MAT May 2026 CBT paper analysis for the June 12 morning shift is available here — the overall difficulty level was Moderate, with good attempts ranging between 105 and 121 across the four scored sections.
AIMA conducted the MAT May 2026 Computer Based Test (CBT) on June 12, 2026, with the morning shift running from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM. The paper followed the standard five-section format with 200 questions; the composite score (out of 800) is derived from four of those sections. Students who appeared in the morning shift can use this analysis to estimate their performance and expected composite score before the official result is announced.
- Total questions: 200 (40 per section); composite score based on 4 sections — 160 questions
- Marking scheme: +1 for correct, ?0.25 for incorrect; no penalty for unattempted questions
- Overall difficulty: Moderate
- Good attempts (4 scored sections): 105–121 out of 160
- Language Comprehension was the easiest section; Intelligence and Critical Reasoning was the toughest
- Indian and Global Environment is not counted in the MAT composite score
| Direct Link to MAT May 2026 Official Website (Active) — mat.aima.in |
MAT May 2026 CBT June 12 Morning Shift — At a Glance
The MAT May 2026 CBT morning shift on June 12 was conducted at designated test centres across India. The paper comprised five sections — Language Comprehension, Intelligence and Critical Reasoning, Data Analysis and Sufficiency, Mathematical Skills, and Indian and Global Environment — each with 40 questions. Students had 150 minutes to attempt all 200 questions. No separate section-level time limit applied.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | MAT May 2026 — Computer Based Test (CBT) |
| Conducting Body | AIMA (All India Management Association) |
| Shift | Morning Shift — June 12, 2026 |
| Shift Timing | 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM |
| Total Questions | 200 (40 per section) |
| Composite Score | Out of 800 (based on 4 scored sections) |
| Marking Scheme | +1 correct, ?0.25 incorrect |
| Overall Difficulty | Moderate |
| Good Attempts (4 scored sections) | 105–121 out of 160 |
Overall Difficulty Level and Exam Pattern
The MAT May 2026 CBT June 12 morning shift registered an overall difficulty of Moderate. The paper maintained the standard AIMA five-section structure with no surprise deviation in question type or distribution. Students who had practised previous MAT sessions found the format familiar. Intelligence and Critical Reasoning was the most demanding section due to time-intensive puzzle sets, while Language Comprehension offered the most scoring opportunities.
Section-level difficulty summary:
- Language Comprehension — Easy to Moderate; RC passages were concise and topic-friendly.
- Intelligence and Critical Reasoning — Moderate to Difficult; complex seating and scheduling puzzles were time-consuming.
- Data Analysis and Sufficiency — Moderate; standard bar charts, tables, and line graphs featured in DI sets.
- Mathematical Skills — Moderate; arithmetic and algebra dominated; geometry had limited presence.
- Indian and Global Environment — Moderate; current affairs from January–May 2026 were prominent.
Section-Wise Analysis — MAT May 2026 CBT June 12
The section-wise breakdown below is based on student feedback and difficulty patterns observed in the MAT May 2026 CBT morning shift on June 12.
Language Comprehension
Rated Easy to Moderate, this was the most student-friendly section in the morning shift. The three Reading Comprehension passages covered economics, social policy, and science communication, each around 350–450 words. Para-jumble questions had a clear logical sequence. Vocabulary questions tested synonyms, antonyms, and contextual fill-in-the-blanks.
| Topic | Approx. Questions | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension (3 passages) | 12–15 | Easy to Moderate |
| Para Jumbles | 5–6 | Easy |
| Vocabulary — Synonyms, Antonyms | 8–10 | Moderate |
| Grammar and Sentence Correction | 8–10 | Easy to Moderate |
| Fill in the Blanks / Cloze Test | 4–5 | Easy |
Intelligence and Critical Reasoning
This was the toughest section of the morning shift. Puzzle sets — seating arrangements, floor-based arrangements, and scheduling puzzles — required significant time investment. Blood relations and coding-decoding questions were more manageable, but the puzzle cluster strained time budgets for most students.
| Topic | Approx. Questions | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Analytical Puzzles (Seating, Floor, Schedule) | 10–12 | Difficult |
| Number, Letter and Mixed Series | 6–8 | Moderate |
| Blood Relations | 4–5 | Easy to Moderate |
| Coding-Decoding | 4–5 | Moderate |
| Directions and Distance | 3–4 | Easy |
| Critical Reasoning (Assumptions, Inferences) | 6–8 | Moderate to Difficult |
Data Analysis and Sufficiency
Rated Moderate, this section featured two bar charts, one data table, and one line graph — all anchored in business or economic contexts. Data Sufficiency questions followed the standard two-statement format. Students with strong calculation speed reported finishing this section in 28–32 minutes.
