NMAT 2026 registration closes October 10; slot booking until October 22

The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) has set October 10, 2026, as the final date for NMAT 2026 registration. Following registration, candidates have until October 22, 2026, to book their preferred exam slots. The NMAT 2026 examination window is scheduled to run from November 2 to December 20, 2026.

The NMAT by GMAC is a computer-adaptive entrance exam for admission to MBA and master’s programs at 56 business schools across India. Over 75,000 attempts are recorded annually for the NMAT, which offers flexibility in exam scheduling and multiple attempts within a single testing cycle.

NMAT 2026 Registration and Slot Booking Process

The NMAT 2026 registration process, which commenced on August 20, 2026, requires candidates to complete an online application via the official NMAT by GMAC login portal (mba.com/nmat). This involves creating an account, filling in personal details, academic history, and contact information. Applicants must also select the B-schools and programs to which they intend to send their scores.

Successful registration is followed by the payment of the registration fee, which is approximately ₹3,000 plus applicable taxes for the first attempt. Only after fee payment can candidates access the exam scheduling system. Slot booking allows candidates to choose their preferred exam date, time, and test centre location based on availability, operating on a first-come, first-served basis. The exam scheduling window also opened on August 20, 2026, and will close on October 22, 2026.

1. Create an account on the official NMAT by GMAC portal.
2. Fill out the application form with personal, contact, academic, and work experience details.
3. Select up to five B-schools to send scores to free of cost; additional choices incur a fee.
4. Upload a recent passport-style photograph (JPG, PNG, or GIF, white/light background, not exceeding 1 MB, taken within six months).
5. Pay the registration fee using credit cards, debit cards, online banking, UPI, or mobile wallets.
6. After successful payment, access the scheduling section on the dashboard.
7. Choose the preferred exam date, time slot, and test centre location.
8. Review and confirm the appointment details, then download or print the confirmation slip.

Key Dates and Fee Structure for NMAT 2026

GMAC has outlined specific dates for the NMAT 2026 cycle, including the registration and scheduling windows, as well as the exam delivery period. Candidates should note these deadlines to ensure timely application and exam booking. Admit cards will be available seven days before the scheduled slot.

The fee structure for NMAT 2026 includes charges for registration, retakes, rescheduling, and additional score reports. All NMAT fees are non-refundable and remain consistent across all candidate categories. For international candidates, separate fee amounts apply.

Eligibility Criteria and Exam Structure

To be eligible for NMAT 2026, applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university. Final-year graduation students are also eligible to apply, with their admission remaining provisional until they submit proof of completion. There is no specified upper or lower age limit, and work experience is not mandatory for NMAT applicants.

The NMAT exam is structured into three equally weighted sections: Language Skills, Quantitative Skills, and Logical Reasoning. Each section comprises 36 questions, leading to a total of 108 questions. The exam duration is 120 minutes, and there is no negative marking. Candidates receive an unofficial scorecard immediately after the test, with the official scorecard released within 48 hours. Scores range from 36 to a maximum of 360.

Retake Policy and Score Acceptance

Candidates have the option to retake the NMAT exam up to two additional times within the same testing cycle to improve their score. A minimum waiting period of 15 days is required between attempts. The best score among all attempts is generally considered for admission, with the exception of NMIMS Mumbai, which accepts only the first valid score. Retake registration begins on November 3, 2026, and retake scheduling closes on December 17, 2026.

The NMAT exam can be taken at test centres across more than 80 cities in India. For test-takers outside India, the exam is exclusively available as an online proctored exam. The NMAT score is valid for one application cycle. GMAC also provides official practice exams with 108 questions mirroring the actual examination structure to aid candidate preparation.

Further reading

• NMAT slot booking 2026 deadline is October 22: schedule your exam date
• NMAT 2026 exam scheduling deadline is October 22
• NMAT exam pattern: sections, marking and duration Next step
• MAT PBT 2026: Register by December 14; exam on December 20
• XAT 2027 registration extended: apply by December 6 for January 3 exam
• Jain University MBA 2026-28 admission: apply by March 31, written test April 1-2 Applications open

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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