preparation Month by Month

The first month:

Understand the full syllabus, review the previous year's papers to identify common topics, and familiarize yourself with the exam pattern. During this time, build a strong foundation for every subject.

The second month:

Practice objective types of questions with moderate to hard difficulty and give sectional mock tests. This is the time to improve your speed and accuracy.

The third month:

Give 3-4 weekly full-length mock tests to get familiar with the real exam environment. Focus on refining time management and approaches to solve problems.

Weekly Targets to Keep Your NMAT Preparation on Track

Keeping short weekly targets will help you achieve them realistically.

Week 1-4: This is the time to cover the basics of Quantitative aptitude, logical reasoning, and language skills. Set a target to complete each chapter and solve the easier questions to build the base.

Week 5-8: The target of these 4 weeks should be practising lots of moderate to difficult level questions, learning shortcut techniques, identifying weaker areas, and improving them. Work on speed and accuracy during this time.

Week 9-12: Target 3-4 full-length mock tests every week and review them this time. Fine-tune your strategy, focus on the important areas, and constantly improve test scores to feel confident.

Key Focus Areas for NMAT Preparation in 3 Months

Take a SWOT analysis to identify areas of your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats for every section, and focus on those during your preparation.

Quantitative Skills: Building a Strong Foundation

In the Quantitative aptitude section, 10-12 questions from Arithmetic, 3-5 questions from Algebra, 7-8 questions from modern math, 7-8 questions from Data Interpretation, 3-5 questions from number system, and 3-4 questions from Data sufficiency can be expected.

Algebra:

Key Topics to Focus on: Identities related to polynomials, Remainder theorem, Zeroes of polynomials, Linear equations, quadratic equations, and Inequalities.

Important points:

• Learn all the identities.

• Learn the concept of the degree of a polynomial.

• Practice word problems.

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This Story also Contains

1. Step-by-Step NMAT Study Plan for 3 Months
2. Key Focus Areas for NMAT Preparation in 3 Months
3. Month 1: Understanding the Basics and Concept Clarity
4. Month 2: Practice, Analyze, and Improve
5. Month 3: Full-Length Mocks and Revision
6. Daily NMAT Preparation Routine for 3 Months
7. Effective Time Management Tips for NMAT Preparation
8. Common Mistakes to Avoid During 3-Month NMAT Preparation
9. Must-Have Resources for NMAT Preparation in 3 Months
10. How to Crack NMAT in 3 Months: Tips from Experts
11. Stay Motivated and Confident During Your NMAT Journey

Arithmetic:

Key Topics to Focus on: Percentage, Application of percentage, Ratio, and application in time and work, Time, speed, and distance etc.

Important points:

• Sharpen your mental calculation skills to increase your speed.

• Learn the concept of percentage to fraction.

• Memorize the multiplication tables, squares, cubes up to 20, and all the necessary formulas.

• Practice word problems.

Geometry and Mensuration:

Key Topics to Focus on: Properties of a triangle, Similar and congruent triangles, Properties of quadrilateral, Polygons, Area and perimeter of 2- D figures, Properties of a Circle, Surface area and Volume of 3 - D figures, etc.

Important points:

• Learn all the related formulas and concepts.

• Make flashcards to learn the formulas.

• Practice word problems.

Number System:

Key Topics to Focus on: Properties of Numbers, Factors and multiples, Prime and Composite, Sequence and Series etc.

Important points:

• Understand the difference between different types of sequence series.

• Understand the properties of numbers in detail.

Data Interpretation and Data Sufficiency:

Key Topics to Focus on: Data representation in charts, graphs, and tables, data sufficiency questions on various concepts.

Important points:

• Use the concepts of percentage and average to solve data interpretation questions.

• In DS questions, do not solve till last. You just need to find out whether the given statements are sufficient to answer the question or not.

Logical Reasoning: Tips to Improve Speed and Accuracy

From the logical reasoning sections, 18-20 questions can be expected from verbal reasoning and 14-16 questions from analytical reasoning.

• Build a strong foundation of logical reasoning skills both verbal and analytical.

• Do not misinterpret questions in this section. Take your time to read the questions and solve them.

• Attempt the easier questions first and skip the complex ones for later.

• Practice a variety of questions from every topic to get familiar with every scenario.

• Allot 1 minute per question and last 4 minutes for revision.

• Consistent practice of mock tests will increase the speed and accuracy.

Language Skills: Mastering Grammar and Vocabulary

In this section, 2-3 RC passages with 4 questions each and 24-28 questions will be from grammar and vocabulary.

• To improve English language proficiency, read newspapers, articles, and magazines. Underline the words which you don't know the meaning of and search for them in a dictionary or on the internet.

• Practice antonyms, synonyms, idioms and analogies daily to familiarize yourself with the words.

• In the RC section, try to understand the core meaning of the passage. Sometimes skimming is an option to go through the passage in quicker succession.

Month 1: Understanding the Basics and Concept Clarity

Month 1 is for building the foundation of every subject. Review the syllabus thoroughly and make a study plan accordingly.

