MAT 2026 – Eligibility Criteria

The MAT 2026 (Management Aptitude Test) will be conducted by AIMA which is a gateway to more than 800 B-schools for MBA and PGDM courses in India. Understanding the MAT 2026 eligibility criteria is crucial for aspirants to ensure their application is valid and increase their chances for successful admission.

Basic Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification: Candidates should hold a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized university or institute. There is no restriction on the stream — graduates from Arts, Science, Commerce, Engineering, or any other discipline are eligible.

Final Year Students: Candidates appearing in their final year of graduation or awaiting results are also eligible, provided they can submit the original documents as proof of passing within the stipulated timeline set by the respective management institution.

Minimum Marks Requirement

• General Category: At least 50% marks in graduation are recommended for most participating management institutes. However, there is no minimum marks mandate by AIMA for appearing in the MAT exam — simply having a passing mark suffices for exam eligibility, but a higher percentage may be required during college admissions.

• Reserved Categories (SC/ST/PwD): 5% relaxation is generally applied, requiring at least 45% marks in graduation.

Age Limit & Work Experience

• Age Limit: There is no upper or lower age limit for appearing in MAT. Most candidates are typically aged 20 and above due to the graduation requirement, but AIMA does not restrict age.
• Work Experience:Not mandatory. Both fresh graduates and working professionals are eligible. Work experience may add value during selection in certain B-schools, but it is not a prerequisite for the exam.

Number of Attempts

Attempts: There is no restriction on the number of attempts. Aspirants can take the MAT exam multiple times, across its four sessions each year (February, May, September, December).

Nationality

Indian and Foreign Nationals: The test is open to both Indian citizens and NRIs/foreign nationals, subject to specific requirements of participating institutes.

Reservation Policy 

• AIMA does not enforce any reservation during the MAT exam

• Reservations (SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwD) are applied during the admissions process by participating institutes, based on Government of India guidelines and institutional policies. Candidates seeking reservation must possess valid category certificates.

Additional Notes for Candidates

• Eligibility is the same for all test modes:Paper-Based Test (PBT), Computer-Based Test (CBT), and Internet-Based Test (IBT).
• The minimum marks for MBA admissions may differ among institutions hence candidates should always check the specific criteria of their target B-schools.

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FAQs

Q1. What is the minimum educational qualification required for MAT 2026?

Ans. A candidate must have a bachelor’s degree (in any discipline) from a recognized university or be in the final year of their degree course. This applies to all test modes and categories.

Q2. Is there an age limit for appearing in the MAT 2026 exam?

Ans. No, there is no upper or lower age limit specified by AIMA for the MAT exam. Graduates of any age may apply.

Q3. What are the minimum marks required in graduation for MAT 2026 eligibility?

Ans. AIMA does not mandate any minimum marks for taking the MAT. However, a 50% aggregate is usually required for general candidates (45% for reserved categories) by most MBA colleges accepting MAT scores.

Q4. Can final year graduation students apply for MAT 2026?

Ans. Yes, candidates in the final year of graduation or awaiting results are eligible to apply. They need to provide proof of passing the degree within the timeframe set by the college they join.

Q5. Does the MAT exam have any reservation policy for categories like SC, ST, OBC, or EWS?

Ans. AIMA itself does not apply reservation during the exam. Reservation benefits (for SC, ST, OBC, EWS, PwD) are provided by participating colleges during admissions, in accordance with the Government of India’s guidelines.