MAT Exam Pattern 2023: Marking Scheme, Negative Marking

Table of Contents

MAT Exam Pattern

The All India Management Association sets the rules for the MAT exam (AIMA). It is a speed-based test in which people have 150 minutes to answer 200 questions.

The MAT question paper has 200 questions about the Indian and Global Environment, Language Comprehension, Data Analysis and Sufficiency, Mathematical Skills and Intelligence, and Critical Reasoning. According to the MAT paper pattern, each of the five sections has 40 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ). The MAT test is between easy and moderately hard.

The MAT test is given in three different ways: on paper (PBT), on a computer (CBT), and over the Internet (IBT). The MAT pattern is the same for all three modes. The MAT exam is given more than once, in four parts, and candidates can take it as many times as they want. For MBA admission, the best score from all the tests will be taken into account. You’ll learn about the test’s structure, modes, levels of difficulty, weighting by subject, scoring system, etc.

MAT Pattern: Main Points

In the last ten years, the MAT test has stayed the same. The MAT exam pattern is said to be one of the most student-friendly of all MBA entrance exams. Here are some of the most important parts of the MAT pattern and test structure. The MAT 2023 IBT, CBT, and PBT question papers will all have the same structure.

MAT Features	Details
Exam modes	CBT, PBT, IBT
MAT sections	Language ComprehensionData Analysis & SufficiencyMathematical SkillsIntelligence & Critical ReasoningIndian & Global Environment
Total number of questions	200
Exam duration	150 minutes
Total marks	200
Marking scheme	+1 for each correct entry-0.25 for each incorrect entry0 for not attempting a question

MAT Pattern: Weighting by Section

The 200 questions on the MAT question paper are split evenly among five sections. Check the table below to see how much each section of the MAT 2023 exam counts:

MAT Sections	Number of Questions
Language Comprehension	40
Intelligence and Critical Reasoning	40
Data Analysis and Sufficiency	40
Mathematical Skills	40
Indian and Global Environment	40
Total	200

MAT Marking Scheme

The format of the MAT paper is set up so that each section is worth 40 points.
Each correct answer is worth one point.
For each wrong answer, 0.25 points are taken away.
No points are lost for not answering a question.
The score on the Indian and Global Environment section is not used to figure out the percentile.

MAT Exam Format: Time Limits for Each Section

There is no time limit for each section on the MAT. But candidates have to set a time limit for each section so they can finish all of them on time and get the score they want. In the table below, you can see how long you should spend on each part of MAT 2023:

MAT Sections	Suggested Time Limit
Language Comprehension	30 Minutes
Intelligence and Critical Reasoning	30 Minutes
Data Analysis and Sufficiency	35 Minutes
Mathematical Skills	40 Minutes
Indian and Global Environment	15 Minutes
Total	150 Minutes

MAT Exam Pattern 2023: Information About Each Section

The MAT is the only test for getting into an MBA program that has five parts. On other tests, Data Interpretation is combined with either Quantitative Ability or Logical Reasoning. Data Interpretation is a separate part of the MAT.

Here are some important facts about the five parts of the MAT question paper:

Language Comprehension: This part has two parts: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension. This section covers Verb, Noun, Pronoun, Adjective, Adverb, Antonyms and Synonyms, One Word Substitution, Idioms and Phrases, Vocabulary, Fill in the Blanks, Sentence Correction, Para Jumble, and Reading Comprehension.

Intelligence and Critical Reasoning: This part of the MAT has questions about Analytical and Logical Reasoning topics like Family Trees, Course of Action, Arrangement, Pie Charts, Calendars, Statement Conclusions, Strong Arguments and Weak Arguments, Puzzles, Series, Blood Relations, Coding and Decoding, Visual Reasoning, Syllogisms, and Graphs.

Data Analysis and Data Sufficiency: There are two parts to this section: Data Analysis and Data Sufficiency. Questions are asked about Line graphs, Bar Graphs, Caselet, Pie Charts, Data comparisons, Quantitative Comparisons, and Data Sufficiency.

Mathematical Skills: The MAT’s Mathematical Skills section is the same as what other MBA entrance exams call Quantitative Aptitude. In this part, there are questions about Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Measurement, and Modern Math.

Indian & Global Environment: The Current Affairs and Static GK questions are in the Indian & Global Environment or GK section. Even though this part is worth 40 points, it is not used to figure out a candidate’s MAT score or percentile.