Familiarizing Yourself with the NMAT Syllabus

Building Your Conceptual Knowledge for Each Section

Quantitative skills:

• Algebra: Equations, Inequalities, Linear equations, Quadratic equations

• Arithmetic: Profit & loss, percentage, average, time-speed-distance, mixture & alligation, simple & compound interests, ratio & proportion

• Geometry: Triangles, circles, lines, quadrilaterals, polygons

• Mensuration: Cylinder, cone, cube

• Number system: HCF & LCM, factorization, divisibility rules

• Modern math: Permutations & combinations, Probability, Series and sequences, Set theory, Venn diagrams, Logarithm

• Data interpretation: Pie charts, Line charts, Tables, Bar graphs

Logical reasoning:

• Verbal reasoning: Seating arrangements, Blood relations, Coding-Decoding, Number series, Puzzles, Calendars, Clocks

• Analytical reasoning: Statements & Conclusions, Syllogisms, Decision-making, Critical reasoning, course of action

Language skills:

• Comprehension: RC passages, Jumbled sentences, Para jumbles, Odd one out, Paragraph summary

• Vocabulary: Synonyms, Antonyms, Analogies, Fill in the blanks, Idioms, Cloze test

• Grammar: Identify the error, Sentence correction, Tenses, Parts of speech, Phrasal verbs

Month 2: Practice, Analyze, and Improve

After building the basics in month 1, month 2 is for practicing those topics, attempting moderate to difficult questions, learning new topics, analyzing the mistakes after sectional tests, and improving them.

Importance of Solving Topic-Wise NMAT Practice Tests

In the 2nd month, stress on topic-wise tests. It is very important to identify the weaker sections during the 2nd week and rectify them. Topic Wise the tests are perfect for that scenario.

If you score high marks in any topic that means you are ready for that topic.

If in any topic you score low, then you still have time to improve them.

This approach ensures that you leave no section under-prepared.

How to Analyze Mistakes and Focus on Weak Areas

Mistakes can happen due to three main reasons.

• Conceptual mistakes

• Calculation error

• Misinterpretation of the questions

After topic-wise tests, analyze which kinds of mistakes are frequent.

If it is conceptual, then focus on that topic more and strengthen them.

Calculation errors are mainly due to time pressure. Be attentive when answering questions to reduce calculation errors.

Rushing through questions often leads to misinterpretation of questions. So stay calm and read the questions carefully before answering them.

Using NMAT Mocks and Sectional Tests Effectively

• Mock tests are prepared closely following the exam patterns and syllabus. It also replicates the real exam environment so that you can get accustomed to the exam pressure and anxiety.

• Devising a proper time management strategy while taking these tests is very important for exam preparation.

• For the quant section, you get almost 1.5 minutes per question, for logical reasoning 1 minute per question, and 45 seconds for English questions.

• Try to attempt easier questions before the allotted time so that you can get more time to solve complex problems.

• Mock tests help you to test these strategies and fine-tune them.

Month 3: Full-Length Mocks and Revision

The third month of preparation is for revision, attempting 3-4 mock tests every week and reviewing them.

How to Use Full-Length NMAT Mock Tests to Simulate Exam Conditions

Like the real exam, you can also attempt the sections as per your preferred order. So first try to attempt your strong section, then the weaker section, and at the end the moderate section. Check if this strategy works or not. If not then change it accordingly.

Full-length NMAT mock tests will prepare you better for the exam and make you familiar with the exam settings.

You can review the solutions after the mock tests and note down important points and the shortcut methods. Consistent improvement of scores in the mock tests will increase your confidence and mentally prepare you.

Last Month's Revision Tips for Maximum Retention

These are some tips which you should follow in the last month before the exam.

• Take 3-4 mock tests every week and review their solutions.

• Revise key topics and the areas you still need to improve.

• Avoid learning new topics.

• Practice previous year’s papers to understand the recruiting patterns of the questions.

• Test the shortcut methods and tricks in practice tests.

• Sharpen your mental calculation skills.

• Allocate time for every section in a day for revision.

Daily NMAT Preparation Routine for 3 Months

A proper timetable balancing practice, mock tests, and revision is required for NMAT preparation in 3 months.

Ideal Study Hours and Breaks for NMAT Preparation

Morning: Morning is a good time to practice Quant and DI sections. Study for 1.5-2 hours

Break: Take a 1-1.30 hour break

Day time: Study language skills for 1 hour.

Break: Break for 1 hour

Noon/Afternoon: Practice logical reasoning for 1-1.30 hour

Evening: Practice mock tests at this time (topic-wise / full-length)

Night: Analyze mock test solutions for 30 minutes and sleep. Do not stay awake late.

Balancing NMAT Preparation with Work/College

If you have work or college and you want to prepare for the NMAT exam, then these are some tips that will help you.

• Use early mornings and late evenings to focus on your NMAT preparation.

• Weekends are very useful for these kinds of students. Utilize those days for extensive preparation.

• Make a realistic and flexible routine for the next day before going to bed at night and try to follow that routine.

