NMAT 2026 Exam Dates and Deadlines

Registration and initial exam scheduling close on 25 October 2026. The test window runs from 2 November to 20 December. Candidates choose an available appointment rather than attending on one common exam day.

The registration deadline is not the final day of testing. You must complete the form and payment, then book the first appointment within the initial scheduling window. The later December dates cover exam delivery and the specified retake or rescheduling activities.

Registration and Scheduling Are Different Steps

Registration creates the paid exam application. Scheduling reserves the actual date, time and test centre. A payment receipt alone does not confirm an appointment.

After payment, open the Candidate Dashboard and choose Book Exam Slot. Select At Test Centre, accept the scheduling policies, and choose from the available locations, dates and times. The centres shown depend on the location in the application.

The NMAT registration steps cover the form, photograph and payment. Finish booking as well: both initial registration and initial scheduling end on 25 October. Seats are allotted on a first-come, first-served basis.

NMAT Retake Dates and Minimum Gap

Retake registration and scheduling run from 3 November to 17 December 2026. You can take up to three attempts in the testing cycle, including the first test and two retakes.

After a valid-score attempt, booking can open once that result is available, but the next examination date must still leave the required seven-day gap. For example, a completed test on 2 November does not permit another scored attempt on 3 November; 9 November meets a seven-day interval, subject to slots and the booking conditions.

A late first attempt can leave fewer retake opportunities before 20 December. The three-attempt cap is an upper limit, not a promise that three suitable appointments will remain available.

A No Show, NDA Refused or Exam Incomplete status follows the separate 24-hour rule. It should not be treated as a new unlimited testing cycle.

Last Date to Reschedule NMAT

The rescheduling window closes on 17 December 2026, and a change must also be made more than 72 hours before the booked appointment. An available new slot and the rescheduling payment are required.

These are two separate limits. If your test is early in November, the December window does not let you change it on the morning of the exam. If your test is at the end of the delivery period, the overall rescheduling deadline still applies.

The rescheduling fee is INR 1,200 plus applicable taxes. Rescheduling moves an existing appointment; a retake follows an earlier attempt and costs the retake fee.

NMAT Admit Card Date Depends on Your Appointment

The admit card becomes available seven days before the scheduled test. Download a fresh copy for each attempt.

These dates follow the seven-day release rule; they are not separate national admit-card announcements. The NMAT admit-card guide explains the download process and the identity documents required at the centre.

The scheduling confirmation email and admit card are different. An email can arrive after booking, while the card is released closer to the appointment.

NMAT Result and Scorecard Timeline

The unofficial score is shown after the test. The official scorecard is normally available within 48 hours, with an email notification when it is ready. It includes the scaled section scores and total score.

An exam with a test-security incident can be audited, with the result published in ten working days. That exception is different from the normal 48-hour turnaround.

There is no need to wait for the entire November-December window to end before receiving an ordinary attempt scorecard. The NMAT result guide explains the score report and download process.

NMAT Fees and B-School Application Deadlines

The exam registration fee includes sending scores to five selected schools. It does not pay those schools' application fees or replace their admission forms. A school can close its application before the NMAT testing window ends.

Keep the exam appointment and each programme deadline together when deciding when to test. The NMAT selection process depends on the institution, including which attempt it accepts and what further selection stages it uses.