The Management Aptitude Test (MAT) is a national-level MBA entrance exam conducted by the All India Management Association (AIMA) four times a year to facilitate admission into over 500 MBA/PGDM colleges across India. The MAT 2026 registrations for the first session are now open on the official website.
Candidates must have completed a bachelor's degree from a recognized university or be in the final year of their degree to be eligible for the exam. The MAT is conducted in two modes: Paper-Based Test (PBT) and Computer-Based Test (CBT). For the 1st 2026 session, the PBT will be held on 1 March 2026, while the CBT will be conducted on 8 March 2026. The registrations for the PBT will close on 23 February 2026 and for the CBT on 2 March 2026.
The exam duration is 120 minutes and consists of 150 multiple-choice questions divided evenly into five sections: Language Comprehension, Intelligence and Critical Reasoning, Data Analysis & Data Sufficiency, Mathematical Skills, and Economic & Business Environment. Each section comprises 30 questions with a negative marking of -0.25 for every wrong answer. Candidates can apply for both the PBT and CBT exams, or for only one of them. The registration fee for either exam (PBT or CBT) is INR 2200, while the fee for both PBT and CBT together is INR 3800.
MAT Exam 2026
All India Management Association conducts the national-level Management Aptitude Test to offer admissions in MBA/PGDM courses to various colleges and universities in India. The MAT 2026 Exam is held four times a year. The upcoming session of the exam is scheduled for 1 March 2026 (PBT) and 8 March 2026 (CBT). Those who are interested can apply before 23 February for the MAT PBT mode and 2 March 2026 for the CBT mode.
The MAT 20265 is conducted in both offline and online modes and lasts for 120 minutes. Candidates need to attend the five sections- Intelligence & Critical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, Mathematical Skills, Data Analysis & Sufficiency, and Indian & Global Environment.
MAT 2026 Important Dates
MAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Applicants should thoroughly check the eligibility criteria before submitting their exam application. Below is a detailed breakdown of the requirements:
Candidates need to be at least 20 years old.
Applicants must have 50% marks in their bachelor’s degree from a recognized university.
For candidates in the SC, ST, and PwD categories, the required minimum percentage in their bachelor’s degree is 45%.
MAT 2026 Application Form
The MAT 2026 application form has already been released and is available till 23 February 2026 and 2 March 2026 for the PBT and CBT MAT exam, respectively. The exam will then be held on 1 March 2026 and 8 March 2026. Candidates need to visit the official website to fill out the application form. The MAT application fee is INR 2200 for a single session and INR 3800 for both sessions.
Students need to follow these steps to fill out the application form:
Step 1: Open the official AIMA MAT website and click on the Register option.
Step 2: Enter your details, including Name, Phone Number, Email ID, and State/City, and create a password.
Step 3: Verify your mobile number by entering the OTP sent to your registered number. After verification, you will receive a new login ID via email.
Step 4: Upload your recent photograph and signature as required.
Step 5: Select up to five preferred MBA colleges and proceed with the fee payment.
Step 6: Complete the application form by providing your academic details, personal information, and address, then submit the form.
MAT 2026 Exam Application Fees
MAT 2026 Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme
MAT 2026 Exam Syllabus
The MAT 2026 Exam Syllabus covers five key sections designed to evaluate candidates on various aspects essential for management studies. Candidates can access the whole syllabus from the official website - https://mat.aima.in/. Below is a detailed breakdown of the subjects with key topics and focus areas:
MAT 2026 Exam Admit Card
The MAT 2026 Admit Card for the upcoming session will be released 2-3 days before the exam. The PBT admit card will be released on 26 February 2026 and the CBT admit card will be released on 5 March 2026. The admit card is an essential document that candidates need to carry on the day of the examination.
Students can follow these steps to download the admit card:
Step 1: Visit the official website - https://mat.aima.in/.
Step 2: Registered candidates can log in using their credentials, like Email ID and password.
Step 3: Now, click on the MAT exam admit card.
Step 4: Save and download it for future reference.
Documents to Carry on Exam Day
Admit Card
Valid Photo ID Proof
Passport-sized Photograph
MAT 2026: Exam Answer Key
While the All India Management Association (AIMA), which conducts the MAT exam, doesn't officially release answer keys, unofficial answer keys are provided by coaching institutes and MBA experts to help candidates estimate their scores. The purpose of these unofficial answer keys is to help candidates assess their performance in the exam and calculate their expected scores. There is no facility to file objections to the answers provided in the unofficial MAT answer keys. These unofficial answer keys are typically available in PDF format and are made available for all exam modes (CBT and PBT).
MAT 2026: Exam Results
The All India Management Association will release the results after conducting the exams. The MAT 2026 Results are expected to be released in the 1st week of April 2026*. Remember, candidates need to qualify for status in the results, as qualified students will go through further counselling and seat allotment.
Follow these steps to check the results:
Step 1: Visit the official website of AIMA.
Step 2: Login in to the dashboard using your credentials.
Step 3: Download the MAT Results.
MAT 2026 Exam Cutoffs
The All India Management Association (AIMA), which conducts the MAT exam, does not release cutoffs; instead, the participating MBA/PGDM institutes determine their own cutoff scores for admission based on MAT scores.
Institutes use the MAT score as one factor in the selection process, and candidates who meet the cutoff are then invited for further rounds, like group discussions and personal interviews.
For MAT 2026, expected cutoffs for top MBA colleges range from 80-90 percentile, with some colleges like IPE Hyderabad and Christ University Bengaluru requiring scores in this range.
Top Colleges and Expected MAT Cutoff Percentiles (2026):
General Cutoff Trends:
General (UR): Aim for a composite score between 600-650.
OBC: Aim for a composite score between 550-600.
SC/ST: Aim for a composite score between 500-550.
A composite score above 400 is considered a good score in MAT.
The score displayed in the scorecard can range from 200 to 800.
The cut-off is then arrived at by calculating the composite score on a scale of 199 - 801.
The MAT Exam composite score is calculated based on the candidate's performance in 4 sections - Mathematical Skills, Intelligence & Critical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, and Data Analysis & Interpretation
MAT Exam 2026 Preparation Tips & Books
Exam preparation is not about how long you study, but rather how well you consume the concepts. Students need to focus more on practical and productive learning. The following guidelines provide effective ways to enhance preparation and maximize results.
You need to create a study schedule, give proper time slots to every subject and prioritise subjects that you are weak in to give more time and effort to it.
Candidates need to solve previous year questions of 2024, 2023, and so on to have a rough idea about the types of questions asked, difficulty level, and the pattern of the question paper
One of the important strategies or keys is to revise continuously about what you study. It will help you to get updated every day avoiding any gaps.
Allocate time per question paper and try completing it in the given time. Avoid taking extra time on the practice time and also start with easy question sets and then go for the tougher ones.
Below are some books that can help in your preparation for the MAT Exam:
Frequently Asked Questions
The Management Aptitude Test (MAT) is held four times a year.
To apply for MAT 2026, candidates must be at least 20 years old, hold a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university with at least 50% marks, and 45% for SC/ST/PwD. Additionally, Students in their final year of graduation are also eligible to apply.
MAT is conducted in two formats: Paper-Based Test (PBT) and Computer-Based Test (CBT). The duration is 120 minutes, with 150 multiple-choice questions spread across five sections: Language Comprehension, Mathematical Skills, Data Analysis & Sufficiency, Intelligence & Critical Reasoning, and Indian & Global Environment.
Candidates must bring the MAT Admit Card, a Valid Photo ID Proof (e.g., Aadhaar, Passport, Driver’s License), and Passport-size Photograph (same as the one uploaded during registration).