MAT 2019 Exam Pattern

MAT Exam Pattern 2019 is not much changed from last year MAT exam. MAT February 2019 exam pattern reveals that the MAT will have 200 MCQ type questions divided in 5 sections. AIMA (All India Management Association) has been conducting MAT exam since 1988 for MBA admission four times in one year. Scores of MAT 2019 exam will be used as admission criteria in B-schools across the country for the MBA/PGDM 2019-21 batch.

MAT February 2019 Exam Pattern: Two Phase MAT Exam
There are two MAT exams in February 2019 and will be held in two phases. The Phase-1 of Management Aptitude Test (MAT) 2019 MAT exam date is February 17, 2019 from 10AM to 12.30PM as paper based test. The Phase-2 paper based MAT will be held on February 23, 2019 from 10AM to 12.30PM. The computer based MAT will also be held in different time slots on February 23, 2019 

Facility to Appear in One or Two MAT 2019 February Exams
Candidates can appear both in Phase 1 Paper Based MAT on February 17 and Computer Based MAT Test on February 23, 2019. However, AIMA has not allowed the MAT test takers to appear in Phase-2 paper based MAT and computer based MAT exam as they will be held on the same day on February 23.

Key Facts about MAT Exam Pattern 2019  
MAT question paper is based on the MAT exam pattern which is an objective type test with Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs). Here are the key details about the MAT Pattern February 2019:

• MAT February 2019 Exam pattern consists of 200 Objective Type Questions (MCQs)
• MAT Exam Pattern 2019 notifies that the MAT February 2019 exam will be divided in 5 sections with 40 questions in each section
• MAT Questions in MAT exam pattern are of easy to moderate difficulty level
• The 5 test sections in MAT 2019 February exam are Language Comprehension, Mathematical skills, Data Analysis and Sufficiency, Intelligence and Critical Reasoning, Indian and Global Environment.

MAT Exam Pattern 2019: Sectional Composition
Each of the 5 sections in MAT question paper will have 40 questions making it a total of 200 questions in MCQ format to be solved in 150 minutes. Individual time limit for each section has been suggested by AIMA although candidates can move from one section to other in the February MAT 2019 exam.

MAT Pattern 2019 February: How to answer MAT question?

• You have to choose the correct answer option out of the multiple choices given below the question
• Mark the correct answer option on the answer sheet if appearing in Paper Based Test
• Click on the correct answer option if appearing in Computer based test
• Time duration to complete the MAT exam as per the MAT pattern 2019 is 2 hours 30 minutes
• Each correct answer is awarded +1 Mark
• Each wrong answer is penalized with -0.25 negative mark

Difficulty Level in MAT Pattern
Although MAT Syllabus contains all the topics on which questions are asked in other MBA entrance exams also, past MAT question papers and the MAT exam pattern reveal that MAT Exam does not throw tough questions in the MAT exam. 

GK Section in MAT Pattern 2019: Not Counted for Percentile Calculation
Score and percentile in MAT exam is awarded on the basis of 4 sections. The score of Indian & Global Environment is separately shown but is not taken into account to calculate the merit or percentile score in the MAT score card.
 

MAT Exam Pattern: Sections & Sub Sections- Key Details
MAT Exam pattern 2019 is further subdivided. This sectional sub-division in MAT Pattern 2019 makes MAT 2019 as an exam with 8 effective sections. Here are the key details:

1. The section-1 in MAT exam 2019 on Language Comprehension is divided into two parts - Verbal Ability  and Reading Comprehension.
2. Section-2 on Intelligence & Critical Reasoning also consists of two parts with Analytical and Logical Reasoning questions.
3. The section-3 in MAT exam pattern consists of Data Analysis & Data sufficiency which also has two types of questions – the first type is on Data Analysis which is closer to Data Interpretation and other type of questions are on Data sufficiency.
4. Section-4 in MAT exam is the Mathematical Skills section which is basically the Quantitative Ability section. It is very wide and covers each and every topic in Mathematics with greater emphasis on Arithmetic.
5. Section-5 on Indian & Global Environment in MAT exam is the GK section which covers current affairs, static GK, Business & Economy, International current affairs, Who’s Who, Constitution of India, United Nations Organization among other key topics. The score of this section is not counted to determine merit score, so many candidates skip this section also.

 Section Highlights in MAT Exam Pattern 2019

Section-1: Language Comprehension
Language Comprehension section in MAT is divided into 2 parts. The 1^st part of MAT 2019 covers topics on Reading Comprehension passages and the 2^nd part covers questions on Grammar & other parts of Verbal Ability. Key details are:

Part-1: Reading Comprehension  in MAT Exam

• Number of Questions Based on RC Passages: 20
• Sectional Weightage of RC in MAT Language Comprehension Section: 50%
• Type of passages in MAT Exam on RC: 4 Short passages of moderate difficulty level
• Division of questions: 5 questions based on each passage
• Type of Questions: All of MCQ type with penalty of ¼  negative marking
• Format of questions: Questions are based on information in RC passage; Antonyms/synonyms of the words & phrases as used in the passage; True/false statements; main idea of RC passage

