MAT Feb 09: What should be your prep strategy?

After publishing the articles by IMS Learning and PT Education, MBAUniverse.com now presents an article by Mr Mohit Menon, General Manager of Triumphant Institute of Management Education (T.I.M.E.) on how to prepare for MAT 09.

How to prepare for MAT 09
By Mr Mohit Menon, General Manager of Triumphant Institute of Management Education (T.I.M.E.)

MAT overview
The MAT (Management Aptitude Test) is conducted by the All India Management Association (AIMA). Apart from testing students on their analytical skills, the MAT tests students on their ability to manage time effectively & maximizing their scores while tackling questions across various test areas such as Language Comprehension, Mathematical Skills, Data Analysis and Sufficiency, Intelligence and Critical Reasoning and Indian and Global Environment.

MAT vs other Exams
For starters, unlike the other exams, this exam is conducted four times in a year, i.e. February, May, September & December. A cumulative of around 3.5 lakh students (across all the four MATs) write the exam. Around 400 B Schools use MAT scores as part of their selection process for the various programmes in Management offered by them.
Each exam differs from the others in different ways by the level of difficulty of the questions, the number of sections, the duration of the exam, the quantum of negative marking, etc. An exam like CAT for instance does not have section devoted to General Knowledge and Current Affairs. Similarly in the XAT, writing an essay is an integral part of the exam. The MAT bulletin clearly states the number of questions that a student will face from each test area. While the other tests mentioned do not give out any scores when the results are announced, students who attempt the MAT exam are given a composite score as part of their scorecard.

While there are a few differences that set each of these exams apart, students should focus on realising their potential in each of these exams. This is important, for the performance of an individual is not judged in isolation, but in comparison to how the rest of the students writing the exam on that day have fared.

They receive GD & Interview calls, which is the next step in the selection process of most institutes based on their relative performance in the exam.

What should be the prep strategy?
Most national-level MBA Entrance exams test students on their conceptual knowledge across test areas. The MAT is no different. Intensive preparation across test areas combined with a good reading habit should stand them in good stead. In addition to this, attempting a quality test series will help them identify their strengths and weaknesses as well as tell them where they stand in terms of their preparation relative to others planning to take the exam. In addition, students should always be mentally prepared for any surprises that the exam throws up at them on the day.