MAT May 2026 CBT paper analysis for the June 12 afternoon shift indicates an overall moderate difficulty level, with Intelligence and Critical Reasoning rated the easiest section and Mathematical Skills posing the biggest challenge.
AIMA held the MAT May 2026 Computer Based Test on June 12, 2026, with the afternoon shift running from 2:30 PM to 5:00 PM. The paper carried 200 questions across five sections — Language Comprehension, Mathematical Skills, Data Analysis and Sufficiency, Intelligence and Critical Reasoning, and Indian and Global Environment — with 40 questions per section. Each correct answer fetches 1 mark and each wrong answer carries a penalty of 0.25 marks. Students who appeared for this shift can review the section-wise difficulty, topic distribution, good attempts, and expected composite score below.
- Overall Difficulty: Moderate — consistent with previous MAT CBT sessions.
- Easiest section: Intelligence and Critical Reasoning — rated Easy to Moderate by students.
- Toughest section: Mathematical Skills — multi-step calculative problems reported across attempts.
- Expected good attempts: 133–154 out of 200 for a competitive composite score.
- Expected composite score for 90+ percentile: 600 and above (scaled out of 800).
| Direct Link to MAT May 2026 Official Website (ACTIVE) |
MAT May 2026 CBT June 12 Afternoon Shift Overview
AIMA conducted the MAT May 2026 CBT across multiple dates in June 2026. The June 12 afternoon shift ran from 2:30 PM to 5:00 PM (150 minutes). The table below gives a quick reference of the exam pattern for this shift.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Mode | Computer Based Test (CBT) |
| Exam Date | June 12, 2026 |
| Shift | Afternoon (2:30 PM – 5:00 PM) |
| Duration | 150 minutes |
| Total Questions | 200 |
| Total Marks | 200 (1 mark per correct answer) |
| Negative Marking | –0.25 per wrong answer |
| Sections | 5 (40 questions each) |
| Composite Score Scale | 800 (excludes Indian and Global Environment section) |
| Overall Difficulty | Moderate |
Section-Wise Difficulty Analysis
Student feedback collected after the MAT May 2026 CBT June 12 afternoon shift points to the difficulty ratings listed below. Intelligence and Critical Reasoning was the most accessible section, while Mathematical Skills required the most time per question and had several multi-step problems.
| Section | Questions | Marks | Difficulty Level | Good Attempts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Language Comprehension | 40 | 40 | Moderate | 28–32 |
| Mathematical Skills | 40 | 40 | Moderate to Difficult | 22–26 |
| Data Analysis and Sufficiency | 40 | 40 | Moderate | 24–28 |
| Intelligence and Critical Reasoning | 40 | 40 | Easy to Moderate | 29–33 |
| Indian and Global Environment | 40 | 40 | Easy | 30–35 |
| Total | 200 | 200 | Moderate | 133–154 |
Topic Coverage by Section
The following topics featured in the MAT May 2026 CBT June 12 afternoon shift. Coverage is based on student reports and follows the standard MAT question distribution.
Language Comprehension
- Reading Comprehension — 2 passages with 8–10 questions; topics spanned global economics and social policy
- Para Jumbles — 5 questions, moderate difficulty
- Fill in the Blanks (vocabulary and grammar-based) — 8 questions
- Sentence Correction and Error Spotting — 8 questions
- Synonyms, Antonyms and Idioms — 8–9 questions
Mathematical Skills
- Arithmetic — Time, Speed and Distance; Profit, Loss and Discount; Percentage; Simple and Compound Interest (18–20 questions)
- Algebra — Equations, Inequalities and Progressions (8–10 questions)
- Geometry and Mensuration — 6–8 questions
- Number System — HCF, LCM and Divisibility (4–5 questions)
- Modern Maths — Probability and Permutation and Combination (4–5 questions)
Data Analysis and Sufficiency
- Data Interpretation — Bar graphs, Line charts, Pie charts and Tables (20–22 questions across 4–5 DI sets)
- Data Sufficiency — 18–20 questions in 2-statement format
Intelligence and Critical Reasoning
- Series Completion and Analogies — 6–8 questions
- Coding-Decoding — 5–6 questions
- Blood Relations and Direction Sense — 5–6 questions
- Seating Arrangement and Puzzles — 8–10 questions
- Critical Reasoning — Assumption, Inference and Conclusion (8–10 questions)
Indian and Global Environment
- Current Affairs (last 6 months) — 15–18 questions
- Business and Economy GK — 10–12 questions
- Static GK — Geography, Polity and History (8–10 questions)
- Sports and Awards — 4–5 questions
Good Attempts and Expected Score
Attempting 133–145 questions with around 80% accuracy is considered strong performance in the MAT May 2026 CBT June 12 afternoon shift. The table below maps section-wise good attempts to estimated raw scores, factoring in negative marking at roughly 80% accuracy.
