MAT Exam Pattern 2024 (Updated Pattern): Find out the MAT Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme

The MAT exam pattern 2024 remains has changed from the previous years’ pattern. In short, there are a total of 150 questions spread over 5 sections – Language Comprehension, Data Analysis and Sufficiency, Mathematical Skills, Intelligence and Critical Reasoning, and Economic and Business Environment – to be answered in 120 minutes. Each section has 30 questions; the last section – Economic and Business Environment – is not included in the overall percentile calculation. Each correct response is awarded +1, while incorrect answers attract a negative marking of -0.25. Unattempted questions receive 0 marks.

The MAT exam is a national-level management aptitude test that has been conducted since 1988. It is accepted by some of the top private business schools in the country, including Amrita Business School, Amity University, Noida, Lovely Professional University, and Christ University. Considered by many to be the most flexible, accessible, and student-friendly management entrance test, the MAT exam has solidified its place amongst management aspirants looking to take the next step in their careers. Moreover, unlike other national-level tests such as CAT and XAT, MAT is significantly easier. The exam has been designed to assess your grasp of the basics and how well you can apply those basic concepts under pressure. The speed-based test allows students to score well and clear the path to solid management education from a top college.

Despite the straightforward nature of this test, you must prepare well; with only 120 minutes provided to answer 150 questions, speed and accuracy are of the utmost importance. Both these skills can be picked up with dedicated practice and extensive coverage of the syllabus. 

To build your strategy for the exam, to maximise your marks by capitalising on your strengths and shoring up your weaknesses, you first need to understand the MAT exam pattern for 2024 intimately. Fortunately, no major changes have been introduced this year and the same overall pattern as the previous years is being followed. 

In this blog, we’ll break down the MAT paper pattern to give you a deeper look into the intricacies of the exam.

Read more – MAT 2024 May Exam – Updated exam dates, exam pattern, syllabus, and colleges

What is the MAT exam pattern 2024?

The MAT 2024 exam will have 150 questions divided into 5 sections of 30 questions each. A total of 120 minutes will be given to students to finish the paper. With no sectional time limits, students can strategically divide their time between sections to boost their scores. Each correct response is awarded 1 mark, while each incorrect one is given -0.25 marks. Unattempted questions are given 0 marks. Moreover, students also have the option of three different modes to take the exam – Internet-based test, paper-based test, and computer-based test. Students can choose to take the test once or twice in either mode, i.e.:

1. PBT
2. CBT
3. IBT
4. IBT + IBT
5. CBT + IBT
6. PBT + IBT
7. PBT + CBT

The MAT exam pattern is the same across all modes. The only factor that changes is the delivery of the exam. PBT is paper-based and requires students to fill in an OMR sheet physically. The CBT mode is computed-based, wherein students fill in answers on their computer screens at designated test centres. The last option, IBT, is the internet-based home test where students can use their personal devices to give a remote proctored test over the internet.

Read More – MAT Registration Last Date

So, here is a rundown of the MAT paper pattern for this year.

MAT exam pattern 2024 – Sections and sub-sections

While the difficulty level of the MAT exam has historically been easy to moderate, and significantly simpler to solve than the likes of CAT or XAT, it can become challenging for students who are unaware of the nuances of the paper.

Although there are five official sections according to the MAT paper pattern, further scrutiny reveals three more subsections too.

1. The first section, namely, Language Comprehension, is subdivided into Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension.
2. The second section, Intelligence and Critical Reasoning is further broken down into Logical Reasoning and Analytical Reasoning.
3. The Data Analysis and Data Sufficiency section consists of Data Analysis questions that closely mimic Data Interpretation and Data Sufficiency questions.
4. The Mathematical Skills section is largely similar to the Quantitative Aptitude section of other MBA entrance tests.
5. The last section, Economic and Business Environment, has questions encompassing current affairs and static GK. 

Now, let’s look at the detailed distribution of questions and marks across all the sections and subsections.

Language comprehension (Verbal ability + Reading comprehension)

Reading comprehension

1. No. of questions – 3 short passages with 5 questions each
2. Weightage – 15 marks
3. Types of questions – Questions such as central idea, true/ false statements, and antonyms/ synonyms based on the contents of the passage itself.

Verbal ability

1. No. of questions – 15 questions
2. Weightage – 15 marks
3. Types of questions – Jumbled paragraphs, sentence correction, sequence correction, fill-in-the-blanks, antonyms/ synonyms, word substitution, and idioms and phrases.

Intelligence and Critical Reasoning

1. No. of questions – 30 questions
2. Weightage – 30 marks
3. Types of questions – Family relations, cause and effect, assumptions, clocks and calendars, reasons, analogies, directions, series, incorrect terms.

Mathematical skills

1. No. of questions – 30 questions
2. Weightage – 30 marks
3. Types of questions – Arithmetic questions based on SI/ CI, percentages, time and work, profit/ loss, ratio and proportion. Other topics, such as mensuration, geometry, PnC, probability, and quadratic equations, are also covered.

Data analysis and sufficiency

1. No. of questions – 30 questions
2. Weightage – 30 marks
3. Types of questions – More than half the questions will come from data analysis (data interpretation), while the rest will be from data sufficiency and data comparison. The questions largely require students to analyse bar, line, table, and pie graphs to extract, interpret, and manipulate data to reach conclusions.

Economic and business environment

1. No. of questions – 30 questions
2. Weightage – 30 marks
3. Types of questions – Questions are formed on film awards, taxation & duties, the Indian constitution, who’s who, states of India, sports, and recent events. A combination of static GK and current affairs can be expected.

Understanding the MAT exam pattern 2024 is key to scoring well on this test. Due to the lack of time and dependence on speed, students need to be aware of the questions they should and should not attempt to maximise their scores. This requires tons of practice. Giving mock tests is the best way to solidify this practice. Sign up here to gain free access to full-length mock tests along with detailed solutions to take your score beyond the 90 percentile mark.