Complete Guide to the NM BCore Interview Process: What to Expect and How to Prepare

Name: Just gave the NMIMS 2026 Interview! - EVERYTHING you need to know!
Uploaded: 2026-02-02T05:27:28.978395+00:00
Channel: Lakshya Dugar
Description: Summary and key takeaways on Complete Guide to the NM BCore Interview Process: What to Expect and How to Prepare, covering Overview This article walks you

Lakshya Dugar

Feb 02, 2026

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4 min read

YouTube video ID: _6lZ_TkOKQY

Source: YouTube video by Lakshya Dugar — Watch original video

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Overview

This article walks you through every step of the NM BCore interview – from the moment you book your slot to the final refreshments. Follow the timeline, know the documents you need, master the competency test, and ace the AI‑driven interview.

1. Booking and Arrival

Slot selection: First‑come slots fill up quickly; the author booked the 8 a.m. slot on day 1.
Late arrival: Arriving a few minutes late (e.g., 8:15 a.m.) is tolerated. NMUS staff are accommodating, but aim to be on time.
Check‑in: You are escorted to a VIP lounge where you surrender all personal items (bag, phone, smartwatch). You receive a token to retrieve your belongings later.
Parent waiting area: A shaded outdoor space outside the main building; consider nearby cafés for comfort.

2. Required Documentation

Only two items are mandatory: - PI Call Letter – downloadable from your NM dashboard. - Valid government ID – Aadhaar, passport, PAN, etc. All other information is pre‑uploaded, so no extra paperwork is needed.

3. Group Seating & Administrative Briefing

After the lounge, you are taken to a meeting room (one floor up) where candidates are divided into groups of 8‑10 (≈20‑25 groups total).
No group exercises are conducted; this is purely for administrative convenience.

4. Competency Exam (45 minutes total)

Section	No. of Questions	Typical Content
Verbal Ability	10	Standard CAT‑style passages and questions
Memory Ability	8	Logical reasoning / data interpretation
Managerial Ability	–	Decision‑making scenarios, core commerce/accounting concepts
Quantitative Ability	6	Straightforward math problems
- Scoring: +3 for a correct answer, –1 for a wrong answer. No sectional time limits; you can switch between sections freely.
- Weightage: Roughly 60 % of the overall selection score, so treat it seriously.

5. Transition Area

After the test you wait on the top floor with a view of Mumbai. Use this time (≈10‑15 min) for a bathroom break or a drink.

6. AI‑Based Interview (12 minutes)

Setup: You speak into a microphone; the panel sits in front of you, watching a live transcription on a screen.
Technical hiccups: Voice capture or transcription may glitch. Tip: Press F5 to refresh the portal and avoid losing time.
Answer strategy:
Be concise – aim to finish each question before the 12‑minute timer ends.
Guide the AI: Answer a question you’re comfortable with, then subtly steer the conversation toward topics you want to showcase (e.g., statistics, AI, retail).
Content focus: The AI often probes the intersection of your academic background and work experience, especially AI, data science, and industry‑specific applications.

7. One‑on‑One Panel Interview

The same panelist who observed the AI interview stays for a personal discussion.
Sample questions observed:
“Name five Tata‑group companies in retail.”
CSR‑related queries (e.g., percentage of profit allocated to CSR – the correct answer is 2 % of profit).
HR‑style questions: strengths, contribution to the cohort, career goals.
AI impact questions: job loss vs. creation, economic effects.
The interview tone was conversational, not grilling.

8. Post‑Interview Refreshments & Canteen

After the panel, you return to the holding room where tea, coffee, and snacks are offered.
The author tried the NM canteen’s cheese‑wedged grilled sandwich – a popular choice for Mumbai candidates.

9. Timeline & Total Duration

Typical flow: Arrival → VIP lounge → Group room → Competency test → Waiting area → AI interview → Panel interview → Refreshments → Exit.
Overall time: Approximately 3‑4 hours (including a few minutes of technical troubleshooting).

10. Key Preparation Tips

Watch NM’s portal videos – they explain each stage clearly.
Practice the competency test – treat it as a high‑stakes exam (60 % weight).
Stay calm about technical issues – the team will assist; use the F5 refresh trick.
Prepare AI‑related talking points – read current AI news, draft a short opinion piece, and have facts/numbers ready.
Enjoy the experience – try the canteen, relax during the view break, and treat the interview as a learning opportunity.

