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Preparation Plan and Exam Strategy to Crack NMAT by Experts: The NMAT by GMAC is a national-level MBA entrance exam accepted by top B-schools across India. With its adaptive format, flexible scheduling, and section-wise time limits, cracking the NMAT requires a well-structured and expert-backed preparation strategy. The registration window begins on August 01, 2025, and the exam will be conducted from November 05 to December 19, 2025, giving aspirants a defined timeline to plan their studies effectively. To succeed, candidates must focus on smart time management, targeted practice, and a strong grasp of the NMAT exam pattern across Language Skills, Quantitative Skills, and Logical Reasoning. Regular mock tests, section-wise preparation, and expert strategies can significantly improve performance. In this article, get a step-by-step NMAT 2025 preparation plan, expert-recommended exam strategies, section-wise guidance, and practical tips to help you crack the exam confidently.
Having a proper NMAT exam strategy is mandatory to ace the exam. You need to understand the NMAT exam pattern well, balance your speed with accuracy, and focus on each section.
We have provided below the section-wise distribution of questions along with the allotted time for each in the NMAT 2025 exam.
Section | Number of Questions | Allotted Time |
Verbal Ability | 36 | 28 minutes |
Quantitative Aptitude | 36 | 52 minutes |
Logical Reasoning | 36 | 40 minutes |
Important points to remember:
Maximum Marks: 360
There is no negative marking for wrong answers or not attempting questions.
A maximum of three attempts is allowed
Objective-type questions carry 3 marks per question.
It is an adaptive test with a difficulty level adjusted as per the accuracy of the previous answers.
Students must qualify for the sectional and overall cutoff to be eligible for the WAT/PI round.
We have provided section-wise important topics, along with the strategies to prepare for them:
Section | Important topics | What to do? |
Language Skills |
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Quantitative Aptitude |
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Logical Reasoning |
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Here are the steps to create an effective NMAT study schedule.
Review the previous year's papers to understand the pattern and the most common types of questions that come in the exam.
Do a SWOT analysis and divide the topics accordingly.
Break down the syllabus into small weekly and monthly targets.
Include weekly full-length mock tests and section-wise tests in this schedule to maximise the preparation.
Here are some tips shared by experts that will help you during your preparation for the NMAT exam.
Here are some proven strategies shared by NMAT toppers which will help fellow peers for the upcoming NMAT exam.
Start early: Toppers always start six to nine months before the exam to cover all the topics.
Familiarity with syllabus and pattern: Before starting the preparation for any exam, get the full details of the syllabus and question types from the NMAT Previous Year Question Papers.
Cover weak areas: Toppers do not leave any holes in their preparation and focus more on their weaker section to strike a balance across all sections.
Practice mock tests: Toppers always stress the fact that practice is the key, and regularly attempting the NMAT mock tests is a very good way to prepare for the exam.
Here are some mistakes which toppers pinpoint to avoid while preparing for the NMAT.
During this 6-9 months preparation time, students should not procrastinate during the initial phase of the preparation, thinking that there is enough time to prepare for the exam.
Students often do not pay more attention to the beginning of the preparation and then rush through the chapters at the end. This will hamper the preparation.
Leniency often leads to bad preparation. Students often forget to make a routine for the first month and start studying randomly.
Some of the students do make a routine but do not follow it through, which should also be avoided.
Students often study for long hours and forget to take timely breaks. This will drain their energy and hamper their focus during preparation.
Students often forget that the NMAT exam is adaptive and does not simulate the same format during preparation.
Here are some NMAT expert tips on time management for Exam day.
Students should be aware of the sectional time limits for the exam. Toppers emphasise making proper time management strategies and allotting time limits for every question. They recommend that you practice an ideal amount of topic-wise and full-length mock tests.
Toppers always suggest attempting your stronger section first to maximise your marks. Do not hesitate to skip difficult questions.
Since there is no negative marking, students should attempt all the questions, maintaining a decent accuracy.
According to the toppers, maintaining consistency in preparation is the key to success.
Toppers suggest keeping an eye on the clock to give an idea of how many questions you need to complete in the remaining time.
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Here are some NMAT 2025 preparation resources that will help you make the right strategies for your preparation. Also, it will help you to understand the syllabus and pattern of the NMAT 2025 exam.
To crack the NMAT 2025 with a high score, choosing the right preparation resources is crucial. Here are the best NMAT 2025 books and study materials recommended by experts.
Subject | Necessary books |
Quantitative Aptitude |
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Logical reasoning |
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Verbal ability |
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To crack NMAT 2025 with a high percentile, it is crucial to adopt a section-wise preparation strategy that targets the unique demands of each part of the exam—Quantitative Skills, Logical Reasoning, and Language Skills. Each section tests a different set of abilities, and a one-size-fits-all approach won’t yield effective results. In this section, we break down expert-recommended strategies for NMAT 2025 preparation, including daily practice plans, concept-building tips, and the best resources to boost your performance in every section of the exam.
