MAT Preparation 2024: See Preparation Strategy, Expert Tips, Prep Material & Study Plan

MAT Preparation 2024: The MAT exam is one of the easiest MBA Exams and the students have an opportunity to appear for the exam multiple times. The MAT Syllabus includes Data Interpretation, Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, Language Comprehension and GK. Candidates aspiring to take the MAT exam need to work on accuracy and speed during the MAT Exam preparation. Those who have given MAT before, can simply start solving the mock tests for practice. However, those who will appear for the first time, will first need to cover the MAT Syllabus.

The MAT exam registrations for the December session are ongoing for PBT and CBT. The MAT 2024 exam for December is set to be conducted from 7 - 22nd December 2024 as CBT 1, CBT 2, and PBT. The CBT 1 Registration will close on 30th November, while PBT and CBT 2 registrations will end on 7th and 15th December respectively.

Even though MAT Exam is easy and a popular choice among the students for admission to Tier 2 and other private colleges, they still need to score at least 90 - 95 percentile to get a good college. So the aspirants must prepare well and aim for a high MAT Score. Read the complete MAT preparation guide online available on this page that may be helpful in creating a strong MAT preparation strategy.

MAT Preparation - Know the Exam Pattern

The first and basic step for to begin the MAT preparation is to know and understand the MAT exam pattern. MAT exam is conducted in three modes - Computer Based Test (CBT), Paper Based Test (PBT) and Internet Based Test (IBT). Candidates can choose their preferred mode(s) of exam while filling out the MAT Application Form. The MAT Exam pattern is similar to other MBA exams, which means the candidates have to solve a certain number of questions in a limited time frame. Check the complete MAT Exam Pattern below.

MAT Preparation - Know the Syllabus

Once the candidates are familiar with the exam pattern, it is important for the candidates to check the MAT syllabus in order to prepare for the exam. When preparing for the exam, it is crucial to know that what are the important topics for MAT exam. The syllabus for MAT includes five major sections - Language Comprehension, Intelligence and Critical Reasoning, Data Analysis and Sufficiency, Mathematical Skills, and Economics & Business Environment (previously Indian and Global Environment). Check the highlights of the topics covered in the syllabus mentioned below.

MAT Preparation Tips & Strategies To Follow - General Tips

MAT Preparation can be overwhelming for some students and can leave them confused about where to start. However, to prepare for MAT or any other exam, the basic requirement is to keep a calm mind and understand what needs to be covered and in how much time. Students are advised not to stress themselves and create a basic preparation routine to study. Refer to the below mentioned MAT exam preparation tips for beginners.

• Create a study routine for yourself and incorporate breaks in between. You can incorporate the POMODORO technique where you study for 25 minutes and then take a 5 minute short break. Do this 4 times, and then take a longer break of 15 - 30 minutes.
• Make a list of all the topics you know and the topics you have never studied before. You can also categorize them as difficult to cover and easy to cover topics
• Start preparing with those chapters that you find easy to understand and can grasp well
• Make short notes or flashcards of important formula, facts, and figures on a regular basis
• Try practicing a mock test every 4 days and keep a track of each one. This will help you analyze your strong and weak areas. Do not worry if you get a low score in the first few mocks
• Compare each mock you give and draw an analysis of your improvement. Focus on the topics which you found were difficult to solve or you were unable to solve at all
• Get ample rest and sleep of 7 - 8 hours daily and keep yourself physically fit
• Practice reading on a regular basis to improve your vocabulary and grammar, which will be helpful for the Language Comprehension section in the exam
• Follow the study schedule meticulously and try to stay positive with your preparation
• Practice and solve as many sample papers as possible and ensure you time yourself. Speed and Accuracy are important for the exam as the actual MAT exam is just 120 minutes and requires quick problem solving abilities
• Prioritize the sections where you lack or they need more attention

Practice Official MAT Mock Tests Here | MAT Sample Papers PDF Download

MAT Section-Wise Preparation Strategy

MAT is considered one of the most easy MBA exam, but still requires a good preparation strategy. In order to score high in the exam, it is necessary that the candidates devote at least 5-6 hours daily to prepare and practice. Each section in MAT is important, and each second counts. Marks of all sections excluding the Economics and Business Environment section are considered for the MAT Result preparation. So the main focus of the candidates should be on the 4 sections that count. Check the comprehensive and detailed section-wise MAT preparation plan and the effective revision strategies for MAT devised below.

MAT Preparation Strategy for Language Comprehension

The Language Comprehension section is divided into two parts - Reading Comprehension and Verbal Ability. The section has 30 MCQ questions in total. The RC passages are relatively easy and less in MAT as compared to other MBA exams. Candidates can therefore focus more on their vocabulary. Check the preparation tips for the section below.

