NIMCET is a single two-hour computer-based paper with 120 multiple-choice questions worth 1,000 marks. What makes the pattern unusual is that the four sections carry very different marks per question and run in separate, fixed time slots.
The pattern at a glance
| Part | Section | Questions | Marks per correct | Marks deducted per wrong | Section total | Time slot (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | Mathematics | 50 | 12 | 3 | 600 | 2 –3 PM (70 min) |
| II | Analytical Ability and Logical Reasoning | 40 | 6 | 1.5 | 240 | 3 –3 PM (30 min) |
| III | Computer Awareness | 20 | 6 | 1.5 | 120 | 3 –4 PM (20 min, shared) |
| III | General English | 10 | 4 | 1 | 40 | (same slot) |
| Total | 120 | 1,000 | 120 min |
This is the pattern in both the 2024 and 2026 brochures. Each question has four options.
How the marking works
- Correct answer: full marks for that section.
- Wrong answer: a deduction of 25% of that question's marks.
- Not attempted: zero.
So the penalty is always one quarter: 3 out of 12, 1.5 out of 6, 1 out of 4.
What the weighting tells you
| Section | Share of total marks | Marks per minute available |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 60% | |
| Reasoning | 24% | |
| Computer + English | 16% |
Mathematics is worth more in total, and each maths question is worth twice a reasoning question. Yet the marks available per minute are roughly the same in each slot. The difference is that maths questions take longer to solve. That is why accuracy in Mathematics matters more than speed: one wrong maths answer costs 3 marks, and one right answer is worth 12.
There is also a hard rule: zero or negative marks in Mathematics means disqualification.
Sectional timing changes your strategy
Because each part has its own time slot and you cannot move between parts:
- You cannot save time in Reasoning to spend on Mathematics, or the other way round.
- Unused minutes in a section are simply lost, so it pays to review answers if you finish early.
- Computer Awareness and English share the last 20 minutes, so you choose how to split that slot.
We look at the interface and timing rules in more detail in a separate guide on the CBT itself.
Pattern facts people often get wrong
- "English has 20 questions." The 2026 brochure lists 10 English questions worth 4 marks each.
- "Every question is +4/−1." Only English uses those marks.
- "You can attempt sections in any order." The 2026 timing slots fix the order.
- "Calculators are allowed for Mathematics." They are not.
Using the pattern in practice
- Do mock tests with the same sectional timings, not a single 120-minute timer.
- Track your accuracy by section; aim to make wrong answers rarer in Mathematics than anywhere else.
- Practise working out scores with the real marks; our score calculation examples help.
For why the maths weighting so strongly affects ranks, see how the marking scheme rewards Mathematics. For the topics behind each section, read the revised syllabus guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions are there in NIMCET?
120 multiple-choice questions.
What is the total mark of NIMCET?
1,000 marks.
Is there negative marking in NIMCET?
Yes. Each wrong answer loses 25% of that question's marks.
How long is the NIMCET exam?
Two hours, divided into separate time slots for each section.
How many marks is each Mathematics question worth?
12 marks for a correct answer, with 3 deducted for a wrong one.