NMAT 2026 exam scheduling closes October 22; book your slot now

The NMAT 2026 exam scheduling and slot booking process is currently underway, managed by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC). Aspiring candidates for MBA and master’s programs at NMAT-accepting business schools have until October 22, 2026, to book their preferred exam date, time, and delivery mode.

The NMAT by GMAC exam offers flexibility, allowing candidates to choose their test slot within a broader window, unlike other entrance exams with fixed dates. This year’s exam delivery window is scheduled from November 2, 2026, to December 20, 2026. Early scheduling is advised as slots are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

NMAT 2026 Registration and Scheduling Deadlines

The registration window for NMAT 2026 opened on August 20, 2026, and will close on October 10, 2026. Following successful registration and fee payment, candidates can proceed to book their exam slots. The exam scheduling window, which also began on August 20, 2026, will conclude on October 22, 2026. The NMAT exam can be taken a maximum of three times within a testing cycle, including the to start attempt and up to two retakes.

Retake registration and scheduling will be available from November 3, 2026, to December 17, 2026. Candidates should note that completing registration alone does not automatically assign an exam appointment; slot booking is a separate, mandatory step. The NMAT is accepted by 56 business schools across India and is taken over 75,000 times annually.

Exam Fees and Eligibility Criteria

The NMAT registration fee for candidates in India is INR 3,000, excluding taxes. The same fee applies to retakes. Should a candidate need to reschedule their exam, a fee of INR 1,200, excluding taxes, will be charged. Sending NMAT scores to additional colleges beyond the initial five included in the registration costs INR 400 per college, excluding taxes.

To be eligible for the NMAT exam, candidates must hold a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized university with a minimum of 50% marks for General, OBC, PWD, NRI, and OCI categories, or 45% for SC and ST categories. Final-year graduation students are also eligible to apply, though their admission will remain provisional until the final mark sheet is submitted. There is no specified upper or lower age limit for the NMAT exam.

Process for Booking an NMAT Exam Slot

Candidates must log in to their official NMAT candidate account on the mba.com portal using their registered email ID and password to book an exam slot. After navigating to the exam application section, they should click ‘Book Exam’. The process involves selecting the preferred test state, city or center, date, and time. All details must be reviewed carefully before confirming the booking.

A confirmation screen and an email containing the scheduled date, test time, and venue will be provided upon successful booking. The NMAT exam can be taken at test centers across more than 80 cities in India, or as an online proctored exam for international test-takers. The exam has no negative marking and consists of three equally weighted sections: Language Skills, Quantitative Skills, and Logical Reasoning, with 36 questions in each section, totaling 108 questions to be completed in 120 minutes. Candidates can choose their preferred section order.

1. Log in to the official NMAT candidate account on the mba.com portal using the registered email ID and password.
2. Navigate to the candidate dashboard and locate the exam application section.
3. Click the ‘Book Exam’ option next to the completed registration.
4. Select the test state, and preferred city or test centre location.
5. Choose an available test date from the open calendar within the delivery window.
6. Pick an available test time slot for the chosen date.
7. Review all appointment details on the summary screen carefully.
8. Confirm the booking to submit the NMAT by GMAC appointment request.

Further reading

• MBA Entrance Exams 2026-27: CAT, XAT, NMAT, SNAP Registration and Dates Announced Today
• NMAT exam pattern: sections, marking and duration Next step
• TANCET/CAT 2026: Apply for MBA admissions in Tamil Nadu colleges now
• XAT 2027 registration extended: apply by December 6 for January 3 exam
• CMAT application form: eligibility, dates and how to apply
• NMAT: complete exam guide

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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