Practice Reading: To improve the reading comprehension area practice at least 4-5 RC passages on a daily basis. This will help you improve the speed and your problem-solving skills. Candidates are encouraged to read more and more newspapers, magazines, and novels to increase and improve the vocabulary.

Practice English Grammar: Practice regularly and refine the English Grammar knowledge in verbs, tenses, idioms, phrases, punctuations, etc. This will help you improve your grammar and you will be easily able to crack this section in the exam.

Verbal Ability: The Verbal ability section has no formula or concepts to be understood, so the best technique here is to practice more and sample papers. Solve sample papers with a different difficulty level each time. It is advised to follow Easy -> Medium -> Difficult.

Also Check: MAT Preparation Strategy for Language Comprehension

MAT Preparation Strategy for Mathematical Skills

The Mathematical skills section in MAT is same as the Quantitative Aptitude section in other MBA exams. This section also has 30 MCQ questions based on the high-school level mathematics. Check the preparation tips for the section below.

Formulae and Theorems: The key to crack the Mathematical section is to have a firm grasp on the formulae and theorems. Candidates must make notes, flashcards and write all the important formula and theorems and practice questions on each. This will help them understand the concept better and score well in the section. It is advised that the candidates start with the basics first and then move on to the difficult topics gradually.

Calculations: The numerical section is all about calculations. Questions are asked from simple topics like time, speed, distance, mean, median, number system, mensuration, etc. Therefore, candidates should practice a lot of mental maths and vedic math techniques to solve questions faster in the exam and save time.

Focus on Weak Areas: If candidates find a particular chapter difficult, they should start preparing for it at least 3 months before the exam, so that they can cover at least the basic concept. In case the difficulty in attempting these questions still persists, candidates should skip these questions in exam. However, early engagement with these chapters can help cover the concepts and the chances of scoring high will increase.

Also Check: MAT Preparation Strategy for Quantitative Aptitude

MAT Preparation Strategy for Data Analysis & Sufficiency

To attempt this section, it is important for the candidates to have a keen eye of observation. The questions are asked in the form data interpretation, statements, caselets, and graphs and charts. The candidate needs to select the closest and suitable answer from the choices presented. Refer to the below tips for guidance.

Practice Basic Calculations: The key here is to practice the basic calculations like multiplication, divisions, additions, and subtractions. Practice as many basic concept questions as possible. This will help with improving the mental math and speed for the actual exam.

Learn Tricks for Faster Attempts: Candidates can follow the 'Analyze and Interpret' trick to solve the confusing questions. It is best to know a few cheat tricks for faster calculations and save the time. Candidates are advised to attempt the data comparison questions before the interpretation. 

Know the Charts & Graphs: The questions in this section are often data heavy and presented in the form of tables, charts, and graphs which can be overwhelming to absorb. The candidates should therefore be aware of these basic charts and graphs, and the key is to divide the questions in two parts and then analyze them carefully. Do not be in a rush to attempt these questions. If it takes longer time than expected, then mark these questions for review and attempt later.

Also Check: MAT Preparation Strategy for Data Analysis & Sufficiency

MAT Preparation Strategy for Intelligence & Critical Reasoning

This section requires critical and thinking abilities for questions based on blood relations, logical reasoning, statement verification, etc. Candidates should attempt this and prepare for this section carefully. Candidates should not apply any kind of guesswork here. Refer to a few tips to prepare for this section mentioned below.

Work on Facts, Logic, and Opinion: To prepare for this section, candidates need to devise a 3 step strategy:

• The Fact - This is the obvious truth
• The Logic - Verifying the statement with reasons
• The Opinion - What is your Point of View (POV)

Candidates also need to devise or think of strategies for faster answers. For example, when working with blood relations, the candidates should know that:

• Relatives of Mother - Maternal Family
• Relatives of Father - Paternal Family

This way when it comes to solving the blood relations it will be easier to identify the answer quickly.

Critical Thinking: Candidates should analyze each question carefully before answering. Assumptions should not be a strategy to follow here. However, it is also advised to not spend more than a minute or two on these questions. So to strengthen the skills, candidates should solve as many practice questions as possible to improve speed, accuracy, and problem-solving skills. Do not overthink while attempting. The answer is available in one of the given options in the exam.

Also Check: MAT Preparation Strategy for Intelligence & Critical Reasoning

MAT Preparation Strategy for Economics & Business Environment (Previously Indian & Global Environment)

The Indian and Global Environment Section in MAT is purely based on General Knowledge of the candidates and does not require any thinking abilities. This is the easiest section to attempt if you are well aware and well prepared. Know how to prepare for this section below.