Final Rating

The author rates the overall experience 8/10 – smooth flow, minor technical glitches, and a solid interview content mix.

The NM BCore interview blends a streamlined administrative process, a concise competency test, and an innovative AI‑driven interview; by arriving prepared, mastering the test, and confidently navigating the AI and panel rounds, candidates can turn a potentially stressful day into a smooth, high‑impact opportunity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Lakshya Dugar on YouTube?

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Yes, the full transcript for this video is available on this page. Click 'Show transcript' in the sidebar to read it.

before the 12‑minute timer ends. * Guide the AI:

a question you’re comfortable with, then subtly steer the conversation toward topics you want to showcase (e.g., statistics, AI, retail). - Content focus: The AI often probes the intersection of your academic background and work experience, especially AI, data science, and industry‑specific applications.

Helpful resources related to this video

If you want to practice or explore the concepts discussed in the video, these commonly used tools may help.

Mba Interview Preparation Guide Book Recommended

Provides structured strategies and sample questions to excel in MBA interviews, helping candidates feel confident and organized

Amazon →

Quantitative Aptitude For Mba Exams Book

Offers practice problems and shortcuts for the quantitative section, crucial for the NM competency test

Amazon →

Data Science For Business Book

Helps candidates articulate how statistical and AI concepts apply in real‑world business settings, a frequent interview theme

Amazon →

Links may be affiliate links. We only include resources that are genuinely relevant to the topic.

