The National Medical Admission Test or NMAT is a national level test that a student has to take in advance to get admission in any medical college in the Philippines for the MD program which is equivalent to MBBS in India.
The National Medical Admission Test and NMAT Exam is designed to improve and advance the process of selection of applicants seeking admission to any medical college in the Philippines.
This exam is conducted by the Commission on Higher Education and Centre of Educational Measurement twice in the annual session i.e., at the beginning of the year (i.e., March or April) or at the end of the year (i.e., October or November).
Also, the testing dates for local and abroad are decided and announced by CHED i.e., Commission on Higher Education and CEM i.e. Centre of Education Measurement.
So, through this article we go through what is NMAT or National Medical Admission Test?
Is it necessary to give this exam to study MBBS in Philippines or not? and will know about its syllabus and eligibility requirements etc.
What is NMAT Exam or National Medical Admission Test in the Philippines?
NMAT Exam or National Medical Admission Test is a National Level Exam in the Philippines which students have to take in advance to get admission in any medical colleges for Study MBBS in Philippines or Study Medical in Philippines.
The NMAT exam or National Medical Admission Test is conducted by the CHED (Commission on Higher Education) and CEM (Centre for Educational measurement) twice in a year.
This National Level exam is designed to upgrade the selection process of students who are seeking to MBBS in Philippines or MD in Philippines.
As per the medical Act of 1959 of Philippines, the Board of Medical Education (BME), Under DECS order no 52 series 1985 and in consultation with the association of Philippines Medical Colleges foundation, required the NMAT as a prerequisite for admission in all Medical Universities in Philippines.
Why is the National Medical Admission Test Required to Study in the Philippines?
The National Medical Admission Test or NMAT exam was created to look at the potential of candidates who wish to pursue a medical degree, and the objective behind introducing this test was to improve the quality of medical education in the Philippines.
It will promote the medical profession to a new degree of competence in view of assessing their potential as required in the successful pursuit of medical education.
The score of the National Medical Admission Test done by the medical student is evaluated carefully and provides valid information before giving admission in any medical college so students have to appear in the National Medical Admission Test to get admission in the best medical college in Philippines.
They are encouraged to perform well so that they can get the most ideal score and get admission in the medical college to study MBBS in Philippines.
What are the Requirements or Eligibility for National Medical Admission Test?
Only Graduates Student or Graduating Students (before the finish of the present school year) of college (Bachelor’s) degree programs are able to take the National Medical Admission Test.
After finishing 10+2 from India, students need to enrol For the BS course (which is around 10 Months to Two years, it is also depending upon the University). 10+2 students are eligible for the National Medical Admission Test and can select themselves for the MD course after finishing the BS Course.
However, in some of the Philippine’s universities, if you did a BS Course from the same university and you did not get a minimum 40 percentile in the National Medical Admission Test then still university allows you to sit in MD.
Required Documents for National Medical Admission Test
- Valid School ID and Government ID Proof
- Valid E-Mail
- A Digital Photo in White Background in .jpg Format
- PDF File of Transcript of Records for Graduate Students
- PDF File of Certificate to Graduate or Graduating Students
Application form of National Medical Admission Test
Any student who wants to take admission in MD is required to fill the application form and score high in the exam, the application for NMAT and National Medical Admission Test is going to start from 2nd August 2021 and the last date to apply is 27th August 2021, as it is a computer-based test. Because of which the student is able to choose the date and venue of the examination as per his/her choice.
How to Apply for the National Medical Admission Test?
There are two methods to apply for the National Medical Admission test which is online and offline and we are sharing the details of both methods for you.
Online Methods to Apply for the National Medical Admission Test
- Go to the official website of CEM or Click on the link (https://cem-inc.org.ph/nmat)
- Click on “Register” Button.
- Now feel your Valid E-Mail ID in Box and Click on Create New Account Button.
- You have received a confirmation mail in Your Inbox, there you will find out the link easily and click on that link to verify your account.
- Now fill all the required fields i.e., name, date of birth, course, College name and other important information but give attention here students have to fill up the form very accurately because if the form is not filled up with the accurate information it will turn delay into your registration process.
- Now you have to attach a Digital Photo of 2’*2’ size colour photo with a white background.
- Enter your Mailing Address i.e., house number, street name, name of town, city, district, state, pin code etc.
So, this is the full process of Applying for the National Medical Admission Test Via Online.
Offline Methods to Apply for the National Medical Admission Test
If you will take the National Medical Admission Test in the Philippines, please enter a Philippines Post Office Box Number or a Local Address. Same if you are taking the NMAT exam from the United States then please enter your US address or either Philippines Mailing Address.
- Now Proceed with Student Information Questionnaire (SIQ).
- Finally, choose your mode of payment either by credit card or by over-the-counter bank payment.
If you are registered from abroad and you will take the test from the Philippines or in the US then you can only pay through credit card.
