MAT Syllabus 2026 (Section-Wise): Download PDF, Exam Pattern, Important Topics & Preparation Strategy

MAT Syllabus 2026 (Section-Wise): Download PDF, Exam Pattern, Important Topics & Preparation Strategy

Himanshu ShekharUpdated on 16 Feb 2026, 05:16 PM IST

MAT Syllabus 2026 has been specified by the All India Management Association (AIMA) in the official brochure. As per the MAT 2026 exam syllabus, the questions will be asked from topics such as Language Comprehension, Data Analysis and Sufficiency, Mathematical Skills, Intelligence and Critical Reasoning, and Economic and Business Environment. AIMA conducts MAT exam in both online and offline modes. The total number of questions asked in the MAT exam is 150, and candidates must solve the entire MAT paper within 120 minutes. Read this article to know the important topics in the MAT 2026 syllabus, how to download the MAT syllabus pdf with solutions, etc.

This Story also Contains

  1. MAT Syllabus 2026: Overview
  2. Section-Wise MAT Exam Syllabus 2026
  3. Best Books for MAT Preparation 2026
  4. MAT Exam Pattern 2026
  5. MAT Sample Paper 2026
MAT Syllabus 2026 (Section-Wise): Download PDF, Exam Pattern, Important Topics & Preparation Strategy
MAT Syllabus 2026

MAT Syllabus 2026: Overview

MAT 2026 has five sections, each consisting of 30 questions. Candidates can visit the MAT exam syllabus 2026 official website, mat.aima.in, to download the exam syllabus in PDF. The MAT exam syllabus 2026 pdf free download is available online for candidates to start exam preparation.

Candidates save a chunk of time on preparation because, by looking at the Management Aptitude Test (MAT) syllabus, they know exactly what they need to study. This also helps you assess your ability and know where you stand in terms of preparing for the entrance exam. So you can focus your attention on the areas where you are particularly weak.

The syllabus of MAT 2026 provides detailed information about the important topics to study, along with the number of questions from each topic. So it is important for the candidates to know the MAT syllabus for the MBA exam, as this helps them prepare well for the test.

In short, knowing the MAT syllabus 2026 in advance will help the candidates develop a clear-cut, effective strategy for preparing for the MAT exam. MAT 2.0 is conducted four times a year in computer-based (CBT) and pen-and-paper-based (PBT) modes.

The entire MAT entrance exam syllabus 2026 is divided into five key sections, which are Language Comprehension, Data Analysis and Sufficiency, Mathematical Skills, Economic and Business Environment, and Intelligence & Critical Reasoning. The difficulty level of questions in the paper may be easy or moderate. However, some questions might be tricky.

Section-Wise MAT Exam Syllabus 2026

Each section of the MAT exam subject has an equal number of questions in MCQ format. Even though the Indian and Global Environment section is not included in the calculation of the marks, it has 30 questions. Check the section-wise weightage below.

MAT 2026 for Language Comprehension Syllabus

English language skills are tested in almost every entrance exam for MBA/PGDM. This is because language comprehension is one of the essential requirements to enter the business world in terms of presentation and many other aspects. Candidates must have a good grasp of grammar and vocabulary. The sub-topics from which questions are asked are:

MAT Syllabus for the English language

Synonyms and Antonyms

Sentence Correction

Idioms and phrases

Fill in the blanks

Para jumbles

The odd word one out

Word replacement

Reading Comprehension Passage

MAT 2026 Mathematical Skills Syllabus

This is basically a quantitative aptitude section where your mathematical solving skills and strong concepts up to class 12 come into play. You need to be aware of the shortcut tricks as you have to solve the questions within a stipulated time. You need to spot and solve the easiest questions at first and then move toward the more difficult questions in the MAT Reasoning syllabus.

Do not spend too much time on a single question if you do not know the answer. Hence, ace at mental calculation rather than solving on pen and paper.

Top MBA Colleges Accepting MAT Scores - State-Wise

MAT 2026 Syllabus for Data Analysis and Sufficiency

This section comprises 30 questions and gauges your analytical skills. You need to be aware of all types of graphs, like line charts, bar graphs, pie graphs, mixed graphs, and tabular forms. Candidates must keep in mind that it is a practice-intensive section. The syllabus for it is given below:

Syllabus of MAT 2026: Data Analysis and Sufficiency

Data Charts

Graphs - Line X-Y graphs

Bar diagrams & charts including Simple, Stacked, and Composite Bar charts

Pie charts

Data tables

Caselet based data

Data sufficiency

Venn diagram

Mixed charts and graphs

MAT Exam Syllabus 2026 for Economic and Business Environment

This section consumes very little time as compared to other sections. So candidates are advised to solve this section at the end. Aspirants need to start brushing up on their GK and current affairs from the very early phase, from which they start to prepare for MAT 2026.

Newspapers, monthly magazines, and subscribing to news alerts on your desktops and mobiles can come to your rescue. Also, this section has no weightage when it comes to calculating the overall percentile of MAT.

