MAT 2027: Registration Open, Exam Dates, Eligibility, Syllabus and Cutoff

MAT 2027 (Management Aptitude Test) is a national-level MBA entrance exam conducted by AIMA (All India Management Association) for admissions to MBA and PGDM programmes across more than 600 B-schools in India. The exam is held four times a year — in February, May, September, and December — in three modes: PBT (Paper-Based Test), CBT (Computer-Based Test), and IBT (Internet-Based Test). The MAT December 2026 session is currently open for registration at mat.aima.in, and scores from this session are valid for 2027 MBA admissions.

• MAT December 2026 PBT Registration: Applications for the Paper-Based Test close on December 14, 2026. The PBT exam is on December 20, 2026. The fee is ₹2,300 for one mode and ₹4,000 for both PBT and CBT together.
• MAT December 2026 CBT Registration: Applications for the Computer-Based Test close on December 21, 2026. The CBT exam is on December 27, 2026. Admit cards for CBT will be available from December 24, 2026.
• MAT December 2026 Result: The result is expected in the first week of January 2027. Based on past sessions, AIMA declares results within 7–10 days of the last exam. Scores from this session are valid for 2027 MBA admissions.
• MAT February 2027 Session: No official dates announced yet. Based on the 2026 pattern — registration opened December 26, 2025 and PBT was on March 1, 2026 — registration is expected in late December 2026, with exams likely in early March 2027. Check mat.aima.in for official notifications.

What is MAT 2027?

The Management Aptitude Test (MAT) is a national-level standardised exam that AIMA (All India Management Association) uses to select candidates for MBA and PGDM programmes. AIMA has been conducting MAT since 1988, which makes it one of the oldest management entrance tests in India. The Ministry of Education, Government of India, officially recognised MAT as a national entrance test in 2003.

MAT 2027 stands apart from most other management entrance tests because it is held four times a year — in February, May, September, and December. You can appear in multiple sessions and modes. AIMA accepts the best score from any session within the one-year validity period. This flexibility makes MAT one of the most candidate-friendly MBA entrance exams in India.

The exam is available in three modes. PBT (Paper-Based Test) is a traditional pen-and-paper format at designated exam centres. CBT (Computer-Based Test) is taken on a computer at an AIMA-designated test centre. IBT (Internet-Based Test) is a remote-proctored option where you appear from home using your own device with a webcam under AI and human proctoring — no travel needed.

More than 600 MBA and PGDM institutes across India accept MAT scores, from well-known institutes like BIMTECH Greater Noida, JAGSoM Bangalore, and TAPMI Manipal to colleges across Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. From May 2024 onward, AIMA updated the exam format — now called MAT 2.0 — reducing total questions from 200 to 150 and duration from 150 minutes to 120 minutes. This updated format continues for MAT 2027.

MAT 2027 at a Glance

Source: AIMA MAT Official Website

MAT 2027 Important Dates — All Sessions

The MAT December 2026 session is currently open for registration as of October 2026. Scores from this session (result expected January 2027) are valid for 2027 MBA admissions. Official dates for all four MAT 2027 sessions — February, May, September, and December — have not been announced yet and will be released by AIMA before each session opens.

MAT December 2026 registration is OPEN right now. The PBT registration deadline is December 14, 2026. Do not delay — popular test cities fill up quickly after registration opens.

Note: Dates for all MAT 2027 sessions are expected timelines based on previous year patterns. AIMA will release official dates for each session separately on mat.aima.in. Always verify before applying.

MAT 2027 Eligibility Criteria

MAT 2027 eligibility is straightforward. AIMA does not set a minimum percentage requirement or an age limit. The entry barrier is intentionally low so that more candidates can access management education across India.

Points to Note on MAT 2027 Eligibility

• AIMA sets no minimum graduation percentage, but the B-schools you apply to will likely have their own cut-off marks. Many reputed MAT-accepting institutes require at least 50% marks in graduation for General category candidates.
• If you are in the final year of your graduation, you can register and appear for MAT 2027. Your admission to any MBA college will be confirmed only after you submit your passing mark sheet.
• NRI and foreign national candidates are eligible for MAT but should check the specific admission norms of the institutes they plan to apply to, as some colleges have different seat quotas and requirements for these categories.
• You can appear in all four 2027 sessions — February, May, September, and December — in the same year. There is no penalty for appearing in more sessions.

MAT 2027 Registration and Application Process

MAT 2027 registration is fully online at mat.aima.in. The process is the same for all sessions. AIMA typically opens registration for each session 8–10 weeks before the exam date. For the December 2026 session, registration opened on September 28, 2026 and is currently active.

