How to Prepare for NMAT 2024: Logical Reasoning

NMAT 2024 ( NMAT )

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Registration: 5 Jan '25 - 10 Jan '25

Abhishek
Abhishek Dhawan
Assistant Manager – Editorial Content
Updated on Aug 20, 2024 15:43 IST

Logical Reasoning section is one of the crucial areas of the NMAT exam. This article of Shiksha brings a detailed preparation strategy for the Logical Reasoning section of the NMAT exam.

NMAT Logical Reasoning Preparation

NMAT Logical Reasoning Preparation: GMAC designs the NMAT exam based on questions from three different sections, including Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Skills and Language Skills. NMAT Logical Reasoning section is moderate to tough difficulty standards. Aspirants must have a top-notch preparation strategy for NMAT logical reasoning as it consumes the maximum time in the NMAT exam. NMAT is a national-level MBA entrance exam that is opted by around 90,000 MBA aspirants across India. According to the experts, the difficulty level of the exam ranges from moderate to tough.

On the other hand, NMAT exam is a candidate-first exam with ease given to the test-takers. As per the NMAT exam pattern, candidates can appear for the exam from home as a remote proctored exam or can take the exam from the test centre. All the sections of NMAT have equal weightage. Hence, each section must be prepared with equal focus and attention. This article of Shiksha brings a detailed preparation strategy for NMAT Logical Reasoning section.

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Components of the Logical Reasoning Section in NMAT

The Logical Reasoning section can be classified into two broad topics, Verbal Reasoning and Analytical Reasoning. The Logical Reasoning section of NMAT is divided into topics from two major parts. Topics under the NMAT logical reasoning section are as follows:

Q:   What is the difficulty level of NMAT exam?

A:

The NMAT exam is conducted for MBA admission across multiple B -schools across India and abroad. Based on feedback from test takers of the past exam sessions, test takers found the exam to be moderate to tough in terms of difficulty standards. If compared with other MBA entrance exams, NMAT is comparatively easy as the candidates have the liberty to appear for the test three times and use the best scores for admission. Additionally, candidates can schedule the exam based on his/her convinience.

However, the level of difficulty can vary from year to year. Success in any entrance exam ultimately depends on the candidate's preparation and performance on the exam day.

Q:   How do I prepare for the NMAT?

A:

You may be eligible for admission to the best management colleges in India and abroad based on your NMAT score. Therefore, performing well on this exam becomes essential. You can use the following expert strategy to clear the NMAT:

  1. Before beginning your preparation, familiarize yourself with the NMAT's syllabus and exam format.
  2. Create a schedule to finish the NMAT syllabus.
  3. Choosing the best books and study materials to cover the NMAT syllabus
  4. To prepare for the Language section, concentrate on vocabulary since it is a key element of this section.
  5. Develop reading habits and conceptual clarity in grammar to perform well on the language section.
  6. Basic concepts should be conceptually clear and practiced in order to prepare the quantitative section.
  7. You should practice a lot of questions on arrangements and puzzles in order to do well on the logical reasoning section.
  8. Before the exam, go over all crucial ideas, calculations, and theorems several times.
  9. Start practicing mock tests and previous year's questions one month before the exam.
  10. Analysing mock results will help you continuously raise your score over time.

Q:   Does GMAC prescribe any book for NMAT preparation?

A:

Yes, Graduate Management Admission Council prescribes the NMAT Official Guide for exam preparation. It is created and developed by the exam conducting authority, GMAC, itself and comprises everything an aspirant need to know about the exam, including:

  • A detailed overview of the exam format and content
  • Actual practice questions from past NMAT exams
  • In-depth explanations of each question
  • Answer key and scoring guide
  • Tips and strategies for test-taking

The NMAT by GMAC official guide is among the most comprehensive resource available for NMAT preparation. It is essential for candidates who aims to maximise their chances of converting admission calls based on NMAT scores.

Analytical Reasoning

  • Puzzles

  • Arrangement – Linear and Circular

  • Coding-Decoding

  • Family Tree

  • Syllogisms

  • Alphanumeric Series

  • Symbol based Logic

  • Blood Relationship

  • Input-Output

  • Odd man Out

Verbal Reasoning

  • Course of Action

  • Arguments

  • Assumptions

  • Inference-based questions

Also Read: NMAT syllabus

Best Books for NMAT Logical Reasoning Preparation

Some of the best books for Logical Reasoning preparation for the NMAT exam are listed below:

Books

Authors

Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation

Nishit K. Sinha

How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning

Arun Sharma

A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning

R.S, Aggarwal

Objective Logical Reasoning

S Chand Experts

Koncepts of LR – Logical Reasoning for CAT & Other MBA Exams

Gajendra Kumar

Analytical & Logical Reasoning for CAT & Other Management Entrance Tests

Peeyush Bhardwaj

Also Read: Best Books for NMAT Preparation

NMAT Logical Reasoning Preparation: Test Structure

NMAT exam pattern for logical reasoning includes a sectional time limit. Candidates need to answer a specific number of questions within a time frame. The table below mentions the structural aspects of the NMAT logical reasoning section.

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Section Number of Questions Time Limit
NMAT Logical Reasoning 36 40 minutes

Preparation Tips for NMAT Logical Reasoning Section

List Topics: First and foremost, NMAT aspirants should review the previous years’ questions to identify the question types and question-solving methods. With this, they can also identify their areas of strengths and weaknesses and decide which topics to go ahead with. Once that is done, it would be easier to systematically prepare for the Logical Reasoning section by focusing on comfortable topics. However, candidates must ensure that the topics carry due weightage in the NMAT exam; otherwise, scoring high in this section would be difficult.

Practice: There is no alternative to practicing the Logical Reasoning section of NMAT. Since there is no theoretical element in the section, the focus must be on the practice part. Along with sectional practice, candidates should take full-length mock tests as well.

Q:   How can I prepare for the CAT and NMAT simultaneously?

A:

The sections in CAT and NMAT exam are on similar lines. The space below mentions the similarities in the syllabus and exam sections:

  1. Quantitative Aptitude in CAT and Quantitative Skills in NMAT: The Quantitative Aptitude section of the CAT and the Quantitative Skills section of the NMIMS Management Aptitude Test are both based on very similar topics. If the candidates prepare for the Quantitative Aptitude section of the Common Admission Test, which requires knowledge of higher-level topics, they can easily solve the Quantitative Skills section of the NMIMS Management Aptitude Test since the same foundation topics are covered thoroughly in the Common Admission Test preparation.
  2. DILR in CAT and logical reasoning in NMAT: The DILR section in the Common Admission Test exam is a combination of data interpretation and logical reasoning, whereas, in the NMIMS Management Aptitude Test, the section is solely logical reasoning. These two sections of the respective exams are different from the other sections. As a result, anyone hoping to pass the NMAT by GMAC should devote enough time to studying for the reasoning section of the exam, as the syllabus covered in the CAT-D section will not suffice. 
  3. VARC in CAT and Language Skills in NMAT: The VARC section of the Common Admission Test combined verbal ability and reading comprehension. Reading comprehension in Common Admission Test usually comes with tricky passages, whereas the passages in NMAT are relatively straightforward. Vocabulary- and grammar-based questions have more weight in the Language Skills section of the NMIMS Management Aptitude Test. However, the CAT VA will include reasoning-based questions. Students who want to prepare for NMIMS Management Aptitude Test and Common Admission Test at the same time must pay close attention to the Language Skills section of the NMIMS Management Aptitude Test after the Logical Reasoning section.

Q:   How to scale NMAT exam if my quant is a bit weak?

A:

One can imporve the quant skills while preparing for NMAT exam by following the steps below mentioned tips:

  1. Identify the weak areas: Determine the specific topics in Mathematics that are causing trouble during preparation phase. Focus and prioritise the study plan accordingly.
  2. Review the concepts: Start by getting the conceptual clarity to get the strong fundamentals. Understand and revise basic concepts, including number systems, geometry, algebra, statistics, etc. One must build a strong foundation before they move to advanced topics.
  3. Seek mentorship: One must consider joinibg a coaching to prepare for the NMAT exam. A crash course specialising in MBA entrance exam preparation will help candidates understand the difficult concepts with a targeted practice.
  4. Invest in good resources: Candidates must find the recommended study materials or textbooks that cover the NMAT Quantitative Skills syllabus for the MBA entrance exam. A good book for Quantitative Skills will have examples as well as practice questions to reinforce the understanding.
  5. Practice regularly: Practise is the key to scale up the Quantitative Skills. One must allocate a specific amount of time each day to solve maths problems. Candidates must start with easy problems and gradually move towards more challenging questions.

