BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE TEST

The NMAT is a two-part test: Part I consists of tests of mental ability

and Part II tests, of academic proficiency. The four subtests that
compose Part I measure aptitudes that were found to have significant
correlations with academic performance of medical students, while the
four subtests that compose Part II measure subject proficiency in areas
which are part of the academic background required of applicants to
the medical course.
The subtests in Part I are as follows:
Verbal. This subtest consists of two types of test items, namely, word
analogies and reading comprehension, which measure verbal ability in
English. Items in reading comprehension are based on the content of
portions of published materials covering a wide range of topics, e.g.,
social, scientific, medical, philosophical, literary.
Inductive Reasoning. This subtest consists of number, letter, and
figural series and figure grouping items. These items are known to
measure induction which is the ability to form and test a hypothesis
directed at finding a principle with which to identify an element fitting
a given relationship.
Quantitative. This subtest consists of three types of items, namely,
fundamental operations, problem solving, and data interpretation.
These items are intended to measure general reasoning which is
defined as the ability to organize and apply knowledge of basic
mathematics and reasoning to find solutions for them.
Perceptual Acuity. This subtest consists of three types of items,
namely, hidden figure, mirror image, and identical information.
Solutions to these items involve accuracy in visualperception, an
ability linked to extensiveness of scanning, a cognitive style
associated with meticulousness, concern with detail, and sharp, yet
wide-ranging focus of attention.
The four subtests that compose Part II are Biology, Physics, Social
Science, and Chemistry. Social Science includes items in psychology,
sociology, and anthropology. The items in the four subtests are limited
to the content coverage of the areas that are common and basic to the
curricula of the degree programs considered as premedical courses. On
the whole, these four subtests measure complex mental abilities
because solution to the items require the use of the different cognitive
skills of knowledge, comprehension, application (process), analysis,
synthesis, and evaluation.
PREPARING FOR THE TEST
The NMAT is intended to measure mental and academic skills that are
regarded as necessary in the successful pursuit of medical education,
and possibly in the profession itself. You, the prospective test taker,
may have learned a wide array of mental and academic skills, but
unless you know definitely which ones to use on which part of the
NMAT, you will not perform in the test as well as you should.
UNDERSTANDING THE NMAT
Test taking will be greatly improved with the use of a practice set
that, more or less, reflects the content and test length of the NMAT
and the skills that the test measures. The practice test will help you
know what each particular subtest is about, and what it measures by
analyzing the information, concepts, and principles involved in the
items.
The brief description of the NMAT in the previous section gives you an
idea of the relative difficulty of the subtests. Part I requires more of
innate abilities. The items in any of the four subtests of Part I measure
a primary aptitude. Basic concepts or principles can be found in the
items presented. In Part II, the items in any of the four subtests, with
the exception of recall items, require the use of complex abilities such
as application and analysis. This is where Part II will require references
and note taking. For example, in the practice test, a problem in
physics that requires the use of a formula will need your ability to
recall the formula and apply it. It is, therefore, good practice to note
down your analysis of the problem. A formula has a number of
variables, and it is likely to appear in similar problems involving the
other variables.
MANAGEMENT OF STUDY TIME
There are about three months between the registration for the NMAT
and the administration of the test. Apportion your time wisely so that
you can cover all the areas included In Part II. Your practice can be a
good indicator of your weak areas. Early in your preparation to take
the NMAT, you should try to answer all the questions in your practice
set. Tick off or note all the items where you have difficulty
understanding and getting the correct answers. Then reread your notes
or reference books and analyze why your answers differ from the
correct answer. Do your review systematically so you proceed by
sections. After you have finished reviewing your weak areas, you
should now be ready to take the NMAT.
To prepare yourself to take the test under time pressure, take your
practice set and simulate the actual test time which is 3 hours for Part
I and 2 hours for Part II.
