NMAT 2026 registration is expected to open on August 1, 2026, with the exam window running from November 5 to December 19, 2026 — students can attempt the test up to three times within this period.

NMAT by GMAC is conducted by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) and accepted by SVKM’s NMIMS and over 90 B-schools across India. Unlike most MBA entrances, NMAT has no fixed exam day — students schedule their own slot within the testing window and receive scores on screen immediately after the test. This article gives you the full NMAT 2026 schedule, from official notification through registration, exam, score reporting, and final admission.

  • Registration opens August 1, 2026 (expected) based on the NMAT 2025 cycle pattern confirmed by GMAC.
  • Registration closes October 10, 2026 (expected); late registration after this date may attract an additional late fee.
  • The exam window runs November 5–December 19, 2026 (expected) — approximately 45 days of flexible scheduling.
  • You can appear for NMAT up to 3 times in one cycle; a minimum 15-day gap between attempts is mandatory.
  • Your unofficial NMAT score appears on screen immediately after the test; the official scorecard is available within 48 hours.
  • NMAT scores are valid for one year and accepted by 90+ management schools across India.
Direct Link to NMAT 2026 Official Page – mba.com/exams/nmat

NMAT 2026 Important Dates at a Glance

The table below lists the complete NMAT 2026 schedule of key events. All dates are expected based on the NMAT 2025 cycle and GMAC’s historical pattern; official dates will be confirmed on mba.com when the notification is released.

Event Expected NMAT 2026 Date
Official Notification / Registration Opens August 1, 2026
Last Date for Regular Registration October 10, 2026
Late Registration Window October 11 – November 2026
Retake Registration Opens After first attempt (min. 15-day gap required)
Exam Window Opens November 5, 2026
Exam Window Closes December 19, 2026
Admit Card Available 7 days before your scheduled test date
Unofficial Score on Screen Immediately after test
Official Scorecard on GMAC Account Within 48 hours of test
School Shortlisting Begins December 2026 – January 2027 (expected)
GD / Case Discussion / PI Rounds January – February 2027 (expected)
Admission Offers / Merit Lists February – March 2027 (expected)

NMAT 2026 Registration Timeline and Fee

NMAT 2026 registration is expected to open on August 1, 2026 on the GMAC portal at mba.com. Early registration is strongly advised — test centre slots are allocated on a first-come-first-served basis and popular centres fill within weeks of opening.

Registration Phase Expected Period Expected Fee
Regular Registration – First Attempt August 1 – October 10, 2026 INR 3,000 + applicable taxes
Late Registration – First Attempt October 11 – November 2026 INR 3,000 + late fee + taxes
Retake Registration – 2nd Attempt After 1st attempt (min. 15-day gap) INR 1,800 + taxes (approx.)
Retake Registration – 3rd Attempt After 2nd attempt (min. 15-day gap) INR 1,800 + taxes (approx.)

What you need to complete NMAT 2026 registration:

  • A valid GMAC account (create free at mba.com)
  • A government-issued photo ID (Aadhaar, passport, or driving licence)
  • A valid email address and mobile number
  • Credit or debit card for fee payment

Registration and scheduling are two separate steps on mba.com. After registering and paying, you separately choose your test date, time, and centre. Scheduling can be done immediately after registration — the earlier you schedule, the more test slot options you have.


NMAT 2026 Exam Window, Scheduling and Retakes

The NMAT 2026 exam window is expected to run from November 5 to December 19, 2026, offering multiple daily slots at authorised Pearson VUE test centres across India. This flexibility lets you pick a date that fits your preparation schedule.

Attempt Expected Exam Window How to Register
1st Attempt (Original) November 5 – December 19, 2026 Main registration on mba.com
2nd Attempt (Retake 1) At least 15 days after 1st attempt Separate retake registration on mba.com
3rd Attempt (Retake 2) At least 15 days after 2nd attempt Separate retake registration on mba.com

Key scheduling rules to know before booking your NMAT 2026 slot:

  • A mandatory gap of at least 15 days is required between two consecutive NMAT attempts.
  • You can reschedule your test slot up to 72 hours before the scheduled exam time; a rescheduling fee may apply depending on timing.
  • NMAT 2026 is delivered at Pearson VUE authorised test centres across India; online proctored testing availability will be confirmed on mba.com at launch.
  • If you take multiple attempts, most schools consider your highest NMAT score; verify each school’s policy as some may use the most recent score.