How Hard Is the MAT Exam?

The MAT test is between easy and moderately hard. Based on an analysis of several previous MAT exams, we’ve put together a list of the number of good attempts and how hard each section is:

Sections	Number of Good Attempts	Level of Difficulty
Data Analysis and Sufficiency	16-18	Easy to Moderate
Intelligence and Critical Reasoning	22-25	Moderate
Language Comprehension	23-25	Easy to Moderate
Mathematical Skills	21-23	Moderate to Difficult
Indian and Global Environment	15-20	Easy to Moderate

MAT Test Format for IBT Mode: Test Needs

After the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in 2020, AIMA made the Internet Based Test (IBT) mode available. The MAT IBT paper is the same as the MAT CBT/PBT paper. The IBT mode exam is the same as the CBT and PBT modes in terms of how the test is set up and how points are given. The only difference is that candidates don’t have to go to a test center for this kind of test. They can take the MAT test from home or any other place that is convenient for them. People who want to take the MAT IBT in 2023 must remember the following:

MAT IBT Requirements	Description
Network	The candidates must have a stable internet connection with proper speed throughout the exam duration. A proxy for this is if they can log in to their email accounts without difficulty. Upload Speed: Minimum speed => 512 kbps
Supported Browsers	Chrome version 63 and aboveFirefox version 52 and above
Operating System	WindowsOS (Version7 and above)
.Dot NETframework	MSB requires a dot net framework. The minimum supported version is 4.5.1..NETframework
Memory	65MB of permanent free space on the default hard drive

Frequently Asked Questions About MAT Exam Pattern 2023

Q. What’s the difference between MAT’s CBT and PBT modes?

Ans. The CBT mode exam is given online, and candidates have to use the mousepad to type their answers on the computer screen. In the PBT mode of the exam, candidates have to mark the right answer on an OMR sheet.

Q. What does the MAT IBT mode exam mean?

Ans. IBT stands for “Internet-Based Test.” Due to the Coronavirus outbreak in 2020, AIMA made it possible for candidates to take the exam from home on a laptop or desktop computer with a working web camera. In the last three years, the IBT mode of the exam has become very popular because it is flexible and easy to use. Candidates can choose a day and time for the test that works best for them.

Q. How long does the MAT test last?

Ans. The PBT, CBT, and IBT modes of the MAT test all take 2.5 hours or 150 minutes. In the MAT, there is no set amount of time for each section, so candidates can use the 2.5 hours however they want. They should spend 35 minutes on each of the first four parts and 20 minutes on the general knowledge part.

Q. Is the MAT exam easier than other tests to get into an MBA program?

Ans. Yes, the MAT exam is easier than other tests for getting into MBA programs. Most of the time, the question paper is easy to moderately hard. The MAT is also easier in terms of how hard each section is than other MBA exams.

Q. What are the rules for giving points on the MAT exam?

Ans. The MAT has a total of 200 points. Each question on the test is worth one point, and there are 200 of them (40 in each section). For each wrong answer, 0.25 points will be taken away. But scores on the GK section are not used to figure out MAT percentiles.

Q. Is the IBT mode of the MAT exam different from the CBT mode and the PBT mode?

Ans. No. The MAT IBT, CBT, and PBT all follow the same test plan. But the questions in each MAT session are different, so the level of difficulty may vary slightly. No question is asked more than once in any CBT, PBT, or IBT session.

Q. The MAT question paper has how many questions?

Ans. The MAT question paper has 200 questions that are evenly split into five sections: Language Comprehension, Intelligence and Critical Reasoning, Data Analysis and Data Sufficiency, Mathematical Skills, and Indian and Global Environment. So, there are 40 multiple-choice questions in each section.

Q. Is there a time limit for each section on the MAT?

Ans. No, there is no time limit for each section on the MAT. Candidates can choose how much time to spend on each section on their own. It is best to start with the easier parts and then move on to the harder ones.

Q. Which part of the MAT exam has the most weight?

Ans. Each section of the MAT test has 40 questions and 40 points, which are all worth the same. Each question is worth one point if you answer it correctly. The MAT has points that can be taken away. So, candidates shouldn’t answer a question they don’t know the answer to.

Q. Does MAT have subjective-type questions?

Ans. No, the MAT only has questions that are about facts. There are four ways to choose the right answer for each question. The candidates must carefully mark their answers to avoid getting a bad grade.

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