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Full Transcript YouTube

Here's everything you need to know about
the new NM interview process. If you
have an NM interview coming up,
hopefully this video will help you save
some time, some stress, and maybe some
surprises along the way. Hi guys, I'm
Laksh. I scored a 271 at the NMAT and
today was my first ever BCore interview
ever. Right? I I know I said ever twice,
but it was for NM. Uh, I booked the very
first slot on the very first day. Today
was the first day and I booked the 8
a.m. slot. And I'll take you through the
entire process, you know, from the
beginning to the end. So, you know
exactly what's going to happen and how
you can prepare to put your best foot
forward. I like to think that I'm
usually on time, but today I reached the
center a bit late. I reached at 8:15
p.m. Uh, and naturally, I was a little
bit nervous, but here's something that
will calm you down. you know, if you're
running a little bit late, uh the NMUS
people are very accommodating and they
didn't create any fuss about it
whatsoever. I think people even arrived
20 25 minutes later and they were
allowed to go in with time. So, if
you're running a bit late, don't worry,
you'll be fine, but try to be on time as
far as possible. All right. So, as soon
as you enter the campus, you are
escorted into what is called, I think,
the VIP lounge. It's a very pretty room
uh done up very well. And there you'll
have to give everything that you have.
You know, you have to give your bag,
your uh mobile phone, if you have any
smart watches, you'll have to submit
that as well. And they'll give you a
small uh token that you can keep with
you and then when you're coming back,
you can deposit that token and take your
belongings. Again, it's a pretty
seamless process. Uh and because I came
late there was no line but I've heard
for the people that sort of came around
7:30 7:45 that there was a line and it
got a bit cumbersome. They also have a
place outside the campus where uh
parents it's inside the campus but it's
outside the main building where parents
can sit but it's outside so it's in the
sun. So I'd imagine that would get hot.
So if you have you know your parents
coming in with you maybe they can sit
somewhere in one of the cafes close by
cuz I would imagine it would get a bit
hot over there.
Another thing that's very interesting is
that uh unlike most other B schools uh
in NM you don't actually need to bring
much documentation at all. You only
require two things. First you need to
bring your PI call letter that will be
available on your dashboard and second
you need to bring any valid government
ID. It can be your Aadhaar card,
passport, PAN card and so on. There are
just two documents that you need to
bring. everything else is already
submitted and they already have access
to that from this VIP lounge lobby
situation. Uh you are then escorted into
another room uh another meeting room
which I think is one floor above uh
where you can interact with your you
know other students that have come and
sit there for about half an hour or so
uh and they all lot you into different
groups. I think there were about some 20
25 odd groups uh when I had gone and
each group had about 8 to 10 people. It
doesn't really matter what your group
is. There are no group exercises. I
think it's just for administrative ease.
Uh and then after you're sitting there,
so around 8:45 a.m. they take you to
their computer lab. And again, you're
seated there for some time. And at 9:00
a.m. sharp is when your competency exam
begins.
And now for the four sections of the
competency exam. First is the verbal
ability that has 10 questions. It's your
standard verbal ability question. If you
prepared for CAT and snap and so on, you
should be able to do these questions
pretty easily. Uh second is the memory
ability which I think has eight
questions. This is this I thought was
similar to logical reasoning uh and DI
along those lines. Uh third is
managerial ability which is very
different from the other uh tests that
I've seen so far. A few of the questions
are kind of like Zat decision-m
questions and a few questions were a
very vague you know they were core
commerce or core accounting concepts
that if you've not studied then you'll
never know and fourth was quantitative
ability which also had six questions. Uh
quantitative quantitative ability was
also fairly straightforward. I don't
think that was particularly difficult.
So yeah 20 questions in all. Uh plus
three for getting it right, minus one
for getting it wrong. There are no
sectional time limits uh whatsoever. You
you know you can jump between sections
as you'd like. 45 minutes for the entire
paper and it has a incredible amount of
weightage in your overall selection. So
take the competency exam very very
seriously. And so once you're done with
the competency exam you'll be escorted
to another waiting room which is on the
topmost floor of their building. It has
a pretty nice view outside of Mumbai. So
especially if you're coming from outside
Mumbai that's like a little nice view
you can enjoy for maybe 10 15 minutes.
You can go to the washroom during this
time if you'd like and you can also have
water or something to drink during this
time if you would like that as well. Uh
and then eventually you'll be escorted
to your personal interview. Now here's
the big thing that uh no one tells you
at least no one told me is that when
your AI based interview is going on for
NM uh your panel is actually sitting
right in front of you and uh it's like a
small uh teachers cabin kind of a
situation and uh you're saying it into
the mic and they have another laptop in
front of them and there's also a screen
in that same room where uh you can see
what you're being said typed out and the
panel who's going interview after the 12
minutes of the AI interview ends is also
actually hearing your answers live. So
you have to be very careful about what
you say during this time as well. um
because I was the first slot even in in
my panel uh there were a lot of
technical difficulties that came up you
know when I was uh starting out my voice
wasn't getting captured by the machine
and then once it was getting captured
the text was a bit haywire and this
continued for maybe around five or 6
minutes uh I'll give you a tip if you
click on the F5 button if and if there's
a technical difficulty that's going on
the F5 button actually refreshes the
portal so you don't end up losing or
wasting out on time right so if there's
any technical difficulties that you see
on the portal during the interview click
on the F5 and you know you'll save some
time at least um and then once all these
technical difficulties were figured out
by the team which were very helpful so
they figured it out very quickly um the
AI based interview began the AI
interview lasts exactly 12 minutes so at
11:45 or at 11:50 if the AI starts
reading one more question out chances
are the timing will probably be running
out by the time you get to actually
answer the question. So try to be as
succinct and you know as precise in your
answers as possible to be able to answer
as many questions as possible. Right? U
another very interesting thing is that
most of my interview actually revolved
around the intersection of my academics
and my work experience. Right? So um you
know my first question was because I
come from a statistics background was
how have you incorporated statistics and
data science into your working
environment? And once I answered that it
sort of deep dived into that as well you
know uh it asked me about the different
statistical tools I used uh a little bit
about the theory I used but most of the
interview at least the beginning part
wasn't as much about statistical theory
as it was about the applications of that
statistics in real life then eventually
transitioned into AI and it was
initially asking me about you know the
kind of impact that AI will have on
uhmemes in India the kind of impact AI
will have on retail because my work
experience uh deals with retail and uh
because I'd also mentioned marketing
briefly it picked up on that and then
asked me a few questions about marketing
and then the AI implications of that as
well. So very very AI heavy the thing is
you can actively drive the AI into
topics that you actually want to talk
about. You know, if an AI asks you a
question about something that you're not
very sure about and you want to pivot
from that topic, you can start by
answering what the AI wants to hear and
then slowly drift towards what you want
to talk about and spend a little bit
more time talking about that. AI will
catch up on that and follow your thread.
You know, much more than a human panel
which knows uh what it wants to ask. The
AI is actually actively going to follow
your lead. So the more you talk about
something, the more it will also go deep
and further down in on it. So you know,
so if you're active, you can take the
interview in the direction that you want
to go in. After this AI interview was my
uh interaction one-on-one with the
panelist. Uh as I said before, the
panelist was there for my entire
interview and she was uh very warm and
she wasn't of the grilling type at all.
uh because she had heard my answers and
because I had mentioned retail her first
question was can you tell me five
companies under the Tata group that
operate in the retail segment and then
we had a little bit of a discussion
about that uh then she asked me uh what
do you know about CSR which was followed
up by what percent of a company is
devoted to CSR and I said uh and I
didn't know the answer to that so I
guessed that it was between 2 to 5% uh
revenue is what I said then She uh sort
of asked me if it's revenue or profit.
Uh then I gave the reasoning that I know
a lot of profitable I know a lot of
companies that are not profitable that
also contribute to the CSR. So I'm
guessing it's 2% of revenue but I was
actually incorrect here. It's actually
2% of profits that uh companies have to
devote towards CSR which makes sense in
hindsight but I guess everyone's going
to make mistakes uh when it comes to the
interview. And then uh we moved to the
HR based questions you know she asked me
about my strengths then she asked me how
I would be uh good contribution to the
cohort what my goals are and stuff like
that so it was a pretty uh normal
interview nothing out of the nothing out
of the ordinary there was no grilling
whatsoever uh but then she also asked me
more about the implications of AI
whether there'll be job loss whether
there'll be new job creations
uh whether it'll be net beneficial to
the economy and the world or not. And I
noticed this trend with other people in
other panels as well. So, NM other than
just you know actually using AI for
interviews is testing your AI connection
as well. So, if you're going for the NM
interview, I would suggest you to read
up on whatever the current news is about
AI. You know, maybe write a VAT or two
about what your opinions are on AI. So,
you're going in fully formed about your
views with some facts and figures. and
numbers that will actually aid the
conversation a lot more. Similar to the
technical difficulties that were there
at the start of my AI interview, there
were also quite a few technical
difficulties when we were starting the
one-on-one interaction. So, I just want
to tell you that if you are also facing
technical difficulties, the NM team
knows that what they're trying is
something new. So, don't worry at all.
You know, uh those guys will come and
they'll definitely sort it out. And
remember the F5 trick. If something ever
gets stuck, that's definitely going to
help you out as well. And once that 15
minutes ends and you're escorted out of
that panel room, then uh you're taken
back to the original holding room and
some refreshments are served. You know,
you can have tea, coffee, and there are
some snacks available as well. But I
skipped those refreshments because I
wanted to try out food from the NM
canteen because I'm sure uh like me, if
you are from Mumbai as well, you have
seen those NMs uh canteen review realels
and stuff like that. So yeah, I went
headed on to the canteen and I ordered a
cheese wedged grilled sandwich over
there.
>> M I M
>> I M
>> review
>> I would rate it a solid 8.5 on 10. You
know, it nailed everything right. Uh and
that's what I would rate my interview as
well. I would give it maybe not an 8.5
but maybe an eight. There are some areas
where I could definitely improve on. I
wish I had more uh comfort with the
numbers and statistics related to AI and
I'd gotten that CSR question right. But
it was a definitely a decent attempt for
my first ever interview. And I'm hoping
I convert it. And eventually I left the
campus around 11:00 a.m. So 3 hours in
total. But I also got a bit lucky
because I was the first person on the
panel. A few people were after me. So
I'm guessing they would have left by
12:00 p.m. approximately. So I'm
guessing around 3 to four hours is how
much time it takes uh if there are no
huge technical difficulties for the
entire interview process to conclude
which is pretty good for the amount of
things that you have to do. So if you're
interviewing for NM this year first of
all know the flow uh go on the portal
and check out their videos. They've
explained very nicely about what's going
to happen at the different stages.
Second be prepared for the competency
test and know the importance of it. I
think it's nearly 60% of your overall
weighted. So it's massive, right? Third,
know that your panelist is actually
going to be seated in front of you and
technical difficulties will happen and
that's completely fine. They will sort
it out and you will definitely be able
to give your best foot forward. Fourth,
have the refreshments or try out the
canteen. That's your choice entirely.
Enjoy the process. This will probably be
one of the first interviews for you guys
as well. Uh, and I wish you the best of
luck for the rest of your interview
season. Uh, I'm going to discuss all of
my interview experiences that are coming
up. So, if you think I've added value to
you, hit subscribe and I'll see you
soon. Let's go.