MAT 2025 Language Comprehension & Verbal Ability Preparation Tips, Syllabus, Exam Pattern

MAT 2025 Preparation for Language Comprehension & Verbal Ability

To prepare for Language Comprehension and Verbal Ability section of MAT 2025, one must focus on grammar and vocabulary. If your English skills are good, you might need less time to prepare but if your English is weak, you might need to start preparing early on. The following guidelines mentioned here will help you prepare language comprehension for the MAT exam. Some guidelines in short are:

• Enhance vocabulary

• Work on grammar skills

• Improve reading comprehension skills

• Solve MAT previous year questions

MAT 2025 Exam Pattern

Before dealing with MAT 2025 Preparation Tips for Language Comprehension and Verbal Ability, we need to discuss the exam pattern of MAT 2025. The five sections/subjects and some of the other details of MAT 2025 are -

Note - Some of the MAT participating institutes do not consider Indian and Global environment marks.

All sections of MAT 2025 have equal weightage so the importance of Language Comprehension cannot be denied. The difficulty level of the Language Comprehension of MAT is considered moderate and to excel in it you need an effective study plan. Now we’ll move on to MAT Language Comprehension & Verbal Ability Tips for which we first need to understand the syllabus and structure of the section.

MAT Language Comprehension & Verbal Ability Section Syllabus

The MAT 2025 syllabus and structure of the section on language comprehension for MAT exam is as follows -

Part 1: Reading Comprehension

• 1. Types of Passages (Narrative, Descriptive, Argumentative)

• 2. Types of Questions Asked -

  • Main Idea and Theme

  • Inference Questions

  • Author's Tone and Purpose

  • Vocabulary in Context (Synonyms/Antonyms)

Part 2: Verbal Ability

• Sentence Rearrangement

• Odd One Out

• Sentence Correction based on Parts of Speech, Tenses and Usage of Words

• Subject-Verb-Agreement

• Direct & Indirect Speech

• Active & Passive Voice

• Antonyms/Synonyms

• Fill in the blanks

• One-word substitution

• Idioms/Phrases

Preparation Tips for MAT 2025 Verbal Ability Section

Enhance Vocabulary

• Rote memorisation isn't very helpful when it comes to learning new vocabulary.

• With the help of root words, you are often able to understand the meaning of the words you have never encountered before. Learning and revising through roots saves a lot of time and you tend to learn more effectively. For instance, FID is a root word that means TRUST. It forms several words like :

• For MAT vocabulary, read the newspaper daily. Note down the difficult words that you come across while reading. Look up the meanings of those words and note them down in a separate notebook dedicated exclusively to vocabulary learning. It is advisable to write down the part of speech of the given word and at least one example sentence in simple language containing the word that you have just learned. It helps you better understand and remember the word. For this purpose, try to make your own sentence, possibly somehow related to your own life. That way you will remember the word longer.

• Use mnemonics to learn vocabulary for the MAT exam. Mnemonics are memory devices that help learners recall larger pieces of information by associating them with some word or sentence. For instance,

ASSIDUOUS means working very hard and taking great care that everything is done as well as it can be; diligent. Now we can learn it by associating it with the word which means a donkey and a donkey is known for working hard and carrying heavy loads. Similarly, SAGE means wise, especially because you have a lot of experience. We can learn it by associating it with AGE. Generally, with age comes wisdom. Unfortunately, this does not hold true for everyone!

• Vocabulary can be learned through clustering. This basically means learning words around one theme or idea. These themes or ideas can be words related to cold weather like frosty, frigid, shivering, chattering, etc, or anything related to food like beverage, dessert, potable, edible, ambrosia, etc.

Clustering may even include semantically related words as in synonyms and antonyms. For example, the synonyms of SCARED can be learned together -

fearful, frightened, afraid, horrified, terrified, petrified, intimidated, panicky, panic-stricken

• Arranging words alphabetically and then learning can be a little helpful. Also, learning those words together that rhyme can be of help like “horrified, terrified, petrified” together.

• Vocabulary can be learned better with the help of pictures because the human brain responds far better to visual information compared to just plain text.

• Take the help of pictures to learn idioms but more importantly, idioms often have their origin story - how that idiom came into existence. This often helps in learning it. For instance, the idiom BEAT AROUND/ABOUT THE BUSH comes from hunting practice. This idiom means to talk about something for a long time without coming to the main point. While hunting birds, participants would beat bushes in order to draw out the birds. Therefore, they were beating around the bush before getting to the main point of the hunt - actually capturing the birds.

• Besides, learn vocabulary from a book. The best would be Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis.

• Keep revising daily. If you have difficulty in learning, memorize by writing.

Work on Grammar and Sentence Correction

• Tenses and the basic understanding of parts of speech form the basis of English. You need to be thorough with them and be able to recognize the different parts of speech.

• Understand all the rules of grammar related to different topics, starting with the study of basic tenses or parts of speech.

• Understand the concepts with the help of example sentences.

• Practice questions on each topic.

• Go through the questions of previous years in order to familiarize yourself with the kinds of questions that can be formed on each topic.

• You will have to find the error in the given sentence or apply some grammatical rule to fill in the blank. Let’s discuss the grammar section with two examples -

1. Given below are four sentences or parts of sentences that form a paragraph. Identify the part(s) of sentence(s) that is/are incorrect in terms of grammar and usage.

2. Although he was born in a little village near the coast and had gone to school in the nearest seaside town Mr. Smith was not a lover of the sea.

3. When walking along the sands, he was always afraid of the tide.

4. He was not a very good swimmer, so perhaps this accounts for it.

5. After working for some years in London he was transferred to a coastal resort, and of course, the family outings were often made to the beach.

6. One day his children pleaded him to take them for a ferry ride.

7. 1 and 3 B. 1 and 4 C. 1 and 5 D. 2 and 4

1 and 5 are wrong so the correct answer is C.

Explanation :

Remove BUT. ALTHOUGH is not followed by BUT. ALTHOUGH can be used with YET or just with a comma (,). Therefore, 1 is incorrect.

Besides, PLEAD is followed by the preposition WITH. Example -

He pleaded with me. (correct).

He pleaded me. (wrong)

Therefore, 5 is incorrect.

II. This hotel ___ three swimming pools.

A. comprises of

B. Comprise

C. Boasts

D. Boasts of

The correct sentence is “This hotel boasts three swimming pools.” so the correct answer is C.

Explanation:

A is wrong because COMPRISE is not followed by OF

B is wrong because the subject HOTEL is singular so the verb should be COMPRISES.

Now between C and D, we need to look at the meaning of the word BOAST.

BOAST + OF/ABOUT = to talk with too much pride about something that you have or can do

For example, He always boasts of/about his high-paying job.

BOAST + no preposition = to have something that is impressive and that you can be proud of

For example, India boasts the highest win percentage in the T20 World Cup.

Therefore, C is the correct answer.

Practice Jumbled Sentences

If you find jumbled sentences and sentence rearrangement difficult, start practicing easy questions first. There are several other exams in which jumbled sentences are asked but they are shorter and easier. When you master them, go on to MAT-level questions.

You get grammatical clues in order to arrange the sentences in the right order. When you get a grip on applying grammatical rules in smaller/easier questions, you can ace MAT-level questions with practice very soon. Remember, this needs to be done only if you are facing difficulty in it.

Solve MAT Previous Year Questions

It is crucial as part of MAT Language Comprehension & Verbal Ability Tips that you target the previous years’ questions of at least 6-7 years. This will help you understand the difficulty level of MAT and the types of questions asked. The more you practice, the better it is. If you are able to practice and master them, you have taken a giant step towards getting the required MAT score.

Take Topic-wise Tests and MAT Mock Tests

• For MAT Language Comprehension 2025, you need to solve more and more tests in order to keep track of your progress.

• Just quantity is not the key. This should be accompanied by the right strategy.

• When you start studying, focus on your basics. Gain clarity and make such topics strong. Only a strong foundation can help you solve difficult questions later.

• After studying a particular topic, practice sectional or topic-wise tests related to that topic.

• Once you have covered a major portion of the syllabus, you can start practicing from MAT mock tests.

• There is no point in solving mock tests if you haven’t studied the topics. You won’t be able to answer the questions on something you haven’t studied.

Focus on Time Management during MAT exam Preparation

• Time management plays a pivotal role so it is required that you keep track of time while studying as well as while solving mock tests and previous years’ questions.

• Note down the things you are learning in order to better memorize them. Keep the notes as brief as possible - as bullet points. Writing down effectively helps in the learning process and also in revision.

• Keeping track of time while practicing will help you identify the topics in which you are taking too long to solve and help you make your time management strategy for the exam day. You’ll know beforehand which questions you generally take longer to solve and which questions you can avoid attempting in case there is a time crunch or solve later.

• The Pomodoro Technique is considered very effective for time management and can be utilized. It involves studying for 25 minutes, then taking a 5-minute break, and repeating this process four times. After the fourth break, a longer break of 15–30 minutes is to be taken.

Preparation Tips for MAT 2025 Reading Comprehension

• Vocabulary and reading comprehension go hand in hand. Without strong vocabulary, it’s tough to grasp passages effectively. Since MAT 2025 RCs can be from Economics, Literature, Science, History, Arts, or Philosophy, reading widely helps you get comfortable with diverse styles and terms.

• Reading newspapers, magazines, novels, and blogs improves speed, vocabulary, and comprehension together. If time is short, focus mainly on newspapers, as they cover all topics relevant to MAT passages.
  To boost efficiency, try the Pacer method—tracing lines with a pen or finger to stay focused. Work on increasing your eye span (the number of words you read in one glance) to enhance speed. Techniques like Rapid Serial Visual Presentation (RSVP) can also sharpen focus and reading pace.

• After reading, summarize key points and highlight keywords to retain information better. Finally, practice identifying different passage tones—such as cynical, ethical, or apathetic—to improve accuracy in inference-based questions.

Practice Different Types of Passages

1. NARRATIVE - Narrative style of writing is easy to identify since these passages are written in the form of a story. The intention of the author is to narrate some events or personal experiences through such passages. Such a passage requires you to imagine the scenes and setting and understand the characters to connect with the plot.

2. DESCRIPTIVE - Descriptive passages are used to describe a person, thing, place or event in great detail. It is natural that such passages include a lot of adjectives, adverbs, metaphors and similes in order to paint a picture of that particular person or thing in the reader’s mind.

3. ARGUMENTATIVE - Argumentative style uses factual evidence and logical support to convince the reader to form a particular opinion. Such passages cite instances, justifications, studies and facts to support a specific point of view or stand taken on the given topic.

Mistakes to Avoid in MAT 2025 Language Comprehension & Verbal Ability Preparation

The Language Comprehension and Verbal Ability section of MAT 2025 demands a smart mix of reading, vocabulary, grammar, and practice. Knowing the common pitfalls and preparing strategically will help you maximize your score.

Focus on Reading Comprehension

Regular reading is the backbone of this section. Develop the habit of reading newspapers, magazines, and editorials to improve speed and accuracy. While solving RCs, glance at the questions first, then skim the passage to identify keywords and main ideas without getting stuck in details.

Build and Revise Vocabulary

A strong vocabulary boosts both comprehension and verbal ability. Learn a handful of new words daily and revise them consistently. Using techniques like mnemonics or word association will make it easier to retain meanings and apply them effectively in the exam.

Strengthen Grammar Fundamentals

Grammar is more than just knowing rules—it’s about applying them correctly. Revise topics like tenses, subject-verb agreement, and modifiers, then practice through exercises and mock tests. Consistent practice ensures accuracy in sentence correction and usage-based questions.

Practice All Question Types

Skipping practice of certain question types can be costly. Cover all areas—reading comprehension, para jumbles, sentence correction, vocabulary, and reasoning. Regular practice with MAT mock tests and previous year papers will help improve speed, accuracy, and confidence.

Analyze Mistakes and Improve

Merely solving questions isn’t enough; reviewing mistakes is key. After every mock test, analyze where you went wrong and whether certain errors repeat. Identifying weak areas and working on them steadily will ensure consistent improvement.

Manage Time Effectively

Time management is as important as preparation. Create a balanced study plan that covers reading, vocabulary, grammar, and practice within your available time. Simulate exam-like conditions by timing yourself during mock tests and leave a few minutes for revision.

Avoid Common Pitfalls

Do not rely only on cramming vocabulary or ignoring tough questions. Challenging RCs or higher-level grammar questions may appear, and leaving them unprepared can hurt your score. Final revision of vocabulary and grammar rules is essential to avoid last-minute confusion.

MAT 2025 Language Comprehension & Verbal Ability: Important Books

In order to perform well in MAT Language Comprehension 2025 you need to study quality content. Here is a list of the best books for language comprehension and verbal ability -

MAT 2025 Ebooks from Careers360