By: Kandarp Patel
If you haven't scored well in a few of the other MBA entrance exams, then MAT can be your second chance to score well and get access to top B-schools.
Management Aptitude Test (MAT) is one of the important entrance exams for MBA. Effective score in MAT can lead you to get admission in some of the top B-schools in the country, including Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-Madras), Welingkar Mumbai, Institute of Public Enterprise (IPE) Hyderabad, Management Development Institute (MDI) Murshidabad, Jagan Institute of Management Studies (JIMS Rohini), etc. The countdown for MAT 2020, to be held on February 16, has begun. So, in this article, we will discuss some effective tips and strategies to score well in MAT 2020.
When compared to other MBA entrance exams such as CAT, XAT, SNAP, etc., MAT is easy. So one can really score well in MAT if one has prepared well for any of the above mentioned entrance exams. If in some of your MBA entrance exams you have not performed well, then trust me MAT can be your second chance to score well and get access to top B-schools. Paper pattern of MAT haven’t not changed much since some years.
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Let us first go through the paper pattern of MAT.
| Sections |
No. of questions |
|---|---|
| Mathematics |
40 |
| Language Comprehension |
40 |
| Data Analysis & Sufficiency |
40 |
| Intelligence & Critical Reasoning |
40 |
| Indian & Global Environment |
40 |
| About Exam |
Information |
|---|---|
| Total questions |
200 |
| Total marks |
200 |
| Time duration |
150 minutes |
| Marking scheme |
+1 for correct answer -0.25 for wrong answer |
Section-wise Focus Topics & Tips
Mathematics
- Be thorough with all basic concepts & formulas.
- Try to solve some questions with the help of options.
- Try to find out easy questions by going through the paper first which can really help you in scoring well and saves time.
| Top Topics |
|---|
| Average |
| Percentage |
| Profit & Loss |
| HCM, LCM |
| Ratios |
| Proportions |
| Algebra |
Language Comprehension
- Be as fast as much as you can in this section.
- Good vocabulary can help you better in this section.
| Top Topics |
|---|
| Grammar |
| Comprehensions |
| Synonyms |
| Antonyms |
| Fill in the blanks |
| Idioms & Phrases |
| Match the followings |
Intelligence & Critical Reasoning
- You can really do your best in this section if you enhance your logical thought process.
- Analyze the questions properly and then solve the questions.
| Top Topics |
|---|
| Pie Chart |
| Family Tree |
| Calendars |
| Blood relation |
| Arrangement |
| Series |
| Coding-decoding |
| Reasoning |
- Data Analysis & Sufficiency
- Only practice can make you good in this section.
- Try to solve and practise some good questions from above-mentioned
| Top Topics |
|---|
| Time Speed Distance |
| Accounts |
| Partnership |
| Work & Time |
- Indian & Global Environment
- In this section, GK books can benefit you much.
- Reading newspapers and having knowledge of trending topics can make you score well.
| Top Topics |
|---|
| Current affairs |
| Sports |
| Education |
| Science & Technology |
| History |
| Business |
| Politics |
General MAT 2020 Tips
- Utilise more time in the section in which you are very strong and in which you can score well.
- Give at least 12-15 mocks.
- Solve past 2-5 years papers completely (or give it as a mock).
- Be perfect in time distribution.
- Suggested Time Distribution for effective scoring
About the Author:
Kandarp Patel is a student at Nirma University, Ahemdabad, pursuing Bachelor of Technology in Mechanical Engineering (final year). He is also a campus representative with Shiksha.com since 2016.
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered a week 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 10
Answered 2 weeks 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 2 months 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