MAT Exam 2026 (Feb Session): Results, Marks vs Rank, College Predictor and Cutoff for Top Colleges

Senior Content Strategist | MBA Professional | Updated on - Mar 23, 2026

The MAT 2026 PBT and CBT exams for the February session have been successfully conducted by AIMA on 1^st and 8^th March 2026, respectively.
Now the candidates are waiting for the MAT 2026 Result to be announced, which is expected in the last week of March 2026, around 24 March on the official AIMA website.

Your scorecard will show section-wise scores and the overall composite score, calculated from 4 sections, while the Economic & Business Environment is not included in the composite percentile.
The MAT composite score usually ranges from 199 to 801, and a score above 600 is generally considered good for admission to many B-schools.

As per previous year trends, the February MAT session, a score of 650–700 will place you about 85–95 percentile, while scores above 700 often fall in the 95+ percentile range.

Around 19,000–23,000 candidates registered for the MAT February 2026, out of which 16,000–19,000 appeared for the exam across PBT and CBT modes, resulting in an attendance rate of about 82–84%.

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Table of Contents

What is the MAT Exam and its Advantages?
What are the MAT 2026 Exam Dates 2026?
MAT 2026 Registration Begins: Check Fees
MAT Registration Trends
Know the MAT Exam Structure and Syllabus
How to Practice for MAT before the Test
Top High-Weightage Must Study MAT Topics
Do’s and Don’ts Checklist Before MAT Exam
MAT 2026 vs Other MBA Exams (CAT, XAT, SNAP)
Top 20 MBA Colleges and their Expected Cutoffs

What is the MAT Exam and its Advantages?

The most important advantage of MAT is the number of times it is held in a year. If you have missed the earlier exams, you can also take the next exam. As per Career Defence School Ambala, “MAT is a great backup for those appearing in CAT, SNAP, XAT, or CMAT. Even if you don’t perform well in one exam, MAT gives you another path to good colleges.”

Source: https://tinyurl.com/yrcc2nk3

MAT has served for over 35 years as a trusted gateway to management education. Its massive reach is chosen by over 30 lakh candidates around the country.

MAT is generally considered easier than exams like CAT
MAT is accepted by a wider range of mid-tier colleges rather than targeting only top-tier colleges like IIM.

So if you are someone who does not want to take CAT due to difficulty or college choices, MAT is the perfect exam for you. You can check the details of the MAT exam below:

Aspect	Details
Exam Level	National Level
Exam Frequency	Four times a year (March, May, September, December)
Exam Modes	Paper-Based Test (PBT), Computer-Based Test (CBT), Dual Mode
Eligibility	A graduation in any discipline from a recognized university
Marking Scheme	+1 for correct answer, -0.25 for incorrect answer
Registration Fee	INR 2,200
Payment Mode	Credit/Debit Card, Net Banking, UPI, Paytm Wallet
Official Website	www.aima.in

Check the video below to understand the details on the MAT Exam:

What are the MAT 2026 Exam Dates?

MAT exam will be conducted in March 2026 in two modes.

MAT Paper-based test (PBT) will be held on 1st March.
MAT Computer-based test (CBT) will be held on 8^th March.

You can also check live updates on the MAT exam dates here. Click Here.

Type of MAT Exam	Last Date to Register	Admit Card Release Date	Exam Date
Paper-Based Test (PBT)	23rd February, 2026	26^th February, 2026	1^st March, 2026
Computer-Based Test (CBT)	2^nd March, 2026	5th March, 2026	8^th March, 2026

Want to check more dates related to MAT Exam? Check Here.

MAT 2026 Registration Begins: Check Fees

The MAT Feb 2026 registration has started, and the last date to register for PBT is 23 Feb 2026, and for CBT it is 2 March 2026 on the official website. MAT 2026 Application Fees

Mode of Test	Application Fee (₹)	Description / Insights
PBT (Paper-Based Test)	₹ 2,200	For candidates appearing in the paper-based test mode only. Recommended for those preferring traditional offline exams.
CBT (Computer-Based Test)	₹ 2,200	For candidates opting for the computer-based test at authorised test centres. Provides flexible scheduling and faster processing.
PBT + CBT (Both Modes)	₹ 3,800	Allows candidates to appear for both modes in the same session. Offers a backup attempt and a higher score improvement opportunity, but costs ~72% more than a single mode.

How to Practice for MAT before the Test?

To prepare for MAT, take at least 30-35 mock tests and analyse mistakes to improve accuracy and time management. You can get free mock tests on Collegedunia’s MAT Mock Test page.

