Management Admission Test [ MAT ]

About MAT 2021

MAT or Management Aptitude Test is a national level entrance test, conducted four times every year by the All India Management Association (AIMA) to provide admission to the MBA, PGDM, and associated programs offered by more than 800 MBA institutes/colleges of India.

The Management Aptitude Test refers to a standardized test that has been administered since 1988. It is held to enable Business Schools (B-Schools) to assess candidates for admission to the MBA, PGDM, and associated programs. The Indian Ministry of HRD approved MAT as a national level test in 2003. Any B-School, either national or international, can take into consideration an applicant's MAT Score as a criterion for admission based on the Score Cards issued to the candidates. The MAT is recognized as one of the most esteemed examinations and continues to be a benchmark to enter over 600 B-Schools across India.

Here are some noteworthy features of the MAT.

• The MAT is ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certified by Intertek with accreditation to the UKAS and the Quality Council of India.
• It is an entrance test for many recognized programs and has been conducted for several decades.
• The method of testing has been validated through independent studies and is availed by lakhs of students.
• Hundreds of Institutes and University Departments accept a candidate's MAT Score for admission.
• The exam employs the latest technology in evaluation and result processing.
• Every examinee receives an individual scorecard with their photograph.
• MAT centers are located all over the country to make it more accessible.

MAT Exam 2021: Key Element

MAT Exam 2021: Important Dates

Important dates of MAT 2021 for the February session exam such as application form, admit card, exam, and result are listed below. Candidates must go through the dates related to the MAT exam by mentioned below table:

MAT Exam 2021 CBT February Dates

MAT Exam 2021 PBT February Dates

MAT Exam 2021 IBT February Dates

MAT Registration 2021

MAT Exam registration for the 2021 February session commences on December 16, 2020, till February 14, 2021 for Computer Based Test (CBT) mode, and Paper Based Test (PBT) mode registration ends on March 1, 2021. Candidates who want to participate in the exam have to apply for the exam by filling the application form through the official website of the MAT. It is an online process that involves the following steps:

Step 1: Registration

• Visit the official website of MAT – Click Here
• Now Click REGISTER
• Fill the registration form
• Click on the SUBMIT button
• OTP will be sent on the registered mobile number
• Verify your phone number

Step 2: Fill Application Form

• Select Exam Mode: CBT or PBT or IBT.
• Fill required detail.

Step 3: Test Centers Selection

• Select the test center for the exam.
• For MAT IBT mode candidates can take the test from home.

Step 4: Upload Documents

• Passport size scanned photograph (File size should be 50 KB to 100 KB)
• Scanned Signature (File size should be 10 KB to 25 KB)

Step 5: Payment

The examination fee can be paid using Credit Card/Debit Card (ATM Card), Net Banking, UPI, or Paytm Wallet. The fee details are as mentioned below.

For the application process, the candidate is required to make provisions for the following.

• A valid e-mail Id
• A Scanned image of their photograph (50 to 100 Kb)
• A Scanned image of signature (10 to 25 Kb)
• The Credit Card/Debit Card (ATM Card)/Net Banking details
• The detailed procedure is provided on the website stated above.

All provisionally registered candidates for IBT/PBT must download their Admit Card from the AIMA official website as per the schedule.

The Admit Card contains the applicant's name, Form Number, Roll Number, the date, time, and venue of examination. Candidates must strictly adhere to the date and time allotted to them in the admit card.

The candidate can download the scorecard from the AIMA website during the last week of the month of the test. An applicant's MAT Score is valid for up to one year.

MAT Eligibility 2021

• Candidates should possess a bachelor's degree in any stream from a recognized university/institute with an aggregate of 50%.
• Final year candidates can also apply, but their admission shall be subjected to the submission of the passing certificate of the final year, i.e., a minimum of 50% marks.
• Reservation of 5% is provided to the SC/ST students for appearing in the entrance (45% marks are required by them to be eligible).
• There is a minimum requirement of graduation percentage, which varies depending on the Management Institute (MI)/University. To know more about the specifications, kindly go through the prospectus of the respective MIs/Universities.

MAT Seat Reservation Criteria 2021

MAT Exam Pattern

Section-wise distribution and Marking Scheme:

The test is conducted for 150 minutes and contains 200 questions distributed over five sections, which are listed below:

MAT Exam Syllabus

Language Comprehension

The Language Comprehension section includes 40 Multiple Choice Questions from the following topics.

Intelligence and Critical Reasoning

The Intelligence and Critical Reasoning section contains 40 questions and tests the candidate's cognitive and analytical skills.

Data Analysis and Sufficiency

The Data Analysis and Sufficiency section contains 40 objective type questions.

Mathematical Skills

The Mathematical Skills section comprises topics from Geometry, Algebra, and Mensuration.

Indian and Global Environment Section

The Indian and Global Environment section contains 40 Multiple Choice Questions on general knowledge, current affairs, and other popular topics like the economy, business, science, and sports.

MAT Exam Day Instructions

For the MAT IBT mode, candidates should arrange for a laptop/desktop with stable internet connectivity. Students are suggested to stay prepared at least one hour before the scheduled exam time.

