MAT Syllabus

Preparing for the MAT (Management Aptitude Test) is a crucial step for aspiring business school candidates, and understanding the syllabus is key to success. The MAT exam evaluates a wide range of skills, from quantitative aptitude to language comprehension, data analysis, and general awareness. In this blog, we’ll take a detailed look at the MAT exam syllabus, breaking down each section to help you focus your preparation and approach the exam with confidence. Whether you’re a first-time test taker or looking to improve your score, this guide will provide you with valuable insights to streamline your study plan.MAT Syllabus: In MAT Exam 2024 Candidate can opt for Computer Based Test (CBT), Paper Based Test (PBT), or Both.

Total number of questions: 200
Duration: 2:30 Hours
Score: 200
Negative Marking: 0.25

Also Read: Top MBA College Accepting MAT Score

Section Wise MAT Syllabus

MAT Syllabus Section-1: Language Comprehension

Section Highlights:

MAT syllabus for Language Comprehension section is divided into 2 parts. The 1st part covers topics on Reading Comprehension passages and the 2nd part covers topics on Grammar & other parts of Verbal Ability.

Part-1: MAT Syllabus for Reading Comprehension (RC)

• RC Syllabus covers current affairs making influence on Social Life, International Affairs, Govt policies and Schemes, i.e., Triple Talaq, Clean India Mission, Migration of people from one country to other, Growing intolerance across the Globe, Agricultural policies, poverty eradication programmes
• Business & Economic RC Passages namely Global economic changes, economic development at the cost of environment, Impact of Demonetization in India, Wasteful expenditure by Governments
• RC passages from various English Literature books, from articles authored by great philosophers and thinkers, from various speeches of great personalities like passages from Charles Dickens, Aristotle, Martin Luther King, Mohan Das Karam Chand Gandhi, Churchill, etc.
• Passages on Science & Culture, including the journey to Modern world; Fading culture with the advancement of technology
• RC Passages on Historical events leading to social changes for example French Revolution, War of Roses, Social changes in Indian History and thoughts shared by various activists which are very much relevant even today
• RC Passages from Mythology. These passages try to correlate the Mythological events with the current social structure and answers to the questions on them must be inferred.
• Abstract topics and fiction are also included in the Reading Comprehension Syllabus.

Key Facts on RC Syllabus in MAT & Type of questions

Section Highlights:

RC passage on any topic can be placed in MAT exam.

• Number of Questions: 20
• Sectional Weightage in MAT Syllabus: 50%
• Type of passages in MAT Exam Syllabus on RC: 4 Short passages of moderate difficulty level
• Division of questions: 5 questions based on each passage
• Type of Questions: All MCQ type with penalty of ¼ negative marking
• Format of questions: Questions based on information in RC passage; Antonyms/synonyms of the words & phrases as used in the passage; In context of the passage –True/false statements; central idea of RC passage.

Part-2: MAT Syllabus for Verbal Ability

• Jumbled Paragraphs (3-4 questions)
• Error Correction of Verb, Noun, Pronoun, Adjective, Adverb, and other Parts of Speech in the sentences.
• Arranging the sequence of sentences in the paragraph, i.e. correct usage of conditional clause, time clause, reported speech, passive writing (3-4 questions)
• Antonyms/Synonyms (5-6 questions)
• Fill in the blanks (3-4 questions)
• One-word substitution (1-2 questions)
• Idioms/Phrases (2-3 questions)

Key Facts on Verbal Ability Syllabus in MAT & Type of questions

• Number of Questions: 20
• Sectional Weightage in MAT Syllabus: 50%
• Type of Questions: All MCQ type with penalty for wrong answer

MAT Syllabus Section-2: Intelligence and Critical Reasoning

Section Highlights:

Syllabus for Intelligence and Critical Reasoning has been refurbished. As a separate section in MAT exam, it is divided into 2 parts – Syllabus for Intelligence Reasoning and Syllabus for Critical Reasoning.

MAT exam Syllabus for Intelligence & Critical Reasoning

• Fact Inference Judgment
• Passage Conclusion
• Analogy
• Statement Argument
• Clocks
• Calendars
• Binary logic
• Seating Arrangement
• Blood Relations (Family Tree)
• Logical Sequence
• Assumption
• Premise
• Conclusion
• Linear and matrix arrangement
• Team Formation
• Direction sense and Decision Making
• Input-Output
• Series
• Syllogism
• Cubes
• Rows
• Set Theory, Venn Diagrams, Network Diagrams
• Quantitative Reasoning
• Puzzles
• Logical Reasoning based on rankings
• Critical Reasoning

Key Facts on Reasoning Syllabus in MAT & Type of questions

MAT entrance exam syllabus specifies that the questions in Reasoning section can be individual or in the set of 3-4 questions.

• Weightage of Reasoning Syllabus questions: 20%
• Weightage of Reasoning Section in MAT Percentile calculation: 25%
• Total Reasoning questions in MAT syllabus for exam: 40
• Type of Questions: MCQs
• Formal style of topics in MAT Reasoning Syllabus: Questions were based on Family Relation, Statements - Cause & Effect, Clocks & Calendars, Statement – Assumptions, Reasons, analogies, direction, series, Incorrect Terms.

Section-3 MAT Syllabus: Mathematical skills

Section Highlight:

Syllabus for Mathematical skills refers to the Quantitative topics on which questions are based. The MAT syllabus for Mathematics section is vast. MAT syllabus for Quant covers everything in Mathematics that you may or may not expect. MAT exam syllabus 2021 on Quant is based on questions on different topics on Arithmetic, Algebra, Modern Math, Geometry, Mensuration, Trigonometry, etc.

