MAT 2016: How to manage time in September PBT test; tips from experts

AIMA-MAT 2016 on September 4, in paper based form will need greater time management as all the sections have equal number of questions with equal weightage and are without any restriction of moving from one section to other. The 2 hours exam consists of 200 questions divided in 5 sections and all the sections are compulsory. You cannot afford leaving one or other section less attempted or unattempted as they carry equal weightage and you need to qualify in each one.
Since there is no restriction of movement between the sections nor there is any sectional time limit to attempt a section as exists in CAT 2016, it is obvious that candidates may not be able to manage their sectional time and overshoot the time in one or other section leaving a drastic deviation in sectional attempts which may result in very low score in one or other section.

Management Aptitude Test, popularly known as MAT is an entrance exam to PGDM institutes in India. The scores of MAT 2016 September exam will be considered in selection by more than 164 B-schools in the country, as advised by AIMA.
Experts like Arks Srinivas of VistaMind Education; Prof S. K. Agarwal Verbal Ability expert and expert on MBA entrance exam preparation share tips how to manage time in testing hall and maximise the scores.
MAT is typically conducted 4 times a year and the MAT exam in September of every year is the first All India entrance exam for admission to MBA/PGDM 2017-19 programmes in the B-schools.

MAT is conducted both in the paper based format as well as computer based format. The structure is the same for both and the scores of candidates of these two exams are assimilated together while releasing the results. September MAT 2016 is being conducted on September 4 in the paper based format whereas the computer based format is slated for September 10, 2016 onwards.

How to best utilise the time
Expert on MAT Exam preparation ARKS Srinivas, CEO, VistaMind Education while sharing the glimpse of MAT 2016 September exam pattern, advises the candidates to follow the suggested time limit.
The basic pattern of the MAT 2016 September exam will have a total time limit of 2 and half hours to solve 200 questions. There will be 5 sections in MAT 2016 September exam and number of questions per section will be 40. The answer choices per question are 4 and marks awarded for every correct answer is 1 with penalty of negative marks for each wrong answer.
The suggested time limit to solve each of 5 sections and expected attempts per section, according to Srinivas should be as follows

Sno
Section
No of Qns

Ideal time
(in min)
Expected attempts

1
Language Comprehension
40
25
30+
2
Intelligence and Critical Reasoning
40
40
30+

3
Data Analysis and Sufficiency
40
35
25+

4
Mathematical Skills
40
40
25+
5

Indian and Global Environment
40
10
15+

200
150
125+

It is important that you give time to each of the sections and not get bogged down by any one section.

Read and then attempt
You must try to ensure that you come to the end of the section in the allotted time and this can only be done when you take decisions on solving or not solving questions in the first 15 seconds of reading the question. There may always be easy questions and hence you should have a cut-off time for each question.

Strategy to attempt each Section
Two things which the test taker should remember during the exam are - execution is more important than knowledge and Stick to basics.

Plan your time utilisation
As given in the table on time management, it is important that you have a clear plan for the entire 150 minutes.

GK: Equally Important
Leaving out the GK area (India and Global Environment) is not a good idea. The best institutes look at the score of this section too while giving you a final selection.

Minimum time to each question
It is extremely important that you leave a question if you are NOT able to crack the question in 1 minute.

Cut-off time to each question
The cut-off time for Verbal would be even lesser than say a Logic question or a Math question. Typically, for Verbal ability area, you should leave the question within the first 30 seconds if you are not able to get the answer. Only questions on parajumbles and such can be given about 1 minute each

How to use answer options intelligently
You dont have to solve every question. The choices can be used to eliminate the wrong answers if one looks at them intelligently. Of-course, you need to have the fundamentals in place to do the above, suggests Srinivas

Analyse your Strengths and Weaknesses
The above Time Management strategy may not be generalised as it is important for you to look at what your strengths and weaknesses are and accordingly you may change the plan.

You are supposed to take MAT 2016 September test with concentration avoiding getting stuck to one or other question and wasting your time. The tip is to move on and choose the questions which you are comfortable with in your first attempt followed by more difficult ones.