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Vipra Shrivastava
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Updated on Sep 6, 2025 20:45 IST

MAT exam is student friendly and easy to crack. However, one needs to have correct strategy for the same. It is conducted multiple times in a year so one can appear for it according to preparation done. If you are planning to pursue MBA this year, get the key MAT 2025 preparation tips here.

MAT preparation tips

MAT Preparation 2025 - The first step towards MAT preparation is know the syllabus and pattern. MAT is a speed based test in which candidates have to solve 150 questions in 120 minutes. It may sound tough but one can easily crack it with focused MAT preparation 2025. Being a speed based MAT expects candidates to be quick in solving questions and with maximum accuracy. 

The syllabus includes Language Comprehension, Mathematical Skills, Data Analysis and Sufficiency, Intelligence and Critical Reasoning abilities along with General Knowledge and Current Affairs. The MAT is an easy exam, so you need not get worried on seeing the vast syllabus. If you have appeared for any other MBA entrance or are preparing for it, you will find these topics familiar. Read here some useful tips for MAT preparation 2025.

What is MAT exam?

The All India Management Association (AIMA) conducts the Management Aptitude Test or MAT at all India level for MBA/PGDM admissions. The MAT exam is conducted multiple times in a year, in four phases - February, May, September, December. More than 800 B-school accept MAT scores for admission to MBA/PGDM courses

MAT Preparation Strategy 2025

To score well in the MAT 2025, study the important topics and keep practicing MAT question papers side by side to assess your strengths and weaknesses. Before reading MAT 2025 preparation tips, take a look at the MAT exam pattern and syllabus. 

MAT Exam Pattern 2025

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Given below is the MAT 2025 exam pattern, which highlights the sectional break-up of the MAT question paper. Although there is no sectional time-limit in MAT exam, candidates must divide their time as suggested in the table.

MAT Sections

Number of Questions

Suggested Time

Language Comprehension

30

20 minutes

Mathematical Skills

30

30 minutes

Data Analysis and Sufficiency

30

30 minutes

Intelligence and Critical Reasoning

30

30 minutes

Indian and Global Environment

30

10 minutes

Total

150

120 minutes

MAT Syllabus 2025

Before starting with MAT preparation 2025, aspirants must arrange MAT books and study material and make a study-schedule. Devote equal time to each of the topics included in MAT syllabus. It is better to pre-determine hours for each subject. Go through the MAT 2025 Syllabus, and make a MAT preparation plan topic wise to avoid missing out on any important topic.

MAT Sections

MAT Syllabus

Language Comprehension

Reading Comprehension, Parajumbles, Fill in the blanks, One Word Substitution, Sentence Correction, Verbal Ability, Antonym & Synonyms, Idioms & Phrases, etc.

Data Analysis & Sufficiency

Tables, Charts, Pie Charts, Bar Diagrams, Caselet-based Data, Venn Diagram, Graphs, Data Comparison, Data Sufficiency, etc.

Mathematical Skills

Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Mensuration, Number System, Percentage, LCM & HCF, Inequalities, Set Theory, etc.

Intelligence & Critical Reasoning

Blood Relation, Family Tree, Coding & Decoding, Numeric Grid, Syllogism, Clocks, Calendars, Visual Reasoning, etc

Also read:

MAT 2025 Preparation: Time Management

The duration of MAT exam is 120 minutes in which candidates have to attempt 150 questions. Therefore, it is crucial for a candidate to have a proper plan for each section. Here, time management plays an extremely important role. To attempt all questions within the time duration, you need to solve each question in less than a minute. However, it is not mandatory to solve all the questions. The trick is to choose which questions to solve. You must first decide how many questions to attempt per section (focus on sectional cut off).

Solve easy questions that require less time first and then move to tough ones. Solve all the easy questions of all the sections first. You can attempt tough questions in the remaining time. Do not waste time on tricky questions. Do not attempt a question you are not sure of solving accurately. MAT exam has negative marking so don’t take chances.

MAT 2025 Preparation: Complete the Syllabus

All the sections of MAT exam need practice, but before practice, you need to have complete understanding of the concept and its application. Be it Mathematical Skills, Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning or English Language Comprehension, you should not start practicing sample questions before completing the syllabus. Make a plan for covering MAT syllabus in limited time. It should include studying topic wise chapters per day. After completing a chapter, attempt a few questions to see if you've understood the application or not. This way, you'll be able to study and practice simultaneously. 

In the MAT 2025 exam, make sure that you read the questions thoroughly before attempting them. Don't do speed reading.

