MBA entrance exam
MAT: Exam Pattern, Dates, Eligibility and Fees
MAT (Management Aptitude Test) is conducted by All India Management Association (AIMA) and is used for admission to many private B-schools that accept it. MAT December 2026 PBT - test date: 20 Dec 2026. It has 5 sections in 120 minutes. Every detail below links to the official notice it comes from.
By ProCounsel Editorial TeamReviewed by ProCounsel counselling teamLast updated 12 Nov 2026
Official sources only · last verified 12 Nov 2026
Official MAT websiteWhat are the important MAT dates?
| MAT December 2026 PBT - registration closes | 14 Dec 2026Source: MAT official website (AIMA) - home· last verified 11 Nov 2026 |
| MAT December 2026 PBT - admit card release | 17 Dec 2026Source: MAT official website (AIMA) - home· last verified 11 Nov 2026 |
| MAT December 2026 PBT - test date | 20 Dec 2026Source: MAT official website (AIMA) - home· last verified 11 Nov 2026 |
| MAT December 2026 CBT - registration closes | 21 Dec 2026Source: MAT official website (AIMA) - home· last verified 11 Nov 2026 |
| MAT December 2026 CBT - admit card release | 24 Dec 2026Source: MAT official website (AIMA) - home· last verified 11 Nov 2026 |
| MAT December 2026 CBT - test date | 27 Dec 2026Source: MAT official website (AIMA) - home· last verified 11 Nov 2026 |
| MAT December 2026 results | By the first week of January 2027TentativeSource: MAT official website (AIMA) - home· last verified 11 Nov 2026 |
| MAT PBT Special Drive (past) | Test 6 Sep 2026; registration ended 1 Sep 2026Source: MAT official website (AIMA) - home· last verified 11 Nov 2026 |
All MBA 2027 admission deadlines, with colleges’ own application dates
What is the MAT exam pattern?
| Section | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Language Comprehension | 30 | — |
| Intelligence & Critical Reasoning | 30 | — |
| Mathematical Skills | 30 | — |
| Data Analysis & Sufficiency | 30 | — |
| Economic & Business Environment | 30 | — |
| Total time | 120 min |
Marking: Objective multiple-choice; negative marking of -0.25 marks for every incorrect answer. Marks per correct answer are not stated officially (null).
150 questions in 120 minutes; no section-wise time limits stated. All five sections count toward the score. Score report: five sectional scores on a 0-100 scale and a Composite Score on a 200-800 scale (equal weight to all five sections), each with a percentile; raw scores normalized across sessions since Feb 2021.
Source: MAT official website (AIMA) - home· last verified 11 Nov 2026
What does MAT test?
- Language Comprehension
- Intelligence & Critical Reasoning
- Mathematical Skills
- Data Analysis & Sufficiency
- Economic & Business Environment
Who can take MAT, and how is it run?
| Exam cycle | MAT December 2026 (upcoming session: PBT 20 Dec 2026, CBT 27 Dec 2026)Source: MAT official website (AIMA) - home· last verified 11 Nov 2026 |
| Conducted by | All India Management Association (AIMA)Source: MAT official website (AIMA) - home· last verified 11 Nov 2026 |
| Mode | Paper Based Test (PBT) and Computer Based Test (CBT); candidates may take one mode or both (PBT+CBT, best score used). Internet Based Test (IBT) is not listed among current official test modes (null).Source: MAT official website (AIMA) - home· last verified 11 Nov 2026 |
| How often it is held | Four times a year: February, May, September and December (plus a PBT Special Drive held 6 Sep 2026). A candidate may opt for one or two test modes per session.Source: MAT official website (AIMA) - home· last verified 11 Nov 2026 |
| Eligibility | Graduation in any discipline from any recognized University or equivalent recognized degree. A final year student in any undergraduate programme (B.A, B.Sc., B.Com., B.Tech., etc.) can also appear provisionally. No age bar; job experience not necessary. Minimum percentage requirements vary by institute.Source: MAT FAQ (AIMA)· last verified 11 Nov 2026 |
| Score validity | One yearSource: MAT official website (AIMA) - home· last verified 11 Nov 2026 |
What is the MAT application fee?
