About Management Aptitude Test (MAT) 2026
The Management Aptitude Test (MAT) is a national-level entrance examination administered by the All India Management Association (AIMA) to facilitate admissions into Master of Business Administration (MBA), Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM), and allied management programmes across 600+ business schools in India. Approved by the Ministry of Education (Govt. of India) as an official national test, MAT is conducted four times a year: February, May, September, and December.
December 2026 cycle status: Online registration is currently active on the official AIMA MAT portal (mat.aima.in). Candidates can choose between Paper-Based Test (PBT) and Computer-Based Test (CBT), or register for both modes to maximize their evaluation scores. The December 2026 PBT exam is scheduled for 20 December 2026, while the CBT exam will take place on 27 December 2026.
| Exam Feature | Official Details (MAT 2026) |
|---|---|
| Full Exam Name | Management Aptitude Test (MAT) |
| Conducting Body | All India Management Association (AIMA) |
| Exam Level & Frequency | National Level • 4 times a year (February, May, September, December) |
| Testing Modes | Paper Based Test (PBT) and Computer Based Test (CBT) |
| Official Portal | mat.aima.in |
| Accepted By | Over 600+ AICTE-approved and UGC-recognised B-Schools across India |
| Eligibility | Graduation in any stream from a recognised university (final-year students eligible) |
| Age Limit | No minimum or upper age restriction |
| Application Fee | ₹2,300 (Single Mode - PBT or CBT) • ₹4,000 (Both Modes - PBT + CBT) |
| Exam Duration & Format | 120 minutes (2 hours) • 150 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) |
| Marking Scheme | +1 mark for correct answers • -0.25 mark penalty for wrong answers |
Eligibility Criteria
AIMA maintains straightforward and inclusive eligibility criteria for all MAT exam sessions:
- Qualifying Degree: Candidates must hold a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline (Arts, Science, Commerce, Engineering, etc.) from a recognised university or institute.
- Final Year Candidates: Students appearing for their final semester/year examinations of their undergraduate degree are eligible to apply provisionally.
- Minimum Aggregate Marks: AIMA does not mandate a minimum aggregate percentage to sit for the MAT exam. However, individual participating B-schools usually require a minimum of 50% aggregate marks (45% for reserved categories).
- Age & Attempt Restrictions: There is no upper age limit, and candidates may take the MAT any number of times to improve their scores.
Application Fees & Mode Options
Candidates can register online through credit/debit card, net banking, or UPI on the official AIMA registration portal:
| Registration Option | Application Fee (INR) | Key Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Single Test Mode (PBT or CBT) | ₹2,300 | Allows selecting up to 5 participating management institutes (MI) for free score forwarding |
| Dual Test Mode (PBT + CBT) | ₹4,000 | Allows taking both testing modes and sending scores to up to 7 participating management institutes |
| Mode Upgrade (from single to dual) | ₹1,700 | Permits candidates who originally registered for one mode to add the second mode before deadline |
Updated Exam Pattern & Structure
Under the revised MAT structure, the examination comprises 150 questions to be attempted in 120 minutes (2 hours). The test contains 5 distinct sections of 30 questions each:
| Section | Number of Questions | Marks | Suggested Time Allocation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Language Comprehension | 30 | 30 | 25 minutes |
| Intelligence & Critical Reasoning | 30 | 30 | 25 minutes |
| Mathematical Skills | 30 | 30 | 30 minutes |
| Data Analysis & Sufficiency | 30 | 30 | 30 minutes |
| Economic & Business Environment | 30 | 30 | 10 minutes |
| Total | 150 | 150 | 120 minutes (2.0 hours) |
Important Dates (December 2026 Session)
Official timelines for the MAT December 2026 examination cycle:
| Milestone Event | Paper-Based Test (PBT) | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
|---|---|---|
| Last Date for Online Registration | 14 December 2026 | 21 December 2026 |
| Admit Card Release Date | 17 December 2026 | 24 December 2026 |
| Examination Date | 20 December 2026 | 27 December 2026 |
| Declaration of Scorecard & Results | First week of January 2027 (Tentative) | |
Official Sources & Portals: AIMA MAT Official Portal • AIMA Main Website.