MAT 2017 Exam Analysis-Note the trends observed in February & May
Management Aptitude Test (MAT) is a national-level management entrance examination. The scores of this test are used for admission to various MBA, PGDM, and allied management programs in different Institutes. The exam is conducted by All India Management Association (AIMA).
Currently, more than 600 B-Schools accept MAT exam scores. If you are a student attempting the MAT examination, you might have a lot of questions about what MAT is, what is the exam pattern, the analysis of various sections of the examination question papers, etc.
Through this article, aspirants can look for the similarities/differences observed in MAT February & May exam. Along with about MAT, exam pattern, analysis etc.
This will greatly benefit students in preparing for MAT exam.
The unique thing about MAT is that it’s held four times in a year, every year; once every February, May, September, and December.
MAT exam analysis reveals that MAT exam has usually remained steady and relatively no surprise has been witnessed over the years. Around 20000 candidates appear in MAT exam every 3 months.
Another thing about MAT exam is that there’s no age limit for it, which is a huge plus point for a lot of people. As the relaxation in age helps a lot of individuals who have had practical experience from work decide to finally pursue Post graduation of their own discretion without having to worry about “being too old” as a few people have pointed out.
MAT: Brief analysis
The usual format of MAT exam is 200 questions divided into 5 sections in. The 200 questions have to be answered in 150 minutes. Less than 1 minute is available before the test takers, to answer each of the 200 questions.
Candidates are often seen struggling with time management in the exam center, to maximise their attempts. The number and pattern of questions remain the same for online computer based test too.
Now let’s talk about the marking system of MAT. All the questions in MAT 2017 carry equal marks. Every right answer is to be awarded with a credit of 1 mark scaled to 5 marks while every wrong answer will attract a penalty of ¼ of the original marking for that question (0.25 mark for 1 mark and 1.25 after calculation of scaling to 5 marks for each question) deducted from the awarded score for right answers.
The raw score is scaled and then is reported to your percentile after the normalization process. The total score for all the 4 sections keeping the Indian & Global environment section out is awarded out of 800 maximum scores. Ex: Candidates scoring around 330 in 4 sections out of 800 marks are expected to score 99+ percentile.
Another thing worth mentioning here is that the section on Indian & Global environment is not taken into account to calculate MAT Percentile or MAT result for merit position. This section only needs MAT exam qualifying marks and many B-schools do not consider the GK section scores in their admission process
Now let’s understand MAT exam in a better way. Analysis of MAT February 2017, followed by the same for MAT May 2017, along with brief comparisons of similarities and differences, the topics most asked, etc is mentioned below:
MAT February 2017
About Mat February 2017: MAT 2017 held on February 5, 2017, greeted the test takers with tricky Data Analysis & Sufficiency and Critical Reasoning sections although there was no surprise element in the test paper.
A few questions in Indian & Global Environment section also turned to be a little trickier and time-consuming.
Sectional analysis of the MAT February 2017
Language comprehension: There were 40 questions in the section. This test had a number of questions based picking odd man out of a group (or similar), arranging jumbled words, inserting correct words to fill in the blanks, vocabulary words to pick out the correct synonyms-antonyms.
There were short comprehension passages followed by 5 questions each. There were also other questions that were based on jumbled sentences, basic grammar corrections, and main idea of paragraphs.
Except for a few questions they all had a consistent moderate difficulty level and could be answered in a short amount of time, although there were 5 reading comprehension passages, which meant 25 questions, i.e., the majority of the section was a bit lengthy.
Intelligence and critical reasoning: This section included more questions on Analytical and logical reasoning and fewer questions were there on Critical Reasoning.
Questions were based on assertions, reasons, blood relations, analogies, direction, series, statements calendar, and distribution. The questions were both formed in sets, as well as individual questions.
The section was a little longer with a considerably moderate level of difficulty.
Mathematical Skills: Out of the 40 questions in the section, around 18 questions were based on Arithmetic like Percentages, Averages Percentage, Profit, Loss, Interest, Time and Work, Partnership.
