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The February session of MAT 2020 PBT exam was successfully conducted on February 16, 2020, from 10 am to 12: 30 pm. Based on the analysis of experts, the exam pattern was similar to last year’s and there were no unexpected questions. Most of the students felt the exam was quite satisfactory.
A majority of the questions were easy to understand except for a few questions from the English Language, Data Analysis and Quantitative Aptitude sections. According to exam experts, a score of 110-112 should fetch a 90 percentile.
A detailed review of the MAT 2020 February PBT exam is given below
The main highlights of the MAT 2020 February PBT exam are given below:
| Features | Details |
|---|---|
| Number of test centres | 51 |
| Total number of questions in the exam | 200 |
| Number of sections in the exam | 5 |
| Number of answer options per question | 4 |
| Maximum Marks per question | 1 |
| Negative Marking | 0.25 mark for every wrong answer |
| Difficulty level | Moderate |
| Total Maximum Raw Score | 200 |
| Total Maximum Scaled Score | 800 |
| Sections considered for Percentile calculation | 4 (Indian and Global Environment) |
The CBT mode MAT 2020 CBT Mode exam was held on February 2, 2020. The exam was quite similar to the December 2019 exam in terms of the pattern. A few of the questions in the Language Comprehension, Data Analysis and Sufficiency, Quant sections were difficult. The questions in Intelligence and Critical Reasoning section were quite challenging when compared to last year.
The MAT 2020 February CBT exam was moderately difficult but there was no change in the MAT 2020 exam pattern. There were a total of 200 questions of MCQ format divided into 5 sections. Close to 10, 000 candidates appeared for the CBT exam.
The table below features the pattern of MAT CBT exam 2020:
| Features | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Number of questions | 200 |
| Total Sections in the question paper | 5 |
| Mark per question | -1 for every right answer -¼ or 0.25 negative mark for every wrong answer |
| Format of questions | MCQ with four options to choose the right answer from |
| Sectional time limit | No sectional time limit. |
| Level of difficulty | Moderate to difficult |
Note- The percentile calculation for MAT remains the same. Only four sections (160 questions) are taken into account for percentile calculation. The Indian and Global Environment section is not considered for percentile calculation.
The Language Comprehension section had a total of 40 questions, that covered the major topics. While most of the questions were simple only a few were tough. It is safe to assume that a score of 27-28 can quite easily fetch a 90 percentile in this section.
| Topics | Questions per topic | Level of Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 20 | Moderate |
| English Language | 20 | Moderate |
| Errors in Sentence Formation | 3 | Moderate |
| Antonyms | 3 | Moderate to Difficult |
| Synonyms | 3 | Moderate |
| Fill in the blanks with correct words | 3 | Moderate |
| One word submission | 2 | Moderate |
| Phrases & Idioms substitution by words | 3 | Moderate to Difficult |
| Jumbled Paragraphs | 3 | Moderate |
The Mathematical Skills section was quite average in term of difficulty and a score of 29-30 marks should earn a 90+ percentile in this section.
| Question Type | Details |
|---|---|
| 15 questions out of a total 40 questions | Arithmetical in nature and from topics like interest, percentages, time and work, profit, loss, partnership |
| 25 questions out of a total 40 questions | Based on topics like equation, ratio, proportion & variation, geometry and mensuration, permutation and combinations, probability, etc. |
In the Data Analysis and Sufficiency section, the candidates faced some difficulty as it was a lengthy section. Most of the questions were from Data Interpretation (DI) section and the remaining were from the data sufficiency and data comparison section. A score of 22-23 should ideally fetch a 90 percentile and above.
| Question Type | Details |
|---|---|
| Prominent Questions | From topics such as graphs, pie charts, bar diagrams, charts, line graph, data comparison |
| Maximum questions out of total 40 questions | From Data Interpretation |
The Intelligence and Critical Reasoning section was time-consuming and the difficulty level was moderate. There were both individual questions and questions in the form of sets and a score of 26-27 marks should help in achieving a 90 percentile in the section.
| Question Type | Details |
|---|---|
| Most questions out of total 40 questions | From analytical and logical reasoning and fewer questions were on Critical reasoning |
| 10 questions out of total 40 question | From family relation |
| 10 questions out of total 40 question | From statements- cause & effect |
| Remaining questions out of total 40 question | Based on Statement- assumptions, reasons, analogies, direction, series and incorrect terms |
The Indian and Global Environment section had 40 questions from the below-mentioned topics.
The MAT 2019 Phase-I Exam of PBT mode was conducted on December 8 from 10 AM to 12:30 PM. The paper pattern was similar to the PBT exam held in September 2019. The MAT question paper had a total of 200 questions, divided into 40 questions per section.
Most students felt the MAT 2019 PBT paper was within easy to moderate levels of difficulty. A few of the questions from the Language comprehension, Data Analysis and Sufficiency and Quant Section were challenging and long. The same can also be said about the Intelligence and Critical Reasoning section. Questions from the Indian and Global Environment section was simple and a good knowledge of the current affairs can fetch a good score.