The Quantitative Skills section of NMAT 2025 assesses a candidate’s problem-solving ability, numerical reasoning, and data interpretation skills. To score well in this section, aspirants must build a strong foundation in basic mathematics and practice speed-based calculations. Key topics include
Arithmetic,
Algebra,
Number systems
Data sufficiency
To prepare effectively for the NMAT Quantitative section:
Begin with conceptual clarity and revise all fundamental formulas.
Focus on shortcut methods and Vedic math tricks to improve calculation speed.
Solve at least 20–25 quantitative questions daily with a timer.
Regularly practice NMAT-level Data Interpretation and Data Sufficiency sets.
Take sectional mock tests to improve time management and accuracy.
By following a structured NMAT 2025 quantitative aptitude preparation plan, aspirants can gradually build confidence and target a high percentile in this section.
Logical Reasoning in NMAT 2025 requires sharp analytical thinking and quick pattern recognition. This section is divided into verbal reasoning (arguments, conclusions, assumptions) and non-verbal reasoning (puzzles, arrangements, coding-decoding). A strategic approach is essential to maximise your score in the Logical Reasoning section of the NMAT by GMAC.
Follow these expert-backed tips to ace NMAT Logical Reasoning:
Practice all standard types of LR questions asked in NMAT with increasing difficulty levels.
Strengthen reasoning fundamentals through puzzles, seating arrangements, and blood relations.
For verbal reasoning, understand how to identify flaws in arguments and strengthen or weaken conclusions.
Use previous year NMAT LR questions to identify frequently tested patterns.
Work on accuracy first, and gradually build speed by attempting timed sets.
Adopting a focused NMAT Logical Reasoning preparation strategy can give you an edge over other aspirants and improve your overall test score.
The NMAT Language Skills section evaluates your command of English grammar, reading comprehension, vocabulary, and sentence correction. A well-structured NMAT English preparation plan is key to mastering this section.
Here’s a daily strategy to prepare for the NMAT 2025 Language Skills section:
Read editorials, opinion columns, and business articles from quality sources to build reading comprehension skills.
Dedicate 30 minutes daily to vocabulary—use flashcards or apps to learn 10–15 new words each day.
Practice para jumbles, error spotting, and sentence correction exercises regularly.
Focus on understanding tone, inference, and the main idea for reading comprehension passages.
Take 1 RC passage and 10 grammar-based questions daily under timed conditions.
By integrating regular reading and focused grammar practice, candidates can significantly improve their performance in the NMAT English section.
Choosing the right NMAT 2025 preparation books and study materials plays a crucial role in effective learning. Since NMAT has a unique adaptive format, candidates must select books that offer NMAT-level questions and mirror the exam's difficulty.
Here are expert-recommended NMAT 2025 preparation resources:
For Quantitative Skills: Choose books that cover arithmetic, algebra, and DI with a mix of concept-building and practice questions tailored for NMAT 2025 difficulty.
For Logical Reasoning: Use reasoning guides with dedicated sections on verbal and analytical reasoning, along with topic-wise solved examples.
For Language Skills: Pick materials that emphasise vocabulary building, grammar rules, and comprehension strategies designed for management entrance tests.
NMAT 2025 Mock Test Series: Attempt full-length NMAT 2025 mock tests regularly to track progress and fine-tune your test-taking approach.
Combining expert-curated NMAT books with a disciplined study routine ensures thorough coverage of all sections and boosts exam readiness.
An effective NMAT 2025 study schedule should consist of a weekly and monthly schedule. Also, it should be balanced with your work or college. Time for revision and self-analysis must be in your study schedule.
At the beginning of the preparation, set weekly and monthly goals for a strategic approach towards the NMAT 2025 exam. Here is a demonstration of how your first four-week routine has to be. Make the necessary adjustments.
Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | |
Language Skills | Focus on vocabulary building (20 new words per day) and practice grammar basics. | Start reading comprehension(2-3 passages daily) and move on to advanced grammar formulas. | Increase the number of vocabulary words, and start solving complex RC passages. | Revise grammar rules, vocabulary, and start taking timed-based mock tests section-wise. |
Quantitative Aptitude | Build on basic concepts of Arithmetic and take chapter-wise tests. | Move on to Algebra and Geometry. Practice 15-20 questions per day. | Focus on DI sets and number systems. Take section-wise tests. | Begin with Modern math, revise earlier topics and take full-length math sectional tests. |
Logical Reasoning | Begin with series and Analogies. | Puzzles, seating arrangements, and statements & conclusions | Blood Relations, coding-decoding, and critical reasoning | Revise all the topics and take full-length logical reasoning sectional tests. |
Mock tests play a vital role in NMAT preparation.
