Today with 58 Local Management Associations, it has linkages with over 3000 institutions and over 30,000 individual professionals. Its key activities include Distance Management Education, Management Development Programmes & National Events, and Testing Services.
Management Aptitude Test, popularly known as MAT, is held by AIMAs Centre for Management Services (AIMA-CMS) and is one of the most widely used tests for gaining an entry into over 1000 B-Schools in India. AIMA-CMS puts the total number of MAT takers at over 3 lakhs annually, thus making it Indias largest management entrance test.
AIMA-CMS, which holds MAT, is headed by Wg Cdr V S Bejoy. Having served the Indian Air Force with distinction, and after gaining expertise in logistics domain where he was the Chief Logistics Officer responsible for taking over aircrafts and associated systems, Wg Cdr Bejoy sought voluntary retirement in 1999. Wg Cdr Bejoy possesses M S Degree from Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS), Pilani and MBA Degree from Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), Delhi University.
MBAUniverse.com spoke to Wg Cdr Bejoy on trends in management entrance testing area, MAT, and how he sees the future of online testing.
Excerpts:
Q: Let us start with an overview of AIMAs Centre for Management Services (AIMA-CMS). What is the focus of division?
A: Centre for Management Services is a specialized division of AIMA undertaking testing and other management services. The testing services have been in operation since 1988 under the trademark All India Management Aptitude Testing Services (AIMATS) facilitating academia, industry and government to screen and select candidates for higher studies, recruitment, promotion etc. Hundreds of organizations and lakhs of candidates have availed these services. AIMATS has the distinction of being the first to be awarded with ISO 9001: 2000 Quality Certification for the range of services.
CMS provides world class testing and value added specialised services to the management students, institutions and corporate sector.
Q: When was MAT held for the first time? What are its key features?
A: MAT was held first in 1988. Originally it was meant for testing candidates for AIMAs own management programmes. Later more institutes got added. Today, as you are aware of, MAT has become popular with hundreds of AICTE approved Institutions & University departments and lakhs of MBA aspirants having availed AIMAs testing services.
In 2003, to serve the interest of management aspirants, Government of India prescribed that only five management exams were recognized. These exams were CAT, XAT, JMET, ATMA and MAT. This recognition gave further fillip to our brand.
Today, total of the annual registration of candidates for MAT is higher than of CAT nationally and of even GMAT internationally. MAT is the largest such exam in India and globally.
Q: How many aspirants take MAT exam every year? You mention that MAT is the largest test
A: Yes, according to information available and our assessment, MAT is the number 1 management entrance test. MAT is held four times in a year, and if you add up all the test takers, then in a year more than 3 lakh candidates take the test. MAT held in December 2007 and then in February 2008 had over one lakh takers.
Compare our numbers to CAT where about 2.3 lakh test takers took the exam. GMAT also has similar number of test takers, even though test takers are from across the globe.
MAT is certainly the foremost management entrance test.
Q: What does MAT try to test? Is it similar or different from CAT and other exams?
A: The objective of MAT is to assess the potential of a candidate to pursue a management programme. Towards that end, we test the verbal ability, numerical ability and logical thinking of candidates.
When you compare management entrance tests, I would say that in terms of orientation and structure, such tests are all the same. Details may differ somewhat. They are more or less of similar structure. The only difference is the perception about their difficulty levels. CAT is perceived to be more difficult because there is lesser number of institutes registered with CAT, leading to less admission offers to CAT takers. Students see this as CAT is difficult. In case of MAT, much more institutes are registered leading to more admission offers. For instance, in case of MAT to be held on May 4, 2008 close to 475 institutes are registered!
Q: Why is MAT held four times in a year?
A: We believe that aspirants should get adequate chance to appear. If the test is held on just one day in a year, all hopes are attached to a particular day. There can be several problems a candidate may face on a given day. Hence, MAT is held multiple times during the year. Students can choose the test date. It offers a fair chance to all. If you look outside India, GMAT is a rolling online exam that is held all round the year.
Q: Are you looking at taking MAT online, like IIMs are planning to hold CAT as an online exam in 2009?
A: We have studied the challenges and opportunities of online testing in India in detail. We have met with experts and several other bodies in this regard. Our analysis is that it is somewhat early for large scale online testing. Infrastructure is a big issue. How do we examine lakhs of aspirants in a few days and ensure total credibility unless tested systems and infrastructure are in place?
Having said that, online testing has to happen in the near future. You cannot ignore it. We will keep monitoring the developments in the area.
Q: Finally, what are some broad trends you observe in management education sector?
A: There is tremendous demand for management education in the country today. Indian economy is growing at a rapid pace. The growth and expansion is creating more demand for managerial talent at all levels and across industries. As industry demands more managerial resources, MBAs will continue to be in demand. So, at an overall level, its a very buoyant scene.
| Check Top MBA Colleges in India by Cities | | |
| Also Read Important Articles on MBA Admission | ||
| Top MBA Colleges in India | MBA Admission | MBA Entrance Exam |
| MBA Placements | MBA Ranking In India | GD Topics |
Today with 58 Local Management Associations, it has linkages with over 3000 institutions and over 30,000 individual professionals. Its key activities include Distance Management Education, Management Development Programmes & National Events, and Testing Services.