Year	Question Paper	Solution PDF
MAT 2025 Question Paper with Solution PDF	Check Here	Check Solutions
MAT 2022 Question Paper with Solution PDF	Check Here	Check Solutions
MAT 2021 Question Paper with Solution PDF	Check Here	Check Solutions
MAT 2020 Question Paper with Solution PDF	Check Here	Check Solutions

MAT Previous Years’ Question Papers

The MAT previous years’ question papers for last 10 years are given below:

Year	Question Paper PDF
2018	Download PDF
2013	Download PDF
2012	Download PDF
2010	Download PDF
2009	Download PDF
2008	Download PDF
2007	Download PDF
2006	Download PDF
2005	Download PDF

Ques. What is a good attempt in the MAT exam?

Ans. A good attempt in MAT 2026 typically means answering 100-110 questions out of 150 with high accuracy.

Since each incorrect answer carries a -0.25 mark deduction, accuracy is as important as speed.
With balanced performance across sections, such an attempt can lead to the 90+ percentile.
The exact percentile may vary depending on the overall difficulty level of the exam and the performance of others.

Ques. Which MAT section is thought to be the most difficult?

Ans. Many people believe that the most difficult parts of the MAT exam are mathematical abilities and data analysis and sufficiency.

The mathematical ability section is calculation-based and tests both speed and accuracy. However, the level of difficulty depends on the candidate.
For some students , logical reasoning might be tricky, while others may find general knowledge unpredictable.
Consistent practice and smart time allocation help to reduce the difficulty across sections.

Ques. Is the MAT 2026 syllabus the same for all sessions?

Ans. Yes. Every one of the four sessions held in a year follows the same MAT 2026 syllabus. Regardless of whether a candidate shows up in September, December, May, or February.

Language comprehension, intelligence and critical reasoning, mathematical skills, data analysis and sufficiency, and the Indian and global environment are the five designated sections from which the exam's questions are taken.

MAT Registration Trends

The MAT registration trends will help you understand how many students you are competing with. All India Management Association, a federation of Local Management Associations (LMAs), has witnessed a 20% growth in registration for MAT post-COVID.

AIMA Director Daljeet Singh told PTI "There has been a rise in the number of women candidates registering for MAT. With 45 per cent of women candidates in 2023, there is a growth of approximately 3 per cent compared to 2019."

He also said that “There is more participation of candidates from smaller cities, including Agra, Asansol, Aurangabad, Balasore, Bhilai, Darbhanga, Durg, Durgapur, Ernakulam, Erode, Salem, among others," he said.”

State-Wise Increase in MAT Registrations

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Ques. How many times can I appear for MAT 2026?

Ans. There is no restriction on the number of attempt for the MAT exam. The MAT is conducted four times a year (Feb, May, September, and December), you can choose to appear in the any session.

If you are not satisfied with the score in one session, you can retake the text in the next session to improve scores.

Ques. In what modes will MAT 2026 be conducted?

Ans. MAT 2026 offers three modes of examinations, catering to different preferences.

Paper-Based Test- Pen-and-paper exam conducted at designated centers

Computer-Based Test- Online test conducted at exam centers where you can attempt the test on a computer.

Internet-Based Test- Remote-proctored online test that can be taken fro home or any secure location with a stable internet connection and a computer with webcam access.

Know the MAT Exam Structure and Syllabus

The Indian & Global Environment section includes current affairs, general knowledge (science, history, geography), and topics related to economic and social issues. It's important to note that this section is not included in the score calculation for the MAT score.

Section No.	Section Name	No. of Questions
I	Language Comprehension	30
II	Intelligence & Critical Reasoning	30
III	Mathematical Skills	30
IV	Data Analysis & Sufficiency	30
V	Indian & Global Environment	30

Want to know the Detailed MAT Exam Syllabus? Check Here

Below is a section-by-section breakdown of the MAT:

Section Name	No of Questions	Time (Minutes)
Language Comprehension	30	40
Intelligence and Critical Reasoning	30	15
Mathematical Skills	30	30
Data Analysis and Sufficiency	30	30
Indian & Global Environment	30	35

Topic	Section	Weightage	Quick Resource
Reading Comprehension	Language	20	50 RCs by Ajay Singh
Arithmetic (P&L, TSD, SI/CI, Ratio)	Math Skills	15–18	Arun Sharma Level-1 & 2
Data Interpretation (Pie, Bar, Line)	DI/DS	15–20	Nishit Sinha DI 20 sets
Series, Analogies, Blood Relations	Reasoning	12–15	MK Pandey + 5 previous papers
Assumptions, Cause-Effect	Critical Reasoning	10	RS Aggarwal Verbal/Non-Verbal
Para Jumbles & Critical Reasoning	Language	8–10	Past 5 years MAT papers
Current Affairs (2024–25)	GK	20–25	Manorama Yearbook + GK Capsule
Venn Diagrams & Cubes	Reasoning	6–8	Previous MAT papers
Percentages, Profit-Loss, Averages	Math	8–10	Quantum CAT basic chapters
Caselet DI	DI	5–10	TIME/Race DI sets
Vocabulary (Synonyms/Antonyms)	Language	8–10	Norman Lewis 15-day plan
Indian Economy & Budget 2025	GK	8–10	Pratiyogita Darpan Feb–Nov 2025

Do’s and Don’ts Checklist Before MAT Exam

We have mentioned some Do’s and Don’ts that you need to follow before the MAT exam. This will help you with MAT preparation.

