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Last updated: 28 October 2026. Dates and fees checked against AIMA’s official MAT portal.
CAT comes once a year. If your percentile falls short, you wait twelve months for another shot. The MAT Exam doesn’t work that way. AIMA holds it four times a year, so one bad paper doesn’t sink your whole season. The MAT 2026 exam in December is the next one, and PBT registration closes on 14 December. BSchool Bridge also keeps these dates on its exam tracker if you want a second place to check.
MAT Exam 2026: What It Is and Who Conducts It
MAT stands for Management Aptitude Test. The All India Management Association (AIMA) conducts it. It is a national-level MAT MBA entrance exam, so one score works for many colleges. AIMA holds it in February, May, September and December. More than 600 B-schools take the score for MBA or PGDM admission. The score stays valid for one year.
A score alone does not get you a seat. Most colleges call you for a group discussion, then a personal interview. Some also look at your graduation marks or work experience.
Sources: AIMA MAT official website
MAT Exam Date 2026: Registration, Fee and Last Date
MAT is on 20 December (PBT) or 27 December (CBT). Register by 14 or 21 December.
The December session runs in two modes. The paper-based test (PBT) is on 20 December 2026. The computer-based test (CBT) comes a week later, on 27 December 2026.
| Event | PBT | CBT |
|---|---|---|
| MAT registration last date | 14 Dec 2026 | 21 Dec 2026 |
| Admit card | 17 Dec 2026 | 24 Dec 2026 |
| MAT exam date 2026 | 20 Dec 2026 | 27 Dec 2026 |
Do not wait for the last day to deal with the MAT 2026 registration date. Test cities fill up. Pick PBT if you write faster with a pen. Pick CBT if you practice on a screen. You can write both modes if you want two attempts in one month. Dates can change, so confirm on the AIMA portal before you pay.
Sources: AIMA MAT official websiteBSchool Bridge exam tracker
MAT Application Form 2026 and Fee
The MAT application form 2026 is quick to fill if you’re ready before you open it. Keep a recent photo plus a scanned signature saved on your phone or laptop first.
Then head to the AIMA portal and make an account. Personal details come first, then academic details. Next you upload the photo plus a signature. Pick your mode, choose a city, pay the fee. Save the confirmation page once the payment goes through.
The MAT application fee 2026 is ₹2,300 for one mode. Sitting both PBT and CBT costs ₹4,000, so the second paper adds ₹1,700. Every session needs a fresh registration, even if you’ve written MAT before. BSchool Bridge’s form-filling guide lists the other documents you may need.
MAT Exam Eligibility Criteria
The rules are simple. You need a bachelor degree in any discipline from a recognized university. Final-year students can apply too. They show proof of passing later. AIMA sets no age limit. It sets no cap on attempts. It also sets no minimum percentage. Work experience is not required, so freshers write the same paper as working professionals.
Sources: AIMA MAT official website
MAT Exam Pattern 2026, Marking Scheme and Syllabus
The MAT exam pattern 2026 is easy to remember. There are 150 multiple-choice questions. They sit in five sections of 30 questions each. The MAT exam duration is 120 minutes. That is less than a minute per question.
| Section | Questions | MAT syllabus topics |
|---|---|---|
| Language Comprehension | 30 | Reading passages, grammar, vocabulary, para jumbles |
| Intelligence and Critical Reasoning | 30 | Series, blood relations, syllogisms, arguments, puzzles |
| Data Analysis and Sufficiency | 30 | Tables, graphs, caselets, data sufficiency |
| Mathematical Skills | 30 | Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, number system |
| Economic and Business Environment | 30 | Economy, banking, budget, current affairs |
MAT Marking Scheme
You get +1 for every correct answer. Each wrong answer costs 0.25. Questions you skip score zero. Every section carries equal weight, so a weak section hurts you. Guess only when you can rule out two options. The maths then works in your favour.
Sources: AIMA MAT official website
MAT Syllabus Topics That Need Daily Time
AIMA doesn’t give a topic list. Past papers show what usually comes up.
- Language Comprehension: Mostly passages. Read one or two a day.
- Intelligence and Critical Reasoning: Series, puzzles, blood relations, syllogisms. A few questions daily is enough.
- Data Analysis and Sufficiency: Start with data sufficiency. Tables and graphs can wait.
- Mathematical Skills: Mostly arithmetic. Get that solid first.
- Economic and Business Environment: It’s all current news, so you can’t cram it. Read a business paper daily.
MAT Exam Preparation Tips for the Last Seven Weeks
You’ve got about seven weeks before the PBT. That’s enough time if you study a little every day rather than in bursts.
- Weeks 1 to 2: Go back to basic arithmetic and grammar. Read one editorial a day, even a short one.
- Weeks 3 to 5: Take one section at a time. Find your weakest topics and fix them before you move on.
- Weeks 6 to 7: Sit full mocks in 120 minutes. After each one, go through every wrong answer.
- Every day: Give 20 minutes to business and economy news.
- For PBT: Practise with pen and paper. A screen alone won’t feel the same on exam day.
Mistakes That Cost Marks in the MAT Exam
Most people lose marks in the same few places. The Economic and Business section gets ignored until last week. Mocks get taken but never reviewed. One hard question eats five minutes that five easy ones needed. Sort these out first. They’ll lift your score more than a new book will.
Choosing Colleges After the MAT Exam
Make your college list first. Then check which exams those colleges accept. Some take only CAT. Others take MAT too. On BSchool Bridge you can filter colleges by exam. The ROI calculator helps before you pay any deposit. If you are stuck between exams, read the CAT vs MAT guide.
MAT Exam FAQs
Q1.When is the MAT exam date 2026 for the December session?
The PBT is on 20 December 2026. The CBT is a week later on 27 December 2026. You can write one or both.
Q2.What is the MAT registration last date for December?
PBT registration closes on 14 December 2026. CBT registration closes on 21 December 2026. Don’t wait for these days, because test cities can fill up before the deadline.
Q3.How much is the MAT application fee 2026?
It’s ₹2,300 for one mode. If you write both PBT and CBT it comes to ₹4,000. Every session needs a fresh MAT application form 2026, even if you’ve applied before.
Q4.Can final-year students apply for the MAT entrance exam 2026?
Yes. You can apply in your final year and show proof of passing later. AIMA sets no age limit and no cap on attempts. Many colleges do ask for 50% marks in graduation, so check each college’s page.
About the author
BSchool Bridge Editorial Desk
MBA admissions research team
The editorial desk compiles fees, cutoffs and placement figures from NIRF submissions, institute fee schedules and official placement reports, then checks them against each institute's admission policy before publishing. Articles are reviewed when a new admission cycle opens.
- Figures traced to NIRF 2025 and institute reports
- Reviewed every admission cycle
- Source notes on every college page
