MANAGEMENT APTITUDE TEST (MAT) A PRIMER

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Table of contents

Introduction MAT Pattern MAT May 2013 Preparation Tips Registration for MAT May 2013 Test Cities Admit Card MAT Result MAT February 2013 Analysis B-Schools accepting MAT May 2013 scores Other useful resources

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Introduction
Management Aptitude Test, popularly known as MAT among the MBA aspirants is one of the most popular MBA entrance exams of India today. Conducted by All India Management Association (AIMA), the exam is conducted four times a year in the months of February, May, September and December. The objective of conducting MAT four times a year is to give the MBA aspirant more chance to improve their scores and better their chance in admission for a particular academic year instead of waiting for one more year. Started as a paper pencil based test, MAT gradually developed to a computer based test as well. But unlike CAT, which is now conducted only in the computer based format, MAT is conducted in both paper pencil based format as well as the computer based format. From the year 2009, MAT introduced its computer based format. Let us have a look at the exam pattern.

MAT Pattern
MAT tests your management skills on the basis of four sections which are Language Comprehension, Data Analysis and Sufficiency, Mathematical Skills, Intelligence and Critical Reasoning and Indian and global environment. Total number of questions is 200, divided among the five sections. The scores are given on the basis of the first four sections only.

Section Language Comprehension Data Analysis and Sufficiency Mathematical Skills Intelligence and Critical Reasoning Indian and Global Environment Total

No. of Questions 40 40 40 40 40 200

Marks 160 160 160 160 160 800

The duration of the exam is 150 minutes, which is 2 hours and 30 minutes. The total mark is 800. Each correct answer bears four marks and for each wrong answer, there is 1/4 negative marking. The timing of the paper pencil based test is 10 am to 12.30 pm. The computer based test is held in three test slots, 9 to 11.30 am, 12.30 to 3 pm and 4 to 6.30 pm. On an average, each session of MAT is taken by around 30, 000 to 40, 000 students. Among the test takers, the paper pencil based test is more popular. The window of computer www.Careers360.com Page | 3

based MAT generally varies from three to four days and the number of days varies according to the number of registrations.

MAT May 2013

The first MAT of 2013 was held on Sunday, February 5, 2013 for the paper pencil based test and Saturday, February 11, 2013 onwards for the computer based test. AIMA has now announced the MAT May 2013 exam as well. The date for holding the paper pencil based test is Sunday, May 5, 2013 and that of the computer based test is Saturday, May 11, 2013 onwards.

Preparation Tips
MAT is all about your basic knowledge on the subjects like Mathematics, English, General Knowledge and reasoning skills. If you are thorough with your basics, you would be easily able to crack the exam. The books you can refer to are your Class X level mathematics and English grammar books. Along with preparing the topics, you need to practice a lot. The more you practice, you will be exposed to diverse types of questions and it will help you in managing your time better. According to experts, an optimal time allocation per section can help you manage the 2.5 hours. The following table will give you the optimal time allocation per section. Section Mathematical Skills Data Analysis and Sufficiency Intelligence and Critical Reasoning Language Comprehension Indian and Global Environment Time to be allotted 35-40 minutes 35-40 minutes 35-40 minutes 25-30 minutes 25-30 minutes

Now let us have a look at the common areas from which the questions arrive:
Mathematical Skills

The section mainly asks questions on Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Mensuration and Higher Math. The common topics are Percentages, Profit and Loss, Time and Work, Geometry, Time and Distance, Averages, Mixtures and Alligations. www.Careers360.com Page | 4

The Higher Math area sees questions on Trigonometry, Heights & Distance, Permutation & Combination and Probability.

Data Analysis and Sufficiency

This section is a mix of Data Interpretation, Data Comparison and Data Sufficiency. Bar graph, line graph, caselets, pie chart etc. are the common topics of questions in this section. Focus more on observation, calculations like comparison of fractions, computing the average, percentage based calculations etc. in order to get a high score in this section.

Intelligence and Critical Reasoning

Analytical Reasoning and Critical Reasoning are the main components of this section. In Analytical Reasoning, you can expect the topics on Seating Arrangement, Direction Sense, Distribution, Missing term in the figure, Distribution, Seating Arrangement and Venn Diagram. The Critical Reasoning area includes topics like Assertion and Reasons, Cause & Effect and Statement & Conclusions.

Indian and Global Environment

This section is a mix of static General Knowledge and current affairs. For this section, it is best to refer a Year Book. Preparing for General Knowledge is not a matter of few days, but it is a continuous process. The best way to prepare for this section is to follow the news and updates national and international political, social, business, sports, literature, entertainment etc.

Registration for MAT May 2013

The registration for MAT May 2013 is going on at present. Graduates of any discipline or final year graduate students are eligible to apply. Obtain MAT Bulletin / CD from listed branches of Bank of Baroda, Axis Bank, listed nodal centers of AIMA or AIMA office at New Delhi against cash payment.
OR

Draw a crossed Demand Draft for Rs. 1200 in favour of 'All India Management Association' payable at Delhi from any Bank.
OR

Click here to register online using credit /debit card (Master/Visa only).

