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MAT 2026: September Session, Modes, Pattern & Accepting Colleges

By CollegeApplyNow Editorial Team Reviewed against mat.aima.in Published: 02 Jul 2026 ✓ LAST VERIFIED 02 JUL 2026
Status right now: The February and May 2026 MAT sessions are complete. The next window is the September 2026 session, with registration typically opening about 6–8 weeks before test dates on mat.aima.in. A December 2026 session follows. AIMA publishes exact test dates per mode (PBT/CBT/IBT) on the official portal.

What is MAT?

The Management Aptitude Test (MAT), conducted by the All India Management Association (AIMA), is India's most flexible MBA entrance exam. It runs four times a year — February, May, September and December — and its score is accepted by 600+ B-schools. If you missed the CAT/XAT cycle, decided late on an MBA, or want a score in hand quickly, MAT is usually the answer.

Uniquely, each session offers up to three modes, and you can even take more than one mode in a session to improve your score:

  • PBT — traditional paper-based test at centres.
  • CBT — computer-based test at centres.
  • IBT — internet-based test taken from home with remote proctoring, across multiple date slots.

MAT 2026 session calendar

AIMA runs four sessions per year; exact test dates per mode are announced on mat.aima.in ahead of each session.
SessionStatus
February 2026Completed
May 2026Completed
September 2026NEXT — registration opens ~Jul–Aug
December 2026Upcoming

Exam pattern

SectionQuestions
Language Comprehension40
Intelligence & Critical Reasoning40
Mathematical Skills40
Data Analysis & Sufficiency40
Indian & Global Environment (GK)40
Total200 · 150 min
  • Marking: +1 correct, −0.25 incorrect.
  • The GK section is not counted in the composite score (out of 800) that colleges use — but some institutes look at it separately.
  • Difficulty is moderate; a composite score of 700+ places you in the mid-90s percentile and opens most MAT-accepting schools.

Eligibility and fees

  • Any recognised bachelor's degree; final-year students eligible. No age limit, no attempt limit.
  • The fee in recent sessions has been ~₹2,100 for one mode, with a discounted combo for taking two modes. AIMA confirms current fees at registration.
  • Score reports are sent to the institutes you select during registration; the score is generally valid for the ongoing admission year (many institutes accept it for up to a year).

Who should take MAT — honestly

MAT is not a route into IIMs or Tier-1 schools. It shines when: you need a score fast for a specific accepting college; you're targeting solid regional B-schools; or you want a backup admission secured while you re-attempt CAT. Choose the accepting college first, then take MAT for it — not the other way around.

MAT 2026 FAQs

When is the next MAT exam?
The September 2026 session is next, with registration typically opening around July–August on mat.aima.in. Sessions run four times a year: February, May, September and December.
Can I take MAT more than once?
Yes — there's no attempt limit. You can take every session in a year, and even two modes within one session (e.g., CBT + IBT); your best score is used.
Is MAT accepted by IIMs?
No. IIMs accept only CAT. MAT's strength is its breadth across 600+ other B-schools, particularly strong regional and city schools.
What is a good MAT score?
A composite score above 700 (out of 800) generally maps to a 90+ percentile and covers most MAT-accepting institutes; the very top acceptors may want 750+.

Sources & verification

This page was last verified on 2 July 2026 against:

  1. mat.aima.in — official MAT portal (session calendar, modes, registration)
  2. AIMA MAT 2025–2026 session bulletins (pattern, fees, composite-score structure)

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