All India Management Association (AIMA) has been providing the service of aptitude testing since 1988 under the scheme of All India Management Aptitude Testing Service (AIMATS). MAT is usually conducted 4 times in a year in January, May, September and December. The minimum qualifications for appearing in MAT is graduation in any discipline from any recognized University or equivalent recognized degree. A final year student in any undergraduate (i.e. B.A, B.Sc., B.Com., B.Tech., etc) can also appear provisionally. Usually, there is a minimum percentage requirement in graduation which is different for different MI’s / Universities.

Salient Aspects Of Mat

• Entrance test for recognized programmes.
• Time tested over a decade.
• Validated through independent studies
• Availed by lakhs of students.
• Accepted by hundreds of Institutes and University Departments.
• Employing latest technology in evaluation and result processing.
• Individual score card with candidate’s photograph.
• Widespread network for sale of bulletins.
• Test Centers located all over the country and abroad.
• Lowest bulletin cost which includes registration and test fees.

Several lakhs of candidates and over 300 institutions have derived benefit under this testing facility. This, as such, is the testimony as to the validity, reliability and usability of aptitude testing of AIMA. Management Aptitude Test (MAT) is being conducted four times a year. The test consists of five sections viz.

• Language Comprehension
• Mathematical Skills
• Data Analysis & Sufficiency
• Intelligence & Critical Reasoning
• Indian & Global Environment

Each section consists of 40 questions. The total of 200 questions is to be attempted within 150 minutes. It is an objective type test with multiple choice answers.

In order to attempt the Language Comprehension section, some candidates prefer to read the passage, then switch to attempting the questions while others prefer reading the questions prior to the passage reading the questions prior to the passage so that they know the answers they need to look for. Either of these strategies or the combination of both is fine. Use them depending on the difficulty of the passage.

Mathematical Skill and Data Analysis & Interpretation sections provide a good opportunity to score well and save time. As the D-day approaches, continue practicing these questions regularly and building speed. Basic arithmetic calculations and formulae should be on your fingertips. It would be worth making flip cards at the last stage of examination of some key formulae and short-cut methods that you would have learnt in the preparatory stage. It is very helpful to review these formulae at the stage of examination.

Questions in the Intelligence & Critical Reasoning section tilt more towards reasoning. Candidates are required to practice these types of questions extensively, as there is no formulae for such questions never pays. Practice as many formats of questions as you can. It is very useful in confidence building.

General and business awareness under Indian & Global Environment section is a key component in the entrance procedure to a management institute. Keeping abreast of happenings around is definitely an onerous task. Unlike preparing for the other sections like Mathematical Skills and Data Analysis & Sufficiency, general and business awareness requires keeping abreast of happenings.

MAT as in any other MBA entrance test carries negative marks for wrong answers. Hence it is never a good strategy to answer all questions. As you work through a section, skip those questions that you are not sure of. Time permitting, you can always revisit and try to answer them. Coming back with a fresh approach to questions that could not be attempted earlier means that these questions can be tackled successfully quickly. Resorting to guess work through the entire question paper is not a good policy. Never base a strategy on guesswork. It should be your last resort and never an alternative strategy.

It can be said that last minute preparation in a competitive test is a very important part of entire preparation. Moreover this part relates to the candidates’ ability to properly manage the emotions, nervousness, etc, a systematic planning and strategy will definitely help the candidates to take the competitive advantage over others.

Since selection for a management course is largely a process of aptitude testing, the most knowledgeable need not necessarily succeed. Time is at a premium in the examination. As in MAT 200 questions are to be answered in 150 minutes. Performance is relative. Therefore, considering that variable that governs success in the examination, it is important to build a test taking strategy as the test approaches to tackle it successfully. Towards the last days of test, developing proper test taking strategy is an approach that a candidate has to develop in order to ensure that he is able to leverage his strengths while attempting the tests. Any strategy that you intend to follow necessarily needs to revolve around the time saving measures to answer the maximum number of questions in the allotted time.

HOW TO APPLY:
To obtain MAT Bulletin & Application Form by post, send a Demand Draft of Rs.590/- (Rupees Five Hundred Ninety only) drawn in favour of AIMA-CMS payable at New Delhi alongwith two self-addressed slips / adhesive stickers to Assistant Director (CMS), All India Management Association (AIMA), Management House, 14 Institutional Area, Lodhi Road, New Delhi – 110003. Also available on cash payment of Rs.550/- (Rupees Five Hundred Fifty only) at AIMA counter in Delhi (Tel: 24653382), AIMA Nodal Centres and select IOB Branches all over the country .
For further details: http://www.aima-ind.org/cms.htm