• Updated on 22 Sept, 2026 by Sounak Pyne
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MAT Exam Analysis 2026 for the September session is now available after both the PBT held on September 13 and CBT conducted on September 20, 2026. Both papers were reported as easy to moderate overall, with Language Comprehension, Intelligence & Critical Reasoning and Economic & Business Environment relatively easier. Mathematical Skills and Data Analysis & Sufficiency were moderate and required more time.
Candidates who appeared for the MAT September 2026 session in either CBT or PBT mode can check the section-wise analysis, good attempts, difficulty level and important topics below. Candidates can also use the MAT mock test to practise the 150-question format and improve time management.
- MAT Exam Analysis 2026: Exam Pattern
- MAT Exam Analysis 2026: Mode-Wise Difficulty
- MAT Exam Analysis 2026: Section-Wise
- MAT September 2026 CBT vs PBT Analysis
- MAT Exam Analysis 2026: Good Attempts & Accuracy Benchmark
- MAT Exam Analysis 2026: Score vs Percentile Estimates
- MAT Exam Analysis 2026: Result & Cutoff
- MAT Exam Analysis 2026 FAQs
MAT Exam Analysis 2026: Exam Pattern
MAT 2026 has 150 multiple-choice questions divided equally across five sections, with 30 questions in each section. Candidates get 120 minutes to complete the paper, with no separate sectional time limit. Each correct answer carries one mark, while 0.25 marks are deducted for an incorrect answer. The Economic & Business Environment section is included in the overall MAT score calculation.
| Section | Questions | Marks |
| Language Comprehension | 30 | 30 |
| Intelligence & Critical Reasoning | 30 | 30 |
| Mathematical Skills | 30 | 30 |
| Data Analysis & Sufficiency | 30 | 30 |
| Economic & Business Environment | 30 | 30 |
| Total | 150 | 150 raw marks |
Also Check: MAT Exam Pattern 2026
MAT Exam Analysis 2026: Mode-Wise Difficulty
The September 2026 MAT session has now been completed in both PBT and CBT modes. The PBT was conducted on September 13 and the CBT on September 20. Both papers followed the same 150-question structure and were reported as broadly easy to moderate, with the CBT analysis showing only a few time-consuming questions.
| Mode | Exam Date | Status | Overall Difficulty |
| PBT | September 13, 2026 | Completed | Easy |
| CBT | September 20, 2026 | Completed | Easy to Moderate |
| IBT | - | Not part of the current September schedule | - |
MAT September 2026 CBT Analysis
The MAT September 2026 CBT was easy to moderate overall. Candidates reported that most questions were direct and manageable within the 120-minute duration, although a few calculation-heavy questions were time-consuming. The section-wise pattern remained similar to the September PBT, with Mathematical Skills and Data Analysis & Sufficiency requiring comparatively more effort.
Also Check: AIMA MAT 2026 Preparation Tips
MAT Exam Analysis 2026: Section-Wise
The September CBT and PBT had a similar section-wise difficulty pattern. Language Comprehension and Intelligence & Critical Reasoning were rated easy, Mathematical Skills and Data Analysis & Sufficiency were moderate, and Economic & Business Environment was easy. The CBT analysis also reported familiar topics across the sections.
| Section | Questions | Difficulty | Good Attempts | Major Topics |
| Language Comprehension | 30 | Easy | 13-15 | Reading Comprehension, Sentence Correction, Antonyms, Synonyms, Fill in the Blanks, One Word Substitution, Phrases & Idioms, Jumbled Paragraphs |
| Intelligence & Critical Reasoning | 30 | Easy | 12-15 | Blood Relations, Alphanumeric Series, Letter Series, Coding-Decoding, Venn Diagrams, Comparison, Distribution |
| Mathematical Skills | 30 | Moderate | 11-13 | Interest, Percentages, Time & Work, Profit & Loss, Partnership, Algebra, Geometry, Mensuration, Ratio & Proportion, Probability, Permutation & Combination |
| Data Analysis & Sufficiency | 30 | Moderate | 12-14 | Graphs, Pie Charts, Bar Diagrams, Line Graphs, Data Comparison, Data Sufficiency |
| Economic & Business Environment | 30 | Easy | 8-10 | Business, Economy, Current Affairs, Trade, Sports, Personalities and Awards |
Note: The good-attempt figures are indicative estimates based on post-exam analysis and candidate feedback. AIMA does not release an official good-attempt benchmark.
Also Check: AIMA MAT 2026 Books
MAT September 2026 CBT vs PBT Analysis
The September CBT and PBT were similar in structure and difficulty, with no major change in the section-wise composition. Both papers were broadly easy, while Mathematical Skills and Data Analysis & Sufficiency required comparatively more time. The estimated good-attempt ranges were also the same for both modes.
| Section | PBT Difficulty | CBT Difficulty | PBT Good Attempts | CBT Good Attempts |
| Language Comprehension | Easy | Easy | 13-15 | 13-15 |
| Intelligence & Critical Reasoning | Easy | Easy | 12-15 | 12-15 |
| Mathematical Skills | Moderate | Moderate | 11-13 | 11-13 |
| Data Analysis & Sufficiency | Moderate | Moderate | 12-14 | 12-14 |
| Economic & Business Environment | Easy | Easy | 8-10 | 8-10 |
MAT Exam Analysis 2026: Good Attempts & Accuracy Benchmark
The September analysis suggests that candidates did not need to attempt every question to make a strong attempt. Since MAT carries 0.25-mark negative marking, accuracy remains relevant when assessing the quality of an attempt. Calculation-heavy questions in Mathematical Skills and Data Analysis & Sufficiency could be skipped when they consumed excessive time.