Management Aptitude Test, popularly known as MAT, is held by AIMAs Centre for Management Services (AIMA-CMS) and is one of the most widely used tests for gaining an entry into over 1000 B-Schools in India. AIMA-CMS puts the total number of MAT takers at over 3 lakhs annually, thus making it Indias largest management entrance test.
AIMA-CMS, which holds MAT, is headed by Wg Cdr V S Bejoy. Having served the Indian Air Force with distinction, and after gaining expertise in logistics domain where he was the Chief Logistics Officer responsible for taking over aircrafts and associated systems, Wg Cdr Bejoy sought voluntary retirement in 1999. Wg Cdr Bejoy possesses M S Degree from Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS), Pilani and MBA Degree from Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), Delhi University.
MBAUniverse.com spoke to Wg Cdr Bejoy on trends in management entrance testing area, MAT, and how he sees the future of online testing.
Excerpts:
Q: Let us start with an overview of AIMAs Centre for Management Services (AIMA-CMS). What is the focus of division?
A: Centre for Management Services is a specialized division of AIMA undertaking testing and other management services. The testing services have been in operation since 1988 under the trademark All India Management Aptitude Testing Services (AIMATS) facilitating academia, industry and government to screen and select candidates for higher studies, recruitment, promotion etc. Hundreds of organizations and lakhs of candidates have availed these services. AIMATS has the distinction of being the first to be awarded with ISO 9001: 2000 Quality Certification for the range of services.
CMS provides world class testing and value added specialised services to the management students, institutions and corporate sector.
Q: When was MAT held for the first time? What are its key features?
A: MAT was held first in 1988. Originally it was meant for testing candidates for AIMAs own management programmes. Later more institutes got added. Today, as you are aware of, MAT has become popular with hundreds of AICTE approved Institutions & University departments and lakhs of MBA aspirants having availed AIMAs testing services.
In 2003, to serve the interest of management aspirants, Government of India prescribed that only five management exams were recognized. These exams were CAT, XAT, JMET, ATMA and MAT. This recognition gave further fillip to our brand.
Today, total of the annual registration of candidates for MAT is higher than of CAT nationally and of even GMAT internationally. MAT is the largest such exam in India and globally.
Q: How many aspirants take MAT exam every year? You mention that MAT is the largest test
A: Yes, according to information available and our assessment, MAT is the number 1 management entrance test. MAT is held four times in a year, and if you add up all the test takers, then in a year more than 3 lakh candidates take the test. MAT held in December 2007 and then in February 2008 had over one lakh takers.
Compare our numbers to CAT where about 2.3 lakh test takers took the exam. GMAT also has similar number of test takers, even though test takers are from across the globe.
MAT is certainly the foremost management entrance test.
Q: What does MAT try to test? Is it similar or different from CAT and other exams?
A: The objective of MAT is to assess the potential of a candidate to pursue a management programme. Towards that end, we test the verbal ability, numerical ability and logical thinking of candidates.
When you compare management entrance tests, I would say that in terms of orientation and structure, such tests are all the same. Details may differ somewhat. They are more or less of similar structure. The only difference is the perception about their difficulty levels. CAT is perceived to be more difficult because there is lesser number of institutes registered with CAT, leading to less admission offers to CAT takers. Students see this as CAT is difficult. In case of MAT, much more institutes are registered leading to more admission offers. For instance, in case of MAT to be held on May 4, 2008 close to 475 institutes are registered!
Q: Why is MAT held four times in a year?
A: We believe that aspirants should get adequate chance to appear. If the test is held on just one day in a year, all hopes are attached to a particular day. There can be several problems a candidate may face on a given day. Hence, MAT is held multiple times during the year. Students can choose the test date. It offers a fair chance to all. If you look outside India, GMAT is a rolling online exam that is held all round the year.
Q: Are you looking at taking MAT online, like IIMs are planning to hold CAT as an online exam in 2009?
A: We have studied the challenges and opportunities of online testing in India in detail. We have met with experts and several other bodies in this regard. Our analysis is that it is somewhat early for large scale online testing. Infrastructure is a big issue. How do we examine lakhs of aspirants in a few days and ensure total credibility unless tested systems and infrastructure are in place?
Having said that, online testing has to happen in the near future. You cannot ignore it. We will keep monitoring the developments in the area.
Q: Finally, what are some broad trends you observe in management education sector?
A: There is tremendous demand for management education in the country today. Indian economy is growing at a rapid pace. The growth and expansion is creating more demand for managerial talent at all levels and across industries. As industry demands more managerial resources, MBAs will continue to be in demand. So, at an overall level, its a very buoyant scene.
| Check Top MBA Colleges in India by Cities | | |
| Also Read Important Articles on MBA Admission | ||
| Top MBA Colleges in India | MBA Admission | MBA Entrance Exam |
| MBA Placements | MBA Ranking In India | GD Topics |
All India Management Association (AIMA) needs no introduction. As an apex body of professional management since 1957, it has facilitated the development of management profession in the country.