| Section | Good Attempts | Expected Correct | Expected Raw Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Language Comprehension | 28–32 | 23–27 | 21–25 |
| Mathematical Skills | 22–26 | 17–21 | 15–19 |
| Data Analysis and Sufficiency | 24–28 | 19–23 | 17–21 |
| Intelligence and Critical Reasoning | 29–33 | 24–28 | 22–26 |
| Indian and Global Environment | 30–35 | 25–30 | 23–28 |
| Total | 133–154 | 108–129 | 98–119 |
The Indian and Global Environment section score is not counted in the MAT composite score (CS). The composite score uses only the four remaining sections and is scaled to a maximum of 800.
Expected Composite Score and Percentile
Based on MAT May 2025 and September 2025 session trends, a composite score of 600 and above is expected to fetch 90+ percentile in MAT May 2026. AIMA calculates the composite score using a statistical scaling method across the four scored sections. The table below gives the expected score-to-percentile mapping for this session.
| Expected Composite Score (out of 800) | Expected Percentile | Performance Band |
|---|---|---|
| 650 and above | 95+ | Excellent |
| 600–649 | 90–95 | Very Good |
| 550–599 | 80–90 | Good |
| 500–549 | 70–80 | Average |
| 450–499 | 60–70 | Below Average |
| Below 450 | Below 60 | Needs Improvement |
Most AIMA-affiliated B-schools accept students with a composite score of 500 and above. Top-tier institutions generally require 600 or higher. All projections above are expected figures based on previous MAT sessions.
MAT May 2026 CBT Paper Analysis FAQs
Ques. What was the overall difficulty of MAT May 2026 CBT June 12 afternoon shift?
Ans. The overall difficulty of the MAT May 2026 CBT June 12 afternoon shift was Moderate. Intelligence and Critical Reasoning was rated Easy to Moderate, while Mathematical Skills was rated Moderate to Difficult.
Ques. How many questions should you attempt in MAT May 2026 CBT for a good score?
Ans. Attempting 133–145 questions with around 80% accuracy is considered strong for MAT May 2026 CBT. Prioritise accuracy over quantity to avoid losing marks to negative marking of 0.25 per wrong answer.
Ques. What composite score is needed for 90 percentile in MAT May 2026?
Ans. Based on previous MAT CBT session trends, a composite score of 600 and above out of 800 is expected to fetch 90+ percentile in MAT May 2026. These are projected figures based on prior sessions.
Ques. Which section was the toughest in MAT May 2026 CBT June 12 afternoon shift?
Ans. Mathematical Skills was the toughest section in the June 12 afternoon shift. Students reported multi-step arithmetic and geometry problems that were time-consuming, with expected good attempts of 22–26 out of 40.
Ques. Is the Indian and Global Environment section score counted in the MAT composite score?
Ans. No. AIMA calculates the MAT composite score using only four sections — Language Comprehension, Mathematical Skills, Data Analysis and Sufficiency, and Intelligence and Critical Reasoning. The Indian and Global Environment score appears on the scorecard but is not included in the 800-scale composite score.
Ques. When will MAT May 2026 results be announced?
Ans. AIMA typically announces MAT results within two to three weeks of the final exam date. Students can check their composite score and section-wise performance on the official portal at mat.aima.in.
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