MAT 2025: February Exam
The Management Aptitude Test (MAT) is conducted by the All India Management Association (AIMA) and acts as a crucial entrance exam for MBA aspirants across India. This year, over 20,000 candidates appeared for each session. The exam is conducted four times a year, commonly in February, May, September and December; in mainly two formats: Paper-Based Test (PBT), Computer-Based Test (CBT).
The following article provides a section-wise analysis of MAT February 2025. Conducted by our experts, the analysis provides a detailed review of question papers, including difficulty levels, section wise breakdowns and strategies.
MAT 2025, conducted in February so far, was focusing on proficiency in five key areas, namely, Language Comprehension, Mathematical Skills, Data Analysis & Sufficiency, Intelligence & Critical Reasoning, and Economic & Business Environment. The overall difficulty level of the exam was Easy to Moderate, challenging the candidate's expertise in Language Comprehension, Data Analysis, and Mathematical Skills.
The following table provides detailed review of MAT February 2025:
|
Section
|
No. of Ques
|
Difficulty Level
|
Time Required
|
Key Topics
|
|
Language Comprehension
|
30
|
Easy to Moderate
|
30–35 minutes
|
Reading Comprehension, Sentence Correction, Antonyms, Synonyms, Fill in the Blanks, One Word Substitution, Phrases & Idioms, Jumbled Paragraphs
|
|
Mathematical Skills
|
30
|
Moderate
|
35–40 minutes
|
Arithmetic (Interest, Percentages, Time & Work, Profit & Loss, Partnership), Algebra, Geometry, Mensuration, Ratio & Proportion, Probability, Permutation & Combination
|
|
Data Analysis & Sufficiency
|
30
|
Moderate to Difficult
|
35–40 minutes
|
Graphs, Pie Charts, Bar Diagrams, Line Graphs, Data Comparison, Data Sufficiency
|
|
Intelligence & Critical Reasoning
|
30
|
Moderate
|
30–35 minutes
|
Blood Relations, Alphanumeric Series, Letter Series, Coding-Decoding, Venn Diagrams, Comparison, Distribution
|
|
Economic & Business Environment
|
30
|
Easy
|
10–15 minutes
|
Current Affairs related to Business, Economy, Politics, Trade, Medicine, Sports, Personalities, Awards
|
Section-Wise Breakdown and Insights
Language Comprehension
Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate
Good Attempt: 24-26
Expected 90+ Percentile Score: 26-28 marks
Insights: The Language Comprehension section consisted of two reading comprehension passages with 10 questions in each. The passages were a mix of fact-based and opinion-based. Grammar and vocabulary were moderately difficult.
Key Strategy: It is advisable that the candidate learns how to skim through RCs. Focus on vocabulary questions and ensure accuracy in grammar and sentence correction.
Mathematical Skills
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Good Attempt: 22-24
Expected 90+ Percentile Score: 28-30 marks
Insights: According to analysis, MAT 2025 was dominated by the arithmetic section. Around 15 questions were dedicated to Interest and Percentages based methods. The Mathematical Section was said to be time-consuming but manageable.
Key Strategy: It is advisable that the candidate has concept clarity with the know-how of shortcuts, especially in topics like percentages, profit & loss, time & work, and ratios, which are frequently tested. Keep a track of time and prioritize easier topics like arithmetic, which can be solved more quickly.
Data Analysis & Sufficiency
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Good Attempt: 20-22
Expected 90+ Percentile Score: 21-23 marks
Insights: The Data Analysis & Sufficiency section of MAT 2025 mainly focused on Data Interpretation, taking almost 50% of the section. The data sufficiency questions were moderately difficult, requiring logical reasoning.
Key Strategy: This section is famous among candidates for taking up most of the exam time, thus, it is advisable to spend not more than 35-40 minutes. Candidate’s proficiency in concept topics, bar graphs, pie charts, tables, and line graphs can improve the sectional score
Intelligence & Critical Reasoning
Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate
Good Attempt: 26-27
Expected 90+ Percentile Score: 25-26 marks
Insights: Candidates reviewed the section as “well-balanced”. The section was pretty straightforward with main focus on family relations, cause-effect, series and analogies.
Key Strategy: This section mainly follows the rhythm of quickly observing patterns and then solving them. It is advisable that the candidate solves easier questions first and try not getting stuck on one question to lose time and confidence.
Indian & Global Environment
Difficulty Level: Easy
Good Attempt: 28-30
Expected 90+ Percentile Score: Excluded from composite score
Insights: The section primarily focused on static general knowledge and current events from the past few years to be completed in under 15 minutes.