| All candidates - PBT only | ₹2,300Source: MAT official website (AIMA) - home· last verified 11 Nov 2026 |
| All candidates - CBT only | ₹2,300Source: MAT official website (AIMA) - home· last verified 11 Nov 2026 |
| All candidates - PBT + CBT (both modes) | ₹4,000Source: MAT official website (AIMA) - home· last verified 11 Nov 2026 |
| Upgrade to an additional test mode (after registration) | ₹1,700Source: MAT official website (AIMA) - home· last verified 11 Nov 2026 |
| Each additional Management Institute score choice (incl. 18% GST) | ₹118Source: MAT official website (AIMA) - home· last verified 11 Nov 2026 |
Which colleges accept MAT?
| Institute | City | NIRF 2025 | Total fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| CBS KolkataPGDM | Kolkata | Not in top 100 | ₹7,70,000source |
| EDIIPGDM-E | Gandhinagar | Not in top 100 | ₹13,95,000source |
| Globsyn (GBS) KolkataPGDM | Kolkata | Not in top 100 | ₹8,95,000source |
| IIEST Shibpur SOMSP1 | Howrah | Not in top 100 | ₹4,77,700source |
| IPE HyderabadPGDM | Hyderabad | Not in top 100 | ₹9,00,000source |
| Jaipuria IndorePGDM | Indore | Not in top 100 | ₹13,50,000source |
| PIMR IndoreMBA | Indore | Not in top 100 | ₹3,80,000source |
| Praxis KolkataPGDM | Kolkata | Not in top 100 | ₹11,00,000source |
| SMS, University of HyderabadMBA | Hyderabad | Not in top 100 | ₹2,19,220source |
Institutes the exam body names:
- Vellore Institute of Technology (Vellore)
- National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra
- National Institute of Technology, Dept. of Management Studies, Silchar
- School of Management Studies (SMS), University of Hyderabad
- Birla Institute of Management Technology (Greater Noida)
- Amrita School of Business (Coimbatore)
- FLAME University (Pune)
- KIIT - School of Management (Bhubaneswar)
- Xavier Institute of Management & Entrepreneurship (Bengaluru)
- LM Thapar School of Management (Chandigarh)
- Institute of Public Enterprise (Hyderabad)
- Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (Gandhinagar)
Frequently asked questions
When is MAT?
MAT December 2026 PBT - test date: 20 Dec 2026, per the official notice. Check https://mat.aima.in/ for changes.
What is the MAT exam pattern?
MAT has 5 sections: Language Comprehension; Intelligence & Critical Reasoning; Mathematical Skills; Data Analysis & Sufficiency; Economic & Business Environment, 150 questions in all, in 120 minutes. Marking: Objective multiple-choice; negative marking of -0.25 marks for every incorrect answer. Marks per correct answer are not stated officially (null).
Who can take MAT?
Graduation in any discipline from any recognized University or equivalent recognized degree. A final year student in any undergraduate programme (B.A, B.Sc., B.Com., B.Tech., etc.) can also appear provisionally. No age bar; job experience not necessary. Minimum percentage requirements vary by institute.
How long is a MAT score valid?
One year
How are MAT results used for admission?
Score cards are downloaded from the applicant dashboard on https://mat.aima.in/ (December 2026 results by the first week of January 2027). Scores are released to both candidates and the Management Institutes (MIs) chosen during registration (5 MIs; 7 if two test modes are taken; more at Rs 118 each). Candidates taking both PBT and CBT can use their best score. There is no central counselling: each participating institute (AICTE-approved, DEC-approved, university-affiliated colleges or university departments) applies its own admission criteria. AIMA states MAT scores are accepted by 600+ B-Schools.
Sources
Official documents used on this page, last checked on 12 Nov 2026.
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