After answering the test under time pressure, score your test against
the Answer Key. If you get 75% of the items correctly, you are in good
shape and ready to take the NMAT. Lower than 75% correct answers
will mean the need to improve your base information level on the
various subtests and to sharpen your application and/or analytical
skills.
CAUTION: The Practice Set is meant to guide you in your review and to
provide you with an opportunity to simulate the NMAT testing
procedure. Do not memorize the test questions and the answers in the
answer key. The NMAT you will take will not include the same
questions you see in the Practice Set.
TEST SCORES
Part I of the NMAT yields five scores, one for each of the four aptitude
subtests and their summative score, the APT Composite. Similarly, Part
II yields five scores, one for each of the four special subject areas and
their summative score, the SA Composite. The General Performance
Score, or GPS, is the summative score derived from the eight subtests.
Click here to view an image of the Examinee Report Form (ERF) on
which the NMAT scores are printed.
The results on the test are converted to standard scores from
normalized scales which have points ranging from 200 to 800 and
midpoints of 500. These scales were mathematically derived from the
NMAT performance of the norm group. The test, therefore, is norm-
referenced. The test results of examinees are automatically compared
to those of the norm group which has mean scores of 500 (coincident
to the midpoint 500) and a standard deviation of 100. In addition, a
percentile rank scale was generated specifically for the General
Performance Score (GPS) for purposes of ranking. This scale has points
ranging from 1- to 99+, with a midpoint of 50 which-corresponds to the
midpoint of 500 in the normalized standard score scales.
An examinees raw score or number of correct answers in a subtest is
converted to its equivalent standard score. The eight subtests have a
common normalized scale. This makes possible the comparison of
reported scores across the eight subtests.
The APT Composite and SA Composite are the summative raw scores of
Part I and Part II, respectively, which are then converted to their
equivalent standard scores from a common normalized scale. The
General Performance Score (GPS) is the summative raw score of the
eight subtests which is converted to its equivalent standard score and
corresponding percentile rank. Thus, the three standard scores are
independent scores although they yield to the same interpretation of
standard scores and percentile ranks.
TEST RESULTS
Your NMAT score will be printed in the Examinee Report Form (ERF)
and the original copy of this form will be mailed to you (or be ready for
pick-up) six weeks after the test date. To safeguard the authenticity of
the results, your score will also appear in the masterlist of test scores
which will be sent to all Philippine medical schools, Commission on
Higher Education (CHED), Higher Education Regional Offices (HERO),
and the office of the Association of Philippine Medical Colleges (APMC).
To maintain confidentiality, the ERF is given only to the examinee
himself/herself. Phoned-in inquiries on an individuals scores will not
be entertained. In case an examinee needs a second copy of the ERF,
he/she may file a written request for a second copy of the ERF at CEM
after two weeks from the release of the test results. A minimal
retrieval fee is charged for every copy of the ERF.
The CEM does not entertain rechecking of NMAT answer sheets. The
results contained in the ERF and in the NMAT masterlists are official
and are guaranteed free of discrepancies. Medical schools and Higher
Education Regional Offices must therefore refer only to the masterlist
for official scores. The masterlist safeguards the authenticity of the
NMAT results.
NMAT consists of two parts Part I is given in the morning and Part II in
the afternoon. An examinee must sit for both parts of the test. If the
examinee fails to sit for Part II of the test in the afternoon, he/she
automatically waives the reporting and release of his/her NMAT
results. His/her answer sheet will not be processed and no official
NMAT results will be released or received by the examinee.
NMAT Online Registration System
Welcome to the NMAT Online Registration System (ORS). All NMAT
applicants must read the following information and those posted at the
Information Menu before they proceed with their registration.
Requirements
1. Applicant must be a GRADUATE or GRADUATING STUDENT of any baccalaureate degree at the time of the testing.
Those currently enrolled in the UP College of Medicine Integrated Liberal Arts and Medicine (INTARMED) program
may take the NMAT on their second year in the program. CEM shall not be held liable if an applicant is refused
admission to a medical school because he/she did not satisfy this requirement.