MAT 2027 Application Fee

The MAT application fee is non-refundable once paid. If you want to attempt both PBT and CBT in the same session, applying together at ₹4,000 is cheaper than registering separately twice. You can send your score to up to 5 B-schools for free during registration.

Step-by-Step Process to Apply for MAT 2027

• Step 1 — Create an Account: Go to mat.aima.in and click "Register." Enter your name, email ID, and mobile number. Verify your mobile using the OTP sent by AIMA.
• Step 2 — Fill the Application Form: Log in and complete the form with personal details, educational background, and preferred test mode — PBT, CBT, or IBT.
• Step 3 — Choose Test City and B-Schools: Select your preferred exam city from the 71+ test cities listed by AIMA. Add up to 5 B-schools to receive your score report free of charge during registration.
• Step 4 — Upload Photo and Signature: Upload a recent passport-size photograph and your signature in JPG or PNG format. Follow the size and dimension guidelines listed on the portal.
• Step 5 — Pay the Fee: Pay via debit card, credit card, net banking, or UPI. Save or screenshot your payment confirmation page.
• Step 6 — Submit and Download Confirmation: Review all details carefully before submitting. Download the confirmation page and keep it safe for future reference.

Apply as early as possible if you want a test centre in a specific city. Cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru fill up quickly after registration opens. For IBT mode, check system compatibility — webcam, internet speed, and operating system — before the registration deadline, not on exam day.

MAT 2027 Syllabus

AIMA does not publish a fixed, official syllabus document for MAT. The exam tests general management aptitude. The topic areas below are based on analysis of past MAT sessions and are consistent across the MAT 2.0 format that applies to MAT 2027.

Language Comprehension

This section tests reading and verbal ability. Expect 2–3 Reading Comprehension passages and 15–18 stand-alone vocabulary and grammar questions.

• Reading Comprehension passages — business, current affairs, science, and general topics
• Jumbled paragraphs — rearrange sentences to form a coherent passage
• Fill in the blanks — vocabulary and grammar-based
• Antonyms and synonyms
• One-word substitution and idioms
• Grammar error correction

Intelligence and Critical Reasoning

This section tests logical thinking and analytical ability. It combines verbal and non-verbal reasoning with critical reasoning questions.

• Fact-Inference-Judgment questions
• Linear and circular seating arrangements
• Syllogisms
• Blood relations and direction sense
• Input-output machine problems
• Clocks, calendars, and series
• Coding-decoding and analogies
• Critical reasoning — arguments, assumptions, and conclusions

Data Analysis and Data Sufficiency

This section tests your ability to read and interpret data sets, and to judge whether given information is sufficient to answer a question.

• Bar graphs, line graphs, and pie charts
• Data tables with multiple variables
• Mixed graphs and caselet-based questions
• Venn diagrams
• Data sufficiency — two-statement format, decide if the information is enough without solving fully

Mathematical Skills

Most MAT maths questions are at Class 10 level. Arithmetic carries the highest weightage within this section.

• Number system — LCM, HCF, divisibility, and remainders
• Percentages, profit, loss, and discount
• Simple interest and compound interest
• Time, speed, distance, and time-work problems
• Averages, ratio, proportion, and mixtures
• Permutations, combinations, and probability
• Algebra — linear and quadratic equations
• Geometry and mensuration — triangles, circles, area, and volume

Economic and Business Environment

This section is updated under MAT 2.0 to include a stronger focus on technology and financial services. It does not count toward your composite score.

• Current affairs — India and international (last 6–12 months)
• Indian economy — GDP, inflation, RBI policy, and fiscal data
• Major corporate deals, mergers, and acquisitions
• Government schemes and policy announcements
• Technology in business — fintech, AI, and digital economy
• International organisations — UN, WTO, IMF, and World Bank
• Sports, awards, books, and cultural affairs

For this section, reading business headlines for 10–15 minutes daily is enough. Concentrate most of your MAT 2027 preparation on the first four sections since those determine your composite score and percentile.

MAT 2027 Admit Card

AIMA releases the MAT admit card online at mat.aima.in approximately 3 days before the exam date. You cannot enter the exam centre without a valid printed admit card. AIMA issues separate admit cards for PBT and CBT/IBT modes in the same session.

Expected MAT 2027 Admit Card Dates

For the MAT December 2026 session (the next upcoming session):

• PBT Admit Card: December 17, 2026 (3 days before exam on December 20)
• CBT Admit Card: December 24, 2026 (3 days before exam on December 27)

For MAT 2027 sessions, admit cards will follow the same 3-day pattern before each respective exam. Exact dates will be announced by AIMA in each session’s official notification.

