MAT 2026 CBT Question Paper and Answer Key, Download Solution PDF
MAT 2026 Question Paper and Answer Key with Solutions are available here to download in PDF format. All India Management Association conducts MAT four times a year, in February, May, September and December, with each session held in both Paper Based Test and Computer Based Test modes. For the September 2026 cycle, the Paper Based Test was conducted on 13 September, while the Computer Based Test is scheduled for 20 September, with a duration of 120 minutes for each session.
MAT 2026 Question Paper and Answer Key PDF
| Question Paper PDF | Answer Key PDF |
|---|---|
MAT 2026 PBT Question Paper and Answer Key PDF (Sep 13, 2026) |
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| MAT 2026 CBT Question Paper and Answer Key PDF (Sep 20, 2026) |
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MAT September 2026 Exam Analysis
MAT September 2026 PBT was conducted on September 13, 2026, while the CBT is yet to be conducted. The detailed PBT exam analysis will be updated based on candidate feedback. Previous February and May 2026 sessions were rated overall easy by candidates.
- Candidates have consistently found 100 to 120 of the 150 questions comfortably attemptable within the 120 minute window.
- There is no sectional time limit in MAT, so aspirants who move fast through Language Comprehension and Mathematical Skills typically bank extra time for Data Analysis and Sufficiency.
- Economic and Business Environment has stayed the quickest section to attempt, though also the hardest to prepare for since it draws on current business and economic news.
- Negative marking of 0.25 per wrong answer has been the main factor separating strong scores from average ones, more than raw difficulty.
MAT September 2026: What's New This Session
One change is worth flagging for this cycle. AIMA has updated its scoring guidance so that the Economic and Business Environment section, previously excluded from some percentile calculations, now feeds into the overall Composite Score alongside the other four sections. Candidates who previously deprioritised this section should recheck their prep balance before September.
MAT Exam Pattern
Pattern and difficulty stay identical across PBT and CBT modes; only the delivery format differs.
| Section | Questions |
|---|---|
| Language Comprehension | 30 |
| Intelligence and Critical Reasoning | 30 |
| Data Analysis and Sufficiency | 30 |
| Mathematical Skills | 30 |
| Economic and Business Environment | 30 |
| Total | 150 |
Marking scheme: +1 for every correct answer, minus 0.25 for every wrong answer, no deduction for unattempted questions. Each section is reported on a scale of 0 to 100, and the overall Composite Score is reported on a scale of 200 to 800 with equal weight given to all five sections.
MAT PBT vs CBT: Which Should You Pick for September 2026
Both modes share the same syllabus, pattern and difficulty, so the choice comes down to comfort rather than any scoring advantage.
- Choose CBT if you are used to onscreen mock tests and want faster navigation between questions, plus a slightly later exam date to prepare.
- Choose PBT if you prefer working out calculations by hand or your city only has a PBT centre nearby, since PBT and CBT run in different sets of cities.
- Candidates unsure which suits them better can register for both modes in the same session for an additional fee and use whichever score turns out higher.
MAT Important Topics and Weightage
Each section carries equal weight in the Composite Score, but not equal prep effort.
- Language Comprehension: reading comprehension passages, para completion, error spotting, fill in the blanks and vocabulary based questions.
- Intelligence and Critical Reasoning: number and letter series, coding decoding, blood relations, family tree and statement based logical sets.
- Data Analysis and Sufficiency: table and graph based data interpretation, plus data sufficiency questions requiring two statements to be evaluated together.
- Mathematical Skills: arithmetic, percentages, profit and loss, time and work, algebra and basic geometry.
- Economic and Business Environment: banking and finance terms, recent business news, government schemes and basic economic concepts.
Best Books for MAT Preparation
A compact set of resources covers all five sections without spreading revision too thin.
- Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis, for Language Comprehension vocabulary.
- A Modern Approach to Verbal and Non Verbal Reasoning by R.S. Aggarwal, for Intelligence and Critical Reasoning.
- Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by R.S. Aggarwal, for Mathematical Skills and Data Analysis.
- A current affairs monthly digest or business newspaper, read consistently, for Economic and Business Environment.
- MAT previous session papers across PBT and CBT modes, to build familiarity with AIMA's exact question style.
| Relevant Links | ||
|---|---|---|
| MAT Result | MAT Syllabus | MAT Preparation Tips |
| MAT Admit Card | MAT Cutoff | MAT Exam Pattern |
MAT 2026 Question Paper FAQs
Ques: If I already appeared for MAT May 2026, do I still need to attempt the September CBT?
Ans: Only if you want a better score. AIMA lets you submit whichever session's score is highest to your shortlisted colleges, so retaking September is optional, not compulsory, for candidates satisfied with an earlier attempt.
Ques: Does the Economic and Business Environment section now affect my percentile the same way as the other four?
Ans: As per AIMA's updated scoring guidance this cycle, yes, it now feeds into the overall Composite Score alongside the other four sections, unlike earlier cycles where it was reported separately.
Ques: Can I switch from my registered PBT slot to CBT after the September 7 deadline?
Ans: No. Mode is locked at registration, and PBT closes on 7 September while CBT stays open until 14 September, so a late switch is not possible.
Ques: Is the MAT September 2026 CBT paper the same difficulty as the PBT held a week earlier?
Ans: AIMA draws both modes from a comparable question pool and keeps the pattern identical, so recent sessions show similar difficulty across PBT and CBT despite different exam dates.
Ques: How is the MAT Composite Score different from a percentile score used by other MBA entrance exams?
Ans: MAT reports a scaled Composite Score between 200 and 800 rather than a percentile ranking, which is why individual institutes set their own cutoffs instead of relying on a shared national percentile.
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