MAT stands for Management Aptitude Test, and it is a national-level entrance examination that is conducted by the All India Management Association (AIMA) to screen candidates for admission to MBA and other management programs in various B-Schools across India. The MAT exam is conducted four times a year – in February, May, September, and December. The exam is conducted in pen-paper based, internet-based, computer-based test modes. The exam pattern for both modes is almost similar, except for the mode of answering the questions.
The MAT exam by AIMA consists of five major sections, namely Language Comprehension, Mathematical Skills, Data Analysis and Sufficiency, Intelligence and Critical Reasoning, and Indian and Global Environment. Each section comprises 40 questions, making it a total of 200 questions.
The exam duration is 2.5 hours. Each question carries one mark, and for every incorrect answer, 0.25 marks are deducted as a negative marking. The exam is conducted in English, and the difficulty level of the questions ranges from moderate to difficult. MAT scores are accepted by more than 600 B-schools across India, and the candidates can choose up to five B-schools during the application process.
MAT Exam Pattern 2023: Important Highlights
Here are the key points on the MAT Exam Pattern.
| Highlight | Detail |
| Full-Form | Management Aptitude Test (MAT) |
| Conducted By | All India Management Association (AIMA) |
| Exam Level | National Level |
| Job Category | MBA and other management programs |
| Frequency | Conducted 4 times a year (February, May, September, and December) |
| Mode of Exam | Paper-Based Test (PBT), Internet-Based Test (IBT), and Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Exam Type | Objective |
| Exam Duration | 2.5 hours |
| Language | English |
| Selection Procedure | Scores and cutoffs used by B-Schools for admission |
| Official Website | mat.aima.in |
MAT Exam Pattern 2023
- Number of Questions: Each section comprises 40 questions, making it a total of 200 questions.
- Type of Questions: All questions are multiple-choice questions (MCQs) with four answer choices.
- Marking Scheme: Each correct answer is awarded one mark, and there is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for each incorrect answer. Unanswered questions are not marked.
- Duration of Exam: The total time duration of the MAT exam is 2.5 hours (150 minutes).
- Medium of Exam: The exam is conducted in the English language only.
Here’s a table with the MAT exam pattern details:
| Section | Number of Questions | Total Marks |
| Language Comprehension | 40 | 40 |
| Mathematical Skills | 40 | 40 |
| Data Analysis and Sufficiency | 40 | 40 |
| Intelligence and Critical Reasoning | 40 | 40 |
| Indian and Global Environment | 40 | 40 |
| Total | 200 | 200 |
MAT Exam Pattern 2023: Marking Scheme
The MAT (Management Aptitude Test) exam has a specific marking scheme that candidates need to be aware of. Here are the key points to note:
- Number of Questions: MAT consists of 200 multiple-choice questions (MCQs), divided into five sections of 40 questions each.
- Marking Scheme: Each correct answer is awarded one mark, and there is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for each incorrect answer.
- Unanswered Questions: Unanswered questions do not carry any negative marks.
- Total Marks: The maximum mark that can be obtained in the MAT exam is 200.
- Calculation of Scores: The final score is calculated based on the number of correct answers minus 0.25 times the number of incorrect answers.
The formula for calculating the score of the MAT exam is as follows: Score = (Number of Correct Answers x 1) – (Number of Incorrect Answers x 0.25)
MAT Exam Pattern 2023: Sectional Time Duration
The MAT (Management Aptitude Test) exam does not have any sectional time limit. Candidates are given a total of 2.5 hours (150 minutes) to attempt all five sections of the exam. Candidates are free to attempt any section in any order they wish within the given time frame. However, candidates need to manage their time effectively during the exam to ensure that they can attempt all questions.
Since there is no sectional time limit, candidates can spend more time on sections they are more comfortable with and then move on to the sections that they find challenging. However, candidates need to attempt all sections and try to maximize their scores in each section to increase their chances of getting shortlisted by B-schools. Overall, candidates should strategize their time management effectively to ensure that they can attempt all questions within the given time frame and maximize their overall score in the MAT exam.
MAT Exam Pattern 2023: Section-wise Details
The MAT question paper comprises five sections: Language Comprehension, Intelligence & Critical Reasoning, Data Analysis & Data Sufficiency, Mathematical Skills, and Indian & Global Environment. In contrast to other MBA entrance exams, the Data Interpretation section is separate and not clubbed with either Quantitative Ability or Logical Reasoning.
- The Language Comprehension section includes Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension. It encompasses a wide range of topics such as Vocabulary, Idioms/Phrases, Sentence Correction, and Reading Comprehension.
- The Intelligence & Critical Reasoning section of the MAT exam includes questions from Analytical and Logical Reasoning topics such as Family Trees, Course of Action, Arrangement, and Puzzles, Syllogisms, Graphs, and Visual Reasoning.
- The Data Analysis & Data Sufficiency section is divided into two parts, Data Analysis, and Data Sufficiency. It includes questions from Line Graphs, Bar graph, Caselet, Pie charts, Data Comparison, Quantitative Comparisons, and Data Sufficiency.
- The Mathematical Skills section includes questions on Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Mensuration, and Modern Maths, and is similar to the Quantitative Aptitude section in other MBA entrance exams.
- The Indian & Global Environment or GK section includes questions on Current Affairs and Static GK and carries 40 marks. However, it is not taken into consideration to determine the candidate’s MAT score and percentile.
MAT Exam Pattern 2023: Difficulty Level
The difficulty level of the MAT (Management Aptitude Test) exam can vary from moderate to difficult, depending on the candidate’s preparation level and aptitude. Based on a review of several previous MAT exam sessions, we have provided below the section-by-section difficulty level and the number of successful attempts:
| MAT Sections | Number of Good Attempts | Level of Difficulty |
| Data Analysis and Sufficiency | 16-18 | Easy to Moderate |
| Intelligence and Critical Reasoning | 22-25 | Moderate |
| Language Comprehension | 23-25 | Easy to Moderate |
| Mathematical Skills | 21-23 | Moderate to Difficult |
| Indian and Global Environment | 15-20 | Easy to Moderate |
MAT Exam Pattern FAQs
Ques. What is MAT?
Ans. MAT stands for Management Aptitude Test, which is a national-level MBA entrance exam conducted four times a year by the All India Management Association (AIMA).
Ques. What is the frequency of the MAT exam?
Ans. The MAT exam is conducted four times a year in February, May, September, and December.
Ques. What is the mode of the MAT exam?
Ans. The MAT exam can be taken in two modes – Computer Based Test (CBT) and Internet-Based Test (IBT).
Ques. What is the syllabus for the MAT exam?
Ans. The MAT exam syllabus includes five sections – Language Comprehension, Intelligence and Critical Reasoning, Data Analysis and Sufficiency, Mathematical Skills, and Indian and Global Environment.
Ques. What is the duration of the MAT exam?
Ans. The MAT exam duration is 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Ques. Is there any negative marking in the MAT exam?
Ans. Yes, there is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for every incorrect answer in the MAT exam.
Ques. What are the eligibility criteria for the MAT exam?
Ans. Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized university to be eligible for the MAT exam.
Ques. What is the MAT score used for?
Ans. The MAT score is used by various B-schools in India for admission to their MBA programs.
Ques. Is the MAT exam difficult?
Ans. The difficulty level of the MAT exam is considered moderate. With proper preparation and practice, candidates can score well in the exam.