MAT is conducted for admission in post graduate management courses in over 600 business schools in India. Most of the institutes that accept MAT scores as the base of admission are privately owned universities. MAT is conducted four times every year by AIMA. Minimum eligibility criteria to appear in MAT is to pass/appeared/appearing graduation in any discipline from a recognized university or any recognized degree of equal value with minimum 50% marks (for unreserved category) and 45%(for reserved category-SC/ST/OBC). 

MAT 2021: Highlights

• MAT is conducted four times in a year
• The minimum eligibility criteria is that a candidate must have passed/appeared/appearing graduation in any stream or any recognized equivalent degree.
• The syllabus consists of Language Comprehension, intelligence and critical reasoning, data analysis and sufficiency, mathematics skill, Indian and global environment.
• Candidates can take the exam in both online and offline mode
• The questions will be objective type and there will be four options for a question out of which one will be the correct answer.
• 1 mark will be awarded for each correct answer and 0.25 mark will be deducted for every incorrect answer
• Time limit for the examination will be 150 minutes and maximum marks will be 200. However, the composite score will be calculated on a total of 800.
• The questions are usually moderate and not very difficult.
• The examination shall be conducted in English language only

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MAT 2021 Syllabus

There are five papers under MAT syllabus and all papers carry equal weightage in context to the number and marks of the questions. The five papers are Language Comprehension, Intelligence and Critical Reasoning, Data Analysis and Sufficiency, Mathematics Skill, Indian and Global Environment.

• There are 40 questions from each paper
• The maximum marks for each paper is 40 as all questions carry equal marks
• Maximum marks for the paper is 200 and total time allotted is 2 hours 30 minutes
• Marks scored in Indian and Global Environment shall not be considered while calculating the composite score
• The mathematical skills portion attracts the maximum time as questions are lengthy in nature.
• Indian and global environment attracts minimum time as questions are comparatively easy.

MAT Syllabus: Language Comprehension

Language comprehension basically comprises reading comprehension and verbal ability and some parts of grammar. The marks will be equally divided for reading comprehension and verbal ability. Both the sections will carry 20 marks each. Important aspects of reading comprehension are mentioned below:

• The questions are formed in context to the current affairs that somehow impacts the social life like Namami Gange Project, water crisis management etc
• Passages are given from the sectors of economy and environment like climate change, impact of industrialization on environment, fiscal deficits etc
• Passages from books authored by great scholars like Mahatma Gandhi, William Shakespeare etc
• Passages on mythology like Mahabharata and Ramayana and its impact in the modern world
• Passages on development in context to science and technology like the launch of electric cars, 5G technology, artificial intelligence etc.
• There are four short passages usually based on the above mentioned subjects and 5 questions are there from each passage.
• Questions will be completely based upon the passages
• Antonyms and synonyms can be asked of the words that have been used in the passage and also any true or false statements with reference to the information provided in the passage.

Important areas of Verbal Ability Questions are:

• Questions based upon common errors i.e. finding the grammatical or common errors in the sentence(3-4 questions)
• Around four questions will be asked from Jumble words
• Arranging the sequence of the sentences according to the action stated(3-4 questions)
• Synonyms and antonyms will be asked and so it is advised to develop a good cover on vocabulary(5-6 questions)
• Fill in the blank based questions will be there which would be based upon grammar(3-4 questions)
• Questions based upon one word substitution and idioms and phrases.(4-5 questions)

MAT Syllabus: Intelligence and Critical Reasoning

This part of the syllabus is comparatively short and less time consuming. The questions are not easy but moderate and it tests the logical and critical reasoning of the candidates. This section comprises 40 questions of 1 mark each and 0.25 mark will be deducted as a penalty for each incorrect answer. The topics for this section are mentioned below:

• Critical reasoning
• Visual reasoning
• Assumption-premise-conclusion 
• Assertions and Reasons
• Statement and Assumptions
• Identifying Valid Inferences
• Identifying Arguments
• Statements and Conclusions
• Cause and Effect
• Identifying Appropriation of True and False

Reference Books suggested for Intelligence and Critical Reasoning:

1. How to prepare logical reasoning for CAT by Arun Sharma

2. Analytical and Logical Reasoning for CAT and other management entrance tests by Peeyush Bhardwaj

3. Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for CAT by Nishit SInha

MAT Syllabus: Mathematical Skills

The mathematical skills test the quantitative aptitude of the candidates. It requires fast and mostly oral calculation to solve the questions quickly. It includes a large number of topics. The important topic for the syllabus of mathematical skills are as follows:

Important Suggestions for Mathematical Skills:

The total number of questions will be 40 and 1 mark will be allotted for each question. There will be a penalty for incorrect answers as 0.25 mark will be deducted for each incorrect answer.

• It has around 20% weightage in the entire MAT syllabus
• It has been observed from the analysis of previous papers that 15-16 questions are from arithmetic section
• Most of the questions were from percentages, time and work, profit and loss and partnership

Reference Books suggested for Mathematical Skills:

1. Quantitative Aptitude Quantum CAT by Sarvesh Verma

2. Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT by Nishit Sinha

3. A Complete Manual for the CAT by Trishna Knowledge System

MAT Syllabus: Data Analysis and Sufficiency

This subject tests the ability of critical thinking of the candidate. There are 40 questions for this section of 1 mark each and 0.25 mark will be deducted as a penalty for incorrect answers. The important topic for the examination are mentioned below:

• Column Graphs
• Data Tables
• Data Charts
• Bar Diagrams and Charts
• Graphs Representing Area
• Data Analysis and Comparison
• Data Sufficiency
• Venn Diagram

Reference Books suggested for Data Analysis and Sufficiency:

1. Accredited Guide to Data Interpretation and Data Sufficiency by Anant Ashisha

2. How to prepare for Data Interpretation for MAT by Arun Sharma

3. Data Analysis, Interpretation and Data Sufficiency by Kiran Publications

MAT Syllabus: Indian and Global Environment

This section is basically framed to test the knowledge of candidates on current affairs of national and international importance. The question will be from polity, history, science and other papers of general science. There will be 40 questions of 1 mark each and 0.25 marks will be deducted for each incorrect answer. The important topics for examination are mentioned below:

• Current affairs of National and International importance
• Person in News
• Books and Authors
• Sports and Entertainment
• Business and Finance
• International Organizations
• Awards and Prize
• Corporate Events
• History and Geography

Reference Books suggested for Indian and Global Environment:

1. Face to Face MAT with 19 years by BS Sijwali

2. Manorama Year Book by Mammen Mathew

3. The Mega YearBook: Current Affairs and General Knowledge for Competitive Exams by Disha Publications

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