- NMIMS Management Aptitude Test (NMAT) is conducted by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) while the ICFAI Business Studies Aptitude Test (IBSAT) is conducted by ICFAI Foundation.
- NMAT is the MBA entrance exam for NMIMS Mumbai and its other campuses. NMAT scores are also accepted by 20 other renowned MBA colleges like XIM Bhubaneswar, V IT Vellore, whereas IBSAT exam scores are accepted by 9 ICFAI Business School and a few other MBA colleges.
- NMAT entrance exam is considered as higher difficulty exam as compared to IBSAT exam which has a low difficulty level. Hence, among them, IBSAT is an easier exam.
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- IBSAT exam paper consists of 140 questions divided among four sections- Verbal Ability, Reading Comprehension, Quantitative Aptitude, and Data Adequacy & Data Interpretation. While NMAT exam paper includes 120 questions divided into three sections- Language Skills, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Skills.
- NMAT exam is a two-hour computer-based test conducted in a 75-day long window commencing from 4th November 2020 to 30th January 2021 . While IBSAT exam is a two-hour computer-based online test conducting in 2 days short window commencing on 26th and 27th December 2020.
- Both exams allow an applicant to choose any section while attempting the examination but, in NMAT exam, once a candidate choose a test section needs to attempt that test section in order, while in IBSAT exam, a candidate is free to choose any question from any section.
- In the NMAT exam, there is an individual sectional time limit varying from 22 to 60 minutes, whereas there is no individual sectional time limit to attempt the examination.
Hence, which exam is better among them depends upon the preferences of the applicant. So, if one wishes to seek admission opportunity in NMIMS Mumbai, he/she should appear in NMAT but if one wishes to do MBA from ICFAI Business Schools like IBS Pune, he/she should appear in IBSAT exam.
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| Component | NMAT by GMAC | IBSAT by ICFAI |
| Next Exam Date | 4th November 2020 to 30th January 2021 | 26th and 27th December 2020 |
| Number of days for Testing Window | 75 | 2 |
| Exam Conducted by | Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) | ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education (a deemed to be University) |
| Testing mode | Computer Based Test | Computer Based Test |
| Total Questions | 120 | 140 |
| Exam Duration | 2 hours | 2 hours |
| Type of Questions | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) |
| Number of Options in each question | 5 | 4 |
| Marks Awarded for each correct answer | 1 | 1 |
| Negative Marking | No negative marking | No Negative Marking |
| Exam Difficulty Level | Moderate | Easy |
| Number of Sections | 3 | 4 |
| Section-1: Name and Number of Questions | Language Skills (32 questions) | Verbal Ability (50 questions) |
| Section-2: Name and Number of Questions | Logical Reasoning (40 questions) | Reading Comprehension (30 questions) |
| Section-3: Name and Number of Questions | Quantitative Skills (48 questions) | Quantitative Aptitude (30 questions) |
| Section-4: Name and Number of Questions | Not Applicable | Data Adequacy & Data Interpretation (30 questions) |
| Facility to Choose Order of Sections & Questions | Yes, but once chosen has to follow the order to attempt that test section | Yes, Any question from any section within overall time limit |
| Individual Sectional Time Limit | Yes, varying time limit of 22 minutes to 60 minutes | No |
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