| Section | Good Attempts | Indicative Accuracy | Expected Raw Score Range* |
| Language Comprehension | 13-15 | 80%+ | 10-13 |
| Mathematical Skills | 11-13 | 75%+ | 8-11 |
| Data Analysis & Sufficiency | 12-14 | 75%+ | 9-12 |
| Intelligence & Critical Reasoning | 12-15 | 80%+ | 10-13 |
| Economic & Business Environment | 8-10 | 70%+ | 5-9 |
Note: The expected raw score ranges are indicative calculations based on estimated attempts and accuracy. They are not official AIMA benchmarks and should not be treated as a direct predictor of the final MAT score.
Also Check: AIMA MAT 2026 Counselling
MAT Exam Analysis 2026: Score vs Percentile Estimates
MAT does not use a simple raw-marks-to-percentile conversion. AIMA reports section scores on a 0-100 scale and the MAT Composite Score on a 200-800 scale, along with percentile information. Since scores are normalised across test administrations, a fixed formula such as “X marks equals Y percentile” should not be used before the official scorecard is released.
| MAT Score Component | Score Scale |
| Language Comprehension | 0-100 |
| Intelligence & Critical Reasoning | 0-100 |
| Mathematical Skills | 0-100 |
| Data Analysis & Sufficiency | 0-100 |
| Economic & Business Environment | 0-100 |
| Composite Score | 200-800 |
Note: Candidates should use the official MAT scorecard to determine their final score and percentile rather than relying on fixed score-vs-percentile estimates.
MAT Exam Analysis 2026: Result & Cutoff
The MAT September 2026 result is expected by the last week of September 2026. Candidates will be able to access their score through the official MAT website and applicant dashboard. MAT scores are accepted by 600+ B-schools, but there is no single cutoff applicable to every participating institute; each institute determines its own admission requirements.
| Institute | Indicative MAT Cutoff |
| Amity Business School, Noida | 90+ percentile |
| Christ University, Bengaluru | 80-90 percentile |
| BIMTECH, Greater Noida | 80-90 percentile |
| SIESCOMS, Navi Mumbai | 80-90 percentile |
| JIMS, Rohini | 80-90 percentile |
| Institute of Public Enterprise, Hyderabad | 80-90 percentile |
| Jaipuria Institute of Management, Lucknow | 80-90 percentile |
| NDIM, New Delhi | 80-85 percentile |
| Vignana Jyothi Institute of Management | 80-85 percentile |
| ITM Business School, Navi Mumbai | 80-85 percentile |
Note: These are indicative admission ranges and not official MAT 2026 cutoffs. Actual requirements can vary by institute, programme and admission policy.
Read: MAT Cutoff 2026
MAT Exam Analysis 2026 FAQs
What is the overall difficulty level of MAT September 2026 CBT?
The MAT September 2026 CBT was easy to moderate overall. Language Comprehension, Intelligence & Critical Reasoning and Economic & Business Environment were easier, while Mathematical Skills and Data Analysis & Sufficiency were moderate.
Which section was the toughest in MAT September 2026?
Mathematical Skills and Data Analysis & Sufficiency were the more time-consuming sections and were rated moderate in the September CBT.
What were the MAT September 2026 good attempts?
The estimated good attempts were 13-15 in Language Comprehension, 12-15 in Intelligence & Critical Reasoning, 11-13 in Mathematical Skills, 12-14 in Data Analysis & Sufficiency and 8-10 in Economic & Business Environment.
Was the MAT September 2026 CBT easier than PBT?
Both September papers were broadly similar in difficulty and structure. The PBT was reported as easy, while the CBT was described as easy to moderate, with similar good-attempt estimates across the five sections.
How many questions are there in MAT 2026?
MAT 2026 has 150 questions, with 30 questions in each of the five sections.
What is the duration of MAT 2026?
The MAT 2026 exam duration is 120 minutes, with no separate sectional time limit.
Is there negative marking in MAT 2026?
Yes. A 0.25-mark deduction is applicable for every incorrect answer.
What is the MAT Composite Score range?
The MAT Composite Score is reported on a scale of 200 to 800, while individual section scores are reported on a 0-100 scale.
Can MAT raw marks be directly converted into percentile?
No. MAT scores are normalised across administrations, so a fixed raw-score-to-percentile conversion should not be used to predict the final percentile.
When will the MAT September 2026 result be released?
The MAT September 2026 score is expected to be available by the last week of September 2026. Candidates can check the official MAT website for the result and scorecard update.
What is the next step after MAT September 2026?
After the result, candidates can use their MAT score and percentile to apply to participating MBA and PGDM institutes and proceed with the respective institute's selection process.
Is MAT 2026 conducted in IBT mode?
No. IBT is not part of the current September 2026 test schedule. The September session was conducted through PBT and CBT modes.