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NMAT exam and XAT exam patterns have some similarities, and a few differences. Check details in the table below.
| Component | NMAT Exam Pattern 2025 | XAT 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Total questions | 108 | 95 |
| Overall time limit to attempt the exam | 2 hours | 3 hours |
| Type of questions | All MCQs | All MCQs |
| Answer options for each MCQ | 5 | 5 |
| Marks awarded for each correct answer | 1 | 1 |
| Negative marking | No negative marking | 75 MCQs with 1/4 negative marking; No negative marking for 25 MCQs on GK |
| Exam difficulty level | Moderate | High |
| Number of sections | 3 | 3 Main sections, 1 GK Sections |
| Section 1 and Number of questions | Language Skills-36 | Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning (VALR) – 26 |
| Section 2 and Number of questions | Logical Reasoning-36 | Decision Making (DM) - 21 |
| Section 3 and Number of questions | Quantitative Skills-36 | Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation (QA & DI) - 28 |
| Section 4 and Number of questions | None | General Awareness - 20 MCQs |
| Facility to choose order of sections | Yes, but once chosen has to follow | Any question from any section within overall time limit of 170 mins for first 3 sections. Then attempt GK section |
| Individual Sectional time limit | Yes, varying time limit of 28 minutes to 52 minutes | No |
| Top MBA colleges accepting exam score | NMIMS, VIT, XIMB | XLRI, MICA, IMT, IMI, FORE, TAPMI, XIMB |
Table name
NMAT Exam Pattern 2025 Vs XAT 2026