MAT Syllabus on Mathematical Skills

Arithmetic (15-16 Questions)

• LCM and HCF
• Percentages
• Profit and Loss
• Interest (Simple and Compound)
• Speed, Time, and Distance; Time and Work; Averages; Ratio and Proportion and others
• Number System (3-4 questions)
• Elementary Mathematics
• Number System
• Mixtures and Allegation
• Unitary Method
• Commercial Maths
• Permutation and Combinations
• Sequence and Series
• Heights and Distance
• Algebra (5-7 questions)
• Geometry/Mensuration (6-8 questions)
• Triangles
• Circles
• Coordinate Geometry
• Pure Math (1-2 questions)

Other topics

• Venn diagrams and other topic-based questions are 2-3
• Linear Equations; Quadratic Equations
• Complex Numbers
• Logarithm; Progressions
• Binomial Theorem
• Surds and Indices
• Inequalities
• Set Theory
• Mixtures and Alligations
• Co-ordinate Geometry
• Trigonometry
• Linear Programming

Key Facts on Mathematical Skills Syllabus in MAT & Type of questions

• Number of Questions: 40.
• Sectional weightage in MAT Syllabus: 20%
• Sectional Weightage in Percentile calculation: 25%
• Type of Questions: MCQs
• Formal style in MAT exam syllabus for Mathematics shows that there was more emphasis on Arithmetic with number of questions going in the scale of 15 to 16.
• Questions were based on Interest, Percentages, Time and Work, Profit, Loss, Partnership.
• Other questions were based on topics like Equations, Ratio, Proportion & Variation, Geometry & Mensuration, Permutation and Combinations, Probability.

MAT Syllabus Section-4: Data Analysis and Sufficiency

Section Highlight:

Syllabus for Data Analysis and Sufficiency covers topics on Data Interpretation. The MAT syllabus for Data Analysis and sufficiency section is very wide.

MAT Syllabus for Data Analysis and Sufficiency

• Data Tables
• Data charts
• Bar diagrams & Charts including Simple, Stacked, Composite Bar charts
• Pie charts
• Graphs – Line X-Y Graphs
• Data analysis and Data comparison, etc.
• Caselet based Data
• Venn diagram
• Data Sufficiency

Key Facts on Data Analysis and Sufficiency Syllabus in MAT & Type of questions

• Number of Questions: 40
• Type of questions: MCQs
• Sectional weightage in MAT Syllabus: 20%
• Sectional Weightage in Percentile Calculation: 25%
• Formal style of topics in MAT Syllabus for Data Analysis & Sufficiency: Questions on Data Analysis were based on text, tables, graphs (line, area), charts (column, bar, pie), Venn diagram. Data could be given in form of tables, charts, or graphs.
• This section had maximum questions on data interpretation
• Data comparison time remained the main obstacle to solve these questions with speed and accuracy
• Questions on Data Interpretation (DI) occupy more than 50% of the section, rest of the part cover questions on data sufficiency and data comparison
• The questions in MAT question paper can be expected in sets as well as individual

MAT Syllabus Section-5: Indian and Global Environment

Section Highlight:

MAT syllabus on Indian and Global Environment refers to the General Knowledge. It expects one to know everything that falls in the category of Business & Economy, who's who, Current affairs, Static GK, etc.

Indian & Global Environment Syllabus

Major topics covered in MAT syllabus in this section are the GK topics current and static:

• Conventional GK
• Current GK- based on current reading of newspapers and periodicals.
• Business & Economics GK- i.e. Fiscal and monetary policy, CRR, Repo Rate,
• Devaluation and up valuation of Rupee.
• Business, National, and International events
• Who’s who
• Constitutional of India,
• Currency and Capitals of the countries
• States of India
• International Organizations
• Monetary and fiscal tools
• Emblem
• Identification of personalities, companies among others

Key Facts on Indian & Global Environment Syllabus in MAT & Type of questions

• Number of Questions:40
• Type of questions: MCQs
• Sectional weightage in MAT Syllabus: 20%
• Sectional Weightage in Percentile Calculation: Nil
• Formal style of topics in MAT Syllabus for Indian & Global Environment reveal that the questions were formed on Film Awards, Taxation & duties, Indian constitution, Who’s who, States of India, Sports, Recent events
• Suggested time limit by AIMA to answer the 40 questions in this section is 15 minutes.
• No re-thinking or recalling is needed for what you do not know or are confused on it. In case you do not know the answer, skip it.
• Ideal time to attempt one question should be ideally around 20-30 seconds.
• The questions are based on conventional GK, business and economics, current affairs, international affairs.
• This section is not counted for percentile calculation in MAT exam

How to Cover Complete MAT Syllabus

The best way to get a good practice on MAT question topics covered in MAT syllabus, is to go through the previous MAT exam papers and attempt MAT Mock tests.

• MAT exam syllabus is based on the stated guidelines and current structure of MAT exam.
• MAT Exam Syllabus has no boundaries.
• MAT 2021 exam syllabus is based on recent developments in MAT exams. The MAT syllabus is the result of the topics which have earlier appeared in MAT exam, though the type of questions, format and number may change in each ensuing MAT exam.
• MAT exam Syllabus covers all the major topics on five test sections.

MAT preparation incomplete without MAT Syllabus

Any preparation is incomplete without acknowledging the syllabus first. It would be difficult to proceed with MAT preparation unless you know the MAT exam syllabus. MAT exam syllabus is much broader than one can expect. It does not leave any study topic untouched.

If you go through the MAT exam syllabus, it will help you to decide:

• When to begin MAT preparation?
• How to prepare for MAT?
• What important topics should be covered.