How to Prepare for MAT Exams


Name of the exam: Management Aptitude Test (MAT)

Age criterion: 21 years of age or above. There is no upper age-limit to appear for the exam.

Educational qualification: Graduation in any discipline from any institution recognised by the HRD Ministry of the Government of India is accepted. Students awaiting their graduation results can also apply.

Scope after clearing MAT: Clearance the MAT exam with good score leads to enrollment in preferred institutes that consider MAT results.

Time of examination: MAT exams are conducted four times a year - February, May, September and December.

Notifications: Notifications are announced by the AIMA in the MAT bulletin, and also in different regional and national newspapers.

Preparation time: A candidate should prepare well in advance for at least six months to get a good score.

What is the MAT Exam?

The Centre for Management Services, a unit of the All India Management Association (AIMA) conducts the Management Aptitude Test, commonly known as MAT, four times annually. The results of this state-level test are considered for admission in various B-schools across India for management courses.

A little bit about AIMA

The AIMA is an apex body formed in league with the local management associations and in support from the industry and the Indian government. The very purpose of the body is to develop and facilitate management as a profession in the country.

Career Options

An MBA course helps in getting a lucrative management-level job. Many institutes hold campus interviews where the candidate gets to directly interact with different companies.

Examination pattern

The exam consists of five papers comprising objective type questions with multiple-choice answer:

SectionsSubjectNumber of QuestionsTime (In Minutes)
1Language Comprehension4030
2Mathematical Skills4040
3Data Analysis and Sufficiency4035
4Intelligence and Critical Reasoning4030
5Indian and Global Environment4015
Total200150


Tips to crack the MAT exam:
  • Strategically plan your time: Plan a study routine in advance, allotting time for each subject. This will help to systematically study each subject instead of juggling between many, which is sure to disrupt your concentration and reduce output.

  • Solve sample question papers on mathematics: Sample question papers gives an idea about the topics, the standard expected, and the skills required. Practice and solve problems extensively. Apply conventional methods first, but as the material becomes familiar to you, start applying short-cuts to improve speed. Memorise tables, common cube roots and square roots, conversions from percent to fraction, and vice-versa to enhance speed while maintaining accuracy.

  • Read different articles: The more you read different articles the more it will help in going through the comprehension section. It will help to acquire speed and precision, two key skills needed to do well in this section. Before you begin attempting, though, spend some time glancing at the questions in the comprehension section to get a feel for the critical areas of the passage.

  • Practice regularly: The sections on Data Analysis & Sufficiency and Intelligence & Critical Reasoning may be new to you. These are more tricky than difficult. Go through the sample papers carefully and makes notes of the quirks involved. Regular practice will make you more familiar with the subjects and help to quickly interpret and solve problems.

  • Improve your general awareness: The Indian and Global Environment section test your general awareness. Extensively follow the news dailies and magazines, watch news channels and browse the Internet to keep updated with the current affairs related to different national and international avenues. Solve as many papers as possible.

  • Enhance your speed and accuracy: First, solve papers subject-wise, maintaining stipulated time-limit. Thereafter, solve an entire model paper or a previous paper to see if you can finish in time. Although speed is an important aspect, accuracy is paramount. Extensive practice helps you achieve both.

  • Crash courses: Enrolling in a good institute for preparation of MAT is beneficial. The institutes help to get acquainted with the format of the exam and also conduct regular tests. Group discussions help to develop speaking prowess and also provides useful information. But more than anything else, the competitive atmosphere of an institute will motivate you to improve yourself.

  • Be confident: Nervousness can spoil your preparation. Be confident and stay calm and composed so that you can solve the paper efficiently.

  • Time management: Glance at the paper for five minutes before starting off. Solve the easier ones first and then move on to the more difficult ones. Do not waste time on a question if you get stuck. Read the questions carefully to avoid misinterpretation. Re-check the paper before submitting.

Useful link: http://www.aima.in/index.html

Recommended Books

  • The Pearson MAT Super Course (With CD) by T.I.M.E.
  • Face 2 Face MAT With 16 Years’ Solved Papers by B.S. Sijwali and Ajay Singh



Last Updated on : January 19, 2016