What is the NMAT syllabus 2026?

The NMAT covers Language Skills, Quantitative Skills and Logical Reasoning, with 36 questions in each section. GMAC names the topic areas but does not publish a detailed topic-wise syllabus, so sub-topic lists are working checklists based on practice papers.

Is there a general knowledge or current affairs section in the NMAT?

No. The exam has only Language Skills, Quantitative Skills and Logical Reasoning. Colleges may ask about current affairs in group discussions or interviews, but that is part of their own selection rounds.

Which NMAT section is the toughest?

It depends on your background. Quant has the widest range of topics and the longest time, while Language and Logical Reasoning leave less time per question. A diagnostic mock will show which section needs the most work for you.

Is Data Sufficiency part of the NMAT syllabus?

Yes. GMAC lists Data Sufficiency among the topics in the Quantitative Skills section. Many students find the format unfamiliar, so practise it separately before attempting full mocks.

How long does it take to cover the NMAT syllabus?

Most candidates plan around eight to twelve weeks of regular study, depending on their starting level. Spend the last three to four weeks on full-length mocks and error-log revision rather than new topics.

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NMAT Syllabus 2026: Section-Wise Topics and Preparation Order

The NMAT syllabus 2026 covers three sections: Language Skills, Quantitative Skills and Logical Reasoning. Each section has 36 questions, and the whole exam is a 120-minute, computer-adaptive test run by GMAC. This page lists the topics for each section, tells you where to begin and gives a phased plan to cover everything before your test date.

GMAC names the topic areas for each section but does not publish a detailed topic-wise syllabus. The topic lists below combine the areas GMAC names with sub-topics that are commonly asked in practice papers and previous attempts. Use them as a working checklist, not as an official list.

NMAT syllabus at a glance
Key points to know
Language Skills syllabus
Quantitative Skills syllabus
Logical Reasoning syllabus
Selection rounds after the test
How to cover the syllabus

NMAT syllabus at a glance

Section	Questions	Time	Scaled score
Language Skills	36	28 minutes	12 to 120
Quantitative Skills	36	52 minutes	12 to 120
Logical Reasoning	36	40 minutes	12 to 120

For marking, timing and attempts, see the NMAT exam pattern page.

Key points to know

Adaptive test: each question is chosen from a pool based on your earlier answers, so strong accuracy early in a section matters.
No negative marking: you lose nothing for a wrong answer, so a guess is better than a blank.
Choose your section order: you pick the order at the start, and each section has its own timer.
No separate general knowledge section: current affairs and static GK are not part of the three sections.

Pages written for earlier cycles may show a different structure, so follow the figures on the official NMAT exam page.

Language Skills syllabus

This is the shortest section at 28 minutes for 36 questions, so you have under a minute per question. GMAC names Reading Comprehension, Para Forming, Error Identification, Prepositions, Sentence Completion and Analogies.

Area	Topics to cover	Start with
Reading Comprehension	Main idea, inference, tone, vocabulary in context, passages on business, science and society	One 500-word article daily, then summarise it in two lines
Para Forming	Ordering jumbled sentences, opening and closing sentences, linking words	Spotting the opening sentence and pronoun links
Error Identification and Prepositions	Subject-verb agreement, tenses, articles, modifiers, common prepositions and phrasal verbs	Core grammar rules and a list of repeated errors
Sentence Completion	Fill in the blank, word usage, collocations, connectors	Vocabulary built from your reading, not from long word lists
Analogies	Word relationships such as synonym, part and whole, cause and effect	Identifying the relationship before checking options

Quantitative Skills syllabus

Quant has the longest time, 52 minutes for 36 questions, and the widest range of topics. GMAC names Number Properties, Arithmetic, Algebra and Probability, Data Integration (caselets, tables, graphs and charts) and Data Sufficiency.

Topics to cover

Area	Topics to cover	Start with
Number Properties	Factors, multiples, divisibility, remainders, HCF and LCM, odd and even	Divisibility rules and remainder basics
Arithmetic	Percentages, ratio and proportion, averages, profit and loss, interest, time and work, time-speed-distance, mixtures	Percentages and ratios, which support most other topics
Algebra and Probability	Linear and quadratic equations, inequalities, indices, logarithms, permutations and combinations, probability	Equations first, then counting and probability
Data Integration	Caselets, tables, bar and line graphs, pie charts, mixed data sets	Calculation speed and reading data carefully
Data Sufficiency	Deciding whether given statements are enough to answer a question	Understanding the format before solving for numbers

Where to spend extra time

Arithmetic and Data Integration usually carry the most questions in practice papers, and they also reward calculation speed. Data Sufficiency is unfamiliar to many students, so give it separate practice rather than treating it as a side topic. Geometry and mensuration basics are sometimes asked inside other questions, so keep a short revision of formulas.

Logical Reasoning syllabus

This section has 36 questions in 40 minutes. GMAC names Critical Reasoning, Analytical Puzzles, Deductions and Other Reasoning.

Area	Topics to cover	Start with
Critical Reasoning	Assumptions, strengthening and weakening arguments, inferences, conclusions	Breaking each argument into premise and conclusion
Analytical Puzzles	Linear and circular arrangements, scheduling, grouping, selection and ranking sets	Drawing a clean table or diagram for every set
Deductions	Syllogisms, statements and conclusions, if-then logic	Venn diagram method
Other Reasoning	Series, coding-decoding, blood relations, directions, visual and pattern questions	Quick pattern recognition drills

Selection rounds after the test

The NMAT itself is the only written test GMAC conducts. After your score is shared, most colleges shortlist on score and then run their own rounds, which commonly include a group or case discussion, a written ability test and a personal interview. These rounds have no fixed syllabus, and each college publishes its own process. Check the admissions page of every college on your list.

How to cover the syllabus

Weeks 1 to 4, foundations: cover Arithmetic and Number Properties, core grammar rules and the basics of logic puzzles. Start a daily reading habit.
Weeks 5 to 8, depth: add Algebra, Probability, Data Integration and Critical Reasoning. Take topic-wise tests and keep an error log.
Weeks 9 to 10, speed: practise 20-minute sectional tests, Data Sufficiency and mixed puzzle sets under the real section time limits.
Final weeks, simulation: attempt full-length mocks in the 120-minute format and review each within a day.

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