How to Download the MAT Admit Card

• Go to mat.aima.in and log in with your registered email and password.
• Click on "Admit Card" or "Applicant Dashboard" from the navigation menu.
• Download and print the admit card on A4-size white paper. A printed hard copy is required at the exam centre — a digital copy on your phone is not valid at most centres.
• Check all details on the admit card — name, registration number, exam date, time, and centre address — and report any errors to AIMA immediately.

AIMA does not send admit cards by post or email. You must download it yourself from mat.aima.in. Save your login credentials safely from the time you register until after the exam.

Documents to Carry on MAT 2027 Exam Day

• Printed MAT admit card (colour preferred)
• One valid original photo ID — Aadhaar card, PAN card, passport, driving licence, or voter ID
• Blue or black ballpoint pen (for PBT candidates; CBT and IBT candidates use the on-screen interface)
• Two recent passport-size photographs (same as the one uploaded during registration)

Reach the exam centre at least 30 minutes before the reporting time printed on your admit card. Candidates arriving after the gate closes are not allowed entry.

Top MBA Colleges Accepting MAT 2027 Score

More than 600 MBA and PGDM institutes across India accept MAT scores. This is one of the largest acceptance networks among all MBA entrance exams. You can apply to multiple colleges using a single MAT 2027 score, which reduces your cost and effort compared to taking many separate exams.

Below is a selection of well-known institutes that accept MAT scores. These colleges are AICTE-approved and are recognised for strong placement records and academic quality.

This list is not exhaustive. There are hundreds more B-schools across all states that accept MAT. The full list of accepting institutes for each session is available in the AIMA MAT Information Bulletin, which is published on mat.aima.in when a session’s notification is released. Visit each college’s official website to confirm its 2027 admission requirements and application deadlines before applying.

MAT 2027 Preparation Tips

MAT 2027 covers five areas of aptitude across 150 questions in 120 minutes. Since the exam is held four times a year, you have multiple opportunities to improve your score. A structured plan covering 2–3 months of consistent preparation is enough to reach a strong composite score.

Section-wise Strategy for MAT 2027

• Mathematical Skills: Focus on arithmetic first — percentages, profit-loss, simple and compound interest, time-speed-distance, and time-work. These topics make up the bulk of this section. Practice calculation shortcuts and speed drills daily, since this section is time-consuming under exam conditions.
• Data Analysis and Data Sufficiency: Practice reading bar graphs, pie charts, and data tables under timed conditions. For data sufficiency, train yourself to judge whether the given statements are sufficient without computing the full answer. Speed and selective reading are the key skills here.
• Intelligence and Critical Reasoning: Seating arrangements, blood relations, syllogisms, input-output, and Fact-Inference-Judgment are high-yield topics. Solve at least 10 reasoning sets per day in the last two months. For critical reasoning, practice distinguishing what a passage states explicitly from what you are inferring.
• Language Comprehension: Read one editorial a day from a quality business newspaper. This builds reading speed and vocabulary together. Practise RC passages under timed conditions. For vocabulary questions, a word-a-day routine adds up significantly over two to three months.
• Economic and Business Environment: Spend just 10–15 minutes daily on business news: RBI policy, major government schemes, key economic data, and major corporate deals. This section does not count toward your composite score, but some colleges ask GK-related questions in their GD-PI rounds.

General Preparation Tips for MAT 2027

• Take at least two full-length MAT mock tests per week in the final two months before your exam. Spend as much time analysing errors after each mock as you spent attempting the paper — knowing why you got something wrong is more valuable than taking more mocks.
• Experiment with section order in mock tests. Since there is no sectional time limit, you can attempt sections in any sequence. Starting with your strongest section typically leads to better overall time management.
• Because of negative marking (−0.25 per wrong answer), five wrong guesses cancel one correct answer. Attempt questions only when you are reasonably sure — disciplined selective attempting consistently improves raw scores more than guessing aggressively.
• If you are appearing in IBT mode, test your internet speed, webcam, and system compatibility at least one week before exam day. Technical issues on the day itself are stressful and completely avoidable with an advance check.
• If your first MAT 2027 session score (say February) falls below your target, use the gap before the May session to work on weak sections specifically. Each session score is independent — only the best score counts when you apply to colleges.

Recommended Study Resources for MAT 2027

• Quantitative Aptitude: How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude by Arun Sharma
• Verbal Ability: Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis; High School English Grammar by Wren and Martin
• Data Interpretation: How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT by Arun Sharma
• Logical Reasoning: Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation by Nishit Sinha
• General Awareness: Economic Times, Business Standard, and monthly GK capsules from any reputed MAT prep platform
• Official Demo Test: AIMA releases a demo test before each session at mat.aima.in — always attempt it to get familiar with the interface and question format.