• If you have a long commute, then use that time to review notes, practice vocabulary or listen to educational podcasts.

Effective Time Management Tips for NMAT Preparation

Here are some time management tips that will help students to prepare for the exam effectively.

How to Prioritize Sections Based on Strengths and Weaknesses

In NMAT, you can choose the order of the section which you want to attempt first. Always choose your strong section first and boost your confidence by securing good attempts in that section. Then choose your weaker section when your attention level is at its peak. At the end attempt the remaining section.

Allocating Time for Practice, Mock Tests, and Revision

Maintaining a steady balance between practice, mock tests, and revision will ensure that your preparation is thorough, strategic, and effective.

NMAT mock tests also allow you to choose the order of the tests. So these are very helpful for preparing for NMAT.

Daily practice time:

Quantitative aptitude: Daily 1.5-2 hours

Language skills: Daily 1-1.30 hours

Logical reasoning: Daily 1-1.30 hours

During the initial weeks, allocate evening time for topic-wise mock tests and analyze the solutions at night for 30-45 minutes.

During the last month of the preparation, practice full-length mock tests in the evening and review them afterwards.

Every week:

Invest 20-25 hours for practice, 4-6 hours for mock tests, and 4-5 hours for revision.

Common Mistakes to Avoid During 3-Month NMAT Preparation

Here are some common mistakes you should avoid during these three months to excel in the preparation for the NMAT.

Overcoming Procrastination and Staying Consistent

• Three months is adequate for preparing NMAT, you do not procrastinate during the initial phase of the preparation.

• Students often need to pay more attention to the beginning of the preparation and then rush through the chapters at the end. This will hamper the preparation.

• On the first day of the preparation phase, make a routine for the first month and strictly follow them. Leniency often leads to bad preparation.

• Try techniques like the Pomodoro method (25 minutes study, 5 minutes break) to stay energized and focused during preparation.

Avoiding Overload: Balancing Speed with Accuracy

While speed is important for time-based exams, students often rush through questions and answers. This hampers accuracy and increases silly mistakes which can be avoided.

During the first week of practising mock tests, focus more on accuracy and solving the questions correctly. Speed will gradually increase when you practice consistently.

Must-Have Resources for NMAT Preparation in 3 Months

Good preparation needs top NMAT books and online resources. Here are some names of the top books and sites to take mock tests.

Best Books for NMAT Preparation

Recommended NMAT Online Courses and Mock Tests

Top 5 Online course Platforms:

How to Crack NMAT in 3 Months: Tips from Experts

Here are some tips from the toppers that will help you to crack NMAT in 3 months.

Expert Advice on NMAT Strategy and Tactics

• At the beginning of the preparation, take a test to check where you stand on the subjects. Then start building on from that.

• Build strong basics on language skills, quantitative aptitude and logical reasoning. This will help you to deal with complex problems.

• Review previous year's solved papers thoroughly and identify the most frequent topics from which questions come. Also, check the solution methods and learn from them.

• Always attempt your strong section first followed by the weaker section of yours. The confidence you will build after attempting your stronger section will help you to deal with your weaker section better.

• Regular practice of mock tests will help you to increase your speed and accuracy.

• In the language skills section, try to solve the vocabulary questions in 10-15 seconds so that you can focus more on the RC passages.

Insights from NMAT Toppers on Time Management

Here are some of the time management tips that toppers suggest.

• Toppers emphasize making proper time management strategies and allotting time limits for every question. They recommend you to practice an ideal amount of topic-wise and full-length mock tests.

• Toppers always suggest attempting your stronger section first to maximize your marks. Do not hesitate to skip difficult questions.

• According to the toppers, maintaining consistency in preparation is the key to success.

• Many toppers suggest the first 60 days for subject-wise preparation and short tests and the last 30 days for full-length mock tests.

Stay Motivated and Confident During Your NMAT Journey

Having the right mindset will ensure that students are not only academically ready but also mentally prepared for the exam.

Handling Stress and Staying Positive During Preparation

Preparation for NMAT in 3 months can be stressful at times. But staying calm and positive will help you to overcome that stress.

Here are some tips to handle stress during preparation.

• Break down the syllabus into smaller halves and make a routine. Set realistic goals which can be achievable within a month.

• Long study sessions can often be boring and irritable. Take breaks after studying for 45 minutes or 1 hour. These breaks can help to manage study fatigue.

• Regular exercise and meditation will calm your nerves. Also, avoid staying awake late at night.

• Avoid comparing your preparation with others. Everyone has different learning styles and speeds. Focus on your strategies.

• Plan everything beforehand and strictly follow them. Staying consistent is the main mantra for success.

Building Confidence Through Regular Progress Assessment

• Regularly, assess your progression from the results of topic-wise tests and full-length mock tests. Constant improvement in the scores will give you confidence that you are on the right track.

• Mistakes are part of the learning process. Learn from the mistakes and make sure you don't repeat them.

• Celebrate small successes in the mock tests and stay positive.

• If you ever feel demotivated, talk to your family members or close friends. Their fresh perspective or encouraging words will boost your morale and you can refocus on your goals.