To improve Mathematics skills, one must invest the preparation with consistent efforts and practice. With a structured study plan and determination, candidates can improve their performance in the maths section of any MBA entrance exam.

Q:   Which is the best book of logical reasoning and data interpretation for the CAT XAT NMAT MAT and SNAP exams?

A:
A list of the best Books on Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT XAT NMAT MAT and SNAP exams is mentioned below: 1- Logical and Analytical Reasoning by Ashok Gupta. 2- Logical Reasoning by Arihant. 3- The Great Book of Puzzles & Teasers by George J Summer. 4- A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning by RS Aggarwal. 5- How To Prepare Logical Reasoning for CAT by Arun Sharma. 6- Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for CAT by Nishit K Sinha. 7- Nishit Sinha's The Pearson Guide to Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation. 8- How to prepare for Logical Reasoning for the CAT by Arun Sharma. 9- How to prepare for Data Interpretation for the CAT XAT NMAT etc. By Arun Sharma. 10- How to prepare for Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning for CAT by Arun Sharma. I hope this will help you.

Identify the Conclusion: The answers lie in the question itself for the Logical Reasoning questions. The conclusion of the question would be within the question or the case and not necessarily at the end. Candidates should be alert while reading the question to find clues within the question and its statements.

Visualise: It is easier to solve a question if candidates can visualise it. Hence, experts suggest that the candidates draw a rough diagram while attempting the question. It can be any diagram, chart or table drawn using the data or clues within the question.

Theory of Elimination: Practicing elimination theory is pertinent while solving Logical Reasoning questions. After reading the questions and the options, test-takers must eliminate the answer options that are clearly wrong. After that, they have to solve the question by considering the remaining answer options to deduce the correct answer.

Build Reading Habit: Although it may seem that building reading habit is meant for the Language Skills or Verbal Ability section, but it is equally important for the Logical Reasoning section. This would improve reading speed and comprehension skills necessary to crack Logical Reasoning questions.

Read More:

FAQs on NMAT Logical Reasoning Preparation

Q: How can I improve my logical reasoning skills required for the NMAT exam?

A: Improve the reading skills, evaluate the question type, try simplifying data and improve time management skills to ace the logical reasoning section of NMAT.

Q: What are some of the best books to prepare for the logical reasoning section of NMAT?

A: Best books for logical reasoning preparation includes Logical Reasoning by RS Agarwal, Analytical Reasoning by M.K Pandey, Shortcuts in Reasoning for Competitive Exams by Disha Publications, How to Crack Test Of Reasoning by Arihant, among others.

Q: What are the topics in logical reasoning for NMAT?

A: Topics under the logical reasoning section of NMAT shall include Alphanumeric series, Coding-Decoding, Reasoning Analogies, Artificial Language, Blood Relations, Calendars, Cause and Effect, Clocks, and more.

Q: How many questions does the logical reasoning section have in NMAT?

A: NMAT by GMAC will have 36 questions in the logical reasoning section if the revised pattern is to be followed due to COVID-19. Typically, NMAT logical reasoning had 40 questions before the revision of the exam pattern.

Q: Will solving past year’s logical reasoning questions help enhance NMAT preparation for the section?

A: Yes. Candidates will get an idea about the difficulty standards of the logical reasoning section in NMAT over the years. Some questions under the reasoning section might also repeat from the previous year’s question papers.

Q: Is there any sectional time limit in NMAT?

A: Yes. NMAT shall have a sectional time limit with 40 minutes allocated for the logical reasoning section, 52 minutes for the quantitative skills section and 28 minutes for the language skills section.

Q: Is there any negative marking in NMAT logical reasoning section?

A: There is no negative marking in NMAT logical reasoning section or any other section.

Q: What is the purpose of the logical reasoning section in NMAT?