2. College graduates of local or foreign institutions are required to present a photocopy of their Transcript of Records
(TOR) at the time of testing. Graduating students or those in their second year of the UP INTARMED program are
required to have their NMAT Identification Form signed by their School Head.
3. A valid e-mail account which you will use for your online application.
4. One copy of recent 2x 2 colored picture with white background and nameplate. Scanned picture will not be
accepted.
Application
1. Accomplish the Application Form online. Fill up the required fields in the form. Please make sure that all
information entered are true and correct.
2. Proceed with accomplishing online the Student Information Questionnaire (SIQ).
3. Choose your preferred mode of payment -- either by credit card or by bank payment. For applicants of NMATs that
are administered abroad, only payment by credit card shall be accepted.
4. Check your e-mail account -- inbox and spam mailbox -- for your NMAT Identification (ID) Form, a copy of your
NMAT Application Form, and a confirmation of your payment if you paid by credit card. Download and print a copy
of your NMAT Identification (ID) Form and NMAT Application Form.
5. Make sure that all information given on the NMAT ID Form and NMAT Application Form are true and correct before
you proceed to accomplishing your NMAT ID Form. If you need to change some or all the information given on the
these forms, follow the instructions below.
Editing of application form
1. Editing of NMAT ID and Application Forms can only be done during registration period. Click the Edit Registration
link under the Online Options of this website and proceed accordingly. This option is automatically disabled once
the registration period is over.
2. If changes have been made successfully, you will receive a new NMAT ID Form and/or Application Form, depending
on what information you edited. Discard immediately your old NMAT ID and/or Application Forms.
Payment
1. If you choose to pay by credit card, you will be directed to the website of BPI SecurePay and will be instructed
accordingly until payment is successful.
2. If you choose to pay by bank deposit, you must go to the nearest Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) branch and
accomplish a Deposit/Payment Slip using the bank reference number and CEM BPI account number given on your
NMAT Identification Form.
NOTICE: Review centers are NOT authorized to collect or accept in
behalf of CEM any NMAT registration and test fees from NMAT
applicants. Any untoward incident arising from your dealings with a
review center, or any such entity, is solely your responsibility.
Confirmation of payment
1. Credit card payments are automatically confirmed by email once payment is successful. Check your email account,
both your inbox and spam mailbox, for the payment confirmation email and the attached NMAT Identification
Form.
2. If you pay through BPI, you shall receive a payment confirmation e-mail in your inbox (or spam mailbox) after two
(2) banking days.
3. All examinees shall get their CEM Official Receipt (OR) together with their official NMAT Examinee Report Form
(ERF).
Notice of Admission
Go back to this website two (2) weeks before the test date and click
on the link for Room Assignment to know your test site and room
assignment. Download your Notice of Admission (NOA). If your NMAT
Application Number is not included in the list, call the NMAT
Secretariat at (02) 813-3686 or 813-3694 to 95 loc 108 immediately.
On the day of the exam
1. Report to the Test Site before 7:00 AM.
2. Examinee must bring the following documents and materials:
NMAT Identification Form (signed by the School Head if the applicant is a graduating student or attached with a
photocopy of transcript of records if the applicant is already a college graduate)
One (1) valid ID (e.g. School ID, Passport, Drivers License, PRC ID, etc.)
Pencils (no. 2 or HB)
Eraser
Applicant is also advised to wear appropriate attire for air-conditioned
testing rooms.
NMAT Results
Your NMAT scores will appear on the masterlist of test scores that will
be sent to all Philippine medical schools, Commission on Higher
Education (CHED), Higher Education Regional Offices (HERO), and the
office of the Association of Philippine Medical Colleges (APMC).
Click on the link for Test Results under the Online Options of this
website to view and/or download an electronic copy of your test
results fifteen (15) working days after the test date. The electronic
copy is NOT valid for admission purposes.
