MAT December 2026.Exam date, syllabus, pattern, eligibility and colleges

The MAT is the entrance exam for MBA and PGDM admissions in so many B-Schools conducted by the All India Management Association (AIMA). AIMA conducts this exam four times a year in respectively in February, May, September, and December. The exam is primarily conducted in three modes, these are Paper Based Test (PBT), Computer Based Test (CBT), and Internet Based Test (IBT). MAT is a national-level examination recognized by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Govt. of India in 2003.

Any business school National or International accepts the MAT score for admission, the MAT exam can be the road to your dream course in MBA. In every session, almost 20,000 candidates apply for MAT and Over 600 B-schools in India are open for admission for MAT-qualified candidates.

MAT Exam 2024 Highlights

Exam Name	Management Aptitude Test (MAT)
Organized By	All India Management Association (AIMA)
Exam Level	National Level
Sessions	February, May, September, and December
Mode	PBT, CBT, IBT
Exam Fees	INR 2100 for 1 Test Mode INR 3300 for 2 Test Modes
No. of Test Cities	PBT Mode- 39 CBT Mode- 27
Contact Details	Contact No. 8130338839/9599030586/ 011-47673020

Important Dates

Dates	Upcoming Exam Dates
23 Dec '23 - 20 Feb '24	MAT 2024 Registration Process PBT (ONGOING)
23 Dec '23 - 21 Feb '24	MAT 2024 Registration IBT 1 (ONGOING)
23 Dec '23 - 29 Feb '24	MAT 2024 Registration IBT 2 (ONGOING)
23 Dec '23 - 05 Mar '24	MAT 2024 Registration IBT 3 (ONGOING)
23 Dec '23 - 05 Mar '24	MAT 2024 Registration Process CBT (ONGOING)
22 Feb '24	MAT 2024 Admit Card Download IBT 1
22 Feb '24	MAT 2024 Admit Card PBT Download
24 Feb '24	MAT 2024 IBT 1
25 Feb '24	MAT 2024 PBT
01 Mar '24	MAT 2024 Admit Card Download IBT 2
03 Mar '24	MAT 2024 IBT 2
06 Mar '24	MAT 2024 Admit Card Download IBT 3
08 Mar '24	MAT 2024 IBT 3
08 Mar '24	MAT 2024 Admit Card Download CBT
10 Mar '24	MAT 2024 CBT

Eligibility Criteria

The MAT entrance exam for MBA admission in various disciplines requires one to fulfill some eligibility criteria to appear for the exam, these are as follows:-

• Candidate must have a Bachelor’s degree from any recognized college.
• Candidates who are in the final year of their graduation or whose results awaiting for the same are also eligible for the exam.
• There is no age limit but must be at least 20 years of age while applying for the exam.
• There is no work experience required for the same, however, this can be an addition to the selection process.

Note:- As per the general MAT eligibility criteria set by participating institutes candidate needs a valid graduation degree and MAT scorecard, but, some institutes require minimum marks in qualifying degrees for successful admission 50% aggregate for unreserved category, and 45% aggregate for reserved category candidates.

Exam Pattern 

The exam is usually conducted in three modes PBT, CBT, and IBT, the candidate has to attend 200 questions divided into 5 sections in 150 minutes:-

Section	Number of Questions
Language Comprehension	40
Intelligence & Critical Reasoning	40
Data Analysis and Sufficiency	40
Mathematical skills	40
Indian and Global Environment	40
Total	200

The total marks of CMAT is 200, 1 mark for every correct answer, there is negative marking, 0.25 mark will be deducted for every incorrect answer.

Exam Syllabus

Section	Important Topics
Language Comprehension	Reading comprehension passages Grammar Para jumbles  Sentence completion Odd one out Verbal ability
Intelligence & Critical Reasoning	Fact Inference Judgment, Passage Conclusion,  Analogy,  Statement Argument among others,  Clocks, Calendars, Binary logic, Seating Arrangement, Blood Relations (Family Tree), Logical Sequence  Assumption, Premise, Conclusion, Linear and matrix arrangement, Team Formation, Cubes, Rows, Set Theory Venn Diagrams Direction sense and Decision Making  Input-Output, Series Syllogism Network Diagrams Quantitative Reasoning Puzzles Logical Reasoning based on Rankings  Critical Reasoning
Data Analysis and Sufficiency	Data Tables  Data charts  Bar diagrams & Charts including Simple  Stacked, Composite Bar charts  Pie charts Graphs – Line X-Y Graphs  Data analysis and Data comparison among others Caselet based Data Venn diagram, Data Sufficiency
Mathematical skills	Arithmetic Interest (Simple and Compound) Speed, Time and Distance Time and Work Averages Number System, Mixtures and Allegation Unitary Method Commercial Math Permutation and Combinations Ratio and Proportion and others Elementary Mathematics, etc.
Indian and Global Environment	Business & Economics GK -for example changes in Fiscal and monetary policy CRR, Repo Rate, Conventional GK-available in books Current GK- based on the current reading of newspapers and periodicals Devaluation and up the valuation of Rupees Business, National and International events, etc.

2024 MAT Exam Preparation Tips

Now, as we know the exam is conducted by AIMA four times a year which means candidates get less time for preparation and everyone wants to secure good scores in the exams for that you need to make exam and preparation strategies so that you can ace your preparation. Below are a few preparatory tips that can help you to plan your study plan and score good marks:-

• You can use the Pomodoro technique for effective studies Pomodoro the method is a management technique that focuses on 25 minutes of uninterrupted study and 5 minutes of break.
• Attempt mock tests as much as possible to understand the exam pattern and to check your grip on the exam.
• Try to enhance your vocabulary in your free time.
• Observe the exam pattern and understand your weaknesses and strengths so that you can work on your weaknesses.
• And don’t take too much stress and get a complete sleep of 7 to 8 hours, it will help you in improving your learning skills.

Section-Wise Best books for MAT 

Language Comprehension

• General Objective English by Arihant Publications 
• Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis 
• English Comprehension for MAT -Disha Publications

Intelligence & Critical Reasoning

• Modern Approach for Logical Reasoning -R S Aggarwal 
• General Intelligence and Critical Reasoning -Disha Publications 
• Logical Reasoning for CAT by Nishit K Sinha

Data Analysis and Sufficiency

• Data Interpretation and Data Sufficiency - Disha Publications 
• Data Interpretation & Analysis and Data Sufficiency - Kiran Prakashan Publishers

Mathematical skills

• How to Prepare for QA for CAT -Arun Sharma 
• Quantum CAT -S K Verma 
• Quantitative Aptitude - RS Aggarwal 
• Pearson Guide to Quantitative Aptitude -Dinesh Khattar

Indian and Global Environment

• General Knowledge by Lucent Publications 
• General Knowledge by Manohar Pandey 
• Manorama English Yearbook by Mammen Mathew

Colleges accepting MAT

So many colleges throughout India accept MAT scores for admission, below are the few colleges accepting MAT scores for admission.

• ABBS School of Management
• GITAM Institute of Management
• EIILM
• ITM University
• United World School of Business
• GL Bajaj Institute of Management & Research
• JIMS Rohini
• Amity University
• IILM University
• Dr. D.Y. Patil B School, Pune
• OP Jindal Global University
• SRM University
• Christ University
• Alliance University
• Jain University