Last Verified: 2026-03-01 from official conducting body notifications.
Official Overview & Examination Scope
Purpose, Scope & Academic Impact
MAT is conducted by the All India Management Association (AIMA) four times a year. Highly flexible with CBT, PBT, and remote proctored IBT options, MAT is accepted by over 600 business schools across India as a qualifying benchmark for postgraduate management admissions.
Eligibility Criteria & Academic Qualifications
Exam Pattern & Test Structure
Total: 150 Questions (Composite Score scaled out of 800)| Section / Paper | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Language Comprehension | 30 Questions | 30 Marks | 120 Mins (Integrated) |
| Intelligence & Critical Reasoning | 30 Questions | 30 Marks | 120 Mins (Integrated) |
| Data Analysis & Sufficiency | 30 Questions | 30 Marks | 120 Mins (Integrated) |
| Mathematical Skills | 30 Questions | 30 Marks | 120 Mins (Integrated) |
| Indian & Global Environment (GK) | 30 Questions | 30 Marks | 120 Mins (Integrated) |
+1 mark for correct response, -0.25 marks for incorrect response. Composite score is computed on a scale of 200 to 800 based on the first 4 sections.
Negative Marking Rule: -0.25 marks penalty per wrong answer
Recommended Preparation Roadmap & Strategy
Cutoff Trends & Score Benchmark
Composite score above 650-700 out of 800 (90+ percentile) qualifies candidates for top-tier participating institutes.
Participating Institutes / Career Pathways
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Indian & Global Environment (GK) score counted in the MAT composite score?
No, AIMA calculates the composite scaled score (200-800) and percentile based solely on the first four sections. The GK section score is reported separately.
Related Examinations & Pathways
Explore other national, state-level, or professional examinations in this discipline.
GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering)
GATE is the premier national benchmark examination testing deep technical competence across 30 engineering and science disciplines. GATE score is the universal qualification for M.Tech admissions in IITs, IISc, and NITs (via COAP and CCMT), and the premier recruitment criterion for Indian public sector giants like ONGC, IOCL, NTPC, BHEL, and PowerGrid.
IIITH PGEE (IIIT Hyderabad Postgraduate Entrance Exam)
IIITH PGEE is the independent entrance examination conducted by IIIT Hyderabad, recognized as India's foremost institution for Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence research. Unlike most institutes that rely solely on GATE, IIITH conducts PGEE to evaluate programming logic, discrete mathematics, and problem-solving.
BITS HD (BITS Pilani Higher Degree Admission Test)
BITS HD is conducted by BITS Pilani for admissions into higher degree postgraduate programs (M.E. in Microelectronics, Software Systems, Mechanical, Biotechnology, and M.Pharm). Admissions consider both GATE qualified candidates and BITS HD test qualifiers in dedicated admission streams.