Important Dates Related to National Medical Admission Test
| Exam Dates | Registration Periods |
|---|---|
| October 9, 10, 12-14, 16-18, 2021 | August 2-27, 2021 |
| November 20, 21, 23-25, 27-29, 2021 | September 1-30, 2021 |
Application Fees of National Medical Application Test
The Payment method for the National Medical Admission Test is Credit Card or Over-The-Counter Bank Payment and please note that do not pay fee via Online Fund Transfer or Mobile Fund Transfer or ATM Deposits because these methods are not applicable.
| Fees | Indian Applicants | Others |
|---|---|---|
| Registration Fees | 764 INR/- | PHP 500 |
| Tests Fees | 2140 INR/- | PHP 1400 |
Exam Pattern of National Medical Admission Test
The NMAT Exam or National Medical Admission Test is a Two-Part Based Exam in which part one is for Mental Capacity Check and part second is for academic capability.
A total of 200 questions are asked in Part I exam with four subdivisions and it is a test of only three hours. It consists of questions related to verbal, inductive reasoning, quantitative and perceptual acuity skills as well as part one measures the competency in academic performance of medical students.
Also, A total of 200 questions are asked in Part II exam with four Subdivisions and it is a test of only two hours and thirty minutes. It consists of questions related to basic science such as biology, physics, chemistry etc. as well as part Second measures the subject capability.
on below table you can check it and understand about Exam Pattern of National Medical Admission Test: –
| Part I | Part II | |
|---|---|---|
| Tests On | Mental Ability | Academic Proficiency |
| Items | 200 Items | 200 Items |
| Duration | 3 Hours | 2 Hours 30 Minute |
| Conducted in | Morning | Afternoon |
| 4 Subdivision | 1. Verbal 2. Inductive Reasoning 3. Quantitative 4. Perceptual Acuity Skills | (Basic Science) 1. Biology 2. Physics 3. Social Sciences 4. Chemistry |
Syllabus of National Medical Admission Test
Chemistry
- Organic Chemistry basics
- Biological Compounds: DNA, RNA, Sugar, Proteins, Fats
- Kinetics
- Gases and Gas Laws
- Periodic Table
- Concentration (morality, molality, moles, …)
- Thermodynamics
- Solutions
- Acids and Bases
- Hybridization
- Radioactivity and nuclear chemistry
- Bonds
- Equilibrium
- Solubility
Physics
- Fluids and fluid dynamics
- Linear Motion
- Circular Motion
- Electro magnetic
- Centripetal and centrifugal force
- Vectors
- Optics
- Thermodynamics
- Simple Pendulum
- Sound
- Light
- Gravitation
- Nuclear Force
- Efficiency
- Friction
- Projectile Motion
- Waves (electromagnetic, mechanical)
- Rotational Motion
- Mechanics
- Circuits
- Air resistance
Inductive Reasoning
- Figure Series
- Number and Letter Series
- Figure Grouping
Quantitative Reasoning
- Fundamental Operations (mostly arithmetic)
- Data Interpretation (Statistics)
- Word problems (work, power, probability, profit and loss, area, surface area, volume, percentage, basic trigonometry)
Verbal
- Reading comprehension
- Analogies
Biology
- Osmosis
- Cell
- Animal tissues
- Plant tissues
- Reproduction
- Cell Division (mitosis, meiosis)
- Cell Respiration
- Scientific Names
- Embryology
- Nervous System
- Genetics
- Circulatory System
- Muscles
- Digestive System
- Ecosystem, community and population interaction
- Immune System
- Endocrine System
What Type of Device is Prohibited in The National Medical Admission Test?
In every exam, some of the devices are banned due to non-copying, similarly some of the electronic and non-electronic devices have been banned in the National Medical Admission Test which can be read below.
List of Non-Electronic Prohibited Devices
- Books, Any Kind of Printed Materials, Black Paper or Sheets Etc.
- Felt-tip Markers and Ink Pen
- Mechanical Pencil, Rulers and Mechanical Erasers
- Backpack, Handbag or any type of briefcase
- Hats, Earphones, Sunglasses
- Sharp Objects, Weapons
List of Electronic Prohibited Devices
- Cellular Phones, Tablets or Smartphones
- Photography or Recording Devices like Cameras
- Media Players and Listing Devices Like: MP3 Players
- Any kind of calculator Device are not allowed in Exam
- Some type of watch is also not allowed like Alarm Watches, Calculator Watches, Digital Watches or Smart Watches
- Beepers, Personal Digital Assistants, Fitness Devices are also not allowed.
National Medical Admission Test Result
The result of the National Medical Admission Test is released around 20 working days after the examination, after which an applicant can get admission as per the requirement of the college.
The grading system is given in the result from 1 to 99+ percentile and 200 to 800 marks. BS Course is a degree course which is mandatory as per the American education system, to get admission into MD course which is equalling to MBBS course in India.
There is also a rule in some college in Philippines that if you have done BS from the same college and due to some reason, you are not able to get minimum 40 percent marks in NMAT then that college also makes you eligible to sit for MD but even after that You will not be able to get MD degree unless you have secured minimum 40 per cent marks in NMAT.
So, if you want to get an MD degree then you need to clear NMAT exam with minimum 40 percent marks.
When BS Course get exempted?
If student, who already completed the graduation from their home country in some of acceptable stream as per the CHED guideline, in that case the BS course would be completely exempted in Philippines and student would be directly eligible for the NMAT exam and then MD course accordingly.
In this case the total MBBS / MD course duration would be 4 years only, this pattern follows in Philippines and it is very beneficial for the student because this American education pattern saves student’s almost 2 years for MBBS program.
