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Author :
Shilpa Nigam |
600 and above is considered a good score for the MAT exam. It significantly increases your chances of getting admission into some of the top MBA and PGDM colleges in India.
Scoring in the range of 550–600 is also a decent performance, offering access to several well-recognized institutes with strong academic and placement records.
However, a score below 550 may limit your options to mid-tier or emerging business schools, where the selection process often focuses more on personal interviews and overall profiles rather than just test scores.
It’s important to note that MAT scores range from 200 to 800, and every college sets its own cutoff criteria based on factors like the number of applicants, the difficulty level of the exam, and previous year’s admission trends. Along with the composite score, percentiles also play a key role in shortlisting candidates, as they indicate your relative performance compared to other test-takers.
The MAT (Management Aptitude Test) is designed to assess your overall aptitude for management studies and is evaluated out of a total of 150 marks. The exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions (MCQs), each carrying one mark, covering areas like Language Comprehension, Mathematical Skills, Data Analysis & Sufficiency, Intelligence & Critical Reasoning, and Indian & Global Environment.
For every correct answer, you are awarded +1 mark, while 0.25 marks are deducted for each incorrect response to ensure accuracy and discourage random guessing. There is no penalty for unattempted questions, so it’s wise to skip questions you’re unsure about.
In summary:
Total Marks: 150
Total Questions: 150
+1 for each correct answer
–0.25 for each wrong answer
0 for unattempted questions
This scoring pattern emphasizes accuracy as well as speed, making it essential for you to balance both while attempting the exam.
A 70th percentile in the MAT (Management Aptitude Test) is generally considered a good and competitive score, especially for students aiming to join reputed mid-tier private business schools in India.
While top-tier institutions such as Xavier Institute of Management or Christ University often set their cutoffs between 80–95 percentiles, a 70 percentile still opens doors to several well-recognized B-schools that provide quality education, strong placement assistance, and industry-oriented learning.
With this score, candidates can explore admission opportunities at reputed institutions like BIMTECH (Birla Institute of Management Technology), Jaipuria Institute of Management, and other similar colleges that focus on practical exposure, skill development, and career growth. Moreover, students with a 70 percentile can further enhance their profiles through strong academic records, work experience, and impressive GD/PI performance, which can significantly increase their chances of selection and success in the management field.
The MAT score is calculated by converting raw section scores into scaled scores (to balance difficulty levels). The composite score, ranging from 199–801, is based on the first four sections—Language Comprehension, Critical Reasoning, Data Analysis, and Mathematical Skills.
Percentiles are then derived from the composite score, showing how you rank compared to other test-takers.
Step 1: Raw Score
+1 mark for each correct answer.
–0.25 mark for each wrong answer.
Total = (Correct answers × 1) – (Wrong answers × 0.25).
Step 2: Scaled Score
Raw scores for all five sections are converted to a scale of 0–100.
This ensures fairness if exam difficulty varies across sessions.
Step 3: Composite Score
Based on the first four sections only (Language Comprehension, Critical Reasoning, Data Analysis, and Mathematical Skills).
The 5th section (Indian & Global Environment) is not counted.
Final composite score ranges from 199 to 801.
Step 4: Percentile
Shows how you performed compared to others.
A 90 percentile means you scored higher than 90% of test-takers.
-600 and above is a good score to get into a good B-school.
-The average MAT score required for Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 colleges as following :
Tier 1 colleges: 650+ score (90+ percentile)
Tier 2 colleges: 550–650 score (70–89 percentile)
Tier 3 colleges: 400–550 score (50–69 percentile)
-Yes, both government and private universities accept MAT scores for MBA admissions.
