The Management Aptitude Test (MAT) and the Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) are two of the most popular MBA entrance exams in India. Both exams are designed to test a candidate's quantitative, verbal, and analytical skills. The best exam for the candidates will depend on their individual strengths and weaknesses, as well as the colleges they are interested in attending. If you are confident in your quantitative skills, the MAT may be a good option for you. If you are looking for an exam with a wider range of topics, the CMAT may be a better choice. Ultimately, the best way to decide which exam is right for you is to take a practice test of each exam and see which one you perform better on.
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MAT and CMAT: A Brief Overview
MAT:
- The MAT is conducted by the All India Management Association (AIMA) four times a year.
- The MAT has three sections: Quantitative Ability, Verbal Ability, and Logical Reasoning.
- The MAT is a 2-hour exam with 100 questions.
- The MAT score is valid for three years.
- The MAT is accepted by over 200 MBA colleges in India.
CMAT:
- The CMAT is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) once a year.
- The CMAT has four sections: Quantitative Ability, Verbal Ability, Logical Reasoning, and Data Interpretation.
- The CMAT is a 2.5-hour exam with 125 questions.
- The CMAT score is valid for one year.
- The CMAT is accepted by over 150 MBA colleges in India.
MAT And CMAT: Highlights
Exam Features | MAT | CMAT |
Exam Name | Management Aptitude Test | Common Management Aptitude Test |
Exam Conducting Body | All India Management Association - AIMA | National Test Agency - NTA |
Frequency of Exam | Multiple times in four phases per year | Once a year |
Participating Colleges | 700 MBA colleges | 1300 B schools in India |
Eligibility | Passed or appearing in Bachelor's degree in any stream Professional degrees in commerce and accounting are also eligible | Passed or appearing in Bachelor's degree in any stream Professional degrees in commerce and accounting are also eligible |
Application Fee | INR 1,900 for one paper INR 3,150 for two papers | INR 2,000 for General Male candidate INR 1,000 for General Female candidate INR 1,000 for SC, ST, PWD candidate |
How To Choose Between MAT and CMAT?
Some additional factors to consider when choosing between the MAT and CMAT are as follows:
- The number of times a candidate wants to take the exam: If you want to take the exam multiple times to improve your score, MAT is a better option because it is offered four times a year. The CMAT is only offered once a year, so you will have to wait a full year if you want to retake the exam.
- The colleges a candidate would prefer to attend: Not all colleges accept both the MAT and CMAT scores. Make sure to check the admission requirements of the colleges you are interested in attending to see which exam they accept.
- Candidate’s budget: The MAT registration fee is INR 1,800, while the CMAT registration fee is INR 2,000. If you are on a budget, the MAT may be a more affordable option.
Comparison Between MAT and CMAT
The following table shows the comparison between MAT and CMAT:
Exam Features | MAT | CMAT |
Exam Mode | Paper-Based Test mode (PBT) Computer-Based Test mode (CBT) Internet-Based Test mode (IBT) | Computer-Based Test mode |
Exam Duration | 2 hours and 30 minutes | 3 hours |
Shifts and Timings | PBT mode – 10:00 am to 12:30 pm CBT mode – 10:00 am to 12:30 pm IBT mode – Multiple shifts | Morning shift - 9:00 am to 12:00 pm Evening shift - 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm |
Exam Difficulty level | Easy to Moderate | Moderate to Difficult |
Sections | Five | Four |
Sectional Time limit | No | No |
Subjects | Indian and Global Environment Language Comprehension Data Analysis and Sufficiency Mathematical Skills Intelligence and Critical Reasoning | Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation Logical Reasoning Language Comprehension General Awareness Innovation and Entrepreneurship |
Total Questions | 200 questions | 100 questions |
Type of Questions | Multiple Choice Questions | Multiple Choice Questions |
Total Marks | 200 marks | 400 marks |
Negative Marking | 0.25 marks deducted for each wrong attempt | -1 mark for each wrong attempt |
Similarities between the , MAT Syllabus and CMAT Syllabus
The similarities between the MAT and CMAT syllabus are:
- Quantitative Ability: Both exams test basic arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data interpretation.
- Verbal Ability: Both exams test reading comprehension, grammar, and vocabulary.
- Logical Reasoning: Both exams test problem-solving, analytical, and critical thinking skills.
MAT Syllabus | CMAT Syllabus |
Mathematical Skills Topics Number System Mixtures and Allegation Profit and Loss Interest & Percentage Ratio and Proportion Trigonometry Algebra Mensuration | Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation Topics Algebra Time, Speed, Distance & Work Allegation and Mixtures Geometry Quadratic Equation Linear Equations Mensuration Data Interpretation in Tables, Graphs Data Sufficiency – Sentence and Conclusions Venn Diagram Charts (Column, Bar, Pie) |
Intelligence and Critical Reasoning Topics Passage Conclusions Fact Inference Judgment Statement Argument Blood Relations Charts and Analogy | Logical Reasoning Topics Analytical Reasoning Linear Arrangements Series Matrix Arrangements Blood Relations |
Language Comprehension Topics Fill in the blanks Reading Comprehension English proficiency Vocabulary and grammar Para Jumble | Language Comprehension Topics Fill in the blanks Reading Comprehension English proficiency Vocabulary and grammar Para Jumble |
Indian & Global Environment Topics Current Affairs World Records Books and Authors Top Officials of Big Companies Space Research Missions Awards – National, Internation,al and Different Industries | General Awareness Topics Economic Events Corporate Events Current Affairs Politics Sports Culture & Society |
Data Analysis and Sufficiency Topics Data Interpretation in Tables, Graphs Data Sufficiency – Sentence and Conclusions Venn Diagram Charts (Column, Bar, Pie) | Innovation and Entrepreneurship Business Decision Reading Comprehension Types Business |
Difference between MAT scores and CMAT scores
The MAT and CMAT are both standardized tests used for admissions to MBA programs in India. However, there are some key differences between the two tests, including:
- The Number of sections: The MAT has three sections: Quantitative Ability, Verbal Ability, and Logical Reasoning. The CMAT has four sections: Quantitative Ability, Verbal Ability, Logical Reasoning, and Data Interpretation.
- Total number of questions: The MAT has 100 questions, while the CMAT has 125 questions.
- Exam duration: The MAT is a 2-hour exam, while the CMAT is a 2.5-hour exam.
- Score validity: The MAT score is valid for three years, while the CMAT score is valid for one year.
- Number of colleges accepting the score: The were MAT is accepted by over 200 MBA colleges in India, while the CMAT is accepted by over 150 MBA colleges in India.
Scorecard details | MAT | CMAT |
Sections for final scores | Language Comprehension Data Analysis and Sufficiency Mathematical Skills Intelligence and Critical Reasoning | Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation Logical Reasoning Language Comprehension |
Score Type | Section-wise scores Overall scores Overall Percentile Composite scores for each section Overall Composite scores | Section-wise scores Overall scores Sectional Percentile Overall Percentile All India Rank |
Total Marks | 200 | 400 |
Score calculation | Scores obtained in each section are evaluated on a scale of 0 to 100 The final scores of all sections are scaled from 199 to 800, where 199 being the lowest, and 800 being the highest score Note: Indian and Global Environment section is not included in the percentile calculation | All India Rank is calculated on basis of sectional scores i.e. out of 400 marks Percentile is calculated on the basis of rank, raw marks of the candidate, Internet-based test, and total number of candidates who appeared for CMAT Note: The general Awareness section is not included in the percentile calculation |