MAT December 2026: exam dates, pattern, syllabus and how to apply
The Management Aptitude Test (MAT) is the management entrance test run by the All India Management Association (AIMA) several times a year; institutes that choose to accept it use the score for MBA, PGDM and allied programmes. What candidates want to know now: for December 2026, the paper-based test is on Sunday 20 December 2026 and the computer-based test is on Sunday 27 December 2026 (checked 20 October 2026 on mat.aima.in). You can sit one of them or both. This guide covers the dates, how to apply, the pattern and a plan.
MAT at a glance
| Conducting body | All India Management Association (AIMA) |
| What it is for | Admission to MBA, PGDM and allied programmes at institutes that accept the score |
| Mode | Paper-based test (PBT) or computer-based test (CBT) at a centre, or both |
| Questions | 150 in five sections of 30 |
| Time | 120 minutes for the whole paper |
| Marking | 0.25 marks taken off for a wrong answer |
| Language | English (no Hindi paper on the pages read) |
| How often | Four sittings a year: February, May, September and December |
| Official website | mat.aima.in |
MAT December 2026 exam dates
As of 20 October 2026, mat.aima.in gives:
| Paper-based test (PBT) | Computer-based test (CBT) | |
|---|---|---|
| Last date to register | 14 December 2026 | 21 December 2026 |
| Admit card | 17 December 2026 | 24 December 2026 |
| Test date | Sunday 20 December 2026 | Sunday 27 December 2026 |
The fee on the same page is ₹2,300 for one mode and ₹4,000 for both. A candidate who sits both may send scores to seven institutes instead of five. AIMA says a MAT score is valid for one year and you may sit more than once. Our MAT exam-dates page has the dates in one place.
How to apply for MAT
- Go to mat.aima.in and read the information for candidates for December 2026.
- Check that you are eligible: graduates in any discipline, and students in the final year of a graduate course, may apply.
- Register and choose the mode: PBT, CBT or both.
- Fill in your details and choose the institutes that will receive your score (five with one mode, seven with both). AIMA asks you to confirm with each institute that it accepts MAT; see its B-school notifications.
- Upload your photograph and signature and pay the fee online.
- Download the admit card on 17 December (PBT) or 24 December (CBT).
Keep ready: a photo ID, your graduation details or proof of final-year study, and the list of institutes you want to send scores to.
MAT exam pattern
| Section | Questions |
|---|---|
| Language Comprehension | 30 |
| Intelligence and Critical Reasoning | 30 |
| Mathematical Skills | 30 |
| Data Analysis and Sufficiency | 30 |
| Economic and Business Environment | 30 |
| Total | 150 in 120 minutes |
AIMA prints no separate time for each section, so the 120 minutes cover the whole paper: 48 seconds a question on average. That is the real difficulty of MAT; speed matters more than depth.
Is there negative marking in MAT? Yes. AIMA's pages say a wrong answer costs 0.25 marks. They do not print the marks for a right answer or say what a blank scores; our practice tests score 1 for right and 0 for blank. Guess only when you can rule out at least one option. See negative marking: when to guess.
How is MAT scored? AIMA's score report has a score from 0 to 100 for each section, a composite from 200 to 800 built from all five sections with equal weight, and percentile figures. Raw scores are normalised across the session first. All five sections count, including Economic and Business Environment. There is no pass mark; each institute sets its own cut-off.
MAT syllabus
AIMA lists the sections, not topics. From the section names:
- Language Comprehension: passages, vocabulary, grammar and sentence questions.
- Intelligence and Critical Reasoning: puzzles, arrangements, series, coding and arguments.
- Mathematical Skills: arithmetic, algebra, geometry and numbers.
- Data Analysis and Sufficiency: tables, charts and data-sufficiency questions.
- Economic and Business Environment: the economy, business, and general awareness.
Our MAT syllabus page has the details.
A plan for the weeks before MAT December 2026
Between eight and nine weeks remain.
| Weeks | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Take one full MAT mock test in 120 minutes. Note how many questions you could not reach. |
| 2–3 | Speed drills: 30 Mathematical Skills questions in 25 minutes, three times a week. Two passages a day. |
| 4 | Data Analysis and Sufficiency: one set a day. Economic and Business Environment: 20 minutes of reading a day. |
| 5–6 | One full mock a week, then two. Decide which section you attempt first and when you move on. Register before the deadline. |
| 7–8 | Two mocks a week, each analysed (how to analyse a mock test). |
| Last week | Revision only, admit card, centre. |
If you are also sitting CAT on 29 November or XAT on 3 January, MAT's December dates fit between them; see the CAT guide.
Useful links
- MAT website: registration, dates and admit card
- MAT December 2026 information for candidates
- MAT FAQ and score interpretation
- Free MAT mock tests on Mockrooms (practice tests, not AIMA's own)
- MAT syllabus
- MAT exam dates
- CMAT 2027: exam date, pattern and how to apply
Frequently asked questions
When is the MAT December 2026 exam?
The paper-based test is on Sunday 20 December 2026 and the computer-based test on Sunday 27 December 2026 (checked 20 October 2026 on mat.aima.in).
What is the last date to apply for MAT December 2026?
14 December 2026 for the paper-based test and 21 December 2026 for the computer-based test, according to mat.aima.in.
Is there negative marking in MAT?
Yes. A wrong answer costs 0.25 marks, so do not guess blindly on questions you cannot narrow down.
Can I take both the paper and computer MAT?
Yes. Taking both costs ₹4,000 instead of ₹2,300 for one mode, and lets you send scores to seven institutes instead of five.
How long is a MAT score valid?
AIMA says one year. You may sit MAT more than once.
Who is eligible for MAT?
Graduates in any discipline, and students in the final year of a graduate course. Check the institutes you apply to for their own conditions.