MAT CBT 2026 Exam Analysis: Difficulty Level and Expected Cutoff
Management Aptitude Test 2026 ( MAT )
MAT September 2026 Registration CBT
22 Jun '26 - 14 Sep '26
MAT CBT May 2026 exam analysis is available. Candidates can check sectional difficulty level and expected cut offs to evaluate their admission chances to MAT accepting colleges.
Section-wise review of MAT 2026 May CBT
MAT CBT 2026 exam was conducted today session. The question paper was overall easy. There was no change in the exam pattern. AIMA conducts the MAT exam four times in a year in PBT and CBT mode. Since there is option to appear for the exam multiple times, the difficulty usually remains the same in every session. Read further below for MAT 2026 exam analysis for CBT mode exam held on June 14.
The session was of 120 minutes, in which candidates had to attempt 150 questions from five subjects – Language Comprehension, Mathematical Skills, Data Interpretation & Skills, Intelligence and Critical Reasoning and Economic & Business Environment. Each of these sections of MAT 2026 has 30 questions in MCQ format.
MAT CBT 2026 Exam Analysis: Section Wise
Overall, the MAT CBT 2026 of May 2026 was easy. Questions were asked from usual topics and were predictable. However, time management was a challenge. Check the below table for sectional difficulty level of MAT May 2026 CBT exam.
| Section |
Difficulty level |
Key topics |
|---|---|---|
| Language Comprehension |
Easy to moderate |
Reading Comprehension, Sentence Correction, Antonyms, Synonyms, Fill in the Blanks, One Word Substitution, Phrases & Idioms, Jumbled Paragraphs |
| Mathematical Skills |
Moderate |
Interest, Percentages, Time & Work, Profit & Loss, Partnership, Algebra, Geometry, Mensuration, Ratio & Proportion, Probability, Permutation & Combination |
| Data Analysis and Sufficiency |
Moderate to Difficult |
Graphs, Pie Charts, Bar Diagrams, Line Graphs, Data Comparison, Data Sufficiency |
| Intelligence and Critical Reasoning |
Moderate |
Blood Relations, Alphanumeric Series, Letter Series, Coding-Decoding, Venn Diagrams, Comparison, Distribution |
| Economic & Business Environment |
Easy |
Current Affairs related to Business, Economy, Politics, Trade, Medicine, Sports, Personalities, Awards |
Due to negative marking, MAT exam often poses challenge to candidates who have not practiced enough mocks. Since there is no sectional time limit in the exam, it becomes even more challenging to score extra points. However, since most of the questions are direct and easy to comprehend, the smart strategy of not treading into unfamiliar zone can help you score well.
Also Read: MAT question papers of previous years
Commonly asked questions
The overall difficulty level of MAT is easy to moderate. Despite having 150 questions, the test paper is usually doable and candidates can easily attempt 100-120 questions.
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.
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.
Explore more MBA exams with upcoming dates
CAT
26 Sep '26
20 Aug '26 - 10 Oct '26
14 Oct '26 - 17 Oct '26
30 Sep '26 - 20 Nov '26
21 Aug '26 - 25 Nov '26
24 Oct '26 - 28 Nov '26
12 Dec '26
30 Sep '26 - 31 Dec '26
10 Oct '26 - 11 Jan '27
MAT 2026 Expected Cutoff
There is usually not much change in MAT cut offs, It mostly remains static with rarely a change of decimal points. Check below table for MAT 2026 Expected Cutoff
| MBA College |
MAT cut off 2026 (percentile) |
|---|---|
| 90+ |
|
| 80-90 |
|
| 80-90 |
|
| 80-90 |
|
| 80-90 |
|
| Indus Business Academy |
80-90 |
| 80-90 |
|
| 80-90 |
|
| 80-90 |
|
| 80-85 |
|
| 80-85 |
|
| 80-85 |
|
| 80-85 |
Also Read:
- MAT 2026 result
- MAT score vs percentile: How to calculate?
- What after MAT result?
- Top MBA Colleges Accepting MAT score
News & Updates
Explore Other Exams
15 Jul '26 - 6 Dec '26 | XAT 2027 Registration |
Oct '26 | XAT 2027 Form Correction |
20 Aug '26 - 10 Oct '26 | NMAT 2026 Registration Window |
20 Aug '26 - 22 Oct '26 | NMAT 2026 Scheduling Window |
3 Aug '26 - 15 Sep '26 | CAT 2026 Registration Window |
15 Sep '26 | Last Date to Apply for CAT 202... |
26 Sep '26 | IBSAT 2026 Mock Test |
24 Oct '26 | IBSAT 2026 Mock Test |
Oct '26 | CMAT 2027 registration and app... |
Jan '27 | CMAT 2027 exam |
21 Aug '26 - 25 Nov '26 | SNAP 2026 Registration Process |
7 Dec '26 | SNAP 2026 admit card session 1... |
Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 3 days ago
Top management institutes accepting the MAT Exam generally expect a cutoff percentile between 75 and 90, while top-tier colleges may require 90+ percentile.
S
Contributor-Level 9
Answered a week ago
Students interested in MBA at any of the Symbiosis Institutes need to take the Symbiosis National Aptitude (SNAP) Computer Based Test which will be conducted at designated test centres.
However, the institute does offer special pathways to Indian students allowing them to register for classes even i
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
GIBS Business School differentiates itself from other colleges because it is focused on creating professionals and not just giving degrees. It combines education with practical knowledge, interactions with industries, and personal development.
Why is GIBS different from other colleges?
- The curriculu
S
Contributor-Level 8
Answered a month ago
To be eligible for the MBA scholarship provided by the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology via MAT, candidates must have secured 95 Percentile and above (applicable for December 2025 MAT & February 2026 MAT) (centre based/offline examination).
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
You can still apply for an MBA at Chanakya University by taking the university's internal entrance exam, the Chanakya University Pravesha Pareeksha (CUPP). The university's Chanakya University Admissions portal allows applicants who missed CAT or MAT to use CUPP and a personal interview to fulfill t
R
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 2 months ago
Candidates who want to apply for Sharda University, Greater Noida MBA course must secure a CAT/ XAT percentile of 65% to skip SUAT. For MAT applicants, this score stands at 75% for MBA admissions at Sharda, Greater Noida.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Vipra Shrivastava is MA in English Literature from Delhi University with extensive experience in content writing of over 14 years. She has been handling content for Management, Accounting and Commerce streams for 8
Read Full Bio