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Important dates
Events Last date of sale of forms Last Date for submission offilled in Registration Forms at AIMA, New Delhi Last date of online registration Last Date for submission of filled in Online Registration Forms at AIMA, New Delhi MAT May 2013 paper pencil based format MAT May 2013 computer based format Download Admit Card Dates Tuesday, April 16, 2013 Friday, April 19, 2013 Tuesday, April 16, 2013 Friday, April 19, 2013 Sunday, May 5, 2013 Saturday, May 11, 2013 Saturday, April 27, 2013

Test Cities
MAT May 2013 would be held in 59 test cities across India and two international cities, Dubai and Singapore. However, not all cities have the option for both test formats. Out of 59 cities, 47 cities provide only paper pencil based test. So you must choose the format carefully while choosing the test city. Click here to view the complete list of test cities.

Admit Card
You can download your Admit Cards seven days prior to the paper based exam day, which is Saturday, April 27, 2013. The admit card can be downloaded from here. Specific Admit Card will be generated both for the candidates who opt for the Paper Based Test and for the Computer Based Test.

MAT Result
MAT May 2013 result is expected to be declared by the end of May 2013. If you have taken MAT between December 2011 and February 2013, you can check your result at the AIMA website by providing your Roll number, Form number and month of taking MAT.

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MAT February 2013 Analysis

MAT February exam was of easy to moderate difficulty level. The exam pattern is more or less static hence it doesnt have much change in the broad pattern or question types. The section wise analysis is as follows:
Mathematical Skills

The majority of the questions were from Arithmetic area. The topics ranged from Time and Distance, Time and Work, Mensuration, Percentages, Equations, Ratios, Averages, Mixtures and Alligations, SICI, Numbers. About 10 questions were on Higher Maths. The topics included P&C, Probability, Heights and Distances. The questions were mainly doable and were on basic level. The section can be termed as moderate.

Data Analysis and Sufficiency

The section comprised of questions on Data Interpretation, Data Sufficiency and Data comparison. Majority of the questions were on Data Interpretation. The topics were pie chart, tables and line graph. The questions from Data Comparison and Data Sufficiency were on easier lines. It involved basic calculation on percentages, comparison of fractions and simple mathematical operations. The difficulty level of the section can be termed as moderate.

Intelligence and Critical Reasoning

The questions were a mix of analytical and critical reasoning. The analytical reasoning questions were of easy difficulty level. The questions on Critical Reasoning were on Statement & Conclusions, Cause & Effect, Assertion & Reasons. This area was of moderate difficulty level. Overall, this section was of easy difficulty level.

Language Comprehension

This area had 20 questions on English Usage and 20 questions on Reading Comprehension. There were five passages which were of moderate length. The questions were direct and on easy lines. The topics of English Usage were PFQs, jumbled words and sentences, odd man out, best essence of para, best sentence etc. This area was of moderate difficulty level.

Indian and Global Environment

This area can be classified as moderate to difficult. The questions were mixed between static general knowledge and current affairs.

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B-Schools accepting MAT May 2013 scores

MAT May 2013 scores would be accepted by 407 management institutes in India and abroad. Two international Bschools, City University of Seattle, USA and University Carlos III of Madrid, Spain would accept the scores of MAT for the first time. Northern Region In the northern region, 155 colleges would accept the MAT May scores. Some of them are: Amity University Noida, Apeejay School of Management New Delhi, Asia Pacific Institute of Management New Delhi, BIMTECH Greater Noida, Chandigarh University Mohali, Dr Gaur Hari Singhania Institute of Management & Research Kanpur, University of Jammu The Business School, University of Petroleum & Energy Studies Dehradun among others. Western Region The western region has 56 B-Schools that would accept the MAT May 2013 scores. Dr DY Patil Vidyapeeth Pune, Flame School of Business Pune, Institute for Future Education Entrepreneurship & Leadership (IFEEL) Lonavla, Institute of Technology & Management (ITM) Navi Mumbai, J K Lakshmipat University Jaipur, MIT School of Telecom Management Pune, Mitcon Institute of Management Pune to name a few. Southern Region The southern region has 124 colleges which would conduct their admissions through MAT May 2013 scores. Some of the B-schools include: Acharya Bangalore B-School Bangalore, Acharya Institute of Management & Sciences Bangalore, Acharya Institute of Technology Bangalore, Acharya School of Management Bangalore, Alliance University Bangalore, Elijah Institute of Management Studies Thrissur, Gitam University Medak & Vishakhapatnam, IFIM Business School Bangalore, MS Ramaiah Institute of Management Bangalore, PES Institute of Technology Bangalore, PSG Institute of Management Coimbatore, SCMS School of Technology & Management Kochi, SRM University Chennai, Vignana Jyothi Institute of Management Hyderabad, Vishwa Vishwani Institute of Systems & Management Hyderabad, VIT University Vellore among others. Eastern Region The eastern region consists of 70 colleges which would accept the MAT scores of May 2013. The names include: Assam University Silchar, Bengal College of Engineering & Technology Durgapur, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Kolkata, Biju Patnaik Institute of Information Technology & Management Studies Bhubaneswar, Birla School of Management Kolkata, Indian Institute of Social Welfare & Business Management Kolkata, Kaziranga University Jorhat, KIIT University Bhubaneswar, Manipur University Imphal, Mizoram University Aizwal, Tripura University Suryamaninagar, Utkal University Bhubaneswar to name a few. www.Careers360.com Page | 8

Other Useful resources:

Public and Private B-schools Ranking 2013 India's first ever B-schools Alumni Ranking 2013

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