The highlights of MAT 2019 PBT-1 December Paper, including the marking pattern, the total number of questions, total number of sections in the question paper, options available and other main features is discussed below.
| Components | Details |
|---|---|
| Number of questions | 200 |
| Marking Scheme | 1 mark for each correct answer |
| Negative Marking | 0.25 marks per question |
| Number of Sections | 5 |
| Number of Options Per Questions | 4 |
| Number of questions considered for Percentile | 180 |
| Total Test Duration | 150 Min. |
A complete analysis of the individual sections of the MAT 2019 PBT Mode Question Paper is needed to understand the difficulty level. The Indian and Global Environment section is not included in the percentile calculation.
| Sections In MAT Question Paper | Number of Question | Expected score for 90+ile |
|---|---|---|
| Language Comprehension | 40 | 25-28 |
| Intelligence & Critical Reasoning | 40 | 25-27 |
| Mathematical Skills | 40 | 25-30 |
| Data Analysis & Sufficiency | 40 | 23-25 |
| Indian & Global Environment | 40 | Separate entity not included for percentile count |
Language Comprehension– This section from MAT 2019 PBT mode had two sections- Reading Comprehension and English Language. The total number of RC passages had five questions that were of average difficulty. The errors in sentence formation section, Synonym section and the phrases & idioms substitution section had a few questions of moderate difficulty. The Synonym, Fill in the blanks with correct vocabulary words, jumbled paragraphs and the one-word substitution also had a few difficult questions.
Intelligence and Critical Reasoning– This section had a total of 40 questions and most of them were time-consuming. There were 10 questions each from the family relation section and the Statement- cause and effect. The remaining 20 were based on statements, assumptions, reasons, analogies, direction, series and incorrect terms.
Mathematical Skills– This had 40 questions in total with the majority of the questions being Arithmetic based. There were 15 questions of moderate difficulty from topics such as Profit & Loss, Interest, Time and Work, Percentage and Partnership. There were also questions from topics like ratio and proportion, variation, equation, geometry, mensuration, permutation, probability; combination etc.
Data Analysis and Sufficiency- The DI section had 50% of the questions, the rest of them from data sufficiency and data comparison part. A score within the range of 22-25 marks can fetch 90+ percentile.
The highlights of MAT May 2019 exam is given below:
| Total number of question in the exam | 200 |
|---|---|
| Total number of sections in the exam | 5 |
| Maximum marks per question | 1 |
| Number of answer options per question | 4 |
| Negative Marking | 0.25 mark for every wrong answer |
| Total maximum raw score | 200 |
| Total maximum scaled score out of which percentile score will be awarded | 800 |
| Sections considered for calculation of Percentile | 4 except Indian & Global Environment |
| Level of Exam Difficulty | Moderate |
| Total questions considered for Percentile calculation | 160 |
The MAT 2019 phase II exam was as expected. The language comprehension section and the critical reasoning section had a few challenging questions.
Both the PBT and CBT mode of MAT 2019 May exam was of moderate difficulty level.
MAT 2018 Exam: Highlights
The key highlights of MAT exam 2018 and Synopsis are given below. The level of difficulty of the exam was moderate.
| Total Number of Questions in the Exam | 200 |
|---|---|
| Number of sections in the exam | 5 |
| Number of answer options per question | 4 |
| Maximum marks per question | 1 |
| Negative Marking | 0.25 mark |
| Level of Difficulty | Moderate |
| Total maximum raw score | 200 |
| Total maximum scaled score out of which percentile score will be awarded | 800 |
| Sections considered for Percentile calculation | 4 |
| Number of questions considered for percentile calculation | 160 |
Synopsis
The main highlights of the MAT 2017 December exam and the synopsis are given below.
| Total Number of Questions in the Exam | 200 |
|---|---|
| Number of sections in the exam | 5 |
| Number of answer options per question | 4 |
| Maximum marks per question | 1 |
| Negative Marking | 0.25 marks per question |
| Level of Difficulty | Moderate |
| Total maximum raw score | 200 |
| Total maximum scaled score out of which percentile score will be awarded | 800 |
| Sections considered for Percentile calculation | 4 |
| Duration of the Test | 150 |
Synopsis
A: The MAT PBT Phase I exam was as per the prescribed MAT Pattern designed by the exam authorities.
A: In general, most of the candidates found the exam to be fairly moderate in terms of the difficulty levels.
A: Most of the questions from language comprehension, data analysis and sufficiency and Quant Section were tricky. These questions took a lot of solving time as well.
A: Almost all the questions were easy and were from current affairs.
A: The MAT PBT 2019 December exam was done in two phases. PBT Phase I exam was held on December 8 and the PBT Phase II exam was held on December 15.
A: The language comprehension section had a total of 20 questions in two subsections – Reading Comprehension and English Language.
A: The questions were mainly arithmetic based and were of moderate difficulty.
A: Questions were mostly based on Data Interpretation. The remaining ones were on data sufficiency and data comparison segment.
A: The scores of four sections are only considered while calculating the MAT 2019 percentile. The Indian and Global Environment section is not considered.
A: A total of 160 questions are considered for MAT percentile calculation.
A: The MAT 2020 February exam was similar to the previous years and the questions were all from the given syllabus
A: Both the modes were quite similar and had questions of moderate difficulty.
A: While all the sections were quite average in terms of difficulty, few candidates felt the English Language section was a little challenging.
A: Questions were mainly centred on Graphs and Pie Charts and were slightly on the difficult.
A: Close to 18 to 20 questions of moderate difficulty were based on Family Relations and Statements-Cause and Effect.
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