For December NMAT result, the official NMAT Examinee Report Form (ERF) will be mailed (at the mailing address
indicated on the NMAT ID Form) or be ready for pick up (at the testing center indicated also on the NMAT
Application Form) six (6) weeks after the test date.
For April NMAT result, the NMAT ERF will be mailed (at the mailing address indicated in the NMAT Application
Form) or be ready for pick up (at the CEM Main Office) four (4) weeks after the test date.
You may request for a duplicate copy of your official NMAT ERF if you
have not received your original ERF one (1) week after the official
mailing date.
All NMAT examinees can personally request and pick up copies of their Examinee
Report Form (ERF) at the CEM Head Office, Makati City. The NMAT examinee must
present a valid ID if he/she will personally pick up his/her ERF.
If a representative of the examinee will request and/or pick up his/her ERF, the
following documents should be presented:
1. Authorization letter signed by the examinee
2. Photocopy of the examinee's valid ID
3. Valid ID of the representative

REQUIREMENTS & PROCEDURES FOR
ADMISSION TO PHILIPPINE MEDICAL
SCHOOLS
The requirements and procedures for admission to Philippine medical schools discussed below
are applicable to both Filipino and foreign nationals aspiring to pursue medical education in
any of the schools. Updates on the requirements are based on the Updated Policies,
Standards and Guidelines for Medical Education, CHED Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 10,
s. 2006.
Prerequisite 1: Bachelors Degree. Students seeking admission to the medical education
program must be a holder of any baccalaureate degree.
Prerequisite 2: National Medical Admission Test (NMAT). Applicants to medical schools in
the Philippines are required to take the NMAT. The test is developed and administered by the
Center for Educational Measurement, Inc. (CEM) as authorized by the Commission on Higher
Education (CHED) per Memorandum of Agreement (1985) between the former Board of
Medical Education, now Technical Committee for Medical Education, and CEM. The testing
dates, local and abroad, are decided and announced by the CHED and CEM.
An NMAT applicant must be a graduate or a graduating student of any college degree course
at the time of testing. Foreign students and graduates of foreign schools may be required to
present on the day of the test, a copy of their Transcript of Records together with their NMAT
Identification Form.
The NMAT scores obtained by a medical school applicant at any given examination year are
deemed sufficient and valid as basis for evaluating applicants for admission to a college of
medicine. The applicant is encouraged to do well in the test and obtain his/her best scores in
the NMAT to increase his/her chances of being accepted in the best medical schools in the
Philippines.
Prerequisite 3: Certificate of Eligibility for Admission to a Medical Course (CEMed). The
CEMed application form may be obtained from the regional offices of the Commission on
Higher Education (CHED). Foreign students may apply at CHED Office of Student Services
(OSS) located at the National Engineering Center Building, University of the Philippines,
Diliman, Quezon City. The requirements in securing the CEMed are as follows:
1. Fully accomplished CEMed application form
2. Transcript of Records
3. Copy of Diploma or Certificate of Graduation authenticated by the Registrar of the school where he/she graduated
(for graduates of government school)
4. NMAT results (original or duplicate copy of Examinee Report Form) issued by CEM
5. Birth Certificate
6. Certificate of good moral character
Prerequisite 4: Applicants Acceptance in Medical School. The CEMed does not
automatically assure the applicant of a slot in any of the medical schools in the country. A
student who has been issued a CEMed is given full acceptance only upon meeting the other
requirements of the admitting school, such as passing the interviews. It may be advisable,
therefore, to seek preliminary acceptance from the medical school chosen by the applicant
before obtaining the CEMed.
What can I expect in the Physical Sciences section?
The Physical Sciences section consists of 52 multiple-choice questions either passage-based or
discrete. Of the 52 total questions, 39 are passage-based and 13 are discrete. The questions test
your reasoning in general chemistry and physics. The scientific competencies you will be
expected to demonstrate are drawn from basic principles and concepts in these two disciplines
and are taught at the introductory level at the vast majority of undergraduate institutions.