Mock tests are prepared following the latest syllabus and pattern of the exam. Students will get familiar with the exam setting beforehand by attempting mock tests.
NMAT 2025 Mock tests help you identify your strengths and weaknesses.
Consistent practice of mock tests will improve your speed and accuracy.
Performing well in the mock tests will also increase your confidence.
NMAT is a 2-hour-long exam. Mock tests help to build the required stamina and focus throughout the full-time length.
Mock tests simulate a real exam environment, which helps students get accustomed to real exam settings.
Mock tests help students in:
Tracking overall progress.
Identifying strong and weak points.
Sharpening time management skills.
Reviewing the type of mistakes.
Boosting confidence and stamina.
Here are some NMAT exam strategies that students should follow to get admitted into a top B school.
36 questions from each section come in the NMAT exam. So every section holds equal weightage in the selection process. Students have to give equal focus and attention to each section and prepare for it.
Process of identifying weak areas:
Through sectional mock tests
A full-length mock test
SWOT analysis
Process to improve weaker areas:
Separate study plan for those chapters.
Concentrate on the conceptual understanding of those chapters.
Set realistic targets for weaker sections and complete those targets within time.
Take help from online resources and NMAT 2025 Preparation books to have a clear idea about those topics.
Discuss those sections in the online communities or study groups and exchange notes.
Review mistakes from those sections regularly and make sure not to repeat them.
Here are some resources that will be helpful to build your foundation on each section.
TITLE | DOWNLOAD LINK |
NMAT 2025 Preparation Tips | |
NMAT 2025 Sample Paper and Mock Test | |
NMAT Sample Paper with Answer Key |
We have discussed some effective study techniques which will help candidates during their revision process.
Active Recall and Spaced Repetition are two highly effective learning techniques that students can use to enhance their NMAT preparation by improving retention and recall of concepts.
Active recall: It is a method where you can check and test your memory without using the study materials.
Students can use flashcards to write important information, formulas, and tricks to check from time to time.
After reading a chapter, question yourself in your mind to be thorough in your preparation.
Mock tests are another approach to active recall.
Spaced repetition: it is a method to revise every topic after a certain amount of time.
Spend one day at the weekend to revise the topics you learn during weekdays.
After learning a new topic, review it the next day and check it in the next week to follow up.
Taking section-wise tests on every topic after a few days is a good way of revision.
Problem-solving skills can be improved in many ways.
Build a strong foundation on basic concepts, then gradually move to an advanced level.
Consistent practice of most tests will give you exposure to deal with various types of problems and solve them under timed conditions.
Learn shortcuts and tricks specially for the Quant section to answer the questions faster.
Use various methods like elimination and Approximation to solve the problems and check which method is faster and provides more accuracy.
Use backwards calculation to check if your answer is correct.
Students often ask what to do the day before the exam and on exam day. Here are some tips which will help them.
Here are some last-minute NMAT tips to prepare effectively.
Revise the shortcuts and tricks that you have learned during the preparation.
Do not try to learn new topics in the final days of the preparation. Rather, focus on the topics you are already familiar with and strengthen those concepts.
Do not compare your preparation with others. Stay positive and confident about your strategies and abilities.
Take a look at the section-wise time limit and check if your plan needs any kind of improvisation or not.
Staying calm and focused during the exam is very important. Here are some tips to maintain your calmness and composure during the exam.
Take a deep breath to calm your nerves and stay focused.
Always clear your mind and answer one question at a time. This will help to prevent feeling overwhelmed by the time pressure.
Solving easier questions at the beginning will boost your confidence and leave you composed for the challenging questions.
If you are unsure of any answers, don't just take a random guess. Try to eliminate the wrong options. Then analyse the rest of the options to get the correct answer.
A positive mindset will always help in this situation. Avoid any types of negative thoughts and approach this section calmly.
Do not stick to one question. If you find a question very difficult, move on to the next. You can always return to it at the end of the exam if time permits.
Time management is a common factor that decides the result in any competitive exam. Below are additional time management tips and tricks.
Focus on easy questions first: Read the questions, and if you see questions that are easy and you know how to respond, do those questions first and do them fast. Once again, this will afford you more time for those questions that take longer to complete.
Do not obsess over tough questions: given that there will be a time limit on sections of the test, do not spend more than 2-2.5 minutes on Quantitative aptitude questions, and do not spend more than 1.5-2 minutes on logical reasoning questions and still provide adequate amounts of time to get through language questions. You will have enough time for language questions after you get through the other questions.
Discipline to read questions: Be disciplined to read the question carefully. Sometimes we can overthink a simple question, therefore wasting an unnecessary amount of time.
Include method of calculation: In Quant questions, students are taught all of the complicated formulas, but seldom use the basic tricks and methods, and they use them most appropriately during the calculations and responses.