Part-2: MAT Verbal Ability

• Number of Questions: 20
• Sectional Weightage in MAT Syllabus: 50%
• Type of Questions: All of MCQ type with penalty for wrong answer
• Jumbled Paragraphs (3-4 questions)
• Error Correction of Verb, Noun, Pronoun, Adjective, Adverb and other parts of speech in the Sentences.
• Correcting the sequence of sentences in the paragraph for example correct use of conditional sentence, time clauses, reported speech, passive writing (3-4 questions)
• Antonyms/Synonyms (5-6 questions)
• Fill in the blanks (3-4 questions)
• One word substitution (1-2 questions)
• Idioms/Phrases (2-3 questions)

Section-2: Intelligence and Critical Reasoning 
MAT question paper has tricky questions in this area. The section in MAT exam pattern is divided in 2 parts – Intelligence Reasoning and Critical Reasoning. In other exams like CAT, critical reasoning questions are also asked in Verbal Ability section. Here are the key details on the section in MAT exam:

• Questions in Reasoning section can be individual or can be in the set of 3-4 questions.
• Weightage of Reasoning Section in MAT exam: 20%
• Weightage of Reasoning Section in MAT Percentile calculation: 25%
• Total Reasoning questions in MAT syllabus for exam: 40
• Type of Questions: MCQs
• Past trend of topics in MAT Reasoning Syllabus: Questions were based on Family Relation, Statements-Cause & Effect, Clocks & Calendars, Statement –Assumptions, Reasons, analogies, direction, series, Incorrect Terms.

Section-3: Mathematical skills 
MAT exam pattern 2019 for Mathematical skills refers to the Quant topics on which MAT questions are based. MAT Exam pattern for Quant consists of everything in Mathematics that you may or may not expect. MAT exam pattern 2019 on Quant is based on questions on different topics on Arithmetic, Algebra, Modern Math, Geometry, Mensuration, Trignometry among others. Here are the key details of the Mathematical Skills section in MAT exam 2019 pattern

• Number of Questions: 40.
• Sectional weightage in MAT Exam: 20%
• Sectional Weightage in Percentile calculation: 25%
• Type of Questions: MCQs
• Past trend in MAT exam pattern for Mathematics shows that there is More emphasis on Arithmetic with  number of questions going in the range of 15 to 16.
• Questions are based on Interest, Percentages, Time and Work, Profit, Loss, Partnership.
• Other questions are based on topics like Equations, Ratio, Proportion & Variation, Geometry & Mensuration, Permutation and Combinations, Probability among others

Section-4: Data Analysis and Sufficiency 
MAT exam 2019 pattern for Data Analysis and Sufficiency covers more topics on Data Interpretation. The key details of the section in MAT exam pattern are:

• Number of Questions: 40
• Type of questions: MCQs
• Sectional weightage in MAT Exam: 20%
• Sectional Weightage in MAT Percentile Calculation: 25%
• Past trend of topics in MAT exam for Data Analysis shows that questions on Data Analysis are  based on text, tables, graphs (line, area), charts (column, bar, pie), venn diagram.
• Data could be given in form of tables, charts or graphs.
• In this section it is tested that how candidates can interpret the given data and answer questions based on it.
• This section has more questions on data interpretation
• Data comparison time remains the major hurdle to solve these questions with speed and accuracy
• Questions on Data Interpretation (DI) occupy more than 50% of the section, rest of the part covers questions on data sufficiency and data comparison
• The questions in this section of MAT question paper can be expected in sets as well as individual ones

Section-5: Indian and Global Environment 
Indian and Global Environment section in MAT exam refers to the GK section. It expects you to know everything under the Sun on Business & Economy, Who’s who, current affairs, static GK among others.

• Number of Questions: 40
• Type of questions: MCQs
• Sectional weightage in MAT: 20%
• Sectional Weightage in Percentile Calculation: Nil
• Past trend of topics in MAT Syllabus for Indian & Global Environment reveal that the Questions are formed on Film Awards, taxation & duties, Indian constitution, Who’s who, States of India, Sports, Recent events
• Suggested time limit by AIMA to answer the 40 questions in this section is 15 minutes but 10 minutes are enough to attempt this section
• The questions are based on conventional GK, business and economics, current affairs, international affairs
• This section is not counted for percentile calculation in MAT exam
• Many Candidates skip or answer very few questions in this section to save time for other sections

MAT Pattern Vs CAT, XAT, NMAT, ATMA MBA Entrance Exams
MAT exam pattern is not much different than the other national level MBA entrance exams. Below are shared quick comparison of MAT exam pattern 2019 with other National level exams:

MAT Exam Pattern Vs IIMs CAT

MAT exam pattern and IIMs CAT exam have many similarities which give the opportunity to the candidates to synchronise their sectional and overall exam preparation. A quick analysis between MAT 2019 exam pattern and CAT will bring home the facts:

MAT Exam Pattern V/s XAT
MAT Exam Pattern and XLRI - XAT exam have many similarities. It helps the MAT and XAT test takers to prepare for them with less extra efforts:

 MAT Exam Pattern V/s NMAT by GMAC
MAT Exam Pattern and NMAT by GMAC exam have many similar sections and question pattern. The candidates preparing for both the exams may coordinate their sectional and overall exam preparation. A comparative analysis detailing the key features of MAT Pattern and NMAT by GMAC is shared below:

MAT Exam Pattern Vs ATMA
MAT Exam and ATMA exam scores are accepted for MBA admission in number of common colleges. The MAT exam pattern and ATMA exam pattern is also not much different: