A structured 60-day study plan starting July 17, 2026, gives you enough time to cover all five MAT sections — Language Comprehension, Mathematical Skills, Data Analysis and Sufficiency, Intelligence and Critical Reasoning, and Indian and Global Environment — systematically before the MAT September 2026 session.
MAT (Management Aptitude Test) is conducted by AIMA four times a year and is accepted by over 600 B-schools across India. With 200 questions across five sections and a 150-minute window, strategic sectional time allocation and phased preparation are the core of any effective MAT plan. Starting on July 17, 2026 gives you approximately 60 days before the September 2026 session is expected.
- MAT September 2026 has 200 questions (40 per section) with a total duration of 150 minutes.
- Negative marking applies at 0.25 marks per wrong answer — avoid blind guessing throughout the exam.
- The composite score is reported on a 0–800 scale; a score of 600+ is competitive for top MAT-accepting B-schools based on previous year trends.
- Indian and Global Environment is excluded from the composite score by most B-schools — prioritise the first four sections.
- Your 60-day window (July 17 – mid-September 2026) is divided into four phases: Foundation, Concept Deepening, Sectional Practice, and Mock Test Revision.
- Target 4–5 hours of daily study; reserve the last 15 days exclusively for full-length mocks and error-based revision.
| Direct Link to MAT September 2026 Official Website | aima.in — MAT Official Portal |
MAT September 2026 Exam Pattern at a Glance
Before building your day-wise schedule, understand exactly what you are preparing for. MAT September 2026 will follow the standard AIMA pattern across all five sections:
| Section | Questions | Marks | Suggested Time (min) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Language Comprehension | 40 | 40 | 30 |
| Mathematical Skills | 40 | 40 | 40 |
| Data Analysis and Sufficiency | 40 | 40 | 35 |
| Intelligence and Critical Reasoning | 40 | 40 | 30 |
| Indian and Global Environment | 40 | 40 | 15 |
| Total | 200 | 200 | 150 |
Each correct answer carries 1 mark; each wrong answer deducts 0.25 marks. Indian and Global Environment is not factored into the composite score by most B-schools, so focus your deeper preparation on the first four sections to maximise your 0–800 composite rating.
60-Day Plan: Phase-Wise Overview
The 60-day plan is split into four structured phases. Each phase builds on the previous one — developing fundamentals first, then deepening concepts, then building speed through practice, and finally consolidating through full mock tests.
| Phase | Days | Dates (Approx.) | Primary Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 — Foundation | Days 1–15 | Jul 17 – Jul 31, 2026 | Syllabus mapping, concept basics, vocabulary and number fundamentals |
| Phase 2 — Concept Deepening | Days 16–30 | Aug 1 – Aug 15, 2026 | Topic-wise deep dives, formula practice, DI set solving |
| Phase 3 — Sectional Practice | Days 31–45 | Aug 16 – Aug 31, 2026 | Sectional mock tests, speed building, weak-area targeting |
| Phase 4 — Mock Tests and Revision | Days 46–60 | Sep 1 – Sep 15, 2026 | Full-length mocks, error analysis, current affairs revision |
Phase 1 — Days 1 to 15: Foundation Building
Goal: Map the full MAT syllabus and build concept clarity in all five sections before attempting any timed practice.
| Days | Section Focus | Topics to Cover |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1–3 | Language Comprehension | RC passage types (factual, inferential, literary), vocabulary (word roots and prefixes), para-jumbles basics |
| Days 4–6 | Mathematical Skills | Arithmetic — percentages, profit and loss, ratio and proportion, time-speed-distance fundamentals |
| Days 7–9 | Data Analysis and Sufficiency | Bar charts, line graphs, pie charts — reading and interpretation; data sufficiency statement types (individual vs combined) |
| Days 10–12 | Intelligence and Critical Reasoning | Coding-decoding, blood relations, direction sense, syllogisms, input-output basics |
| Days 13–14 | Indian and Global Environment | Current affairs from the past 6 months: business news, government schemes, international events |
| Day 15 | Revision Day (All Sections) | Review all Phase 1 notes; attempt one 40-question diagnostic test per section to identify concept gaps |
Daily target in Phase 1: 3 hours of concept study + 30 minutes of vocabulary or GK reading + 30 minutes of reviewing previous-year questions (section-wise, untimed).