The questions were a little time consuming overall owing to their moderate level of difficulty. The other questions consisted of Venn diagrams, Equations, Ratio, Proportion & Variation, Geometry & Mensuration, Permutation and Combinations and Probability.
Majority of questions were moderate in difficulty and those who practiced more could attempt more questions.
Data analysis and Sufficiency: This section had maximum questions on data interpretation. More prominent in this section were charts, line graph, pie charts, bar diagrams, data comparison.
Time was a resource not available plenty for this section, with students struggling to solve these questions with both speed and accuracy.
While questions on Data Interpretation (DI) occupied more than 50% of the section, rest of the part covered questions on data sufficiency and data comparison.
Indian and Global environment: Questions of this section were based on conventional GK, business and economics and current affairs. The suggested time limit to answer the 40 questions in this section was 15 minutes but it is highly advisable that you attempt this section in 10 at the max; since this section doesn’t help you score higher on your percentile or feature heavily on the MAT result.
Many candidates who attempt the MAT exam follow this advice to a great extent, thus being able to save time and score better in other sections.
Word of advice for MAT aspirants: There is no point to go on re-thinking or recalling what you do not know or are confused about it. One question, therefore, could be attempted 30 seconds, or perhaps even less, if you are a fast and thorough reader.
MAT 2017 May paper
General thoughts about Mat MAY 2017: Candidates who appeared in MAT 2017 May paper-based test on May 7 should expect a lower MAT result along with lower cut-off in top MBA colleges for MAT 2017 percentile.
MAT 2017 May exam had tricky Data Analysis & Sufficiency and time-consuming Intelligence and Critical Reasoning sections which may lead to lower MAT score and MAT percentile cut-offs.
Just like the MAT February 2017, MAT May 2017 had the usual format of 200 questions divided into 5 sections. Those 200 questions have to be answered similarly in 150 minutes. Less than 1 minute is available before the test takers, to answer each of the 200 questions.
Sectional analysis of the MAT May 2017
Language comprehension: There were 40 questions in the section exactly similar to the February pattern, with questions in similar areas like jumbled words, jumbled sentences, basic grammar corrections, main idea of paragraphs, picking odd man out of them, inserting correct words to fill in the blanks, vocabulary words to pick out correct synonyms-antonyms. Difficulty level was on the easier side and could be answered in a short amount of time.
Intelligence and critical reasoning: The section had almost equal number of questions on Analytical and logical reasoning, like on Critical reasoning, which was unlike February 2017 MAT exams.
Rest of the questions too were in equal number, based on assertions, reasons, blood relations, analogies, direction, series, statements calendar, and distribution. The section could be a little time consuming, aided by the moderate level of difficulty.
Mathematical Skills: Out of the 40 questions in the section, around 16 questions were based on Arithmetic like Percentages, Averages Percentage, Profit, Loss, Interest and number system.
The questions were a little time consuming overall owing to their considerable difficulty. The other questions consisted of Venn diagrams, Equations, Ratio, Proportion & Variation, Geometry & Mensuration, Permutation and Combinations, time and work, and Probability.
Majorly questions were moderate in difficulty and those who practiced more could attempt more questions in this section. Higher percentile would be waiting for those candidates who did this section well.
Data analysis and Sufficiency: This section had maximum questions on data interpretation, data sufficiency, and tables. The rest of this section consisted of charts, line graph, pie charts, bar diagrams, data comparison. The level of difficulty was considerably higher too.
Indian and Global environment: The questions in this section, similar to MAT February, were based on conventional GK, business, and economics, current affairs, although, as mentioned at the beginning of this article, this section would not count for calculation of percentile of the MAT result.
So, this was brief about MAT Exam, exam pattern, difficulty level and topics most asked, for both MAT February and MAT May 2017. If you are applying for the same, I hope this article helped you.
As you have read in the article above, MAT exam remains fairly consistent, without too many variations of drastic nature, which was evident in the MAT May analysis, where comparison f similarity and differences were handed out simultaneously.
Practising previous year question paper and sample papers would, in no doubt, help you with your preparation, thus ensuring a better MAT result for you.
All the best!