Read Newspapers & Magazines: To prepare for this section, read the daily newspapers and stay updated with the current affairs. A hot and trending topic these days is the Paris 2024 Olympics, and candidates are advised to gather their knowledge about the same. Apart from this, read good business magazines to stay updated on all business news and other current events and affairs in the business world. 

Use Notes and Flashcards: The best way to prepare for this section is to prepare short notes or flashcards of all the current and important affairs related to business, sports, science and technology, politics, etc. Candidates can simply revise this on daily basis and can also carry them along to prepare on the go.

Refer Good Books: Candidates can refer to books like Manorama Year Book and Competition Success Review to prepare their GK section. These are well reputed books fo the general knowledge preparation and are updated with almost 95% latest data. try getting your hands on the latest edition of these books.

Also Check: MAT Preparation Strategy for Indian & Global Environment

MAT Preparation 2024 - Best Books to Follow

Choosing the right book to prepare for the MAT Exam is critical. It can either make your exam or break your exam. candidates should refer to the books suggested by the experts as these are curate keeping in mind the needs of the examinee and are filled with practice questions and sample papers. Here is a list of the top-rated MAT exam preparation books 2024.

MAT Preparation Strategy 2024 - 3 Month Study Plan

To prepare for an exam like MAT, even 3 months are enough to prepare and score well. It just requires a proper study schedule and plan to cover all the topics and cover the concepts. The key would be to focus on what you know and what you can do. Check how to prepare for MAT exam in 3 months with the study plan designed below.

MAT Preparation Plan for the First Month

The first month of the 3 month study plan will focus on covering at least 50% of the syllabus. This will require dedicated hours and time. Refer to the key pointers for the first month below.

• Gather all the study material - syllabus, mock tests, sample papers, reference books, notes, and formula sheets
• Focus on covering 50% syllabus in each section
• Make short notes and focus on creating bullet points for easy revision. Learn shortcuts for faster calculations
• Start getting coaching or work with a mentor to clear the doubts simultaneously
• To prepare for the Indian and Global Environment section read the newspapers and magazines on daily basis without fail
• Attempt a mock at end of every week and jot down your weak points. Start covering those as soon as possible

MAT Preparation Plan for the Second Month

This is the month to cover the remaining 50% and start focusing on the weaker areas. Check the key pointers below.

• Focus should be to cover the remaining 50% syllabus
• Solve at least 20 questions on daily topics from each section and the focus should be the weak topics
• Solve higher difficulty questions for the topics that are well prepared at least two times in a week
• Attempt a full-fledged mock test to check your conceptual clarity and work accordingly
• Attempt at least 2 mocks every week to understand your status and level in the MAT preparation and the type of questions asked in the actual exam

MAT Preparation Plan for the Third and Last Month

This is the final month and demands the revision of already learnt concepts. Check the key pointers below.

• The focus now should be to revise everything grasped so far
• Go through all your notes, flashcards, and cheat sheets created to recollect the concepts and work on the mistakes
• Practice more DI and Caselet based questions
• Attempt at least one mock test every day
• In the final days, solve as many MAT previous year papers as possible and get an idea about your overall preparation and standing for the exam

Check the MAT Last Minute Preparation Tips Here

MAT Preparation 2024 - Monthly Study Plan

We have devised a monthly preparation plan for students aspiring to give the MAT exam. This is a completely flexible plan and can be changed as per the student's requirements. They can prioritize the difficult topics as per them, and can change the time schedule accordingly. The topics can be removed or added as per the preparation plan for each month. Students should solve mocks in the last month and focus on revisions. Check the monthly schedule for MAT exam preparation tabulated below.

MAT 2024 Preparation - Hourly Time-Table

The basic problem faced by any candidate is to sit and prepare a time bound schedule for the preparation as there is a lot to cover in limited time frame. We have curated an hourly time-table covering each topic, breaks, and mock tests. Candidates can modify this time table as per their level of preparation. Refer to the hourly time schedule below.

MAT Preparation Tips 2024 - Choosing the Right Coaching Type

Each candidate is built different and have different coaching needs. While some may find self study easier than joining a coaching institute, some may prefer to enroll in MAT exam coaching online or offline as well. It is important to weigh the pros and cons for each category and then choose the right way to move ahead. Below listed are a few pros and cons for each coaching typpe - Online Coaching, Offline Coaching, and Self - Study.

Best Online Apps for MAT Preparation 2024

Candidates these days have abundant options to prepare online. Tabulated below are the best online resources and the best mobile apps for MAT exam preparation that are available and easily accessible.

MAT Preparation - Toppers Tips for Success

Nothing is better than to learn from the best. Given below are the expert MAT preparation tips and strategies by the toppers themselves.