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MAT Paper Analysis 2019: Exam Analysis by Experts

MAT Exam Analysis 2019: MAT May 2019  paper analysis will be released after the exam concludes. The last session of the year was scheduled on May 18 PBT and CBT mode. Registration Open!

Read on to check the detailed MAT 2019 exam analysis of previous sessions. 

MAT May 2019 Analysis

AIMA conducted the examination on May 18 in offline and online both mode. As per the analysis, both the PBT and CBT exams had a moderate level of difficulty. But, Data Sufficiency and Verbal were considered the most difficult. There was no surprise element and were conducted on similar lines.

Highlights of MAT May 2019

  • The major share of questions was from Arithmetic which was of moderate difficulty level in the Mathematical skills section 
  • The test contained four RC Passages (2 fact-based and 2 opinions based) of 500 words followed by 20 Questions in Language Comprehension section 
  • Reasoning had 18-20 questions based on Family Relations and Statements – Cause & Effect
  • Data Analysis and Data Sufficiency as separate section had more questions on Graphs and Pie charts
  • Data Sufficiency had a few difficult questions on Graphs and Pie charts
  • Candidates would need higher scores as there would be tough competition in getting admission to a good MBA college.

Overall Analysis

MAT 2019 MayMay 18 (10 AM to 12.30PM)
Number of test centers for Paper Based Test51
Total number of questions in the exam200
Number of sections in the exam5
Number of answer options per question4
Maximum Marks per question1
Negative Marking0.25 mark for every wrong answer
Level of DifficultyModerate
Total maximum raw score200
Total maximum scaled score out of which percentile score will be awarded800
Sections considered for percentile calculation4 (Indian & Global Environment not considered)
Number of questions considered for percentile calculation160

Sectional Analysis

As there were five sections in MAT May 2019 session, we have given a detailed analysis of each section below. Read on!

Language comprehension

There were 40 questions in the section. Major topics and number of question are:

TopicNumber of QuestionsDifficulty level
Reading Comprehension20Moderate
Number of RC Passages5Easy to Moderate
English Language20Moderate
Errors in Sentence formation3Moderate
Antonyms3Moderate to difficult
Synonyms3Moderate
Fill in the Blanks with correct vocabulary words3Moderate
One word substitution2Moderate
Phrases & Idioms Substitution by words3Moderate to Difficult
Jumbled Paragraphs3Moderate
  • Conclusion: Except for a few questions the section had moderate difficulty level and could be answered in time
  • Ideal Attempt: A score of 27-28 marks could lead to 90 percentile in Language Comprehension section

Mathematical Skills

  • In this section, maximum weightage was awarded to Arithmetic based questions.
  • Around 15 questions were based on Arithmetic like Interest, Percentages, Time and Work, Profit, Loss, Partnership.
  • Other questions were based on topics like Equations, Ratio, Proportion & Variation, Geometry & Mensuration, Permutation and Combinations, Probability etc.
  • Conclusion: The questions were of moderate difficulty level. The questions were a little time consuming although were moderate. The section could prove to be a percentile booster for the candidates who did this section well.
  • Ideal Attempt: A score of 29-30 marks could earn 90+ percentile in this section.

Data Analysis and Sufficiency

  • This section had maximum questions on Data Interpretation
  • More prominent in this section were Graphs, Pie charts, bar diagrams, charts, line graph, data comparison
  • Conclusion: Time remained the major hurdle to solve these questions with speed and accuracy. Questions on Data Interpretation (DI) occupied more than 50% space in the section, rest of the part covered questions on data sufficiency and data comparison
  • Ideal Attempt: A score of 22-23 marks is expected to get 90 and above percentile

Intelligence and Critical reasoning

  • There were more questions on Analytical and Logical reasoning and fewer questions were there on Critical reasoning
  • 10 Questions were based on Family Relation, 10 on Statements-Cause & Effect, and others were Statement –Assumptions, Reasons, analogies, direction, series, Incorrect Terms.
  • The questions were formed in sets as well as individual questions
  • Conclusion: As compared to other sections, it was a little lengthy with a moderate level of difficulty
  • Ideal Attempt: A score of 26-27 marks may lead to a percentile above 90 in this section.

