MAT Exam Pattern 2025

To excel MAT exam with excellence it is important to comprehend the pattern of the exam well. In this case, we are going to dig into the MAT exam pattern 2026 and analyze the marking scheme. With this useful understanding, you will be in a better position to predict the examination and plan a good study strategy.

Management Aptitude Test (MAT) is a standardized test that is administered by All India Management Association (AIMA) to verify the aptitude of individuals to be employed in a management role. This exam is conducted four times per year - February, May, September and December. MAT Score is valid for over 600 B-Schools across India for admission to MBA and allied programmes. Candidates can choose to appear in the Paper Based Test (PBT) or Computer Based Test (CBT) modes of the exam.

AIMA has not yet announced the official schedule of the session of MAT February 2026. The dates below are tentative with references to the past trends. Candidates are advised to visit the official AIMA site (https://mat.aima.in/) to know the updates.

The following table shows the key features of the MAT paper pattern:

All the sections of MAT 2026 carry a similar weightage. The difficulty of the sections, however, varies depending on the various types of questions. The Mathematical Skills section appears harder than others due to the difficult questions and calculations. The distribution of marks in the MAT pattern 2026 applied on a section-by-section basis is as indicated below:

Marking Scheme

Note: The obtained marks in MAT are then mapped on to a scale of 199-801 as a composite score. When calculating the composite score, the marks of the final section Economic and Business Environment are not counted. It can affect your admissions, however.

There is no sectional time limit for MAT 2026 exam. However, the candidates are advised to set a structured time limit themselves to complete the exam in the given time. Below mentioned is the suggested time limit that students can follow for each section:

120 Minutes will be provided for MAT 2026 exam

MAT is perceived to be of a moderate level of difficulty compared to other national-level examination like CAT, XAT and IIFT. The candidates will only have under a minute to respond to each question as they will only have to answer 150 questions within 120 minutes. Time management in this case is, therefore, a challenge. By following the above-mentioned time limit, you will complete the exam within its allotted time and will have sufficient time to review the paper. Note-taking about the pattern of examination, marking scheme, syllabus and the examination dates of MAT will enable you to prioritize properly and have a well-organized study plan.

For more information regarding the MAT exam, you can visit the official website – https://mat.aima.in/.

1. What type of questions come in the MAT exam?

MAT features multiple-choice questions, from the fundamental concepts of mathematics, reasoning, English language, and general awareness.

2. What are the total marks of the MAT exam?

Total marks of the MAT exam is 150, with each question carrying one mark. These are later scaled to a maximum of 801 scores.

3. What is a good attempt in MAT?

Ideally, you should aim to do 140+ questions in MAT, to get a good score. This will ensure a good percentile and finally, lead to your admission to a reputed college.

4. Is 500 a good score in MAT?

500 is a decent score in MAT. It is better to aim for a score of 600+ for admission to good colleges.

5. Is calculator allowed in MAT?

No, devices like calculators are not allowed in the MAT exam.