MAT Exam 2026: CBT Exam on Sept 20, Admit Card (Released)

MAT September 2026 exam will be conducted on September 20, 2026, in CBT mode. AIMA has released the MAT CBT admit card, and candidates who have registered for the same can download their admit card from the official website. MAT September 2026 PBT exam was conducted on September 12, 2026, and the question paper was reported to be overall easy based on candidate feedback.  Candidates found the questions manageable within the 2-hour exam duration. MAT exam fee is ₹2,300 for one session and ₹4,000 for two sessions. Meanwhile, the MAT December 2026 exam dates are likely to be announced by AIMA in October 2026.

Management Aptitude Test (MAT) is a national-level management entrance exam. It is conducted by All India Management Association (AIMA) for admission to MBA and other management programmes. MAT exam is conducted multiple times in an academic year, allowing candidates to appear for more than one attempt. MAT is offered in Computer-Based Test (CBT) and Paper-Based Test (PBT) modes, and candidates can select their preferred mode and session while registering for the exam. MAT scores are accepted by around 800+ MBA colleges across India. Check the table below for MAT 2026 highlights:

MAT 2026 exam introduced two key changes for candidates. These changes relate to the examination fee and the calculation of the MAT score.

• Increase in MAT Exam Fee: The MAT application fee has been increased to ₹2,300 for one test session. Candidates appearing for two sessions need to pay ₹4,000.
• Economic and Business Environment Scores: From MAT 2026, scores obtained in the Economic and Business Environment section are included in the overall MAT score calculation.

MAT September 2026 schedule includes the CBT admit card release and the examination date. Candidates should keep track of these dates to download their admit card and appear for the exam on time. Check the below table for MAT 2026 exam dates:

MAT admit card 2026 can be downloaded online through the candidate login. The admit cards for the PBT and CBT modes are released separately. Candidates can download their MAT hall ticket by following these steps:

• Visit the official MAT 2026 website.
• Click on the Login option.
• Enter the registered email ID, password and date of birth.
• Click on the Admit Card option.
• Download and take a printout of the MAT admit card.

Candidates must carry a printed copy of the MAT admit card to the examination centre. A digital copy may not be accepted for verification. They must also carry a valid photo ID proof issued by the Government of India, such as an Aadhaar card, PAN card, passport, driving licence or Voter ID.

MAT 2025 Exam Day Guidelines

• MAT PBT and CBT exams are held from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

• Candidates should report at the test centre by 8:30 AM.

• Carry a blue or black ballpoint pen to the exam centre.

• Electronic items like mobile phones, calculators, smart watches, tablets, Bluetooth devices, and earphones are strictly prohibited.

• Avoid wearing clothes or accessories containing metal.

• Digital or photocopies of the admit card are not accepted as valid proof.

• Carry two printed copies of the MAT 2025 admit card.

• Bring a valid original photo ID proof along with the admit card to the examination centre.

MAT 2026 registration process is carried out online via the official website of AIMA MAT. Candidates are eligible to register for MAT PBT/ CBT by filling out the form, submitting their personal and educational information, opting for the test format, city options, submitting necessary documents, and making payment of MAT application fee. The steps for MAT 2026 application process are as follows:

• Visit to  to https://mat.aima.in/
• Click on the Register option on the homepage and create a new account.
• Enter details such as name, date of birth, email ID, mobile number, state, city, preferred test mode and password.
• Verify the registration using the unique ID or validation details received on the registered email ID and mobile number.
• Log in and fill out the MAT application form.
• Select the preferred test mode, test cities and up to five B-schools.
• Pay the application fee through debit card, credit card, net banking or e-wallet.
• Enter Class 10, Class 12 and graduation marks along with other required information.
• Upload a recent passport-size photograph and scanned signature.
• Review all the details carefully and submit the application form.

Note: Candidates have to select two preferred cities for centre allotment. Test cities may differ for PBT and CBT, so candidates should select the exam mode and test cities carefully during the MAT 2026 registration process.

Documents Required for MAT Registration

Candidates must keep the following documents ready while completing the MAT 2026 registration:

• A recent passport-size colour photograph, preferably with a white background.
• A scanned signature on white paper using black ink.

MAT Application Fee 2026

Candidates have to pay the MAT application fee online while completing the registration process. The fee varies depending on whether a candidate opts for one or both test modes.