MAT 2026 Economic and Business Environment Syllabus

Business awareness

Who’s who

Current Affairs

Corporate News

Finance

Business

Monetary and fiscal tools

International Organizations

Statements and Quotations

Geography, History, and Civics

Also Check;

K J Somaiya Institute of Management MBA Admissions 2026

Highest Package 27.25 LPA | Top 100 Average package 16.65 LPA | AACSB Accredited | Ranked 52 by QS International

Great Lakes - PGDM & PGPM Admissions 2026

Application Deadline: 10th March | Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 17.8 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2025

Best Books for MAT Preparation 2026

To crack the MAT exam, candidates should study books based on subjects and question paper patterns of the exam specifically. Check below for popular books for MAT preparation:

  • MAT Entrance Exam Guide by RPH Editorial
  • MAT 20 Years Topic-wise Solved Papers by Disha Experts
  • Mission MBA: MAT Mock Tests & Solved Papers by BS Sijwalii and Tarun Goyal
MAT Preparation Tips, Study Material & Mock Test
Candidates can download this eBook to check MAT 2026 section-wise preparation tips, latest exam pattern, previous year paper analysis & Important books.
Download EBook

To prepare section-wise, candidates can check here the best books for MAT preparation.

Top MBA Entrance Exams

MAT Exam Pattern 2026

All India Management Association has specified the exam pattern for MAT, which includes the total number of questions that will be asked, the marking scheme, the duration of the exam, the mode of exam, etc.

MAT 2026 Exam Pattern

Particulars

Details

Mode of the exam

Online and offline

Duration of the exam

120 minutes

Total number of questions

150

Total number of sections

Five sections of 30 questions each

Sections

  • Intelligence and Critical Reasoning
  • Language Comprehension
  • Mathematics Skills
  • Data Analysis and Sufficiency
  • Economic and Business Environment

MAT Sample Paper 2026

Candidates must solve the sample papers of MAT so that they know what kind of questions will be asked in the entrance test. Solving MAT sample papers will help candidates to analyse what topics to focus more on.

The more sample papers and mock tests you attempt, the more adept you become in your preparation for the main exam day. With the help of MAT sample question papers, students can easily understand the exam pattern and syllabus of the MAT exam.

Take MAT free mock test here

Top MBA Colleges Accepting MAT Scores—City-Wise

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is the mode in which MAT 2025 will be conducted?
A:

MAT exam is conducted four times in a year in both Paper-based test mode (PBT) and Computer-based test mode (CBT).

Q: How many sections are there in MAT 2025 exam pattern?
A:

There are a total of five sections in the exam namely Language Comprehension, Data Analysis and Sufficiency, Mathematical Skills, Economic and Business Environment, Intelligence & Critical Reasoning.

Q: What is the total number of questions that will be asked in MAT 2025?
A:

There are a total of 150 questions in the AIMA MAT entrance test.

Q: Is there a negative marking in MAT 2025?
A:

Yes, there is ¼ of negative marking in the exam paper. +1 marks will be awarded for every correct answer.

Q: What is the advantage of solving sample papers of MAT 2025?
A:

Solving sample papers will help the candidates in having a better understanding of the exam paper, the type of questions and the marking scheme beforehand. They can plan their preparation according to the level of questions and how to solve them in a stipulated time.

Q: What is MAT exam?
A:

MAT is a national-level MBA entrance exam conducted four times a year in computer-based (CBT) and pen and paper-based mode (PBT) modes. 

Q: What are MAT subjects?
A:

The subjects in MAT include sections- Language Comprehension, Data Analysis and Sufficiency, mathematical skills, Economic and Business Environment, intelligence and critical reasoning.

Articles
|
Upcoming Bschool Exams
Ongoing Dates
NMET Application Date

22 Oct'25 - 28 Feb'26 (Online)

Ongoing Dates
VITBEE Application Date

31 Oct'25 - 12 Apr'26 (Online)

Ongoing Dates
PU MET Application Date

3 Dec'25 - 28 Mar'26 (Online)

Certifications By Top Providers
Online MBA
Via Jaypee Institute of Information Technology, Noida
Corporate Law
Via National Law University, New Delhi
Strategic Management
Via Indian Institute of Management Bangalore
Online BBA
Via Jaypee Institute of Information Technology, Noida
Management of Commercial Banking
Via Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
Management of Inventory Systems
Via Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
Udemy
 703 courses
Edx
 467 courses
Swayam
 236 courses
Emeritus
 231 courses
Explore Top Universities Across Globe
University of Essex, Colchester
Wivenhoe Park Colchester CO4 3SQ
Oxford Brookes University, Oxford
Headington Campus Oxford OX3 0BP UK
Northumbria University, Newcastle City Campus
Sutherland Building, Northumberland Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 8ST
Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff
Llandaff Campus, Western Avenue, Cardiff, CF5 2YB
University of Reading, Reading
Whiteknights PO Box 217 Reading Berkshire RG6 6AH
Bristol Baptist College, Bristol
The Promenade, Clifton Down, Bristol BS8 3NJ

Questions related to MAT

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to MAT ?

You can get. VIT even considers a 450+ score in MAT
It mainly depends on the interview, overall good academics, and profile

A score of 75 out of 180 (combined MAT and SAT) in the NMMS 2025–26 examination may be enough to qualify, but it might not be sufficient to get the scholarship, since the final cutoff depends on your category and state.

Click on NMMS Result 2025-26 (State-wise) to check more

NMMS MAT refers to National Means cum Merit Scholarship Mental Ability Test. You can find the NMMS MAT sample papers and previous year question papers from the link given here.

Career 360 is providing a free MAT mock test on its website. Here is the link for you to practice: MAT Free Mock Test