Key Strategy: It is advisable to complete this section quickly and move on to other sections for more scoring opportunities.
Overall Difficulty and Expected Percentiles
- 90+ Percentile: 110–115 marks approx
- 80+ Percentile: 95–100 marks approx
- 70+ Percentile: 85–90 marks approx
Conclusion
Over the years, MAT has upheld the reputation of being a moderately challenging test. This year focused on testing the candidate's conceptual understanding with practical application. Aspirants with an aim to get into top B schools should strengthen their conceptual knowledge on quantitative aptitude, logical reasoning, and general awareness to enhance their performance in future sessions.
MAT 2025: May Exam
Conducted by the All India Management Association (AIMA), The Management Aptitude Test (MAT) is a crucial entrance exam for MBA aspirants across India. In MAT May 2025 alone, over 20,000 candidates appeared for each session. The exam is conducted four times a year, commonly in February, May, September and December; in mainly two formats: Paper-Based Test (PBT), Computer-Based Test (CBT).
The following article provides a section-wise analysis of MAT May 2025. Conducted by our experts, the analysis provides a detailed review of question papers, including difficulty levels, section wise breakdowns and strategies.
MAT 2025, conducted in February and May so far, was focusing on proficiency in five key areas, namely, Language Comprehension, Mathematical Skills, Data Analysis & Sufficiency, Intelligence & Critical Reasoning, and Economic & Business Environment. The overall difficulty level of the exam was Easy to Moderate, challenging the candidate's expertise in Language Comprehension, Data Analysis, and Mathematical Skills.
The following table provides detailed review of MAT May 2025:
|
Section
|
No. of Ques
|
Difficulty Level
|
Time Required
|
Key Topics
|
|
Language Comprehension
|
30
|
Easy to Moderate
|
30–35 minutes
|
Reading Comprehension, Sentence Correction, Antonyms, Synonyms, Fill in the Blanks, One Word Substitution, Phrases & Idioms, Jumbled Paragraphs
|
|
Mathematical Skills
|
30
|
Moderate
|
35–40 minutes
|
Arithmetic (Interest, Percentages, Time & Work, Profit & Loss, Partnership), Algebra, Geometry, Mensuration, Ratio & Proportion, Probability, Permutation & Combination
|
|
Data Analysis & Sufficiency
|
30
|
Moderate to Difficult
|
35–40 minutes
|
Graphs, Pie Charts, Bar Diagrams, Line Graphs, Data Comparison, Data Sufficiency
|
|
Intelligence & Critical Reasoning
|
30
|
Moderate
|
30–35 minutes
|
Blood Relations, Alphanumeric Series, Letter Series, Coding-Decoding, Venn Diagrams, Comparison, Distribution
|
|
Economic & Business Environment
|
30
|
Easy
|
10–15 minutes
|
Current Affairs related to Business, Economy, Politics, Trade, Medicine, Sports, Personalities, Awards
|
Section-Wise Breakdown and Insights
Language Comprehension
Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate
Good Attempt: 24-26
Expected 90+ Percentile Score: 26-28 marks
Insights: The Language Comprehension section mainly had two reading comprehension passages with 10 questions in each. The passages were a mix of fact-based and opinion-based view-points. Grammar and vocabulary were moderately difficult.
Key Strategy: It is advisable that the candidate learns how to skim through RCs to save time. Focus on vocabulary questions and ensure accuracy in grammar and sentence correction.
Mathematical Skills
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Good Attempt: 22-24
Expected 90+ Percentile Score: 29-30 marks
Insights: According to analysis, MAT 2025 is dominated by the arithmetic section. Around 13-15 questions were dedicated to Interest and Percentages based concepts. The Mathematical Section was said to be time-consuming but manageable.
Key Strategy: It is advisable that the candidate has concept clarity with the know-how of shortcuts, especially in topics like percentages, profit & loss, time & work, and ratios, which are frequently tested. Keep a track of time and prioritize easier topics like arithmetic, which can be solved more quickly.
Data Analysis & Sufficiency
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Good Attempt: 20-22
Expected 90+ Percentile Score: 21-23 marks
Insights: The Data Analysis & Sufficiency section of MAT 2025 mainly focused on Data Interpretation, taking almost 50% of the section. The data sufficiency questions were moderately difficult, requiring logical reasoning.
Key Strategy: Candidate’s proficiency in concept topics, bar graphs, pie charts, tables, and line graphs can improve the sectional score. This section is famous among candidates for taking up most of the exam time, so be careful to spend not more than 35-40 minutes.