Phase 2 — Days 16 to 30: Concept Deepening
Goal: Move from understanding to application — work through topic-wise question sets and prioritise accuracy over speed in this phase.
| Days | Section Focus | Topics to Cover |
|---|---|---|
| Days 16–18 | Language Comprehension | RC inference strategies, fill in the blanks, sentence correction, idioms and phrases, synonyms and antonyms |
| Days 19–21 | Mathematical Skills | Algebra (linear equations, quadratic equations, inequalities), geometry basics, number system (HCF, LCM, remainders, divisibility) |
| Days 22–24 | Data Analysis and Sufficiency | Mixed DI sets (table combined with graph), data comparison, caselets, two-statement data sufficiency method |
| Days 25–27 | Intelligence and Critical Reasoning | Linear and circular seating arrangements, complex puzzles, critical reasoning (assumption, inference, strengthen and weaken argument) |
| Days 28–29 | Indian and Global Environment | Business and economy GK, RBI and SEBI policy updates, India trade relations, science and technology news, recent national awards |
| Day 30 | Integrated Revision | One timed 40-question section test per section; carefully review every error |
Daily target in Phase 2: 4 hours of topic-wise problem solving + 40 minutes of error analysis + 20 minutes of GK and current affairs reading.
Phase 3 — Days 31 to 45: Sectional Practice
Goal: Improve speed, develop test temperament, and eliminate weak areas through focused sectional mock tests and speed drills.
| Days | Daily Activity | Section Rotation |
|---|---|---|
| Days 31–35 | One timed 40-question sectional mock + 2 hours of weak-area practice | LC → Maths → DAS → ICR → IGE (one section each day) |
| Days 36–40 | Two timed 40-question sectional mocks + error log maintenance | Focus on the two weakest sections identified in Phase 2 |
| Days 41–44 | Speed drills: 20 questions per section in 12 minutes | All five sections rotating each day |
| Day 45 | Phase 3 review: compile full error log, finalise concise revision notes per section | All sections |
By the end of Phase 3, target 75–80% accuracy on your stronger sections and 65–70% on weaker ones. If you are short of these benchmarks, replace one speed drill day with an additional weak-area session before entering Phase 4.
Phase 4 — Days 46 to 60: Mock Tests and Final Revision
Goal: Simulate the real MAT exam repeatedly, analyse every mock in depth, and revise high-yield topics to maximise your score on exam day.
| Days | Activity | Time Required |
|---|---|---|
| Days 46, 48, 50, 52, 54 | Full-length MAT mock test — 200 questions in 150 minutes under exam conditions | 2.5 hours exam + 2 hours analysis |
| Days 47, 49, 51, 53, 55 | Deep error analysis of the previous mock + targeted revision of 2–3 weak topics surfaced | 4 hours |
| Days 56–58 | Rapid revision: formula sheets, vocabulary lists, GK revision notes | 3 hours daily |
| Day 59 | Light revision only — no new topics; go through error logs from all mocks | 2 hours |
| Day 60 | Rest and exam-day preparation (admit card, stationery, exam centre route) | — |
Mock test analysis checklist after every mock:
- Calculate your net score per section using the formula: correct answers × 1 minus wrong answers × 0.25.
- Identify your top 5 recurring error patterns — concept gap, silly arithmetic mistake, time pressure, or unfamiliar question type.
- Update your GK error log for every Indian and Global Environment question you got wrong.
- Review your section attempt order — the sequence in which you tackle sections affects your overall time management; adjust it based on mock data.
