MAT

Management Aptitude Test or MAT is a national-level exam conducted by the All India Management Association (AIMA) for admissions to MBA/PGDM courses.

• The exam is conducted four times in a year, each in February, May, September and December.
• Candidates who qualify the exam are eligible for admissions to 800+ B-schools accepting MAT scores.
• MAT is conducted in both offline (paper based test) and online (computer based test) modes. Candidates can choose to appear in the exam in any mode as per their preference. For PBT, they can select up to two test cities. Fees, exam pattern and syllabus for both the modes are same while registrations and exam dates are different.

MAT Exam Pattern : Overall & Sectional Composition

• There are 5 sections with equal number of questions in the exam.
• Each section in the question paper will have 40 questions. Total questions are 200
• All questions are in MCQ format.
• Total exam time duration to solve the question paper is 150 minutes.
• Although, individual time limit for each section has been suggested by AIMA, there is no restriction to move from one section to other freely within overall time limit in the MAT 2020 exam.

MAT 2020 Exam Pattern: Three Modes of MAT Exam

There are 3 types of exams scheduled in a month now. Management Aptitude Test 2020 from May onwards is conducted as IBT; as paper based test and as computer based test. The IBT and computer based exams will be held in different time slots.

Facility to Appear in One or Two MAT Exams

Candidates can appear in two exams – Paper Based exam and Computer Based Test. However, those opt for IBT MAT do not have this facility. The MAT exam fee is Rs.1650/- for one MAT exam and Rs.2750/- for two exams..

Key Facts about Exam Pattern

MAT is an objective type test with Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs). Here are the key details about the Pattern:

• Exam pattern consists of 200 Objective Type Questions (MCQs)
• Questions are of easy to moderate difficulty level
• The 5 test sections in MAT 2020 exam are Language Comprehension, Mathematical skills, Data Analysis and Sufficiency, Intelligence and Critical Reasoning, Indian and Global Environment.

Section-1: Language Comprehension

Language Comprehension section in MAT is divided into 2 parts. The 1^st part of MAT covers topics on Reading Comprehension passages and the 2^nd part covers questions on Grammar & other parts of Verbal Ability. Key details are:

Part-1: Reading Comprehension in MAT Exam

• Number of Questions Based on RC Passages: 20
• 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 of MCQ type with penalty of ¼  negative marking
• Format of questions: Questions are based on information in RC passage; Antonyms/synonyms of the words & phrases as used in the passage; True/false statements; main idea of RC passage

Part-2: MAT Verbal Ability

• Number of Questions: 20
• Sectional Weightage in MAT Syllabus: 50%
• Type of Questions: All of MCQ type with penalty for 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 sentence, time clauses, reported speech, 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

MAT question paper has tricky questions in this area. The section in MAT exam pattern is divided in 2 parts – Intelligence Reasoning and Critical Reasoning. In other exams like CAT, critical reasoning questions are also asked in Verbal Ability section. Here are the key details on the section in MAT exam:

• Questions in reasoning section can be individual or can be in the 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 exam: 40
• Type of Questions: MCQs
• Past trend of topics in MAT Reasoning Syllabus: Questions were based on Family Relation, Statements-Cause & Effect, Clocks & Calendars, Statement –Assumptions, Reasons, analogies, direction, series, 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, Trignometry among others. Here are the key details of the Mathematical Skills section in MAT exam pattern

• Number of Questions: 40.
• Sectional weightage in MAT Exam: 20%
• Sectional Weightage in Percentile calculation: 25%
• Type of Questions: MCQs
• Past trend in MAT exam pattern for Mathematics shows that there is More emphasis on Arithmetic with number of questions going in the range of 15 to 16.
• Questions are based on Interest, Percentages, Time and Work, Profit, Loss, Partnership.
• Other questions are based on topics like Equations, Ratio, Proportion & Variation, Geometry & Mensuration, Permutation and Combinations, 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 MAT exam pattern are:

• Number of Questions: 40
• Type of questions: MCQs
• Sectional weightage in MAT Exam: 20%
• Sectional Weightage in MAT Percentile Calculation: 25%
• Past trend of topics in MAT exam for Data Analysis shows that questions on Data Analysis are  based on text, tables, graphs (line, area), charts (column, bar, pie), venn diagram.
• Data could be given in form of tables, charts or graphs.
• In this section it is tested that 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 solve these questions with speed and accuracy
• Questions on Data Interpretation (DI) occupy more than 50% of the section, rest of the part covers questions on data sufficiency and data comparison
• The questions in this section of MAT question paper can be expected in sets as well as individual ones

Section-5: Indian and Global Environment

Indian and Global Environment section in MAT exam refers to the GK section. It expects you to know everything under the Sun on Business & Economy, Who’s who, current affairs, static GK among others.