Intelligence & Critical Reasoning
Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate
Good Attempt: 26-27
Expected 90+ Percentile Score: 25-26 marks
Insights: Candidates said that the section was well-balanced and straightforward with main focus on family relations, cause-effect, series and analogies.
Key Strategy: This section mainly follows the rhythm of quickly observing patterns and then solving them. It is advisable that the candidate solves easier questions first and try not getting stuck on one question to lose time and confidence.
Indian & Global Environment
Difficulty Level: Easy
Good Attempt: 27-29
Expected 90+ Percentile Score: Excluded from composite score
Insights: The section primarily focused on static general knowledge and current events from the past few years to be completed in under 15 minutes.
Key Strategy: It is advisable to complete this section quickly and move on to other sections for more scoring opportunities.
Overall Difficulty and Expected Percentiles:
- 90+ Percentile: 110–115 marks approx
- 80+ Percentile: 95–100 marks approx
- 70+ Percentile: 85–90 marks approx
Conclusion:
Over the years, MAT has upheld the reputation of being a moderately challenging test. This year focused on testing the candidate's conceptual understanding with practical application. With the sections varying a bit here and there in difficulty level, MAT May 2025 was said to be achievable. Aspirants with an aim to get into top B schools should strengthen their conceptual knowledge on logical reasoning, quantitative aptitude, and general awareness to enhance their performance in future sessions.
MAT 2025: September Exam
The MAT September 2025 session, held by the All India Management Association (AIMA), passed off with its two modes on the 21st of September, 2025 (Paper-Based Test (PBT)), and on the 28th of September, 2025 (Computer-Based Test (CBT)). Being one of the fundamentals of national-level MBA entry tests, MAT admits to more than 800 MBA and PGDM courses throughout the country, including top-tier B-schools such as Bangalore.
Held quarterly (February, May, September, and December), MAT has a structure that enables test-takers to redo it whenever needed, improving their high scores on the admissions to keep on the current cycle. This edition attracted applicants who were looking at a balanced assessment of core competencies without the high stress of the exams such as CAT, XAT, CMAT or NMAT.
What Made MAT September 2025 Stand Out
- Accessible format with moderate challenges, ideal for diverse backgrounds
- Broad acceptance by leading institutes for MBA/PGDM seats
- Focus on essential skills: Language Comprehension, Mathematical Skills, Data Analysis & Sufficiency, Intelligence & Critical Reasoning, and Indian & Global Environment
Essential Exam Snapshot (September 2025 Session)
|
Aspect
|
Overview
|
|
Exam Title
|
Management Aptitude Test (MAT)
|
|
Organizer
|
All India Management Association (AIMA)
|
|
Formats Offered
|
Paper-Based (PBT) & Computer-Based (CBT)
|
|
Key Dates
|
PBT: Sept 21, 2025; CBT: Sept 28, 2025
|
|
Annual Schedule
|
Quarterly (Feb, May, Sept, Dec)
|
|
Who Can Apply
|
Any graduate (final-year students included)
|
|
Age Criteria
|
None
|
|
Test Length
|
150 minutes (2.5 hours)
200
Multiple Choice (MCQs)
5 areas (40 questions per area)
|
|
Core Areas
|
1. Language Comprehension
2. Mathematical Skills
3. Data Analysis & Sufficiency
4. Intelligence & Critical Reasoning
5. Indian & Global Environment
|
|
Scoring Rules
|
+1 correct, –0.25 incorrect
|
|
Time Constraints
|
No limits per section
|
|
Score Duration
|
1 year
|
|
Thresholds
|
Percentile-driven; differs by school
|
|
Retake Policy
|
No cap (multiple sessions allowed)
|
|
How to Apply
|
Digital via portal
|
|
Fee Amount
|
₹2,200
|
|
Accepting Schools
|
800+ across India
|
|
Portal
|
https://mat.aima.in
|
Insights from Exam Day
- Arrive by 8:30 AM; sessions ran 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM
- Required: Two copies of admit card + valid ID (e.g., Aadhaar, Passport, Voter ID, Driving License, PAN)
- Essentials: Blue/black pen for attendance
- Banned: Electronics, calculators, smartwatches, metals
- Updates: Documents for name/caste changes mandatory if relevant
Results and Score Access
- Outcomes released in the last week of October 2025
- Download scorecard from the AIMA site using login details (valid for 12 months)
- Admit cards were available a week prior to each mode
MAT 2025 Content Outline – Key Focus Areas
|
Area
|
Core Elements
|
|
Language Comprehension
|
Passages for reading, Para-jumbles & rearrangements, Blanks to fill, Substitutions (one-word), Corrections & errors, Opposites & similars, Expressions & sayings, Word knowledge queries
|
|
Data Analysis & Sufficiency
|
Data tables & scenarios, Circular & bar visuals, Linear & combined charts, Adequacy checks, Comparisons & insights, Diagram overlaps
|
|
Mathematical Skills
|
Basics in algebra/arithmetic, Shapes & measurements, Angles in triangles, Counting systems, Shares & ratios, Common factors/multiples, Comparisons & chances, Group & outcome theories
|
|
Intelligence & Critical Reasoning
|
Kinship links & trees, Code patterns, Number layouts, Logic statements, Brain teasers & positions, Timepieces & dates, Pattern spotting & sequences
|
|
Indian & Global Environment
|
Fixed knowledge (lands, past, governance, etc.), Company & market insights, Tech & science news, National/international finance, Honors & achievements, Governance & global happenings, Recent developments & headlines
|
Post-Exam Strategy
Following the mid-speeded September session, the applicants may use their achievement to make direct MBA applications. Having as little as 2-3 months to prepare, participants with an interest in the December 2025 round have time to work on weak areas.
