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MAT Exam Pattern 2025: Five Sections with 150 Questions; Check Sections and Type of Questions

Last Updated on January 7, 2025 by Prof. SK Agarwal

MAT Pattern consists 30 questions in five sections: Language Comprehension, Intelligence and Critical Reasoning, Data Analysis and Data Sufficiency, Mathematical Skills and Economic & Business Environment. Total number of questions in MAT exam paper are 150 (all Multiple-Choice Questions), and total duration is 2 hours (120 minutes). MAT 2025 will be held in two modes: Paper Based Test (PBT) on March 9, 2025 and Computer Based Test (CBT) on March 23, 2025. MAT Registration is open. Check complete details of MAT Exam pattern, sectional composition, marking scheme and more. 

Table of Content

  • 1. MAT Exam 2025 Highlights

  • 2. MAT 2025 Exam Pattern: Overview

  • 3. Section wise MAT Exam Pattern 2025

  • 4. MAT 2025 Exam Pattern Vs CAT and other MBA Entrance Exams

  • 5. MAT Exam Pattern PDF

1. MAT Exam 2025 Highlights

Before we discuss MAT Exam pattern 2025, read key highlights of MAT exam paper for a good overview:

MAT Exam ParticularsDetails
MAT Exam Full Form 2024Management Aptitude Test (MAT) 2024
Who conducts MAT Exam?All India Management Association (AIMA)
Number of MBA/PGDM colleges accepting MAT400 to 600
Top MBA Colleges Accepting MATBIMTECH, JAGSoM, XIME, Woxsen University, Jaipuria Institute of Management, IBA
MAT 2024 (December) Exam ModePaper Based (PBT), Computer Based (CBT)
MAT 2024 (December) Exam DateDecember 7, 14 & 22; 2024
MAT Exam SlotsOne PBT & Two CBT exams of 2 hours duration; No IBT MAT
Total MAT Exams in One YearHeld in February, May, August, December
MAT Medium of Question PaperEnglish
MAT Official Websitemat.aima.in/
MAT Exam Application Fees & ProcessFor one Exam-Rs.2100; For Two Exams-Rs.3600 Process is Online
Number of Candidates who Apply for last MAT exam10000 to 15000
Total Questions in the Exam150
Number of Sections5 Sections with 30 Questions in Each Section
Name of MAT SectionsLanguage Comprehension, Intelligence and Critical Reasoning, Data Analysis & Data Sufficiency, Mathematical Skills, Economic & Business Environment
Number of Answer Options4
Scoring Pattern in MAT exam+1 Mark for Each Correct Answer -0.25 Mark for Each Wrong Answer 0 Mark for Un-attempted Question
MAT Sectional Time LimitNo Sectional Time Limit
Facility to Choose Order of SectionsYes, Attempt any question from any section within overall time limit
MAT EXAM PATTERN 2025

2. MAT 2025 Exam Pattern: Overview

  • There are 5 sections with equal number of questions in MAT exam 2025 pattern.
  • Each section in MAT question paper has 30 questions. Total questions are 150.
  • AIMA awards 4 marks for each correct answer (scaled score). Hence, MAT Exam Total Marks are 600. 
  • All questions are in MCQ format. 
  • Total exam time duration to solve the MAT question paper is 120 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 2024 exam pattern

Below is shared the overall MAT December 2024 Exam Pattern with number of questions and MAT Marking Scheme 

MAT Exam ComponentsNo of Questions (All MCQs)Sectional Time Limit (In Minutes)Scoring Pattern (Negative Marking is only for MCQs)
Section 1: Language Comprehension30No Time Limit+1 for Correct Answer; -0.25 for Incorrect Answer; 0 for Not Attempted
Section 2: Intelligence and Critical Reasoning30No Time Limit+1 for Correct Answer; -0.25 for Incorrect Answer; 0 for Not Attempted
Section 3: Data Analysis and Data Sufficiency30No Time Limit+1 for Correct Answer; -0.25 for Incorrect Answer; 0 for Not Attempted
Section 4: Mathematical Skills30No Time Limit+1 for Correct Answer; -0.25 for Incorrect Answer; 0 for Not Attempted
Section 5: Economic & Business Environment30No Time Limit+1 for Correct Answer; -0.25 for Incorrect Answer; 0 for Not Attempted
Total150120 Minutes-