Candidates who wish to take MAT exam 2026 will have to meet all the eligibility criteria before filling out MAT 2026 form. The registration procedure takes place online, where candidates have to furnish their educational details, choose the mode and city of exam and make the payment of fees. Check below the MAT eligibility criteria:

MAT 2026 syllabus is set by All India Management Association (AIMA). The syllabus includes those subjects that are typically asked in different MBA entrance examinations. Students are required to cover each section properly to enhance their accuracy and score. The syllabus includes 5 sections: Language Comprehension, Data Analysis & Sufficiency, Mathematical Skills, Intelligence & Critical Reasoning, and Economic and Business Environment. The following table explains major topics covered in MAT syllabus 2026.

MAT 2026 is an objective -type management entrance exam, which includes multiple choice questions. Candidates preparing as per the MAT exam pattern, they need to attempt 150 questions in a total duration of 120 minutes, with each question having four answer options. The examination consists of five sections, with 30 questions in each section. However, there is no time limit for any particular section. Check the below table for  MAT 2025 exam pattern:

A good MAT preparation strategy may help candidates to enhance their speed and accuracy for performing well in MAT 2026. Because there are various sections in the exam, aspirants need to strike a balance between theoretical knowledge and practice test-taking. Here are some MAT preparation tips 2026 that candidates may consider:

• Candidates should refer to the books available for MAT which will contain clear explanations along with practice questions and solved examples.
  

• CAT preparation books can be used by candidates who are preparing with CAT books, but apart from those, they should also try to solve some sample papers and mock tests based on MAT pattern.
  

• Since there is no sectional time limit in MAT, candidates should practice both sectional and complete mock tests in order to learn how to manage time effectively.
  

• They should check their performance, find out the areas where they are lagging behind and spend more time on those subjects.
  

• Candidates who started their preparation very late should focus on the important topics only.

Choosing the right study material can help candidates build concepts and practise different types of questions for the MAT 2026 exam. Candidates can refer to the following books for Quantitative Aptitude, Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, and Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension. These books include topic-wise explanations, solved examples, and practice questions to support structured MAT preparation.

• How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for MAT – Arun Sharma

• Data Interpretation: Practice Book for the CAT and Other MBA Entrance Examinations – Nishit K. Sinha

• The Pearson Guide to Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation

• Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency – Ananta Ashisha

• Data Analysis & Interpretation Data Sufficiency – Kiran Prakashan

• Data Interpretation and Data Sufficiency – Arihant Experts

• Verbal Ability & Comprehension for MBA Exams – Disha Publications

• Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension – Nishit K. Sinha

• Word Power Made Easy – Norman Lewis

• How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude – Arun Sharma

• Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations – R.S. Aggarwal

• Arithmetic and Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Exams – R. Gopal

• A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning – R.S. Aggarwal

• How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for the CAT – Arun Sharma

MAT 2026 result cum scorecard is made available online after the relevant tests have been conducted. Individuals can download their MAT 2026 scorecard from the official MAT website using their login details. The MAT scorecard for various sessions/modes is available according to the schedule provided by AIMA. Candidates can follow the steps below to download their MAT 2026 scorecard:

• Visit the official MAT website.
• Click on Login for MAT.
• Enter the required Roll Number and Registration Number.
• Click on the Submit button.
• Select the relevant exam month.
• Click on the option to download the scorecard.
• The MAT scorecard will appear on the screen.
• Download and save the scorecard for future reference.

Note: AIMA sends candidates' MAT scores to the five institutes selected during the application process. Candidates who wish to apply to additional colleges need to complete the respective college application forms separately. They can use their best MAT score from their eligible attempts while applying to these institutes.

MAT 2026 cut-off mark is set separately by each participating institute that admits students to its MBA and PGDM courses. The cut-off marks and selection procedures for colleges accepting MAT are not decided by AIMA. As the standard of questions asked in different sessions of MAT is similar, the cut-off marks for MAT are likely to be almost the same. Check the below table for expected MAT cutoff 2026:

MAT selection procedure differs from institute to institute, most institutions will use either a group discussion (GD), personal interview (PI) or writing ability test (WAT-PI) as part of the selection procedure. After taking the MAT exam, candidates may apply to any of the participating institutes based upon their individual ranking and when they submit applications. To apply to an institute, a candidate may choose up to five preferences, once AIMA receives the results of each candidate’s exam. AIMA then will send the test scores to each of the selected institutions for their next step in the evaluation process.

Final selection is usually based on:

• MAT score

• Performance in GD/PI or WAT-PI rounds

Academic background and work experience

Over 800 institutions throughout India accept the MAT score for admission into their MBA programs. Each candidate may choose the highest score they received on the MAT to get entrance into the institution(s) of his/her choice. Below is a list of some of the top colleges that accept MAT scores for MBA/PGDM admissions: