GMAC makes Big Changes in NMAT Exam: Check Key Changes & Reasons on MBAUniverse.com NMAT Exam Microsite

Conducted by Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), NMAT 2024, an important MBA entrance exam is scheduled from November 5 to December 20, 2024.  For NMAT 2024, GMAC has announced many changes in the exam including changes in application form, shorter testing window, single testing mode, process of self scheduling for NMAT among others. To seek clarification on the rationale why these changes are announced and how they will benefit the test takers, MBAUniverse.com approached GMAC’s Regional Director South Asia, Mr Gaurav Srivastava who has shared in detail the rationale behind these changes in NMAT exam.
But before going through the responses by the GMAC Regional Director, clarifying the rationale behind announcing key changes in NMAT exam, let us understand what are those changes which you will see in NMAT by GMAC exam 2024:

Eight Important Changes in NMAT 2024
GMAC has announced following important changes in NMAT by GMAC exam 2024:

1. No Preview Option in NMAT Application Form:  GMAC has removed the Preview option in the NMAT Application form. This option was earlier available to the applicants before submission of NMAT application form.
2. Test Slot Visibility: Before self scheduling the NMAT exam slot, candidates will able to view the availability of exam slots at the preferred test centre on the preferred date before making payment for the NMAT Exam Application Fees.
3. Shorter Testing Window: NMAT 2024 testing window is reduced to 45 days from earlier 70 days. This year NMAT exam will be conducted from November 5 to December 20, 2024 in stead of earlier October second week to December third week.
4. NMAT 2024 in Single Testing Mode: NMAT by GMAC 2024 will be conducted only at test centres instead of earlier dual mode of Proctored Online Test from Home and Test Centre based Exam
5. NMAT 2024 Exam Cities Increased: GMAC has increased NMAT exam cities to 83 for NMAT 2024 exam from 73 cities last year
6. No Change in NMAT Exam Pattern: NMAT 2024 exam will have same number of 108 MCQ type questions as were last year
7. More MBA Colleges to Accept NMAT Score: ISME Bangalore has been added as NMAT 2024 score accepting MBA colleges in India while internally, Corvinus University, Hungary is the new entrant that will accept NMAT score 2024
8. Official NMAT Preparation Guide made Available: GMAC is providing Free and Paid NMAT Preparation on the Candidate Dashboard after the account is created.

So, What is the rationale behind introducing these changes in NMAT 2024? How these will be beneficial for test takers? Let’s know responses shared by Mr Gaurav Srivastava, GMAC Regional Director, South Asia with MBAUniverse.com

MBAU: NMAT by GMAC testing window used to be 75+ days beginning from October every year. Please share the rationale and thought behind reducing the NMAT 2024 testing window to 45 days?
GMAC Official Gaurav Srivastava: Every year we analyse the trend and then plan the window. For the last two years we have been observing a trend of most students preferring slots in December for testing rather than October. As the month of October is also the month of festivities and holidays, we used to open testing on lesser number of days after accounting for all the national and regional holidays.
Hence, from this year we have reduced the window of testing days and at the same time increased the capacity for testing in the month of December, to accommodate the huge demand for test slots.

MBAU: Unlike last year, NMAT by GMAC 2024 does not have the mode of Proctored Online Test from Home and will be conducted only at test centres. Please share the rationale of withdrawing the Proctored Test
GMAC Official Gaurav Srivastava : NMAT has always been the most candidate friendly exam. We started the trend of a longer window instead of a single day test, three attempts to improve scores instead of one attempt and keeping with that trend, to address the safety concerns during pandemic we started the online proctored exam at home even though none of the other prominent Indian management exams were offering this service to candidates. From 2020-23 various variants of COVID were active and hence we continued with reduced online capacity, but now that the pandemic is behind us, we have decided to go back to test centre mode only.

MBAU: List of NMAT by GMAC accepting institutes is expanding year after year. Please share which new institutes and their programs are added to the list of NMAT accepting colleges?
GMAC Official Gaurav Srivastava: This year we expanded NMAT International by adding Corvinus University, Hungary and within India, we have added ISME, Bangalore.

MBAU: Does GMAC plan to make any changes in the NMAT by GMAC exam pattern this year? Please share
GMAC Official Gaurav Srivastava : No, this year there is no change in the exam pattern.

MBAU: NMAT by GMAC 2024 exam cities are increased. Which are the new exam cities added? What are the reasons for increasing the number of NMAT cities?
GMAC Official Gaurav Srivastava : Every year we analyse applicant data and demographics for both test centre and online delivery prior to planning the next year. For the last few years, we have been increasing test centres each year. In 2020 there were 56 test cities which were increased to 68 in 2021 and to 73 in 2022 & 2023. This year we have 83 cities and 88 test centres.

MBAU: What are the new aspirant friendly initiatives planned for NMAT by GMAC 2024? Please share
GMAC Official Gaurav Srivastava: We do a complete deep dive each year on customer support data and chart out a plan to improve the candidate experience. We have removed the Preview option from the application form as it was not used by Candidates. They would submit the form and then realize the errors and call Customer care. To minimize data change requests on Application Form post submission, the submit button has been moved to the Preview Page. This will ensure Candidate’s preview and edit their form if required before submission.

The exam delivery window has been reduced from 66 days to 45 days. Exam Delivery will be from 5th Nov 2024 to 20th Dec 2024. Admit card with test centre details will be available for download 7 days before the scheduled exam date.

MBAU: Can the aspirants check the availability of NMAT Exam Centre and slot for their preferred date before scheduling it?
GMAC Official Gaurav Srivastava: Yes, candidates will now be able to view the availability of exam slots before making payment for the exam and reach out to Customer care if slots are unavailable in their city. It allows candidate to select preferred City and Centre as they can see the exam slots. If seats are available in a slot the colour will be ‘Green’ and if it is filling fast, it will be ‘Amber’.

MBAU: NMAT by GMAC is a unique exam which has no fixed questions for all the candidates? How GMAC Plans to help NMAT aspirants to prepare as per the NMAT pattern and appear in the exam with complete understanding?
GMAC Official Gaurav Srivastava: NMAT Free and Paid Preparation are available on the Candidate Dashboard and can be accessed once an account is created.  GMAC has already launched NMAT Official Guide 10th Edition. The Kindle and Paperback edition is available at Amazon.
All the details about NMAT 2024 have been updated at MBA.Com/NMAT with the latest content. Besides, Candidates can access the FAQs on website to get answers to most of their queries for NMAT 2024.

NMAT by GMAC is an important MBA entrance exam for admission to NMIMS and 50 other top B-schools. NMIMS accepts only NMAT exam score for admission to its various management programmes. NMAT Exam 2024 Registration Process has started from August 1, 2024 at a fee of Rs.3000/-.

Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more updates on NMAT by GMAC 2024