Advanced coursework in chemistry and physics is not needed for the test.
See the cognitive skills tested as well as the topics tested on the physical sciences sections on
thePreparing for the MCAT Exam page. You are expected to be able to apply your background
knowledge of these topic areas and their subdivisions to situations or problems you may not have
previously encountered.
Do I have to know the equations?
You should know those equations and constants commonly used in introductory courses as well
as those listed specifically in the content outline. Other necessary constants and conversion
factors are provided with the test questions. In addition, a periodic table of the elements,
including atomic numbers and atomic weights, is provided in the exam.
Does the content of the exam differ from the content in my
classes?
Because the content outline focuses primarily on areas necessary to preparing for the study of
medicine, it may differ in several important ways from the content of your introductory courses:
Some topics, which are important to the discipline as a whole and normally covered in
undergraduate courses, have been omitted from the MCAT because they are not as relevant to
the study of medicine as are the topics included.
The organization of the topics in the outline may differ from that of the topics presented in your
courses.
Some of the topics included in the outline may not have been emphasized in your school's
introductory undergraduate courses.
Treatment of the topics included on the test varies among institutions in terms of approach and
depth of coverage. Despite this variability in undergraduate courses, adequate information on the
outlined topics can be found in introductory college science textbooks.
What types of questions are on the exam?
The passages accompanying each set of questions on the Physical Sciences section will be
presented in one of four formats. The number of problem sets in each format is approximately
equal.
Information presentation. These passages are presented in the form of textbook or journal
articles. The materials assume the appropriate background knowledge but also contain new
information or new uses of information. The accompanying questions test your understanding and
evaluation of the given information and your ability to use the information in various ways.
Problem solving. These passages describe problems of general chemistry or physics. The
questions require you to determine the probable causes of the situations, events, or phenomena
described and to select appropriate methods for solving the problems.
Research study. These passages document all or part of the rationales, methods, and results of
research projects. The questions test your understanding of the projects.
Persuasive argument. These passages are designed to convince the reader that particular
perspectives, methodologies, pieces of evidence, or products are correct. The passages may
express single viewpoints or two opposing points of view. The questions test your understanding
of the arguments presented in the passages and ask you to evaluate the validity of the
arguments.
How much math do I need to know?
To solve some of the problems in the Physical Sciences section, you will need to understand and
be able to use the mathematics concepts listed below. Such knowledge is typically required of
students in introductory science courses. This includes:
The ability to perform arithmetic calculations, including proportion, ratio, percentage, and
estimation of square root.
An understanding of fundamental topics in the following areas (at the level of second-year high
school algebra coursework): exponentials and logarithms (natural and base ten); scientific
notation; quadratic and simultaneous equations; graphic representations of data and functions
including terminology (abscissa, ordinate), slope or rate of change, reciprocals, and various
scales (arithmetic, semi-log, and log-log).
The knowledge of the definitions of the basic trigonometric functions (sine, cosine, tangent); sin
and cos values of of 0, 90, and 180; the relationships between the lengths of sides of right
triangles containing angles of 30, 45, and 60; the inverse trigonometric functions (arcsin,
arccos, arctan).
The use of metric units; the ability to balance equations containing physical units. Conversion
factors between metric and British systems will be provided when needed.
An understanding of relative magnitude of experimental error and of the effect of propagation of
error; an understanding of reasonable estimates and the significant digits of a measurement.
The ability to calculate at an elementary level the mathematical probability of an event.
An understanding of vector addition, vector subtraction, and right-hand rule is required. Dot and
cross products are not required.
The ability to calculate the arithmetic mean (average) and range of a set of numerical data; an
understanding of the standard deviation as a measure of variability; an understanding of the
general concepts of statistical association and correlation. Calculation of statistics such as
standard deviations and correlation coefficients is not required.
An understanding of calculus is not required.
How much chemistry do I need to know?