3. Section wise MAT Exam Pattern 2025

Section wise MAT pattern all the five sections is as below: 

Section-1: MAT Exam Pattern for Language Comprehension
The section-1 in MAT exam paper on Language Comprehension is divided into two parts - Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension. 

  • RC Passages on Current Affairs and Political Developments    
  • RC Passages on Business & Economic    
  • RC passages from various English Literature Books
  • RC Passages on Science    
  • RC Passages in Abstract Topics and Fiction    
  • RC Passages on Historical Events and Mythology
  • Jumbled Paragraphs    
  • 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
  • Antonyms/Synonyms
  • Fill in the blanks
  • Idioms/Phrases

Section 2: MAT Exam Pattern for Intelligence and Critical Reasoning
The Section-2 on Intelligence & Critical Reasoning consists of two parts with Analytical and Logical Reasoning questions.

  • Fact Inference Judgment
  • Clocks
  • Seating Arrangement
  • Assumption
  • Linear and matrix arrangement
  • Input-Output
  • Cubes
  • Passage Conclusion
  • Calendars
  • Blood Relations (Family Tree)
  • Premise
  • Team Formation
  • Series
  • Rows
  • Analogy
  • Binary logic
  • Logical Sequence
  • Conclusion
  • Direction sense and Decision Making
  • Syllogism
  • Puzzles

Section 3: MAT Exam Pattern for Data Analysis and Data Sufficiency
The section-3 in MAT pattern consists of Data Analysis & Data sufficiency which also has two types of questions – the first type is on Data Analysis which is closer to Data Interpretation and other type of questions are on Data sufficiency.

Data Analysis and Data Sufficiency

This section is divided into two parts – Data Analysis and Data Sufficiency. Questions are asked from:

  • Line Graph
  • Pie Chart
  • Bar Graph
  • Data Comparison
  • Caselet
  • Quantitative Comparison and Data Sufficiency

Section 4: MAT Exam Pattern for Mathematical Skills
The Section-4 in MAT exam is the Mathematical Skills section. This section is basically the Quantitative Ability section. It is very wide and covers each and every topic in Mathematics with greater emphasis on Arithmetic.

Mathematical Skills
This Mathematical Skills of MAT is Quantitative Aptitude section. In this section, questions are asked 

  • Arithmetic
  • Trigonometry
  • Algebra
  • Mensuration Modern Maths
  • Geometry

Section 5: MAT Exam Pattern for Economic & Business Environment
This section includes questions from both Current Affairs and Static GK. Although this section carries 30 marks, it is not taken into consideration to determine candidate’s MAT score and percentile. So, this section is given low priority by students. The questions are asked from the below topics

  • Current Affairs
  • Constitution of India
  • Business & Economics
  • Monetary & Fiscal Tools
  • Who’s who
  • Emblem & Logos
  • Currency and Capitals
  • Personalities

4. MAT 2025 Exam Pattern Vs CAT and other MBA Entrance Exams

MAT pattern is not much different than the other national level MBA entrance exams. However, the difficulty levels of questions in CAT and XAT exams is much higher than MAT. Below is shared quick comparison of MAT pattern with other National level exams:    

MAT Exam Pattern Vs CAT Exam
MAT pattern and IIMs CAT exam have many similarities which give the opportunity to the candidates to synchronise their sectional and overall exam preparation. A quick analysis between MAT pattern and CAT will bring home the facts:

Component
MAT 2024
IIMs CAT 2024
Total Questions
150
66
Overall Time Limit to Attempt the Exam
 2 hours
 2 hours
Question Format
All MCQs
70% questions are MCQs, rest Non-MCQs
Answer Options for MCQs
 4
4
Marks Awarded for Each Correct Answer
 1
3
Negative Marking
0.25 mark
MCQs with 1/3 negative marking; No negative marking for Non-MCQs
Exam Difficulty Level
Easy to Moderate
Difficult
Number of Sections
5
3
Section-1: Name and Number of Questions
Language Comprehension: 30
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension: 24
Section-2: Name and Number of questions
Intelligence & Critical Reasoning: 30
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning -20
Section-3: Name and Number of Questions
Data Analysis & Sufficiency: 30
Quantitative Ability-22
Section-4: Name and Number of Questions
Mathematical Skills: 30
Not Applicable
Section-5: Name and Number of Questions
Economic & Business Environment:30
Not Applicable
Facility to Choose Order of Sections
Yes, any section/question within overall time limit
No, should follow pre defined sectional order
Individual Sectional time limit
No, Candidate to complete the test in 120 minutes
Yes, each section with 40 Minutes time limit
Top MBA colleges accepting exam score
Christ University, NDIM, DSIMS, IPE, IESMCRC, FIIB among 600 MBA colleges
21 IIMs, FMS, MDI, NITIE, SPJIMR, IMI, IMT, IITs, TAPMI, XIMB and hundreds of others

MAT Exam Pattern Vs ATMA Exam
MAT Exam and ATMA exam scores are accepted for MBA admission in number of common colleges. The MAT exam pattern and ATMA exam pattern is also not much different:

Component
MAT 2024
ATMA 2024
Total Questions
150
180
Overall Time Limit to Attempt the Exam
2 hours
3 hours
Question Format
All MCQs
All MCQs
Answer Options for each MCQ
4
    4
Marks Awarded for Each Correct Answer
1
    1
Negative Marking
0.25 mark
0.25 mark
Exam Difficulty Level
Easy to Moderate
Easy to Moderate
Number of Sections
5
   6
Section-1: Name and Number of Questions
Language Comprehension-1: 30  
Analytical Reasoning Skills-1: 30
Section-2: Name and Number of Questions
Intelligence & Critical Reasoning: 30
Verbal Skills-1: 30
Section-3: Name and Number of Questions
Data Analysis & Sufficiency: 30
Quantitative Skills-1: 30
 Section-4: Name and Number of Questions
Mathematical Skills: 30
Verbal Skills-2: 30
 Section-5: Name and Number of Questions
Economic & Business  Environment: 30
Analytical Reasoning Skills-2: 30
Section-6: Name and Number of Questions
Not applicable
Quantitative Skills-2: 30
Facility to Choose Order of Sections & Questions
Yes, any question from any section within overall time limit
No, should follow pre defined order
Individual Sectional Time Limit
No
Yes, 30 Minutes for each Section
Top MBA Colleges Accepting Exam Score
Christ University, NDIM, DSIMS, IPE, IESMCRC, FIIB among 600 MBA colleges
PUMBA, Dy Patil, IFIM, Welingkar, Christ University, NDIM, DSIMS, IPE, IESMCRC, FIIB among 100 MBA colleges

5. MAT Exam Pattern PDF

MAT Exam Pattern PDF is a document that has a summary of MAT Exam Pattern in PDF mode. It is easy to read and refer. Check MAT Exam Pattern PDF links download above. 

In summary, MAT Exam Pattern consists 30 questions in five sections: Language Comprehension, Intelligence and Critical Reasoning, Data Analysis and Data Sufficiency, Mathematical Skills and Economic & Business Environment. Total number of questions in MAT exam paper are 150 (all Multiple-Choice Questions), and total duration is 2 hours (120 minutes). Check complete details of MAT Exam pattern, sectional composition, marking scheme and more in the above article. 

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