A: Through the logical reasoning section in NMAT, exam authorities try to test the analytical skills of the candidates, along with the decision-making, critical reasoning and problem-solving skills.

Q: How shall I prepare for NMAT exam?

A: Starting by attaining the knowledge of the NMAT test structure and syllabus is the primary aspect of NMAT preparation. Study all the topics from the syllabus followed by practising mock test for a better understanding of the topics asked and difficulty levels of NMAT.

Q: Are logical reasoning and analytical ability the same?

A: Analytical skill is a much wider concept than logical reasoning. Analytical skills comprise four broad categories including logical reasoning, communication, data analysis, critical thinking skills, research, and creativity.

Q: Will I be allowed to navigate across sections while taking NMAT?

A: No. NMAT will have a sectional time limit; thus, candidates must complete answering all the questions from a particular section to answer questions from another section.
About the Author
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Abhishek Dhawan
Assistant Manager – Editorial Content

With a creative soul, Abhishek is inclined towards anything in the creative space be it drawing, painting, craft, or writing. He has been working in the ed-tech industry since he started his career. Besides creative... Read Full Bio

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Answered 2 days ago

With a holistic score of 221, you are likely to get into multiple reputed colleges where scores are taken for their respective MBA/PGDM programs. Here is the tabulated list of colleges against your NMAT score and generic cut-offs of premier and mid-range institutions below:

 Colleges You Can Get Into

...more

S

Shejal agrawal

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 days ago

With an NMAT score of 181, you have several good options for pursuing an MBA. Here are some colleges where you can apply:

 

1. SVKM's Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS): With campuses in Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, and other locations, NMIMS is a top choice for MBA aspirants.

2. Xa

...more

A

ABHINAV SRIVASTAVA

Contributor-Level 8

Answered 3 days ago

Yes, you can reappear for the NMAT by GMAC exam. As per the guideline of NMAT,
1. In a testing cycle, you are permitted to make three attempts, including your first attempt and two retakes.
2. Two attempts must be separated by at least 15 days.
Since you sat for the first time on 9th December 2024, yo

...more

S

Shejal agrawal

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a week ago

I'm sorry to hear you're having trouble booking a slot for your NMAT retake exam. Here are some steps you can take to resolve this issue:

 

1. Check Your Email: Look for any communication from GMAC (Graduate Management Admission Council) regarding your retake registration and slot booking. Sometimes,

...more

A

ABHINAV SRIVASTAVA

Contributor-Level 8

Answered a week ago

With a score of 181 marks in NMAT, you have several good options for pursuing an MBA. Here are some colleges where you can expect to secure admission:

 

1. SVKM's Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS): Known for its strong placement record, NMIMS offers various specializations and has

...more

A

ABHINAV SRIVASTAVA

Contributor-Level 8

Answered a week ago

The expected NMAT cutoff of KJ Somaiya may be between 224-230. So you can be hopeful.

80520776
pradeep kumar

Scholar-Level 18

Answered 2 weeks ago

You can check your possibilities at 

Shiksha college predictor.

 

NMAT score is accepted by many good b schools mostly private but you can get some good college with this score.

 

I suggest you to explore about -

CAT

CMAT

TISS NET

 

and a next try .

Also you can explore about -

Distance MBA 

Online mba

65963189
Dinesh upadhyay

Scholar-Level 16

Answered 2 weeks ago

With a score of 110 in NMAT, you may have the opportunity to apply to some of the management colleges in Pune and Mumbai. You may have the opportunity to apply in Mumbai to NMIMS Mumbai, though its cut-offs are higher for top programmes. Xavier Institute of Management and Research accepts NMAT score

...more

K

KUMKUM BASWAL

Contributor-Level 8

Answered 4 weeks ago

.A reschedule is only possible 72 hours prior to the exam time subject to availability of seats, upon payment of the applicable fee. The exam slots are available on a first come first serve basis.

A

Anuj Jha

Contributor-Level 8

Answered a month ago

A score of 198 in NMAT is generally considered competitive for Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar (XIMB). The expected NMAT cutoff for XIMB ranges between 200-220. However, cutoffs can vary each year based on factors like the number of applicants, difficulty level of the exam, and seat avai

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ABHINAV SRIVASTAVA

Contributor-Level 8