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MAT Exam Pattern 2025 (Revised): Sectional Weightage, Marking Scheme Explained & Paper Structure
Upcoming Event
MAT Application Date:15 Sep' 25 - 15 Sep' 25
Last year, AIMA introduced some changes in MAT 2025 exam pattern and syllabus, the total number of questions have been reduced from 200 to 150. Also, MAT exam duration have been reduced from 150 minutes to 120 minutes. MAT exam pattern 2025 is available in online mode on the official website of AIMA, mat.aima.in. Candidates appearing for the MAT exam must be familiar with the MAT paper pattern so that they can prepare for this national-level MBA entrance exam accordingly. This time, AIMA will conduct the MAT May session in two modes- Paper Based Test (PBT) and Computer Based Test (CBT).
This Story also Contains
- MAT Exam Pattern 2025: Key Highlights
- MAT Sectional Weightage of Questions
- MAT Marking Scheme 2025
- MAT Pattern 2025: Scoring Pattern and format of questions
- MAT Syllabus 2025
- MAT Preparation Tips 2025
MAT Exam Pattern 2025: Key Highlights
The MAT paper pattern specifies the overall structure of the exam such as the number of sections, questions, type of questions, MAT total marks, MAT exam time duration, sectional time limit etc. As per the MAT exam pattern for MBA, there will be 150 questions, and the total time duration of the exam will be 120 minutes. Continue reading for more details about the MAT syllabus and exam pattern, marking scheme, and section-wise distribution of questions.
MAT 2025 Paper Pattern
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
Exam name | Management Aptitude Test (MAT) |
Exam conducting body | All India Management Association (AIMA) |
Exam Level | National level Entrance Exam |
MAT Exam mode | PBT and CBT mode |
Total time duration | 2 hours (120 Minutes) |
Type of questions | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) |
Negative marking | Yes (Scheme applicable) |
Total number of sections | Five sections with 30 questions in each of them |
Total number of questions | 150 |
Read more -
- MAT Preparation for Language Comprehension & Verbal Ability
- Top B-schools Accepting MAT Scores and Cutoffs
Top MBA Colleges accepting MAT scores - State-wise
MAT Sectional Weightage of Questions
The MAT question paper will be divided into five sections namely, Intelligence and Critical Reasoning, Data Analysis and Sufficiency, Language Comprehension, Indian and Global Environment, and Mathematics. According to the MAT exam pattern, in every section, there will be 30 questions.
Test Pattern of MAT 2025- Sectional Breakup of Questions
MAT Sections | Total number of questions |
Intelligence and Critical Reasoning | 30 |
Data Analysis and Sufficiency | 30 |
Language Comprehension | 30 |
Economic and Global Environment | 30 |
Mathematical Skills | 30 |
MAT total marks | 150 |
Note - Some of the MAT participating institutes do not consider Indian and Global environment marks.
MAT Marking Scheme 2025
According to the MAT 2025 test pattern, the marking scheme is as follows -
- As per the marking scheme of MAT 2025, candidates will be awarded one mark for every correct answer
- There is a penalty of 0.25 marks for each incorrect response
- The total scaled score is 800
- No marks are deducted for unanswered MAT questions
- Economic and Business Environment score is not considered for calculating MAT percentile
- Also, it is not mandatory to solve all 150 questions
MAT Preparation Tips, Study Material & Mock Test
Candidates can download this eBook to check MAT 2025 section-wise preparation tips, latest exam pattern, previous year paper analysis & Important books.
Download EBookDifficulty level as per MAT Pattern
As per the previous years' MAT papers, the level of the exam can be comprehended as easy to moderate. As compared to the IIM CAT test and other national-level MBA exams, AIMA doesn't set up tough questions for candidates.
Recommended eBooks
Related eBooks & Sample Papers
MAT Pattern 2025: Scoring Pattern and format of questions
Section 1: Language Comprehension - 30
Part-1: Reading Comprehension in MAT Exam
- Sectional Weightage of RC in MAT Language Comprehension Section: 50%
- Type of passages in MAT Exam on RC: 4 Short passages of moderate difficulty level
- Division of questions: 5 questions based on each passage
- Type of Questions: All MCQ types with a penalty of ¼ negative marking
- Format of questions: Questions are based on information in the RC passage; Antonyms/synonyms of the words & phrases as used in the passage; True/false statements; the main idea of the RC passage
Part-2: MAT Verbal Ability
- Sectional Weightage in MAT Syllabus: 50%
- Type of Questions: All MCQ types with a penalty for the wrong answer
- Jumbled Paragraphs (3-4 questions)
- Error Correction of Verb, Noun, Pronoun, Adjective, Adverb, and other parts of speech in the Sentences.
- Correcting the sequence of sentences in the paragraph for example correct use of conditional sentences, time clauses, reported speech, and passive writing (3-4 questions)
- Antonyms/Synonyms (5-6 questions)
- Fill in the blanks (3-4 questions)
- One-word substitution (1-2 questions)
- Idioms/Phrases (2-3 questions)
Section 2: Intelligence and Critical Reasoning
The MAT question paper has tricky questions in this area. The section in the MAT exam pattern is divided into 2 parts – Intelligence Reasoning and Critical Reasoning. In other exams like CAT, critical reasoning questions are also asked in the Verbal Ability section. Here are the key details on the section in the MAT exam:
- Questions in the Reasoning section can be individual or can be in a set of 3-4 questions.
- Weightage of Reasoning Section in MAT exam: 20%
- Weightage of Reasoning Section in MAT Percentile calculation: 25%
- Total Reasoning questions in MAT syllabus for an exam: 30
- Type of Questions: MCQs
- Past trend of topics in MAT Reasoning Syllabus: Questions were based on Family relations, Statements-Cause & Effect, Clocks & Calendars, Statements – Assumptions, Reasons, analogies, direction, series, and Incorrect Terms.
Section 3: Mathematical skills
MAT exam pattern for Mathematical skills refers to the Quant topics on which MAT questions are based. MAT Exam pattern for Quant consists of everything in Mathematics that you may or may not expect. MAT exam pattern on Quant is based on questions on different topics on Arithmetic, Algebra, Modern Math, Geometry, Mensuration, and Trigonometry among others. Here are the key details of the Mathematical Skills section in the MAT exam pattern
- Number of Questions: 30.
- Sectional weightage in MAT Exam: 20%
- Sectional Weightage in Percentile calculation: 25%
- Type of Questions: MCQs
- The past trend in the MAT exam pattern for Mathematics shows that there is more emphasis on Arithmetic with a number of questions going in the range of 15 to 16.
- Questions are based on Interest, Percentages, Time and Work, Profit, Loss, and Partnership.
- Other questions are based on topics like Equations, Ratio, Proportion & Variation, Geometry & Mensuration, Permutation and Combinations, and Probability among others.
Section-4: Data Analysis and Sufficiency
MAT exam pattern for Data Analysis and Sufficiency covers more topics on Data Interpretation. The key details of the section in the MAT exam pattern are:
- Number of Questions: 30
- Type of questions: MCQs
- Sectional weightage in MAT Exam: 20%
- Sectional Weightage in MAT Percentile Calculation: 25%
- The past trend of topics in the MAT exam for Data Analysis shows that questions on Data Analysis are based on text, tables, graphs (line, area), charts (column, bar, pie), and Venn diagrams.
- Data could be given in the form of tables, charts, or graphs.
- This section tests how candidates can interpret the given data and answer questions based on it.
- This section has more questions on data interpretation
- Data comparison time remains the major hurdle to solving these questions with speed and accuracy
- Questions on Data Interpretation (DI) occupy more than 50% of the section, the rest of the part covers questions on data sufficiency and data comparison
- The questions in this section of the MAT question paper can be expected in sets as well as individual ones
Section-5: Economic and Business Environment
Indian and Global Environment section in the MAT exam refers to the GK section. It expects you to know everything under the Sun on Business & Economy, Who’s who, current affairs, and static GK among others.
- Number of Questions: 30
- Type of questions: MCQs
- Sectional weightage in MAT: 20%
- Sectional Weightage in Percentile Calculation: Nil
- Past trend of topics in MAT Syllabus for Indian & Global Environment reveals that the Questions are formed on Film Awards, taxation & duties, Indian constitution, Who’s who, States of India, Sports, Recent events
- The suggested time limit by AIMA to answer the 30 questions in this section is 15 minutes but 10 minutes are enough to attempt this section
- The questions are based on conventional GK, business and economics, current affairs, international affairs
- This section is not counted for percentile calculation in the MAT exam
- Many Candidates skip or answer very few questions in this section to save time for other sections
MAT Previous Year Question Papers
| Download year-wise MAT exam question paper |
| MAT 2020 Sample Paper |
MAT Syllabus 2025
MAT 2025 syllabus consists of all the chapters and topics from which questions will be asked in the entrance exam. By knowing all the sections and topics, candidates will get to know their stronger and weaker sections or topics. Check the table which contains all the chapters pertaining to the MAT syllabus.
MAT Exam 2025 Syllabus (Topics)
Section name | Topics |
English Language |
|
Mathematical Skills |
|
Intelligence and Critical Reasoning |
|
Economic and Global Environment |
|
Data Analysis and Sufficiency |
|
Top MBA Colleges accepting MAT scores - City-wise
MAT Preparation Tips 2025
Any entrance exam requires active preparation if one wants to ace it in one go. Similarly, like every competitive exam, the Management Aptitude Test (MAT) also demands preparation and focus. Before starting their MAT preparation journey, one should go through the MAT 2025 exam pattern and syllabus thoroughly and start practising accordingly.
There are certain factors that one needs to keep in mind while preparing a preparation plan for MAT such as timely completion of the MAT syllabus, time management, what are the best books that the candidates must study, solving question papers, and taking mock tests.
Also read -
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is the mode of exam?
A:
MAT 2025 will be held in Computer-Based Test (CBT) and Paper-Based Test (PBT) mode.
Q: Is there any age limit for MAT 2025?
A:
There is no age bar prescribed by the authorities for MAT 2025.
Q: Is there any negative marking in MAT 2025?
A:
Yes, 0.25 marks will get deducted for every incorrect answer.
Q: What is the marking scheme of MAT exam?
A:
Each question will carry one mark and there will be a negative marking scheme is applicable i.e. 0.25 marks will be deducted for every incorrect answer.
Q: Will there be different pattern for CBT and PBT mode?
A:
No, the MAT exam pattern for both mode is same.
Q: What are the section name for MAT exam?
A:
There will be a total of five sections namely- Intelligence & Critical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, Mathematical Skills, Data Analysis & Data Sufficiency, and Indian & Global Environment.
Q: What is MAT exam?
A:
MAT exam is conducted for admission into MBA course.
Q: Which MAT section has maximum weightage?
A:
Each section of the MAT exam has an equal weightage of 30 questions and 30 marks.
Q: What is the duration of MAT exam?
A:
The duration of MAT exam is 120 minutes.
Q: How many questions in MAT exam?
A:
The MAT question paper has 150 questions equally divided into five sections - Language Comprehension, Intelligence & Critical Reasoning, Data Analysis & Data Sufficiency, Mathematical Skills, and Indian & Global Environment.
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Have a question related to MAT ?
Hello,
Thank you for your question!
KL- MAT syllabus: Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning, English/Verbal Ability, and General Awareness (similar to MAT/CMAT pattern).
CAT scores are valid in many private universities including KL University, but always check the year’s admission notification.
CAT vs other exams: CAT is toughest (IIMs + top B-schools), while MAT/CMAT/ATMA are relatively easier and accepted by many mid-level private universities.
Hello it will clear your doubt!
Hi,
MAR stands for Marks and Academic Record. This is a summary of your academic performance, especially during admission or counselling. It includes the list of subjects studied like Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Maths, English etc , marks obtained in each subject, total marks, percentage, year of passing, and board name (CBSE, State Board, ISC, etc.). MAR helps authorities verify that you meet the eligibility criteria for the course you're applying to, and it’s often required at the time of document verification during admissions.
If you’ve given the MAT exam and want admission in an MBA program through government colleges in Kolkata, here’s what you need to know:
Several government or government-aided institutes in Kolkata accept MAT scores for MBA admission. However, most top government colleges in West Bengal prefer CMAT, CAT, or JEMAT scores. That said, some colleges may consider MAT scores in specific quotas or for leftover seats.
Though you can consider:
-
Bengal Institute of Business Studies (semi-government)
-
NSHM Knowledge Campus (Kolkata)
-
Institute of Engineering and Management (IEM) – sometimes considered semi-govt/private
-
Army Institute of Management (for defense background)
For purely government institutes like Calcutta University (Dept. of Business Management) or IISWBM, MAT is usually not accepted — they require CAT or JEMAT.
Hello Rohit, it's great that you're looking into PGDM programs after completing your BBA. It's a good step for career advancement.
Based on your interest in a PGDM program in Hyderabad with a total fee under 2 lakhs, and your successful qualification in ICET and MAT, here are a few colleges you can consider, along with their associated fees
Cheapest colleges accepting TS ICET IN HYDERABAD
Good luck with your college search! If you have more questions or need further clarification, feel free to ask.
With a MAT score of 584.5 and 64.9 percentile , you are eligible for admission into mid-tier MBA colleges across Tamil Nadu and India.
In Tamil Nadu, you can apply to colleges like Rajalakshmi School of Business (Chennai) and other private institutions in Coimbatore, Trichy, and Chennai that accept scores in the 60–70 percentile range .
You can also explore colleges like St. Joseph’s Institute of Management (Bangalore) and GITAM School of Business in nearby states.
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