Indian and Global Environment

  • As per AIMA, the time limit to answer the 40 questions in this section was 15 minutes but 10 minutes were enough to attempt this section
  • Questions were formed on Awards, Government policies, rules, regulations, GST, Constitution of India, Appointments, Capitals, Current National and International Events, US Trade Policy.
  • No re-thinking or recalling was required for what you do not know or are confused about it.
  • Ideal time to attempt one question was less than 30 seconds
  • Conclusion: This section is not counted for percentile calculation in MAT exam. Many Candidates skipped or answered very few questions in this section to save time for other sections

Highlights of MAT Exam Pattern & Analysis of Last 3 Sessions

MAT Exam SessionDecember 2017February 2019May 2019
Total Questions200200200
Exam Duration2 hours 30 minutes2 hours 30 minutes2 hours 30 minutes
Exam FormatOnline and OfflineOnline and OfflineOnline and Offline
Maximum Marks160 (40 marks for Indian and Global Environment)160 (40 marks for Indian and Global Environment)160 (40 marks for Indian and Global Environment)
Negative Marking0.25 for each wrong answer0.25 for each wrong answer0.25 for each wrong answer
Type of QuestionsMCQsMCQsMCQs
Number of MCQs200200200
Answer Options (MCQs)444
Difficulty levelModerate to DifficultModerateEasy to Moderate with few difficult questions
Number of Questions in each sectionLanguage Comprehension – 40Mathematical Skills – 40Data Analysis and Sufficiency – 40Intelligence and Critical Thinking – 40Indian and Global Environment – 40Language Comprehension – 40Mathematical Skills – 40Data Analysis and Sufficiency – 40Intelligence and Critical Thinking – 40Indian and Global Environment – 40Language Comprehension – 40Mathematical Skills – 40Data Analysis and Sufficiency – 40Intelligence and Critical Thinking – 40Indian and Global Environment – 40

MAT May 2019 Exam Analysis

MAT May 2019 Session: There were tests held on May 18  for both respectively. There were no surprises in the format or difficulty level of the questions. As per the experts, the difficulty level of the exam was easy to moderate although parts of Verbal and Data Sufficiency were rated as a bit difficult.

Sectional Composition & Level of Difficulty of MAT May 2019 Paper:

SectionNo of QuestionsDifficulty Level
Language Comprehension40Moderate to Difficult
Intelligence and Critical Reasoning40Moderate but Lengthy, needed more time
Data Analysis and Sufficiency40Moderate but Tricky, needed more time
Mathematical Skills40Moderate
Indian and Global Environment40Moderate to Difficult, covered current affairs, static GK, Business, Economy, Constitution

Expert Analysis of MAT May 2019 

SectionNo of QsIdeal time (in minutes)Ideal attemptsScore required to get 90+ percentile
Language Comprehension4030 2827
Intelligence and Critical Reasoning4035 2726
Data Analysis and Sufficiency4038 2422
Mathematical Skills4037 3029
Indian and Global Environment4010 15Separate sectional marks, not counted for percentile calculation
Total200150124104

Scoring Methodology in MAT

  • MAT scorecard will contain 6 scores.
  • For each of the 6 scores, a percentile score will also be provided. 
  • The exam conducting authority awards marks/scores keeping the Indian and Global Environment section out from percentile calculation.
  • Therefore, the marks are awarded out of 160 marks and accordingly the aspirants will get their merit position for admission.
  • A raw marks of 70+ is expected to award the percentile of 80+ and the raw score of 100 marks can award you the percentile of 94.

Section-wise MAT May 2019 Exam Analysis

Language Comprehension

  • Highly difficult questions are asked in this section except for a few questions
  • This section takes more time to answer
  • Maximum marks: 28 (to lead 90 percentage in this section)

Mathematical Skills

  • Arithmetic based questions have more weight in this section
  • In this section, around 15 questions are based on the major topic of arithmetic like
    • Percentages
    • Interest
    • Profit
    • Loss
    • Time and Work
    • Partnership

These questions are moderate and it consuming much time to solve these questions.

  • Other questions are asked based on the topics in this section are
  • Geometry
  • Mensuration
  • Ration
  • Equations
  • Proportion
  • Variation
  • Permutation and Combinations
  • Probability

These questions are moderately difficult level

  • Maximum marks: 29-30 (to lead above 90 percent in this section)

Data Analysis and Sufficiency 

  • 50% of the questions asked in this section are based on data interpretation and others are based on data comparison and data sufficiency
  • Questions are based on the prominent pictorial representation like the chart, line graph, graphs, bar diagrams, and pie charts
  • Time is based on the candidate’s accuracy and speed
  • Maximum marks: 22-23 (to lead more than 90 percent in this section)

Intelligence and Critical Thinking

  • 40 questions
  • Most of the questions are asked in this section based on logical and analytical reasoning and only a few questions asked about the critical reasoning
  • 10 questions – Family Relations
  • 10 questions – Statements Cause and Effects
  • Other questions are based on topics like analogies, reasons, direction, assumptions, incorrect times, and series
  • Moderate difficulty level
  • Maximum marks: 26-27 (to lead above 90 percentage)

Indian and Global Environment  

  • 40 questions asked in this section
  • Based on current affairs, conventional GK, international affairs, and business and economics questions will be asked
  • This section marks will not be counted for the MAT Scoring Methodology for computing percentile score.