• Number of Questions: 40
• 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 reveal that the Questions are formed on Film Awards, taxation & duties, Indian constitution, Who’s who, States of India, Sports, Recent events
• Suggested time limit by AIMA to answer the 40 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 MAT exam
• Many Candidates skip or answer very few questions in this section to save time for other sections

MAT Syllabus

Section-1: Language Comprehension

Section Highlights: MAT exam Syllabus for Language Comprehension section in MAT is divided into 2 parts. The 1^st part of MAT syllabus covers topics on Reading Comprehension passages and the 2^nd part of MAT exam syllabus covers topics on Grammar & other parts of Verbal Ability.

Part-1: MAT Syllabus for Reading Comprehension (RC)

• RC Syllabus covers current affairs making impact on Social Life, International Affairs, Govt policies and Schemes for example Triple Talaq, Clean India Mission, Migration of people from one country to other, Growing intolerance across the Globe, Agricultural policies, poverty eradication programmes
• Business & Economic RC Passages for example Global economic changes, economic development at the cost of environment, Impact of Demonetization in India, Wasteful expenditure by Governments
• RC passages from various English Literature books, from articles authored by great philosophers, thinkers, from various speeches of great personalities like passages from Charles Dickens, Aristotle, Martin Luther King, Mohan Das Karam Chand Gandhi, Churchill among others
• Passages on Science & Culture including the journey to Modern world; Fading culture with the advancement of technology
• Abstract topics and fiction are also included in the Reading Comprehension Syllabus for MAT. These Passages make the candidates put themselves in the author’s shoes before answering the questions following these passages since they are opinion based.
• RC Passages on Historical events leading to social changes for example French Revolution, War of Roses, Social changes in Indian History and thoughts shared by  various activists which are very much relevant even today
• RC Passages from Mythology. These passages try to correlate the Mythological events with the current social structure and answers to the questions on them have to be inferred

Part-2: MAT Syllabus for Verbal Ability

• 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 sentence, time clauses, reported speech, 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)

MAT exam Syllabus for Intelligence & Critical Reasoning

• Fact Inference Judgment
• Passage Conclusion
• Analogy
• Statement Argument among others.
• Clocks
• Calendars
• Binary logic
• Seating Arrangement
• Blood Relations (Family Tree)
• Logical Sequence
• Assumption
• Premise
• Conclusion
• Linear and matrix arrangement
• Team Formation
• Direction sense and Decision Making
• Input-Output
• Series
• Syllogism
• Cubes
• Rows
• Set Theory, Venn Diagrams, Network Diagrams
• Quantitative Reasoning
• Puzzles
• Logical Reasoning based on Rankings
• Critical Reasoning

MAT Syllabus on Mathematical Skills

Arithmetic (15-16 Questions)

• LCM and HCF
• Percentages
• Profit and Loss
• Interest (Simple and Compound)
• Speed, Time and Distance; Time and Work; Averages; Ratio and Proportion and others
• Number System (3-4) questions
• Elementary Mathematics
• Number System
• Mixtures and Allegation
• Unitary Method
• Commercial Maths
• Permutation and Combinations
• Sequence And Series
• Heights and Distance

Algebra (5-7 questions)

Geometry/Mensuration (6-8 questions)

• Triangles
• Circles
• Coordinate Geometry

Pure Math (1-2 questions)

Other topics

• Venn diagrams and other topic based questions are 2-3
• Linear Equations; Quadratic Equations
• Complex Numbers
• Logarithm; Progressions
• Binomial Theorem
• Surds and Indices
• Inequalities
• Set Theory
• Mixtures and Alligations
• Co-ordinate Geometry
• Trigonometry
• Linear Programming

MAT Syllabus for Data Analysis and Sufficiency

• Data Tables
• Data charts
• Bar diagrams & Charts including Simple, Stacked, Composite Bar charts
• Pie charts
• Graphs – Line X-Y Graphs
• Data analysis and Data comparison among others
• Caselet based Data
• Venn diagram
• Data Sufficiency

Indian & Global Environment Syllabus

Major topics covered in MAT syllabus in this section are the GK topics current and static:

• Conventional GK-available in books
• Current GK- based on current reading of newspapers and periodicals;
• Business & Economics GK -for example changes in Fiscal and monetary policy, CRR, Repo Rate,
• Devaluation and up valuation of Rupee.
• Business, National and International events
• Who’s who
• Constitutional of India,
• Currency and Capitals of the countries
• States of India
• International Organizations
• Monetary and fiscal tools
• Emblem
• Identification of personalities, companies among others

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