You should be familiar enough with such topics as solution chemistry, thermodynamics, kinetics,
and electrochemistry and with the fundamentals of stoichiometry, electronic structure, bonding,
phase equilibria, and acids and bases to solve basic chemistry problems and evaluate research
in general chemistry. These concepts constitute the background knowledge you will need in order
to answer questions, even though the questions may deal with situations or problems you have
not yet previously encountered.
How much physics do I need to know?
Topics also include mechanics, wave motion, electricity and magnetism, light and optics, and
modern physics. You should be prepared to apply your knowledge of these concepts to
experimental situations. You will also need to be familiar with the conventions of problem solving
in physics.
What can I expect in the Biological Sciences section?
Like the concepts in the Physical Sciences (PS) section, the biology and organic chemistry
concepts included in the Biological Sciences (BS) section of the MCAT exam are considered
basic; they are taught at the introductory level at the vast majority of undergraduate institutions.
Note: Advanced coursework in biology and organic chemistry is not required for this test.
The Biological Sciences section is composed of 52 questions, with seven passages with four to
seven questions each, for a total of 39 passage-based questions as well as 13 discrete or
independent questions.
The topics tested on the Biological Sciences section as well as the cognitive skills tested are
described on the Preparing for the MCAT Exam web page. The concepts and principles of
biology and organic chemistry that you will need to know in order to solve the problems on the
Biological Sciences section are found in the Biological Sciences Topics listing. While the outline
defines the scope of possible topics in the Biological Sciences section of the MCAT exam, you
will not be tested on every concept or principle included.
The cognitive skills tested in the BS section are identical to those in the PS section. For a
description of the cognitive skills, see Preparing for the MCAT Exam. As with the Physical
Sciences section, you should know those equations and constants commonly used in introductory
courses as well as those listed specifically in the content outline. Other necessary constants and
conversion factors are provided with the test questions. Mathematics skills necessary for solving
some of the problems on the Biological Sciences test are identical to those for the Physical
Sciences section.
The content outline may differ in several important ways from the content of your introductory
biological sciences courses. For a description of each content area, see Preparing for the MCAT
Exam.
The passage formats used in the Biological Sciences section are identical to those used in the
Physical Sciences section.
How much biology do I need to know?
The biology portion of the test will concentrate primarily on two major groups of living organisms:
the vertebrates and the microbes. Within these two general groups, your study should focus on
concepts and information common to the life processes of organisms. These concepts include
basic principles of molecular biology, cellular structure and function, and genetics and evolution.
Additionally, vertebrate systems will be approached from the organism or body-system level of
organization. In this context, topics may focus on some aspect of the structure or function of a
given body system, on the interaction of two or more body systems, or on the effects of an
external factor (for example, a disease or an environ-mental influence) on the total physiology of
an organism.
How much organic chemistry do I need to know?
Organic chemistry plays an important role in the understanding of many biological reactions. You
will be expected to call upon your knowledge of organic compounds and reactions to explain
results, arguments, and experimental procedures in terms of reactions or principles of organic
compounds. Because nomenclature, classifications of functional groups, and reaction
mechanisms are important to the understanding of organic reactions, these areas will also be
tested within the scope of the categories outlined in the Biological Sciences topics listing.
What can I expect in the Verbal Reasoning section?
The Verbal Reasoning section of the MCAT exam is composed of 40 passage-based, multiple-
choice questions that test your ability to read attentively and make reasonable inferences based
on the information provided to you. These passages are selected and adapted from a variety of
publications intended for well-educated readersmaterial similar to those a college junior would
be assigned.
Its important to realize that you are not expected to have any background knowledge about these
subjects or any previous expertise in them. Rather, the correct answer for each question can
either be found directly in the passage itself or by applying the information within the passage to
any new information contained within the question.
The content areas from which the verbal reasoning passages are drawn are humanities, social
sciences, and natural sciences and technology. For a description of each content area, view
thePreparing for the MCAT Exam page