MAT Preparation 2024: Expert Tips & Strategy Guide

MAT preparation 2024 should begin with understanding the exam pattern and syllabus, and then allocating the requisite time to learning and practising the important concepts. This article will completely address your most essential query, i.e. how to prepare for MAT 2024!
MAT 2024
MAT (Management Aptitude Test) is a standardized test being administered by AIMA to facilitate B-Schools in screening candidates for admission to management programs. It is one of the most widely taken tests and serves as a passport to over 600 B-schools in India. For good performance, you need to have a well-planned MAT preparation strategy.
GMAT
MAT 2024: Exam Structure

MAT is an objective test with five sections. Test-takers can take the exam in PBT/CBT/IBT mode. Given below are the main features of MAT exam pattern 2024:

  • There are 200 questions with four choices per question
  • Each section has 40 questions.
  • The total duration of the test is 2.5 hours, but there are no sectional time limits.
  • 0.25 marks are deducted for each wrong response; while 1 mark is awarded for a correct response
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Suggested Time Limits for MAT 2024
It is important that you maintain a balance among various areas of MAT. Our experts recommend the following section-wise time limits for MAT 2024:
MAT Sections
Suggested time limit 
Language Comprehension
 30 mins
Intelligence and Critical Reasoning
 30 mins
Data Analysis and Sufficiency
 35 mins
Mathematical Skills
 40 mins
Indian and Global Environment
 15 mins
Total
150 mins
MAT Preparation Strategy 2024

MAT exam paper can be split into three parts: concept-driven, practice-intensive and environment-sensitive. Mathematical Skills & select areas of Language Comprehension are concept-driven where the questions are critically dependent on the test-taker's conceptual clarity with respect to core fundamentals; Intelligence & Critical Reasoning, Data Analysis & Sufficiency and select areas of English Language Proficiency are practice-intensive; Indian & Global Environment is environment-sensitive where an awareness with respect to current affairs is the winning stroke.

Given below is the preparation strategy for each of the MAT sections along with the list of crucial topics.

Indian & Global Environment

In this section, you are required to stay abreast of the latest happenings across the world. Apart from the current GK, you need to be aware of the basics of the banking and corporate sector. For a good score, it is important to brush up your general knowledge on a daily basis. The majority of the questions in this section are from the following areas:-

  • Current Events & Happenings
  • Banking & Business
  • Sports
  • General Political Information
Mathematical Skills

This section evaluates your mathematical abilities in some of the basic topics. Before you start practising this part of the exam, make sure that you gain enough conceptual clarity of the fundamental topics. The important areas in this section are:-

  • Number Systems
  • Percentage, Profit & Loss, Mixtures
  • Averages, Ratios, Interest
  • Time & Work, Time, Speed & Distance
  • Geometry, Trigonometry
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Intelligence & Critical Reasoning

In this section, you will be tested on your reasoning and deduction skills. In order to ace this section, you need to practice different types of questions from all the crucial topics. Most of the question types do not have any standard way, so all you can do is, practice as many questions as possible. This area has questions related to:-

  • Identifying patterns in number sets
  • Relationships
  • Direction Sense
  • Coding, Decoding
  • Verbal Reasoning
Language Comprehension

This area intends to assess your vocabulary and verbal abilities. A great way to expand your vocabulary is to invest a sufficient amount of time in diverse reading. Additionally, keep practising from previous year papers and MAT mock tests to check your proficiency in various kinds of questions. The vital areas, from which maximum questions have been asked, are:-

  • Word Analogies
  • Vocabulary, with questions on antonyms and synonyms
  • Rearranging sentences
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Sentence Completion
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Data Analysis & Sufficiency

In this section, questions are accompanied by some data represented in points or in form of graphs. Based on the given data, you are expected to find the logical links and arrive at a conclusion. In other words, you can get hold of this section only if you practice a good number of data sets. The thrust areas here are:-

  • Data Sufficiency
  • Standard DI tools like bar graphs, pie charts, line graphs, data tables
  • Data Comparisons
Final Tips

During your MAT preparation 2024, you must follow a sequential and systematic approach. Given below are the final tips for MAT exam preparation:-

  • Start with concept consolidation in areas where concepts are critical (as mentioned above).
  • In the next phase, start practicing questions from previous year MAT papers and mock tests.
  • Cement your preparation with proper analysis of your mock test performance and work on improving your test-taking strategies.

Overall, the test taker has to understand that MAT is designed to assess you on certain core management skills like time management, prioritization, stress management, knowledge and balancing accuracy & speed. As you attempt more and more tests, you will get better in speed and accuracy, thus boosting your preparation for MAT.

FAQs about MAT Preparation 2024
1. Can I prepare for MAT in 1 month?
If you are preparing or have already prepared for other popular entrance tests like CAT and XAT, you can very well cope up with MAT within a month. This is because the syllabus of all such MBA tests is similar. All you need to do is practice the sample papers/ mock tests to better understand the specific exams.
2. Can I crack MAT without coaching?
Yes, you can prepare for MAT without coaching. However, during preparation, you must stay disciplined and regularly monitor your performance. Also, you must refer to the previous year papers to learn about the question-wise trends.
3. Is MAT accepted in IIM?
No, IIMs accept CAT scores only for MBA/PGDM admissions.
4. How many times can we attempt MAT?
There is no limit on the number of attempts for MAT.
5. What is the maximum score in MAT?
The total marks in MAT are 200, which are later scaled to the score range of 199-801.
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