NMAT 2026 Admit Card and Score Reporting Timeline

NMAT has no single centralised result date. Your score is processed in real time and delivered directly to your account and designated schools — here is what to expect at each stage:

Score Milestone When It Happens
Admit card available on GMAC account 7 days before your scheduled test date
Unofficial scaled score on screen Immediately after test completion
Official NMAT scorecard (GMAC account) Within 48 hours of test
Score delivered to designated schools Within 48–72 hours of test
Score validity period 1 year from test date

NMAT scores range from 12 to 360 overall, with each of the three sections — Language Skills, Quantitative Skills, and Logical Reasoning — scored on a scale of 12 to 120. Based on previous year cutoff trends, a total score of 210 or above is generally considered competitive for NMIMS Mumbai (expected). Download your admit card from your GMAC account and carry a printed copy along with a valid photo ID to the test centre on exam day.


NMAT 2026 Post-Exam Admission Timeline

After NMAT 2026 scores are released, each participating school runs its own shortlisting and selection process. SVKM’s NMIMS typically announces shortlists in December–January and holds GD-PI rounds in January–February, based on previous NMAT cycles. The schedule below is expected based on prior year patterns.

Admission Stage Expected Period
School shortlisting based on NMAT 2026 scores December 2026 – January 2027
Group Discussion / Case Discussion January – February 2027
Personal Interview (PI) January – February 2027
Provisional Admission Offers / Merit Lists February – March 2027
Fee Payment and Seat Confirmation March 2027
MBA Programme Commencement June – July 2027 (expected)

NMAT 2026 scores are accepted by over 90 B-schools including SVKM’s NMIMS (Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Indore, Navi Mumbai), SPJIMR, ICFAI Business School, Xavier Institute of Management, and several others. Each school has its own eligibility norms, GD-PI weightage, and academic cutoffs — check individual school websites for complete selection criteria alongside the NMAT portal.

NMAT 2026 Application Timeline FAQs

Ques. When will NMAT 2026 registration open?

Ans. NMAT 2026 registration is expected to open on August 1, 2026, following the same pattern as NMAT 2025 when GMAC opened registrations on August 1. Official confirmation will be published on mba.com. Registering early gives you the best choice of test centre slots.

Ques. What are the NMAT 2026 exam dates?

Ans. Based on the previous year pattern, the NMAT 2026 exam window is expected to run from November 5 to December 19, 2026. Within this window, students choose their own test date and time slot during the scheduling step on mba.com.

Ques. How many times can I appear for NMAT 2026?

Ans. You can take NMAT 2026 up to three times — one original attempt and two retakes. A minimum gap of 15 days is required between any two consecutive attempts. Each retake requires a separate registration and payment of the retake fee on mba.com.

Ques. What is the NMAT 2026 registration fee?

Ans. The NMAT 2026 first-attempt registration fee is expected to be approximately INR 3,000 plus applicable taxes, consistent with the NMAT 2025 fee. Retake fees are approximately INR 1,800 per attempt. The official fee structure will be confirmed on mba.com when registration opens in August 2026.

Ques. When will NMAT 2026 results be declared?

Ans. NMAT does not follow a single result date. Your unofficial scaled score is displayed on screen immediately after you finish the test. The official scorecard appears on your GMAC account within 48 hours and is shared with your designated schools within 48–72 hours of the test.

Ques. When will NMIMS GD-PI for NMAT 2026 be held?

Ans. Based on previous NMAT cycles, NMIMS and other NMAT-accepting B-schools are expected to conduct GD-PI rounds in January–February 2027, with merit lists and final admission offers released in February–March 2027. Each school announces its own shortlist dates separately.