WHAT IS NMAT?

The National Medical Admission Test (NMAT) is a nationwide examination required for the entrance to any medical school in the Philippines.

It is sometimes considered as a MCAT equivalent, which is held in the United States. The test consists of Part I & Part II. Part I is a 200-item test with four subdivisions, which are on Verbal, Inductive Reasoning, Quantitative and Perceptual Acuity Skills and is a three-hour exam. Part II is a two-hour-30-minute test in the field of Basic Sciences such as, Biology, Physics, Social Sciences and Chemistry, all of which form 200 items. Qualified test takers are graduates and graduating students of degree programs.

The test does not have any pass or fail mark however the cut off grade for admission to medicine varies per school policy. Some schools even give scholarship grants to those with high scores and/or admirable scores from college.

BACKGROUND ON NMAT

According to Center for Educational Measurement Inc., the National Medical Admission Test (NMAT) is a standardized test designed to upgrade the selection of applicants seeking admission to Philippine medical schools. It intends to improve the quality of medical education in the country and envisions to elevate the medical profession to a level of competence through a careful evaluation of student potentials for future medical studies. 

Pursuant to the Medical Act of 1959, the Board of Medical Education (BME), under DECS Order No. 52 series 1985 and in consultation with the Association of Philippine Medical Colleges Foundation, Inc. (APMC), required the NMAT as a prerequisite for admission in all medical schools nationwide beginning school year 1986 – 1987. 

The Center for Educational Measurement, Inc. (CEM) has been authorized to manage the affairs and activities related to the operation of the NMAT since the first administration of the test in December 1985. With CEM’s experience as an educational testing agency, it was commissioned to develop the NMAT, ensure the reliability and validity of the test, and uphold the confidentiality of results and integrity of its administration.

There are two test administrations in a school year — the REGULAR and the BACKUP test administrations. The regular testing is scheduled usually towards the middle of the school year while the back up testing is around the end of the school year. The back up testing is intended for those who missed the regular testing or those who intend to be well-prepared in applying to the medical colleges.