Also read: Best Books for MAT 2025 Preparation

MAT 2025 Preparation: Practice MAT Mock Test Papers and Online Series

Merely, having theoretical knowledge of topics and concepts will not help you score well in MAT 2025 exam. You must have practice of solving questions quickly. In MAT, you will be targeting at least 100-120 questions out of 150 questions which means you will get less than 1 minute for each question. To gain enough speed and accuracy, you need to practice as many sample papers possible for MAT exam. Keeping this in mind, solve as many MAT mock tests and sample papers as you can. This will give you an idea about the expected topics, the difficulty level of questions, types of questions, time taken per questions and tricks and shortcuts to apply. Practicing MAT mock tests will also help you in experiencing the actual exam pressure and environment. In order to know your level of MAT preparation, start taking online mock tests and carefully analyse your performance in each one of them to know your strengths and weaknesses.

MAT Mock Test by Shiksha

MAT Mock Test 1 MAT Mock Test 1 Solutions
MAT Mock Test 2 CMAT Mock Test 2 Solutions

MAT 2025 Preparation: Choose the exam phase wisely

MAT exam is conducted multiple times in four phases. Candidates have the choice to opt for the exam in February, May, September or December. You must register for MAT only when you are fully prepared and have started scoring 99 percentile in mock tests. If you need six months to prepare then go for the exam phase which is six months away. If you can prepare for MAT in three months, then opt for the phase which is three months away. You need to be well prepared for optimum result in MAT, so register for it only in the phase that suits your preparation plan.

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Q:   Which are the top colleges for MAT score 50-60 percentile?
A:
MAT score is accepted by a lot of private MBA colleges in Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. Some of the popular MBA colleges which accept MAT score in the range of 50-60 percentile are listed below. Admission process of these colleges include group discussion and Personal Interview . School of Management Sciences Varanasi Greater Noida Institute of Management Deviprasad Goenka Management College of Media Studies Mumbai International Institute of Business Studies Kolkata St Josephs Institute of Management Trichy Development Management Institute Patna Kirloskar Institute of Advanced Management Harihar Rajalakshmi School of Business Chennai Gurunanak Institute of Management Studies Mumbai Madhya Pradesh Birla Institute of Management Bangalore MITCON Institute of Management Pune Vyasa Business School Bangalore GRG School of Management Studies Coimbatore Jagan Institute of Management Studies Jaipur Vanguard Business School Bangalore.
Q:   Who decides MAT cut off percentiles for admission?
A:
The participating colleges decide MAT cut off for admission to their MBA/PGDM programmes. Generally, the top MBA colleges' cut off range is around 90-95 percentile. Cut offs of Tier 2 colleges is usually between the range of 80-90 percentile and for Tier 3 it is 50-70 percentile. These cut offs are determined by the colleges on the basis of certain parameters and may change year on year. The three main factors that determine MAT cut off are listed below: 1. Difficulty level of MAT exam 2. Total number of students applying 3. Seat intake capacity of any institute 4. Previous year's cut offs Admission to MBA/PGDM courses through MAT is based on the cut offs. This is the standard procedure for MBA Admission in private B-schools and top government institutes as well. MAT being a national level MBA entrance exam follows the same process.
Q:   Which are the top colleges for MAT score 70-80 percentile?
A:
MAT score is accepted by lot of MBA colleges across India. Candidates can find a college of their percentile range among the 800 MBA colleges that accept MAT score. If you have scored in the MAT percentile range of 70-80 percentile, you can seek admission in the following colleges. These are some of the popular MBA college that accept MAT score of 70-80 percentile. Institute of Business Management and Technology Jaypee Business School EMPI Business School Delhi School of Business FIIB Delhi Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's Usha and Lakshmi Mittal Institute of Management SCMS Cochin School of Business IES Management Colleges and Research Centre Mumbai Globsyn Business School, Kolkata Calcutta Business School, Kolkata GITAM School of International Business Visakhapatnam GITMA Hyderabad Business School Hyderabad Durgadevi Saraf Institute of Management Studies Mumbai Rajalakshami School of Business Chennai ABBS Bangalore.
Q:   Which are the top colleges for MAT score 60-70 percentile?
A:
MAT score is valid for admission to a number of private MBA colleges in Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. Candidates can appear for a MAT session as per the admission cycle of their preferred college. Some of the popular MBA colleges which accept MAT score in the range of 60-70 percentile are listed below. Adarsh Institute of Management and Information Technology Bangalore Fortune Institute of International Business, Delhi EMPI Business School, Delhi MIT School of Business Pune Apeejay School of Management (ASM), Delhi Institute of Engineering and Management, Kolkata IMS Ghaziabad Calcutta Business School, Kolkata SCMS Cochin School of Business Cochin IES Management College and Research Centre, Mumbai ITM Business School, Navi Mumbai International Institute of Management Studies, Pune Birla Global University, Bhubaneswar ITM Business School, Chennai International School of Business and Media Bangalore Accurate Institute of Management and Technology, Noida.
Q:   Between MAT score and MAT percentile, which one is considered for admission?
A:

Between MAT score and MAT percentile, the latter is considered for admission in most of the MAT accepting colleges. The MAT percentile is used for first round of candidate selection. In the first round, candidate's MAT percentile and academic scores are considered basis which they are selected for GD-PI. Thus, MAT aspirants must ensure that they perform optimally in all the sections of MAT to get a good percentile.

