MAT

The MAT or the Management Aptitude Test is conducted by the All India Management Aptitude Testing Service (AIMATS) for admitting candidates to about 600 management colleges all over India. There are several B-schools that accept MAT scores for admission.

The eligibility criteria for appearing in MAT are as follows.

• Candidates must have a graduate degree in any discipline from a recognized university/institution.
• Candidates appearing in the final year examination of their graduate degree can also apply.
• There is no minimum aggregate percentage set for the final year of the graduate examination.
• The MAT score required for admission varies from institute to institute.
• There is no age limit for appearing in MAT.
• Prior work experience is not required.

The pass percentage for clearing MAT is as follows.

• For candidates belonging to the SC (Scheduled Caste) category a minimum of 15% marks are required to clear MAT.
• For candidates belonging to the ST (Scheduled Tribe) category a minimum of 7.5% marks are required to clear MAT.
• For OBC (Other Backward Castes) category a minimum of 27% marks are required to clear MAT.
• For PH (Physically Handicapped) students a minimum of 3% marks are required to clear MAT.

The MAT is conducted both offline and online. The offline test is called the Paper Based Test or the PBT and online test is called the Computer Based Test or the CBT. A candidate can appear in the offline test or the online test or both. A candidate who appears for PBT or CBT can select only five management institutions for admission. Candidates appearing for bothPBT and CBT have the option of selecting seven institutions for admission.

The MAT comprises of 200 questions to be answered in 5 sections within a duration of 150 minutes. Candidates who qualify will be further called for a written ability test followed by a group discussion/interview.

The MAT exam is objective and includes questions on the following topics.

• 40 questions in Language Comprehension for 40 marks to be answered in 30 minutes.
• 40 questions in Mathematical Skills for 40 marks to be answered in 40 minutes.
• 40 questions in Data Analysis & Sufficiency for 40 marks to be answered in 35 minutes
• 40 questions in Intelligence & Critical Reasoning for 40 marks to be answered 30 minutes.
• 40 questions in Indian & Global Environment for 40 marks to be answered in 15 minutes.

The MAT is a very coveted examination for admission in top B-schools in India. Since it is a objective type examination a candidate has to think very quickly and accurately. Point to be remembered is that for each wrong answer there is a penalty of a quarter mark and this makes MAT a test of accuracy in addition to speed. There are several guides available in the market for preparation. Candidates are advised to prepare early and thoroughly.