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MAT 2026: Exam Pattern, Eligibility & Study Plan

India · 5 subjects · 48 topics · Updated 2026-04-06

The Management Aptitude Test (MAT) is a national-level entrance examination conducted by the All India Management Association (AIMA) four times a year (February, May, September, and December) for admission to MBA and equivalent programmes in over 600 management institutions across India. MAT is one of the oldest and most widely accepted management entrance exams, providing candidates the flexibility to take the exam in either Paper-Based Test (PBT) or Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode. It is accepted by a large network of AICTE-approved B-schools and is considered a good alternative for candidates who wish to apply to multiple B-schools through a single exam.

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Verified 2026-04-24
Year
2026
Subjects
5
Topics
48

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📋 Exam Pattern

The MAT examination consists of five sections with 200 multiple-choice questions in total: Language Comprehension (40 questions), Mathematical Skills (40 questions), Data Analysis and Sufficiency (40 questions), Intelligence and Critical Reasoning (40 questions), and General Awareness (40 questions). Each question carries 1 mark, totaling 200 marks. The duration is 2 hours 30 minutes (150 minutes). There is no negative marking in MAT. The exam can be taken in Paper-Based Test (PBT) mode or Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode. Candidates are awarded scores on a scaled basis for comparison across different test forms.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

Candidates with a bachelor's degree in any discipline with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks (45% for SC/ST candidates) from a recognized university are eligible to appear for MAT. Candidates in their final year of graduation may also apply provisionally. There is no upper age limit. Candidates should have a valid email ID as the MAT scorecard is sent electronically. Work experience is not mandatory but is preferred by some B-schools for certain specializations.

Subjects & Topics Covered — 48 topics across 5 subjects

Language-Comprehension

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10 topics · Topic 1· Topic 2· Topic 3 + more

Mathematical-Skills

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10 topics · Topic 1· Topic 2· Topic 3 + more

Data-Analysis

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10 topics · Topic 1· Topic 2· Topic 3 + more

Reasoning

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10 topics · Topic 1· Topic 2· Topic 3 + more

General Knowledge

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8 topics · Topic 1· Topic 2· Topic 3 + more

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Frequently Asked Questions — MAT

Everything you need to know about MAT. Scroll down for the complete study guide.

What is MAT and which B-schools accept it?
MAT (Management Aptitude Test) is a national-level MBA entrance exam conducted by AIMA (All India Management Association). It is accepted by over 600 B-schools across India, including many private and semi-government institutions. MAT is conducted in both paper-based test (PBT) and computer-based test (CBT) modes, typically 4 times a year (February, May, September, December). It is particularly useful for candidates targeting tier-2 and tier-3 B-schools where MAT scores are the primary criterion for admission.
What is the MAT exam pattern?
MAT consists of 4 sections with 200 multiple-choice questions total, to be answered in 150 minutes (2 hours 30 minutes): Language Comprehension (40 questions), Mathematical Skills (40 questions), Data Analysis & Sufficiency (40 questions), and Economic & Business Environment/Intelligence & Critical Reasoning (40 questions, split across two sub-sections). There is negative marking of 0.25 marks per wrong answer. The exam is available in both offline (PBT) and online (CBT) formats in over 50 test cities across India.
What is a good MAT score for admission?
A MAT score of 500+ out of 800 (approximately 60%) is generally considered competitive for tier-2 B-schools. For top MAT-accepting colleges like BIMTECH (Greater Noida), IISWBM (Kolkata), and PIBM (Pune), a score above 600 is preferred. The MAT percentile is calculated based on the normalised score across all test takers. Unlike CAT, MAT cutoffs are typically set lower — a percentile above 70 (score ~550+) is enough for most MAT-accepting institutions. After shortlisting, most colleges conduct their own GD-PI rounds.
How is MAT different from CAT and which should I take?
MAT and CAT differ in several key ways: CAT is harder (higher difficulty, adaptive), accepted by top IIMs and premier B-schools; MAT is easier, more predictable, and accepted by 600+ tier-2/3 B-schools. CAT is conducted once a year (November); MAT is conducted 4 times a year, offering flexibility. If your target is a top-tier B-school (IIM-A/B/C, FMS, MDI), take CAT. If you are targeting a good but not top-ranked college and want multiple attempts, take MAT — your MAT score can get you into decent B-schools while you also prepare for CAT. Many candidates take both exams simultaneously.

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Exam Name MAT
Country 🇮🇳 India
Subjects Language-Comprehension, Mathematical-Skills, Data-Analysis, Reasoning, General Knowledge
Total Topics 48
Official Source https://example.com
Last Updated 2026-04-06