New Delhi: The Narsee Monjee Management Admission Test (NMAT) 2011 is all set to redefine the way Computer Based Tests (CBTs) are conducted in India.

The second largest management entrance examination in CBT format shall take a significant leap towards "on-demand testing" and bring to test takers several advantages in this year's edition. NMAT-2010 was the first successfully conducted management entrance exam in CBT format when it transitioned from Pen and Paper format last year.

Despite being in its first year, NMAT was conducted by Pearson VUE without a single batch or server failure. Approximately 40,000 candidates spread across 19 locations in India successfully took the exam to gain admission into the prestigious Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies.

NMAT 2011 is a significant leap for the examination that now brings several international features for the benefit of candidates taking the test. Some of the salient features of NMAT 2011 are as under:

1) Long test window - NMAT 2011 is being conducted over a 3 month long window as against 10 days window for NMAT 2010. The delivery window of 3 months from October 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011 shall enable candidates to choose a date and slot as per their convenience and preparedness.

2) Self scheduling option - The test process enables the candidates to self schedule the date and time of test in real time mode based on seat availability at each centre. Seats however are not guaranteed and will be offered on first-come-first serve basis.

3) Choice of attempts - NMAT 2011 shall offer a maximum choice of 3 attempts to candidates. This option has been developed in the test process to assess candidates best performance. The highest aggregate score of all sections for a given attempt out of all the attempts shall be used for evaluation purposes. The re-take option shall be open to candidates 15 days after they have taken the previous attempt. This means that candidates who appear early in the 3-month window will be able to take 3 attempts - Book your slots early to get the advantage.

4) No negative marking - This shall encourage candidates taking the test to make informed guesses and not drop a question for the fear of deduction in marks. The system of no negative marking is as per global practices and psychometric principles.

5) Differently abled candidates - Most CBT interfaces are easy to use and they offer a standard testing environment that can be effectively adapted for candidates with special needs. NMAT 2011 shall make special provisions for differently abled candidates to allow them a conducive test taking environment

6) Unique question paper for every candidate - Each candidate taking NMAT 2011 shall get a unique but equivalent question paper.
7) Equated results - The test results will be declared in a span of 4-5 weeks from exam delivery. These shall be equated to bring about parity and fairness and will help candidates know their performance in time.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof Anupam Rastogi, Dean - Admissions, NMIMS said "We are pleased to have incorporated several candidate friendly features in NMAT 2011; re take, self scheduling, long test window are concepts that are being introduced in India for the first time and we are confident that candidates will appreciate these.

He added, "Pearson VUE, our worthy partners who conduct the examination for us did a tremendous job last year when we transitioned from P&P to CBT. We are confident that this year too the examination shall be conducted with fairness and shall be devoid of any glitches. NMAT indeed is a successful case study on how CBTs should be conducted."

The test like last year shall be delivered in CBT format with content divided into three sections viz. Quant, Verbal and Logical reasoning. Candidate services shall also be available in multiple modes, through phone, email and online chat.

In addition, the test centres for NMAT 2011 shall be are spread across 18 cities in India, covering the length and breadth of the country. The test centres in each city are located at convenient locations to ensure easy access to candidates.

With NMAT 2011, Pearson VUE shall further raise the bar on how computer based tests (CBTs) are conducted. Candidates taking the test this year shall enjoy the process which has been bettered from last year, which was the inaugural year.

Registration for NMAT 2011 opens on September 8. For more information candidates can visit www.pearsonvueindia.com/nmat

Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) www.nmims.edu was established in 1981 by Mumbai University with the goal of delivering quality management education. The institute has come a long way since then transforming into a deemed university offering various other programmes including diploma, graduate and postgraduate programmes in architecture, engineering, pharmacy, science and commerce.

NMAT is the MBA entrance exam for admissions to Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) Mumbai. The NMAT is designed on a multiple-choice question format that includes Language Skills; Quantitative Skills, Data Interpretation and Data Sufficiency; and Logical Reasoning.

Candidates will get admission if they meet the required standards of a two-stage selection process. All eligible candidates are required to appear for the computer based NMAT to be conducted across the country. Shortlisted candidates will have to appear for group discussion, a computer-based test and personal interview at selected centres.

The NMAT is valid for entry into the following programs:
1) MBA Full Time- Core
2) MBA Actuarial Science
3) MBA Banking Management
4) MBA Capital Market
5) MBA Pharmaceutical Management
6) MBA Human Resources
7) EPGDBM Bangalore Campus
8) PGDM Bangalore Campus

Pearson VUE is the global leader in computer-based testing for information technology, academic, government and professional testing programs around the world. It provides a full suite of services from test development to data management, and delivers exams through the worlds most comprehensive and secure network of test centres in 165 countries.

Pearson VUE is a business of Pearson (NYSE: PSO; LSE: PSON), the international media company, whose businesses include the Financial Times Group, Pearson Education and the Penguin Group.