Is MAT exam easier than other MBA entrance exams?

Difficulty level of MAT exam is lower than other MBA entrance exams. The question paper is usually of easy to moderate difficulty level. The exam is now held for 120 minutes. There are now 150 questions in the exam paper. There is no sectional time limit in MAT which allows the candidate to plan a strategy according to their strengths and weaknesses. The score of Indian and Global Environment section is not considered for percentile calculation thus candidates don't have the stress of fifth section. Also, solving 150 questions is not mandatory so candidates can choose to solve only those questions which they know they can solve accurately. Sectional difficulty level of MAT is also lower than other MBA exams. Candidates can attempt the exam multiple times in the same academic year to improve their score. They also have the option to choose the mode of test - CBT, IBT, PBT - which makes it the most student friendly exam. Also, the MAT cut offs for admission are much lower as compared to other entrance exams.

When should I start preparing for MAT?

Ideal time to start MAT preparation is 6 months before the exam session. But if you have appeared for it before, you will need less time to prepare. So, plan your preparation accordingly.

Is the question paper of MAT IBT different from MAT CBT or PBT?

No, the question paper of MAT IBT is not different from MAT CBT or PBT. The test pattern, time duration, question type and marking scheme are the same for all three modes. Candidates can choose to appear for any exam mode with the worry of doing exam specific preparation. The only difference between MAT IBT and MAT CBT or PBT is that MAT IBT is a remote proctored exam and can be taken from any location unlike MAT CBT or PBT which are held at designated exam centres. The MAT question paper of every session however is different. All the 200 questions of each question paper is unique. The difficulty level is the same- easy to moderate but since the questions are different from each other candidates can feel slight difference in the difficulty level. The questions for every session are chosen randomly so in one session the paper can be overall easy while in another session the exam can be slightly difficult.

What is a good score in MAT exam?

MAT scoring is done between 200 to 800, so a nearly 650 or 700 will get you 90 to 95 percentile. A score of 600 is also good as it converts into percentile between 80 to 85.

Is MAT syllabus difficult?

MAT syllabus is not very difficult but it is not easy either. The topics included in MAT syllabus are same as that of other MBA entrance exams like English, Quants, Reasoning, DI and GK. So, if you find these subjects tough MAT syllabus will be difficult for you and if you find the easy, the exam syllabus will be easy.

How can I prepare for MAT without coaching?

If you don't wish to opt for coaching to prepare for MAT then join online study groups to get recommended study material and guidance from mentors/peers. Refer to MAT specific preparation books. Watch YT videos on MAT prep, practice mock tests and sample questions in a large number. Focus on all important topics from which most of the questions are asked.

Which is the best session for appearing in MAT?

MAT is conducted in February, May, September and December. You can appear for it whenever ready and confident of scoring high. However, it is seen that maximum applications are done for December and February sessions as that's the main season of all other national level MBA entrance exams and admission.

Is MAT mock test practice enough for preparation?

MAT mock test practice is essential but not enough. You will need to go through the MAT syllabus and understand the fundamentals of all topics, only then you'll be able to crack questions in mock test.

Do IIMs accept MAT score?

No, IIMs do not accept MAT score for MBA Admission. They only accept CAT score for admission to their MBA/PGP programmes. However, MAT score is accepted by over 700 MBA colleges in India including: Amity University GL Bajaj Institute of Management & Research Christ University GITAM Institute of Management JIMS Rohini Jain University Taxila Business School, Jaipur SRM University Birla Institute of Management Technology Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University Tezpur University Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India IIFM Bhopal YMCA.

Is MAT exam easier than other MBA entrance exams?

Difficulty level of MAT exam is lower than other MBA entrance exams. The question paper is usually of easy to moderate difficulty level. The exam is now held for 120 minutes. There are now 150 questions in the exam paper. There is no sectional time limit in MAT which allows the candidate to plan a strategy according to their strengths and weaknesses. The score of Indian and Global Environment section is not considered for percentile calculation thus candidates don't have the stress of fifth section. Also, solving 150 questions is not mandatory so candidates can choose to solve only those questions which they know they can solve accurately. Sectional difficulty level of MAT is also lower than other MBA exams. Candidates can attempt the exam multiple times in the same academic year to improve their score. They also have the option to choose the mode of test - CBT, IBT, PBT - which makes it the most student friendly exam. Also, the MAT cut offs for admission are much lower as compared to other entrance exams.

How to crack MAT in first attempt?

To crack MAT exam in first attempt, start preparation early; at least a month six months in advance. Cover each topic of the MAT syllabus thoroughly and attempt 40+ mock tests to have complete control on all possible types of questions asked. In the exam, avoid negative marking by skipping questions you are not sure of. Try to maintain average scoring by solving 17-20 questions in each section.

How to crack MAT in first attempt?

To crack MAT exam in first attempt, start preparation early; at least a month six months in advance. Cover each topic of the MAT syllabus thoroughly and attempt 40+ mock tests to have complete control on all possible types of questions asked. In the exam, avoid negative marking by skipping questions you are not sure of. Try to maintain average scoring by solving 17-20 questions in each section.

Is the MAT IBT mode exam pattern different from CBT and PBT exams?