Recommended Daily Time Table for MAT September 2026
The schedule below is a template — adjust morning and evening slots to match your peak productivity hours. Consistency in daily hours matters more than the exact time of day.
| Time Slot | Activity | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 6:30 AM – 7:00 AM | Newspaper or GK reading (Indian and Global Environment focus) | 30 min |
| 7:00 AM – 9:00 AM | Primary study session: concept or topic from today’s scheduled section (per phase plan) | 2 hours |
| 9:00 AM – 9:30 AM | Vocabulary building: 10 new words + one RC passage (150–200 words) with self-questioning | 30 min |
| 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Practice session: topic-wise question sets or timed sectional mock (per phase plan) | 2 hours |
| 8:00 PM – 8:30 PM | Error review and note-making for the day’s mistakes | 30 min |
On full mock test days in Phase 4, consolidate the 7:00 AM – 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM slots into one uninterrupted 150-minute mock sitting, followed immediately by a dedicated 2-hour analysis session before the evening error review.
Section-Wise Preparation Tips for MAT September 2026
Language Comprehension: Read one editorial daily from any national newspaper throughout all 60 days. Inference-based RC questions appear most frequently in MAT — practise them with a timer. Aim to complete each para-jumble in under 90 seconds. Build a personal word list of 10 new vocabulary items every morning.
Mathematical Skills: Arithmetic topics — percentages, averages, time-speed-distance, and profit and loss — account for approximately 50% of this section’s questions. Memorise squares up to 30, cubes up to 20, and key fraction-to-percentage conversions to reduce in-exam calculation time significantly.
Data Analysis and Sufficiency: DI sets in MAT are of moderate difficulty compared to CAT or XAT. Practise reading any graph type in under 60 seconds before solving its questions. For data sufficiency items, apply the two-statement elimination method — evaluate Statement 1 alone, then Statement 2 alone, then both together.
Intelligence and Critical Reasoning: Seating arrangements and multi-variable puzzles are the highest-frequency question types. Solve 2–3 arrangement puzzles daily from Day 16 through Day 44. For critical reasoning questions, identify the core argument structure — premise leading to conclusion — before classifying the question as assumption, inference, or strengthen-weaken type.
Indian and Global Environment: Since most B-schools exclude this section from the composite, cap your daily GK time at 30–40 minutes. Prioritise business and economy news, RBI and SEBI policy changes, India’s bilateral trade agreements, and recent awards in science, sports, and culture.
MAT September 2026 60-Day Study Plan FAQs
Ques. Is 60 days enough to prepare for MAT September 2026 from scratch?
Ans. Yes. MAT does not test advanced academic concepts — it tests speed, accuracy, and familiarity with recurring question patterns. Students who consistently study 4–5 hours daily for 60 days can target a composite score of 600+ with disciplined phased preparation and regular full-length mock tests.
Ques. How many mock tests should I attempt before MAT September 2026?
Ans. Aim for at least 8–10 full-length mock tests during Phase 4 (Days 46–60). Each mock should be followed by a minimum of 2 hours of error analysis — reviewing why you got questions wrong matters more than simply attempting additional tests.
Ques. Which section should I attempt first in MAT September 2026?
Ans. Many students benefit from starting with Indian and Global Environment (quick 15-minute GK section) to bank easy marks and build momentum, then moving to Language Comprehension, Intelligence and Critical Reasoning, Data Analysis and Sufficiency, and finally Mathematical Skills. Use your Phase 4 mocks to find the order that gives you the best net score.
Ques. Does Indian and Global Environment count in the MAT composite score?
Ans. No. Most MAT-accepting B-schools compute the composite score using only Language Comprehension, Mathematical Skills, Data Analysis and Sufficiency, and Intelligence and Critical Reasoning. The Indian and Global Environment score is reported separately and used selectively by certain institutions.
Ques. What is a good MAT composite score for top B-schools in September 2026?
Ans. Based on previous year trends, a composite score of 650+ is expected to be competitive for the top MAT-accepting institutes. A score between 600 and 649 is considered good for a strong set of mid-tier B-schools. These figures are indicative and based on past session trends.
Ques. How should I manage negative marking in MAT September 2026?
Ans. MAT deducts 0.25 marks for every wrong answer. Skip any question where your confidence is below 50% and return to it only if time allows. In Language Comprehension and Intelligence and Critical Reasoning especially, skipping uncertain questions protects your net score better than guessing from reduced options.
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