Visit the site to verify the score and admission advice on mat.aima.in.
Set a concrete target now: Aim for a 35–50 percentile jump from your September score (very achievable in MAT).
Complete gap analysis in the next 48 hours: Compare your September scorecard section-wise → pick your 2 weakest sections → devote 70% of study time to them only.
Take one full-length mock daily starting today: 10–12 mocks before the exam (official AIMA mocks + any reputed platform). Strictly follow exam timing: 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM.
Spend 2–3 hours on analysis after every mock: Mark three categories: Silly mistakes, Concept gaps, and Time-wasters. Maintain an error log and revise it daily.
Master intelligent guessing – especially in GK: Indian & Global Environment (40 Qs): Even 20–22 attempts with 80% accuracy = a huge edge over others. Finish any one monthly Current Affairs compilation (June–Nov 2025) + Pratiyogita Darpan/Year Book twice.
Data Analysis & Sufficiency = biggest percentile booster: Practise 50 graphs/caselets daily (pie, bar, line, mixed charts, and Venn diagrams). Learn quick approximation: 47.8% ≈ 48%, 317/642 ≈ 1/2, etc.
Mathematical Skills – focus only on high-weightage topics: Arithmetic (18–22 Qs): Profit-Loss, TSD, Time-Work, Ratios, Percentages, Averages, Mixtures. Commercial maths: SI-CI, Partnerships. Geometry basics + Mensuration formulas (5–6 Qs max). Ignore advanced Permutation-Combination or Coordinate Geometry.
Language Comprehension – aim for 30+ attempts: Read 2–3 editorials daily (The Hindu/Indian Express) for RC speed. Revise 500 of the most frequent MAT words, idioms, and one-word substitutions.
Intelligence & Critical Reasoning – accuracy first: Solve 10 sets daily of: Family Tree, Coding-Decoding, Arrangements, Syllogisms, and Series. This section is usually the easiest – target 32–35 attempts.
Develop a 150-minute strategy: Suggested order & time allocation: → Language (25 min) → Reasoning (30 min) → Maths (40 min) → Data Analysis (35 min) → GK (15–20 min) Adjust according to your strengths.
Last 7 days = revision + light mocks only: No new topics after 30 November. Revise the error log, formulas, GK notes, and vocabulary list daily.
Sleep cycle correction from 25 November: Go to sleep by 10–11 PM and wake up by 6–7 AM to be fully alert for the 10 AM slot.
Exam day essentials checklist: Two printed admit cards + original photo ID + blue/black ballpoint pen + water bottle (transparent).
Backup plan ready: If the December score is still below target, February 2026 registration opens in December itself – you lose nothing.
Mindset tip: Remember, MAT rewards consistency, not brilliance. Even 75–80% accuracy with 160–170 attempts can fetch the 95th+ percentile.
MAT 2025: December Exam
The MAT December 2025 analysis holds a lot of importance for the students who are preparing to appear for future MAT exams or retake in February 2026. The Management Aptitude Test, which is conducted every year by the All India Management Association (AIMA), is a national-level entrance exam for MBA aspirants. This is considered to be one of the more accessible entrance exams for MBA students out there compared to others.