No. The exam pattern of MAT IBT is not different from CBT or PBT. In fact, the MAT exam pattern of all test modes is the same. The duration of MAT exam (PBT, CBT and IBT modes) is 2 hours or 120 minutes. The marking scheme is - plus one for correct attempt and minus 0.25 for incorrect attempt. There is no sectional time limit in MAT so candidates can utilise the 2 hours as per their own strategy. They should ideally, spend 25 minutes each on the top four sections and 15 minutes on the GK section. However, there may be slight difference in difficulty level because the questions in each MAT session are unique. No question is repeated in any session across CBT, PBT or IBT. This is to prevent any candidate from getting advantage or facing disadvantage due to leaking of the questions or in case of a candidates re-attempting the exam.

Is the question paper of MAT IBT different from MAT CBT or PBT?

No, the question paper of MAT IBT is not different from MAT CBT or PBT. The test pattern, time duration, question type and marking scheme are the same for all three modes. Candidates can choose to appear for any exam mode with the worry of doing exam specific preparation. The only difference between MAT IBT and MAT CBT or PBT is that MAT IBT is a remote proctored exam and can be taken from any location unlike MAT CBT or PBT which are held at designated exam centres. The MAT question paper of every session however is different. All the 200 questions of each question paper is unique. The difficulty level is the same- easy to moderate but since the questions are different from each other candidates can feel slight difference in the difficulty level. The questions for every session are chosen randomly so in one session the paper can be overall easy while in another session the exam can be slightly difficult.

Can I crack MAT without Maths?

MAT has 2 sections which are completely Maths based – Mathematical Skills and Data Interpretation, so it is not possible to crack MAT without having a good control over this subject.

Can I make another attempt at MAT exam, if I score low in first attempt?

Yes, you can attempt MAT exam as many times as you want. MAT is conducted multiple times in a year, in February, May, September and December. If a candidate is not satisfied with their score of first attempt, they can choose any upcoming session to appear for it again.

What is the exam pattern for MAT and how can I prepare for it?

MAT or Management Aptitude Test is a national level entrance exam conducted four times a year by the All India Management Association (AIMA) for admission to MBA/PGDM and other management programs. The MAT exam pattern is as follows: Mode: The exam is conducted in both paper-based and computer-based modes. Duration: The total duration of the exam is 150 minutes or 2.5 hours. Sections: The exam consists of five sections: Language Comprehension, Mathematical Skills, Data Analysis and Sufficiency, Intelligence and Critical Reasoning, and Indian and Global Environment. Number of Questions: There are a total of 200 questions, with 40 questions in each section. Marking Scheme: Each question carries 1 mark and there is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer. To prepare for the MAT 2023 exam, you can follow the below tips: Understand the Exam Pattern: Before you start your preparation, make sure you have a clear understanding of the exam pattern, marking scheme, and syllabus. Create a Study Plan: Create a study plan that suits your schedule and stick to it. Allocate time to each section and prioritize the topics that you find difficult. Practice Mock Tests: Practice mock tests regularly to get an idea of the exam pattern and to improve your time management skills. Improve Your Language Skills: To do well in the Language Comprehension section, improve your reading and vocabulary skills. Read newspapers, magazines, and novels to enhance your language skills. Focus on Mathematics and Data Analysis: To do well in the Mathematical Skills and Data Analysis and Sufficiency sections, practice regularly and improve your calculation speed. Work on Your Critical Reasoning Skills: To do well in the Intelligence and Critical Reasoning section, practice puzzles, riddles, and logical reasoning questions. Stay Updated with Current Affairs To do well in the Indian and Global Environment section, stay updated with the latest news and events. Revise Regularly: Revise the topics regularly to retain what you have learned. Stay Confident and Positive: Lastly, stay confident and positive. Believe in yourself and your abilities to crack the exam. Good luck with your preparation!

MAT Exam 2025 Question Papers, Previous Year Papers (2024, 2023): Download PDFs

8K Students Q&A

Admit Card - 26 Feb '26

Updated on Feb 15, 2026 16:38 IST

By Vipra Shrivastava, Senior Manager - Content

MAT question papers 2025 were easy to moderate in terms of difficulty level. Candidates who are preparing for MAT 2026 exam, must take a look a the MAT question papers of previous sessions to know what to expect. Solving official MAT question papers will help you to zero-in the most important topics and types of questions to prepare. revious years' MAT question papers will also help you to analyse your preparation level compared to difficulty level of the exam.

MAT 2026 exam is conducted in four phases. Whichever MAT exam month you choose, make sure that you practice previous years' question papers in the last month of the test. PShiksha has shared below MAT 2025 sample papers and a few question papers of previous years along with other study material who are preparing for MAT 2026 exam.

Table of contents

MAT Questions Papers
Question Banks for MAT Preparation
MAT Question Paper 2025: Sectional Breakup
>Section-wise difficulty level of MAT Question Paper 2025
Why Practice Previous Years' MAT Question Papers?
MAT Mock Test
MAT Question Paper FAQs

Download previous year MAT question papers and sample papers. Use them for practice and improve your speed and accuracy. You can download MAT previous year question papers and the preparation guides for free.