Do’s	Don’ts
Take 8–10 full-length mocks	Don’t start any new book/chapter
Revise from one source only	Don’t spend >2 mins on any question
Make a 2-page formula + shortcut sheet	Don’t ignore the GK section (easy 20 marks)
Mark & revise every wrong question	Don’t change the attempt strategy every mock
Read newspaper editorials daily (10 mins)	Don’t solve 500 questions without analysis
Keep the last 2 days very light, go through overall syllabus	Don’t panic if mock scores drop in the last week

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MAT 2026 vs Other MBA Exams (CAT, XAT, SNAP)

MAT's moderate difficulty and 4 attempts make it ideal for working pros vs CAT's high competition.

Exam	Sessions/Year	Difficulty	Accepting Colleges	Fee
MAT 2026	4	Moderate	600+	₹2,200
CAT 2026	1 (Nov)	High	1,200+ (IIMs)	₹2,400
XAT 2026	1 (Jan)	High	1,000+ (XLRI)	₹2,100
SNAP 2026	3 (Dec)	Moderate	Symbiosis only	₹2,250

Top 20 MBA Colleges and their Expected Cutoffs

Here is a list of the top 20 colleges that accept MAT 2026 scores, along with their expected cut-offs. You can also check the annual fees and expected package after placement. You can also check the Top 20 MAT Colleges with Good Placements.

College Name	Expected MAT Cutoff	Annual Fees (INR Lakhs)	Average Placement Package (LPA)
Christ University	600+	4.65	7.5
Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS)	650+	3.00	26.00
Xavier Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship (XIME), Bangalore	550+	6.45	10.50
Amity University, Mumbai	500+	4.72	6.50
Balaji Institute of Modern Management (BIMM), Pune	550+	6.28	6.00
Institute of Management Studies, Noida	500+	4.00	10.00
ITM Business School, Navi Mumbai	500+	6.23	8.65
Alliance School of Business, Bangalore	550+	7.50	9.20
KIIT School of Management, Bhubaneswar	550+	4.85	9.00
Acharya Institute of Management Sciences	500+	4.37	6.00
Presidency University, Bangalore	500+	3.25	5.21
Jagan Institute of Management Studies, Delhi	550+	4.35	8.60
Manipal Academy of Higher Education	500+	9.20	12.00
VIT Business School, Vellore	500+	3.49	9.68
MS Ramaiah Institute of Management, Bangalore	500+	4.00	6.50
Apeejay School of Management, Delhi	500+	4.35	8.30
PSG Institute of Management, Coimbatore	550+	5.75	7.60
Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar	500+	4.40	7.30
Jaipuria Institute of Management, Lucknow	550+	7.70	11.29
Bharati Vidyapeeth Institute of Management	500+	3.25	5.50

If you are looking for Govt College accepting MAT Score, you can check the link. Over 100 government universities and institutes accept MAT scores.

FAQs

Ques. What is the last date for MAT registration in 2026?

Ans. The last date for MAT registration in March 2026 is given below:

Paper-Based Test: 23^rd February 2026

Computer-Based Test: 2nd March 2026

Ques. Has MAT 2026 registration started?

Ans. Yes, the registration for MAT 2026 February session has been open for various sessions. The MAT exam registration have started on 25^th December, 2025.

Ques. What is the exam pattern for 2026?

Ans. The exam pattern for the 2026 MAT exam is given below:

Sections: Language Comprehension, Mathematical Skills, Data Analysis & Sufficiency, Intelligence & Critical Reasoning, Indian & Global Environment

Total Questions: 150

Exam Duration: 120 minutes

Marking Scheme: +1 for correct answer, -0.25 for incorrect answer

Exam Modes: PBT, CBT, IBT

Ques. What is the MBA exam for 2026?

Ans. Several MBA entrance exams are scheduled for 2026, including

MAT	CAT	SNAP
NMAT	KMAT	MBA CET

The above exams are conducted for admission to MBA and allied management programs across India.

Ques. Is 70 marks good for MBA CET?

Ans. Yes, a score of 70 in MAT 2026 might be considered sufficient for Tier-3 MBA colleges.

However, for admission into Tier-1 or Tier-2 colleges, a higher score, typically above 600, is required.
Candidates with a score of 70 should explore state-level colleges or smaller private universities.

*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.