MAT
A quarterly MBA entrance conducted by the All India Management Association (AIMA); its score is accepted by 600+ B-schools and is a common route into mid-tier MBA/PGDM programmes across India.
Eligibility
A bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university; final-year students may apply. There is no minimum percentage requirement for the test, no age limit, and candidates may appear in as many sessions as they wish — scores stay valid for about a year.
Age limit: No age limit
Exam pattern
Offered as a Paper-Based Test (PBT) and a Computer-Based Test (CBT) in each session; candidates may take one mode or both (best score is used). The revised paper has 150 multiple-choice questions in 120 minutes across five sections of 30 questions each: Language Comprehension, Mathematical Skills, Data Analysis & Sufficiency, Intelligence & Critical Reasoning, and Economic & Business Environment. Marking is +1 per correct answer with a -0.25 penalty for wrong answers; there are no sectional time limits. The composite score (reported on a 199-801 style scale) excludes the Economic & Business Environment section.
Syllabus at a glance
Language Comprehension covers reading passages, grammar and vocabulary. Mathematical Skills spans arithmetic (percentages, profit-loss, time-speed-distance), algebra and geometry at a moderate level. Data Analysis & Sufficiency uses tables, graphs and caselets, while Intelligence & Critical Reasoning covers series, arrangements, analogies and syllogisms. Economic & Business Environment tests business current affairs and basic economics but does not count in the composite score.
Upcoming dates
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Registration close — PBT (Sep 2026 session) | 1 Sep 2026 | confirmed |
| Paper-Based Test (PBT) | 6 Sep 2026 | confirmed |
| Registration close — CBT | 14 Sep 2026 | confirmed |
| Computer-Based Test (CBT) | 20 Sep 2026 | confirmed |
| Result (Sep session) | Mid-to-late Sep 2026 | expected |
| Next session (December 2026) | Registration Oct–Nov 2026, exams in Dec 2026 | expected |
Expected dates follow the usual calendar; confirm on the official notification before planning.
Free prep material
Standard books
- Mission MBA MAT Guide — B.S. Sijwali & Tarun Goyal (Arihant)
- MAT Solved Papers — Arihant Experts
- Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations — R.S. Aggarwal
- A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning — R.S. Aggarwal
- Word Power Made Easy — Norman Lewis
How toppers play it
- The Economic & Business Environment section does not count in the composite score — attempt it last and lightly, and spend the saved time on the four scored sections.
- MAT is about consistency at moderate difficulty: 150 questions in 120 minutes means 48 seconds a question, so drill arithmetic shortcuts and tables up to 25.
- If a target B-school's cut-off is near, register for both PBT and CBT in the same session — the better score is used and the papers differ.
- With -0.25 negative marking, cap risky guesses; a composite score above 700 typically needs high accuracy on 110+ attempts.
- Choose your session strategically: a December or February MAT still feeds the same academic year's admissions at most accepting institutes, giving CAT/CMAT takers a low-cost backup.