The All India Management Association (AIMA) has commenced registrations for the Management Aptitude Test (MAT) February 2026 session. This national-level entrance examination supports admissions to Master of Business Administration (MBA) and allied programs across numerous business schools in India. The Paper-Based Test (PBT) is scheduled for March 1, 2026 . The Computer-Based Test (CBT) will be held on March 8, 2026 . Both examination formats will be conducted in 66 designated cities nationwide.
Application Process and Deadlines
Prospective candidates can complete their application for the AIMA MAT February 2026 exam by visiting the official website,mat.aima.in. The registration period for the PBT mode concludes on February 23, 2026 . For applicants choosing the CBT mode, the deadline for registration is March 2, 2026 . These dates are firm.
Admit Card Release
Admit cards for the PBT examination will be issued online starting February 26, 2026 . Candidates registered for the CBT will receive their admit cards from March 5, 2026 . All candidates must download and print their admit cards from the AIMA website. The admit card is a mandatory document for entry to the examination center, containing essential details such as roll number, test center, and timing.
Examination Fees
The fee for appearing in a single test mode, either PBT or CBT, is Rs 2,200 . Candidates who opt to appear for both examination modes are required to pay a combined fee of Rs 3,800 . This option allows candidates to attempt the exam in both formats. Fees are payable online through the application portal and are non-refundable.
Candidate Eligibility
Eligibility for MAT 2026 requires candidates to possess a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from an institution recognized by appropriate authorities. Students enrolled in the final year of their bachelor’s degree program are also eligible to apply, even if awaiting their final results. There is no upper age limit for candidates appearing for the AIMA MAT exam. While work experience is not a mandatory prerequisite for the MAT exam itself, many MBA colleges consider and assign additional weightage to relevant work experience during their subsequent selection processes.
MAT 2026 Exam Structure
The MAT exam evaluates candidates across five distinct sections. Each section comprises 30 multiple-choice questions, totaling 150 questions for the entire examination. Candidates are allotted 120 minutes to complete the test. The marking scheme awards one mark for each correct answer. A penalty of 0.25 marks is deducted for every incorrect response. There is no penalty for unanswered questions. The breakdown of sections is as follows:
| Section Name | Number of Questions |
|---|---|
| Language Comprehension | 30 |
| Intelligence and Critical Reasoning | 30 |
| Mathematical Skills | 30 |
| Data Analysis and Sufficiency | 30 |
| Economic and Business Environment | 30 |
Post-Exam Selection Process
During the application submission, candidates are required to specify up to five management institutes they wish to consider for admission. These institutes utilize MAT scores as part of their admission criteria for MBA and other management programs. Institutes will shortlist candidates based on their individual cut-off scores derived from the MAT results. Shortlisted applicants then proceed to further selection rounds. These typically include Group Discussions (GD) and Personal Interviews (PI), where communication skills, leadership potential, and overall suitability for management studies are assessed.
Summary of Critical Dates
Candidates planning to appear for MAT February 2026 must note the following critical dates to ensure timely application and preparation:
- PBT Exam Date: March 1, 2026
- CBT Exam Date: March 8, 2026
- PBT Registration Deadline: February 23, 2026
- CBT Registration Deadline: March 2, 2026
- PBT Admit Card Issue: February 26, 2026
- CBT Admit Card Issue: March 5, 2026