| Topic | Approx. Questions | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| DI — Bar Chart | 8–10 | Moderate |
| DI — Table | 6–8 | Moderate |
| DI — Line Graph | 6–8 | Easy to Moderate |
| Data Sufficiency | 10–12 | Moderate |
| Caselet DI | 4–6 | Moderate to Difficult |
Mathematical Skills
Mathematical Skills was rated Moderate. Arithmetic topics — percentage, profit and loss, ratio-proportion, time-speed-distance, and work — dominated, accounting for roughly 16–18 questions. Algebra and number theory added another 10–12 questions. Geometry and mensuration appeared in limited numbers (4–5 questions). Students with solid Class 10–12 maths foundations found this section highly scoring.
| Topic | Approx. Questions | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Arithmetic (%, P&L, Ratio, TSD, Work) | 16–18 | Moderate |
| Algebra and Number Theory | 10–12 | Moderate |
| Geometry and Mensuration | 4–5 | Moderate |
| Modern Maths (Permutation, Probability) | 5–6 | Moderate to Difficult |
Indian and Global Environment
Indian and Global Environment does not contribute to the MAT composite score but is part of the paper. The June 12 morning shift set covered current affairs from January–May 2026, business and economic GK, Indian geography, and static general knowledge. Students who followed news regularly found this section easy and used it as a confidence booster.
Good Attempts — Section-Wise and Overall
Good attempts means questions answered correctly with reasonable accuracy — not merely questions attempted. The table below shows the recommended good-attempt range for the MAT May 2026 CBT June 12 morning shift based on observed difficulty levels:
| Section | Total Questions | Difficulty | Good Attempts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Language Comprehension | 40 | Easy to Moderate | 30–34 |
| Intelligence and Critical Reasoning | 40 | Moderate to Difficult | 24–28 |
| Data Analysis and Sufficiency | 40 | Moderate | 25–29 |
| Mathematical Skills | 40 | Moderate | 26–30 |
| Total — 4 Scored Sections | 160 | Moderate | 105–121 |
| Indian and Global Environment* | 40 | Moderate | 28–33 |
*Indian and Global Environment is not included in the composite score calculation.
Expected MAT May 2026 Composite Score and Cutoff
The MAT composite score (out of 800) is a scaled score derived from raw marks in the four scored sections. Based on the Moderate difficulty observed in the June 12 morning shift and trends from MAT 2024 and 2025 sessions, the expected composite score ranges are as follows:
| Performance Level | Good Attempts (out of 160) | Expected Composite Score (out of 800) |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent | 115–121 | 700–750+ |
| Good | 105–114 | 650–699 |
| Average | 90–104 | 550–649 |
| Below Average | Below 90 | Below 550 |
Most MBA colleges accepting MAT scores set their cutoffs between 500 and 650 composite score based on previous-year trends. Top AICTE-approved B-schools typically require a composite score of 600 and above. These are expected figures based on MAT 2024–2025 data; official cutoffs are declared individually by each institution after results are announced.
MAT May 2026 CBT Paper Analysis FAQs
Ques. What was the overall difficulty level of the MAT May 2026 CBT June 12 morning shift?
Ans. The overall difficulty level of the MAT May 2026 CBT June 12 morning shift was Moderate. Intelligence and Critical Reasoning was the toughest section due to complex puzzle sets, while Language Comprehension was the easiest.
Ques. Which sections count for the MAT composite score?
Ans. Four sections count for the MAT composite score: Language Comprehension, Intelligence and Critical Reasoning, Data Analysis and Sufficiency, and Mathematical Skills. Indian and Global Environment (the fifth section) does not contribute to the composite score out of 800.
Ques. What are the good attempts for the MAT May 2026 CBT June 12 morning shift?
Ans. Attempting 105–121 questions correctly across the four scored sections is considered good for this shift. Section-wise targets: Language Comprehension 30–34, Intelligence and Critical Reasoning 24–28, Data Analysis and Sufficiency 25–29, and Mathematical Skills 26–30.
Ques. What is the marking scheme for MAT 2026?
Ans. MAT 2026 awards +1 mark for every correct answer and deducts 0.25 marks (negative marking) for every wrong answer. Unattempted questions carry no penalty, so students should avoid guessing on uncertain questions.
Ques. What composite score is needed for top B-schools through MAT 2026?
Ans. Based on previous-year trends, most top MBA colleges accepting MAT scores require a composite score of 600 and above out of 800. Some premier institutions set cutoffs at 650 or higher. Official cutoffs vary by institution and are announced after MAT May 2026 results are declared.
Ques. When will the MAT May 2026 CBT result be declared?
Ans. The MAT May 2026 CBT result is expected to be declared within a few weeks of the last exam date of the session. Students can check their result and download their scorecard from the official AIMA portal at mat.aima.in.
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