ATMA Exam Pattern 2027: Section-wise Questions, Marking Scheme, Total Marks; What Official ATMA Papers Show [PDF]

Here are the key ATMA exam details for 2027 at a glance. Each point is explained in the sections below.

As per the official ATMA Bulletin, the ATMA marking scheme 2027 is:

• +1 mark for each correct (or best) answer

• 0 marks for each question not answered

• −0.25 mark for each wrong answer

Does ATMA have negative marking? Yes. ATMA negative marking is 0.25 mark per wrong answer. As the Bulletin puts it, four incorrectly answered questions subtract one mark from the total score. The same rule applies to all six sections; no section is free of negative marking.

The ATMA total marks are 180, as each of the 180 questions carries 1 mark. The lowest possible score is −45, if all 180 questions are answered wrong (180 × 0.25). ATMA exam total marks are calculated with a simple formula:

ATMA score = Number of correct answers − 0.25 × Number of wrong answers

Source: MBAUniverse.com calculation based on the official ATMA marking scheme.

The first and third rows give the same score, though the first candidate attempted 60 fewer questions. Accuracy matters as much as attempts in ATMA. To see what score you need, check the ATMA Cutoff 2027 and use the ATMA Percentile Predictor.

ATMA Analytical Reasoning section has 60 questions in two sections of 30. Analysis of past paper pattern reveals that ATMA Analytical Reasoning Pattern is as follows:

• Figure-based questions are the largest group: 9 to 13 per paper (average 11), covering figure series, folding, mirror images and counting of figures. These are not named in the topic list on the ATMA website, so do not skip them in your preparation.

• Verbal reasoning is the next big group: statement and inference questions (4 to 9) and odd one out (4 to 8).

• Fixed-count topics: number and letter series (5) and analogy (4) appeared in the same number in every paper.

Check ATMA Analytical Reasoning Question Types in the following table.

Quantitative Skills has 60 questions in two sections of 30. Analysis of past paper pattern reveals that ATMA Quantitative Skills Pattern is as follows:

• Arithmetic carries the section: number system, profit and loss, interest, ratio, speed, work, averages and percentages together gave 42 to 46 of the 60 questions in each paper.

• Data interpretation: 4 to 7 questions per paper, based on data given in tables or charts.

• Higher maths is rare: topics on the official list such as permutation and combination, logarithm and binomial theorem appeared rarely, if at all. Algebra, simplification and other topics together gave only 1 to 3 questions per paper.

Check ATMA Quantitative Skills Question Types in the following table.

Verbal Skills has 60 questions in two sections of 30. Analysis of past paper pattern reveals that ATMA Verbal Skills Pattern is as follows:

• Grammar decides your Verbal score: fill-in-the-blank questions on grammar and usage gave 27 to 40 of the 60 questions. Grammar and word usage are tested again and again.

• Reading comprehension is small: only 4 to 10 questions per paper.

• Vocabulary varies: 5 to 14 questions per paper on synonyms, antonyms, one-word substitution and idioms.

Check ATMA Verbal Skills Question Types in the following table.

Many aspirants take ATMA along with other MBA entrance exams. Here is how the ATMA exam paper pattern compares with CAT exam, CMAT exam, and MAT exam:

• Faster pace than CMAT and CAT: more questions and less time per question than both.

• Same penalty ratio as CMAT: in both exams, a wrong answer costs one-fourth of the marks of a correct answer. In CAT, a wrong MCQ costs one-third.

• No general awareness: unlike CMAT and MAT, ATMA tests only reasoning, verbal and quantitative skills.

• Overlap with CAT 2026 and CMAT 2027 preparation: arithmetic, grammar and reasoning practice helps across all these exams, but for ATMA, practise to a 1-minute-per-question pace.

More insights are in table below: 

The best way to get used to the ATMA test pattern is to take full-length papers on it. MBAUniverse.com offers these free:

• ATMA Mock Test 2027: five full-length mock tests based on official ATMA papers, each with 180 questions in 180 minutes. Take them online or download the PDF.

• ATMA Previous Year Question Papers: Past papers with answer keys and solutions.

• ATMA Sample Paper 2027: three free sample papers with answers, online and as PDFs.

After each test, check your section scores against the ATMA pattern of 30 minutes per section and note which question types cost you marks.

The ATMA exam pattern 2027 has 180 MCQs in six sections of 30 questions and 30 minutes each, a total of 3 hours. The ATMA marking scheme is +1 for a correct answer, −0.25 for a wrong answer and 0 for an unanswered question, so the ATMA total marks are 180. The official papers ATMA exam show where the marks are: figure-based and verbal reasoning in Analytical Reasoning, arithmetic in Quantitative Skills, and grammar-based fill-in-the-blanks in Verbal Skills. If you were searching for the ATMA exam pattern 2026, the pattern on this page is the same. Download the ATMA Exam Pattern 2027 PDF and take free ATMA mock tests from MBAUniverse.com, India’s No 1 MBA Portal.