Q:   Which are the top colleges for MAT score 80-90 percentile?
A:
MAT admission process includes Group Discussion and Personal Interview . Selection for this round is done by the institutes on the basis of MAT percentile of candidates. All the MAT participating colleges have fixed cut offs for selection of candidates. In some colleges, the MAT cut offs are high whereas in some colleges, the MAT cut offs are comparatively low. In all, a candidate who has scored above 65 percentile in MAT can get a good college. However, as you have asked for MAT colleges accepting scores ranging between 80-90 percentile, we have listed down some colleges for you. Christ University Bengaluru BIMTECH Greater Noida SIESCOMS Navi Mumbai Jagan Institute of Management Studies (JIMS), Rohini Delhi Indus Business Academy Institute of Management Studies (IMS) IPE Hyderabad, Institute of Public Enterprise Jaipuria Institute of Management, Lucknow New Delhi Institute of Management (NDIM) Vignana Jyothi Institute of Management IES Management College and Research Centre ITM Business School, Navi Mumbai.
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Vipra Shrivastava
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Answered 4 days ago

Hi.

The expected MAT cutoff for admission to the PGDM programme at GIBS Business School Bangalore is generally around the 64 percentile.
 
Key Details on the MAT Cutoff
  • Minimum Requirement: A MAT score of at least the 64 percentile is the standard benchmark for general category candidates to be consider

...Read more

h

heena agrawal

Scholar-Level 17

Answered 4 days ago

Hi.

Yes

The institution offers a range of scholarships, and performance in entrance exams like MAT (and CAT, XAT, etc.) is a key criterion for determining the amount of the scholarship award. 
 
Scholarship Policy at GIBS
GIBS has a clear scholarship policy designed to reward academic excellence and stro

...Read more

h

heena agrawal

Scholar-Level 17

Answered 4 days ago

Hi.

GIBS Business School has consistent and moderate cutoff trends for CAT and MAT over recent years. The scores generally fall within a specific range, and the university emphasizes a holistic evaluation process rather than relying solely on the entrance exam percentile. 
 
Common CAT Cutoff Trends
  • Per

...Read more

h

heena agrawal

Scholar-Level 17

Answered 4 days ago

Hi.

GIBS Business School primarily uses a merit-based admission system that considers the applicant's overall profile, but it does offer specific considerations and seat allocation for reserved categories and management quota seats. 
 
Reservation Policy at GIBS
Unlike public institutions (like IIMs) th

...Read more

h

heena agrawal

Scholar-Level 17

Answered 5 days ago

Hi.

Admission to the MBA programme is based on merit in the qualifying exam and a valid score in any one of the accepted national or state-level management entrance exams. The university also conducts its own in-house entrance exam, the DPAT, as an alternative option. 
 
Accepted Entrance Exams for MBA

...Read more

h

heena agrawal

Scholar-Level 17

Answered 5 days ago

VIT Business School accepts MAT exam percentile for admission to MBA programme. The MAT Cutoff 2024 is 80 for students belonging to the General All India category. In 2023, the VIT Business School cutoff was 80, and in 2022, it was also the same, at 80.

This trend suggests that the MAT percentile has

...Read more

N

Neerja Rohatgi

Contributor-Level 8

Answered 3 weeks ago

The admission deadline for GITAM MBA through the MAT entrance exam is February 21, 2025, based on information from their admissions notice.

A

Amrita D jaiswal

Contributor-Level 8

Answered 3 weeks ago

Yes, you can get admission to the MBA programme at AURO University with a valid MAT score. The university accepts MAT besides other recognised entrance examinations such as CAT, CMAT, XAT, and GMAT for admissions to its MBA programs. This is because AURO University aims to provide an opportunity to

...Read more

A

Amrita D jaiswal

Contributor-Level 8

Answered 3 weeks ago

No, MAT is not compulsory for the admission process in MBA or PGDM courses offered at ICBM-SBE. The institute uses a number of national-level entrance examinations such as CAT, XAT, CMAT, ATMA, GMAT, and MAT for multiple qualifying opportunities. This flexibility gives students with diverse academic

...Read more

A

Amrita D jaiswal

Contributor-Level 8

Answered a month ago

If you make an error in the educational qualifications section of the MAT form, you can typically make amends during the official correction period offered by AIMA. The correction period is open for a short time after the submission of the application. You can log in with your MAT account and edit t

...Read more

A

ABHINAV SRIVASTAVA

Contributor-Level 10