MAT Exam 2026: Dates, Eligibility, Syllabus, Pattern, Fees & Preparation Tips
Management Aptitude Test (MAT) is a national-level management entrance exam conducted by the All India Management Association (AIMA) for admission to MBA, PGDM and other management programmes. The exam has been conducted since 1988. According to AIMA, MAT scores are accepted by more than 600 B-Schools, making it a popular option for students looking to pursue a career in management.
One of the main advantages of MAT is that it is conducted several times a year. This gives candidates more than one opportunity to take the exam and improve their scores.
MAT Exam 2026 Highlights
| Exam | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | Management Aptitude Test (MAT) |
| Conducting Body | All India Management Association (AIMA) |
| Exam Level | National Level |
| Courses | MBA, PGDM and allied management programmes |
| Frequency | Multiple times a year |
| Test Modes | PBT and CBT |
| Total Questions | 150 |
| Total Duration | 120 minutes |
| Sections | 5 |
| Language | English |
| Official Website | mat.aima.in |
MAT Exam Dates 2026
MAT is conducted in multiple sessions throughout the year, allowing candidates to choose an exam session that works best for them.
For December 2026 MAT schedule listed by AIMA is given below:
| MAT 2026 Session | Registration Closes | Admit Card | Exam Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| PBT | December 14, 2026 | December 17, 2026 | December 20, 2026 |
| CBT | December 21, 2026 | December 24, 2026 | December 27, 2026 |
MAT Eligibility Criteria 2026
To appear for MAT, candidates must have completed graduation in any discipline from a recognised university.Students in the final year of their undergraduate programme can also apply provisionally, subject to the applicable admission requirements.There is no specific age limit for appearing in MAT.
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MAT Registration 2026
MAT registration is completed online through the official AIMA MAT portal. Before starting the application, candidates should keep their personal and academic information, recent photograph, signature and payment details ready.
MAT Exam Fees 2026
As per the current information by AIMA, the application fee for PBT or CBT is ₹2,300. Candidates who choose both PBT and CBT need to pay ₹4,000.
MAT Exam Pattern 2026
The MAT question paper has five sections, with 30 questions in each section.
| Section | Questions |
|---|---|
| Language Comprehension | 30 |
| Intelligence & Critical Reasoning | 30 |
| Mathematical Skills | 30 |
| Data Analysis & Sufficiency | 30 |
| Economic & Business Environment | 30 |
| Total | 150 |
MAT Syllabus 2026
1. Language Comprehension
Important areas include Reading Comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, sentence correction, synonyms and antonyms, fill-in-the-blanks, idioms and phrases.
2. Intelligence & Critical Reasoning
This section includes topics such as puzzles, blood relations, syllogisms, coding-decoding, seating arrangements, analogies, logical sequences and statement-based questions.
3. Mathematical Skills
Candidates should prepare arithmetic, algebra, geometry, number systems, mensuration, percentages, profit and loss, time and work, probability and other quantitative aptitude topics.
4. Data Analysis & Sufficiency
Important areas include tables, bar graphs, line graphs, pie charts, caselets, data comparison and data sufficiency.
5. Economic & Business Environment
This section covers current affairs, business and economic developments, important personalities, awards, books and authors, currencies, capitals and general business awareness.
MAT Preparation Tips 2026
Here are some practical preparation tips:
- Start with the basic concepts before moving to advanced questions.
- Create a realistic daily study timetable and follow it consistently.
- Read newspapers and business-related articles regularly.
- Practise quantitative aptitude and reasoning questions every day.
- Take full-length MAT mock tests at regular intervals.
- Review your mistakes after every mock test.
- Practise solving questions within a fixed time limit.