Performing elimination: Quickly scan the answers and eliminate those that are wrong. Even if you are not sure, you should always guess intelligently. If time permits, also try back calculation using what you have left over as options.
Staying calm and composed: Staying calm will allow you to think clearly, therefore better allowing you to answer a question correctly, all within a limited time frame.
Consistent improvement can only be achieved by regular practice and clear conceptual understanding.
Taking repetition of mocks will not guarantee your preparation. The real preparation is to take the feedback and feedback into account.
Look into your performance by sections following each mock exam, and analyse the wrong questions and why they were wrong.
If the wrong answers were calculation issues, make sure they don't happen again in the next mock exam.
If there were time issues, then revise your time management strategy for the mock exams, and develop adequate time allowances for each question.
If they were conceptual issues, then go back into your study material for that section and work through your foundational knowledge of that topic.
For the receiving of 'unanswered' questions, review those answers and learn how to solve that type of question.
If you see that you are making the same mistake in one chapter frequently, take a sectional test of that chapter, and combat that issue.
When you establish a reasonable milestone, you will stay on course with your preparation. Here are some suggestions about how you could set milestones:
Keep track of the section-wise score and total score of consecutive 5-10 mock tests.
Set a benchmark score you want to reach at the end of your preparation, and set various scores during your journey. For example, if you want to achieve 250+ at the end of your preparation, then by the end of the 2nd month, you should get a score of 200+, by the end of the 4th month, you should get a score of 225+, and by the end of the 6th month, you should be getting around 250.
A student can take the NMAT exam up to a maximum of 3 attempts (first attempt plus two reattempts). There should be a mandatory gap of 15 days between two attempts.
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 practicing 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.
All the sections in the NMAT exam hold the same weightage and the difficulty of the questions is easy to moderate. So every section is important during preparation.
But Quant and logical reasoning are two high-scoring sections if your basic concepts are clear.
Mock tests help in many ways.
Build a real exam environment.
Make you familiar with the exam pattern and question types.
Help you to improve your weak points.
Essential in improving your speed and accuracy.
Create a 3–4 month NMAT 2025 study plan focusing on Quant, LR, and Language Skills. Allocate daily time for practice, take regular NMAT mock tests, and analyse your performance to improve accuracy and speed.
Experts recommend taking at least 15–20 full-length NMAT 2025 mock tests. Simulate actual exam conditions and review your mistakes to boost time management and confidence.
Start with your strongest section to gain confidence. Use the sectional time limit wisely. Focus on accuracy rather than guessing. Practice adaptive test strategies to handle varying difficulty levels.
Yes. For Quantitative Skills, revise concepts and solve daily problems. For Logical Reasoning, practice puzzles and critical reasoning. For Language Skills, focus on vocabulary, RCs, and grammar rules.
Start NMAT 2025 preparation at least 4–6 months in advance. Early preparation allows time for concept building, mock tests, and revision, increasing your chances of scoring well.
dear aditi,
lsit of college known accepting NMAT score"-
1. XIM University, Bhubaneshwar
2. SPJIMR, Mumbai
3. IFMR Graduate School of Business, Krea University
4. Woxsen University, Hyderabad
5. VIT, Vellore
6. SRM University, Chennai
more..
thanks
Hello Ishita,
With an NMAT score of 180 and 55 percentile, you can target tier-2 and tier-3 management colleges. Here are some options with decent average placements:
Consider applying to colleges with good industry exposure and placement records.
I hope this answer helps you. If you have more queries, then feel free to share your questions with us, we will be happy to assist you.
Thank you, and I wish you all the best in your bright future.
Hello aspirant,
It is anticipated that the Shiv Nadar NMAT cutoff score for the MBA program will be higher than 200. Applicants at Shiv Nadar University who have an NMAT score of 200 or higher (after normalization) should anticipate receiving an invitation to the Personal Interview phase.
So with 182 marks in NMAT, it is very difficult to get a call from Shiv Nadar University.
Thank you
Top MBA colleges based on CAT, XAT, SNAP, and NMAT scores include some of India’s best institutions. For CAT, the IIMs (Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta) and FMS Delhi are highly regarded. XAT results in prestigious colleges like XLRI Jamshedpur and XIMB. SNAP is known for Symbiosis Institutes, such as SIBM Pune and SCMHRD. NMAT scores open doors to NMIMS Mumbai, SPJIMR Mumbai, and ISB Hyderabad. Each exam has unique eligibility requirements, and their cutoffs vary, so it's important to research the specific criteria and select based on your preferences and strengths.
Hi,
Based on the previous year analysis, According to your NMAT score some of the colleges in which you have chances to get admission are the following
With your NMAT score you can predict the colleges in which you can get a seat using the NMAT college predictor tool
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