For the MAT IBT mode, the candidates should wear formal clothes and ensure that they have the admit card and necessary documents ready for the remote verification process.

For the CBT and PBT modes:

• Applicants are advised to reach their allotted test centre for the MAT exam at least an hour before the exam time mentioned on their admit card.
• Candidates must carry a blue/black ballpoint pen if they are taking the exam in PBT mode.
• Phones, calculators, electronic watches, or any such items are prohibited at the exam centre. Therefore, the examinees must make sure that they aren't carrying any of them on the day of the exam.
• The examinees must carry the original copy of the admit card with them to the test centre. A digital or photocopy of the MAT admit card will not be considered as a valid ID proof.

Candidates appearing for the MAT must carry with them:

• Two copies of the admit card
• A self-declaration that states that they do not have any illness or COVID-19 like symptoms
• An Identity Proof (Voter ID, Aadhar Card Election I-Card, Passport, Driving License or PAN Card)
• Proof of name change (if any)
• Caste certificate (if applicable)

Institutes Participating in MAT 2021

MAT is the postgraduate entrance exam conducted by the All India Management Association (AIMA) to provide admission to the MBA, PGDM, and associated programs of different institutes in India.

Listed below is the zone wise different colleges/institutes accepting MAT 2021 Scores:

EAST ZONE

NORTH ZONE

SOUTH ZONE

WEST ZONE

MAT Exam 2021: Exam Cities

Listed below are the names of 54 PBT and 31 CBT exam centers where MAT 2021 is going to be held. Candidates can choose the city according to their ease at the time of registration:

PAPER BASED TEST (PBT)

COMPUTER BASED TEST (CBT)

MAT Exam Mode 2021

A candidate can take the MAT in the following modes.

• Remote Proctored Internet-Based Test (IBT)
• Double Remote Proctored Internet-Based Test (IBT)
• Paper-Based Test (PBT)

Paper-Based Test and Remote Proctored Internet-Based Test (PBT+IBT)

Kindly note that a candidate can opt for both the IBTs by paying an extra fee of ₹ 1100/- on a regular exam fee of ₹ 1650/-.

Candidates opting for both the IBTs have the benefit of selecting two extra Management Institutes for sending their scores in addition to the prevailing option of selecting five Management Institutes. They can choose seven Management Institutes in total.

In a Computer-Based Test, questions are presented on the monitor, and candidates are required to submit the answers by using the keyboard or mouse. The computers are connected to a server that is responsible for preparing the question set and delivering them to the respective computer. Unlike this, the Paper-Based Test is organized on a single day for all candidates. The MAT is offered over a period of time, and the candidates can choose the center, the day and time of their convenience to take the test.

By opting for the Computer-Based Test, it is assumed that the candidate has basic familiarity with the use of computers. It is the candidate's responsibility to acquire these skills before appearing for the exam, and the AIMA is not responsible for the same.

In the Paper-Based Test, the student is supposed to bring pens, HB pencils, erasers, and sharpeners with him/her. The question paper and OMR answer sheet will be provided at the test center.

Except for the different exam dates, the fee, exam pattern, and syllabus for both the modes remain the same.

Preparing for the MAT 2021

For effective preparation, students are advised to focus on improving their problem-solving skills with the help of previous years' MAT question papers and mock tests. Your MAT preparation strategy should be organized according to the MAT exam pattern and syllabus. All sections in the MAT have equal weightage.

One can crack the MAT by being diligent in their preparation:

• Make it a practice to read books, magazines, newspapers, and online blogs daily to improve your reading and comprehension skills. This also helps in staying up to date with the current affairs at the national and international levels.
• Practice solving MAT question papers, sample papers, and online mock tests to improve speed and accuracy and develop familiarity with the examination pattern.
• Analyze your preparation and note your strengths and weakness in each section of the syllabus.
• Observe and target the topics carrying more weightage in each section.
• Perfect your time management skills as it is crucial to help you attempt a maximum number of questions in the exam. Try not to waste time on tricky problems.

Some recommended books for MAT preparation are listed below:

Language Comprehension

Intelligence and Critical Reasoning

Mathematical Skills

Indian and Global Environment

FAQ Concerning MAT 2021

Q1. What should I do in case of a mistake while filling the form?

A1. You won’t be able to make any changes to your application form once submitted so don’t make any mistakes while filling the form.

Q2. Is the MAT exam syllabus similar to XAT?

A2. MAT exam is a national level entrance exam. MAT exam is syllabus is quite similar to XAT.

Q3. Can I get admission in IIM by giving MAT?

A3. No, IIMs don't accept MAT (Management Aptitude Test) scores. You can get admission into IIMs only by cracking CAT (Common Admission Test).

Q4. How many attempts are allowed in MAT?

A4. You can give as many attempts as you want.

Q5. How many times does the MAT exam take place every year?

A5. MAT exam takes place 4 times a year in the month of February, May, September, and December.

Q6. Can I choose the mode of examination?

A6. You can choose the mode of exam from online, offline, and remote proctored modes.

Q7. Does the MAT contain negative marking?

A7. Yes, the MAT scoring pattern is +1 mark for a right answer and -0.25 marks for a wrong answer.

Best Wishes to all MAT aspirants from the CollegeMarg Team!