Therefore, the MAT paper analysis holds so much value to the students because it helps students prepare in a much more comprehensive manner for the exam. It becomes important for the students to study the exam pattern because the structure has remained consistent in recent years. Therefore, the MAT December 2025 analysis is the most important for the students to keep in mind. There are 200 questions on the MAT exam, which are split into five sections. These sections are Language Comprehension, Mathematical Skills, Data Analysis & Sufficiency, Intelligence & Critical Reasoning, and Indian & Global Environment. Each section has 40 MCQs. The total time limit is 150 minutes, with no sectional time limits, and there are multiple modes including Paper-Based Test (PBT) on December 13, 2025, and Computer-Based Test (CBT) on December 21, 2025. MAT is available in both paper-based and computer-based formats.
Marking Scheme of the MAT Exam
While studying the MAT analysis, it also becomes essential for the students to know details about the marking scheme. The MAT exam has a pretty clear marking scheme for the students to follow. 1 mark is awarded for every correct answer, and there is a negative marking of 0.25 marks that's made for every incorrect answer. This negative marking applies to all sections, including the Indian & Global Environment section. However, the scores from the Indian & Global Environment section are often considered separately by colleges during the admission process, though they contribute to the overall composite score.
MAT December 2025 Exam Overview Table
|
Aspect
|
Details
|
|
Exam Dates
|
PBT: December 13, 2025; CBT: December 21, 2025
|
|
Total Questions
|
200 MCQs
|
|
Total Sections
|
5 (40 questions each)
|
|
Duration
|
150 minutes
|
|
Overall Difficulty
|
Moderate
|
|
Expected Good Attempts
|
160-170 for 95+ percentile
|
|
Results Expected
|
Early January 2026
|
MAT December 2025 Analysis According to Various Sections
- Language Comprehension There are around 20-25 questions based on reading comprehension passages and the rest on verbal ability in the exam. According to the MAT December 2025 analysis, the questions are a fair mix of grammar, vocabulary, para-jumbles, fill-in-the-blanks, and reasoning-based questions. There are various reading comprehension questions that are distributed among multiple passages. Many of the questions are inferential and require good reading speed. The difficulty level of this section was moderate.
- Mathematical Skills According to the MAT analysis, this section consists of around 40 questions. The questions covered topics like arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and mensuration. There were many questions on ratios, percentages, profit-loss, time-speed-distance, and interest calculations. As usual, arithmetic dominated with some tricky calculation-based questions. This section usually tests the ability of the students to apply basic concepts quickly. The difficulty level was moderate, with some questions requiring careful time management.
- Data Analysis & Sufficiency According to the MAT December 2025 analysis, this section had around 40 questions, mostly based on graphs, charts, tables, and caselets. There were pie charts, bar graphs, line graphs, and Venn diagrams. Some questions involved data sufficiency and comparisons. Among the sets, a few were reasoning-based while others required observation and quick calculations. The difficulty level was moderate, and this section is often seen as a good scorer with practice.
- Intelligence & Critical Reasoning According to the MAT analysis, this section consists of around 40 questions. There were questions on family trees, coding-decoding, arrangements, syllogisms, series, and puzzles. As usual, this section had a mix of standalone questions and sets. Students found it to be one of the easier sections, with accuracy being key due to straightforward logic in many questions. The difficulty level was easy to moderate.
- Indian & Global Environment As per the exam pattern, according to the MAT December 2025 analysis, there are 40 questions in the Indian & Global Environment section. Around half the questions are usually based on current affairs and the rest on static GK. There is negative marking in this section as well; however, students are advised to attempt based on knowledge since guessing can help if done intelligently. Various topics like economy, business news, awards, sports, politics, and international events related questions come in this section of the exam. The difficulty level was moderate.
Conclusion
All MAT exam prep students think it's vital to know a lot about the exam's many facets. This is exactly where the MAT December 2025 analysis comes into play. The analysis helps the students to know about all the aspects of the exam that are important for them. Students start with learning about the exam structure, and then they learn about the marking scheme. Knowing what is included in each section of the exam and how to prepare effectively makes students feel more confident in their preparation. In this way, students are really able to perform better and do well. Students should always go and research about recent analysis and make sure that they are having good and solid preparation based on the latest exam trends. While students prepare for an exam knowing details about it, it helps them to feel they can perform better. This enhances the performance of the students in the actual MAT exam. Results for the December 2025 session are expected in early January 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many questions are there in the MAT exam? There are in total 200 questions in the MAT exam.
- How many sections are there in the exam? There are a total of five sections in the exam.