MAT 2017: May exam analysis; DA tricky, Reasoning time consuming - Check your MAT score with MAT percentile

Candidates who appeared in MAT 2017 May paper based test on May 7 should expect a lower MAT score cut off in top MBA colleges for MAT 2017 percentile. MAT 2017 May exam had tricky Data Analysis & Sufficiency and time consuming Intelligence and Critical Reasoning sections which may lead to lower MAT score and MAT percentile cut offs.

The anxiety now among the candidates is to know their MAT exam score and what would be MAT score cut off in different MBA colleges of their choice. On the basis of your performance in MAT exam and as per the MAT exam marks pattern you can calculate your MAT marks Vs percentile with the help of MAT percentile predictor

MAT 2017 paper based exam was held on May 7 from 10AM to 12.30PM. The exam greeted the test takers with tricky questions in Data Analysis & Sufficiency and Intelligence & Critical Reasoning sections. This MAT exam also did not contain any surprise element in the MAT paper based test. It is expected that MAT result may report high percentile at lower than earlier scaled score.

AIMA conducted MAT 2017 May exam in paper pencil mode today on Sunday May 7, 2017 in a single session for admission to 313 MBA colleges across the country. The feedback from the test takers indicated that MAT 2017 May exam was moderate test with Data Analysis & Reasoning a bit more time consuming sections.

Management Aptitude Test (MAT) 2017 May exam in paper pencil mode was taken by an approximate number of 20000 candidates. Test pattern remained more or less at the same difficulty level as was in MAT 2017 February exam.

Candidates were already given the option of either to appear in paper pencil mode or online test. No candidate who has taken paper based test on May 7, can appear in the on-line test proposed to be held from May 13 onwards.

MAT score you need for top B-schools
Admission to good B schools out of the list of 313 MBA colleges available at the AIMA site for MAT 2017 exam takers can only be explored with a percentile as high as 85 and above. MAT 2017 May exam would award scores keeping the Indian and Global environment section out. Hence the scores are to be awarded out of 160 marks scaled to 800 marks, and accordingly the test takers will get their merit position where their scores are sent by AIMA.

A few questions in Indian & Global Environment section were found difficult by the test takers in May MAT 2017 paper based test. But candidates need not worry on it as the GK section in MAT 2017 exam would not count for your MAT score scaling or as a component of MAT percentile calculator to determine your merit position. The overall MAT entrance exam 2017 in paper based form remained moderate and of same level of difficulty as was the MAT 2017 February exam.

Although a slight dip in cut offs is expected, still the candidates will need higher MAT scores leading to high percentile in order to get one of the top ranked MBA colleges like JBIMS, SIMSREE, PUMBA, K J Somaiya, IESMCRC, N L Dalmiya among other 400 B-schools in Maharashtra through CAP round 2017.

MAT 2017 May exam: Brief analysis
There were 200 questions divided in 5 sections in MAT 2017 May exam. The 200 questions had to be answered in 150 minutes. Less than 1 minute was available before the MAT test takers to answer each of the 200 questions. Candidates were seen struggling for Time Management to maximise their attempts. Same number and pattern will appear in online computer based test.

All the questions in MAT 2017 exam carry equal marks. Every right answer is to be awarded with a credit of 1 mark scaled to 5 marks while every wrong answer will attract a penalty of negative marking ( 0.25 mark for 1 mark and 1.25 after calculation of scaling to 5 marks as composite score for each question) deducted from the awarded score for right answers.

All the questions are in MCQ format followed by 4 answer options. Below is shared the quick view of MAT 2017 May exam.

MAT 2017 May exam date & time
Paper based over on Sunday May 7, 2017 from 10AM to 12.30PM
Number of test centres for PBT
51

Total number of questions in the exam
200

Number of sections in the exam
5

Number of answer options per question
4

Maximum Marks per question
1 (Scaled to 5)

Negative Marking
0.25 (Scaled to 1.25) mark for every wrong answer

Total maximum raw score in MAT percentile calculation
160 for first 4 sections. It leads to composite score of 800. Score of GK section not counted

Total maximum composite score out of which percentile will be awarded
800

Ideal attempts
As advised earlier by MBAUniverse.com, the test takers who maximise the attempts in MAT 2017 May exam are to score higher than their peers as it remains the key to success. Giving time to each of the sections and not get down by any one section remained an important factor to help you score high.

The suggested time limit to solve each of 5 sections and attempts needed per section to score high in MAT 2017 May exam remained -

S.No.
Section
No of Qs
Ideal time (in min)
Ideal attempts
1
Language Comprehension
40
25
26
2
Intelligence and Critical Reasoning
40
40
24
3

Data Analysis and Sufficiency
40
35
22
4
Mathematical Skills
40
40
24
5
Indian and Global Environment
40
10
17
200
150
113

MBAUniverse.com suggested to adhere to the time limit to solve questions in each section of MAT 2017 May exam as it could help you to do better in the exam. With this strategy more number of questions could be attempted with accuracy.

Many MAT 2017 May test takers were found gasping for more time as they didnt adhere to the suggested time limit and could not attempt the questions despite knowing their answers in paper based test. Candidates going for online computer based MAT exam on May 13 are advised not to repeat such mistakes and manage time to score high in each section.

Sectional analysis
Language comprehension: There were 40 questions in the section. The test had more number of questions based on jumbled words and picking odd man out of them, inserting correct words to fill in the blanks, vocabulary words to pick out correct synonyms-antonyms. The short comprehension passages were followed by 4 questions each. Other questions were based on jumbled sentences, basic grammar corrections, main idea of paragraphs. Except a few questions they had moderate difficulty level and could be answered in time.

Question topics
No. of questions

Vocabulary
3

Grammar
6

5 RC passages
25

Others including Verbal logic
6

RC topics
Digital India, Wi-Fi, Internet, Pollution

Intelligence and critical reasoning: The section had more number of questions on Analytical and logical reasoning and fewer questions were there on Critical reasoning. Questions were based on calendar, distribution, assertions reasons, blood relations, analogies, direction, series, statements. The questions were formed in sets as well as individual questions. The section was a little lengthy with moderate level of difficulty.

Question topics
No. of questions
Assertion Reason
3

Statement conclusion
3

Blood Relation
2

Direction
2

Clocks & Calendars
2

Coding/decoding
2

Input/output
2

Seating Arrangement (Linear)
2

Seating arrangement (Circular)
2

Venn Diagram
2

Others
18

Mathematical Skills: Out of the 40 questions in the section, around 18 questions were based on Arithmetic like Interest, Percentages, Time and Work, Averages Percentage, Profit, Loss, Partnership. The questions were a little time consuming although were moderately difficult. Other questions consisted of Venn diagrams, Equations, Ratio, Proportion & Variation, Geometry & Mensuration, Permutation and Combinations, Probability.

The questions were moderate and those who practiced more could attempt more questions in this section. Higher percentile would be waiting for those candidates who did this section well.

Question topics
No. of questions

Time & distance
2

Time & work
2

Average, mixture
2

Number system
3

Geometry, Mensuration
2

Algebra
2

Simple interest/Compound interest
3

Profit & Loss/Percentage
6

Ratio/Fraction/Proportion
4

Venn Diagram
2

Others
12

Data analysis and Sufficiency: This section had maximum questions on data interpretation. More prominent in this section were Pie charts, bar diagrams, charts, line graph, data comparison. Time remained the main factor to solve these questions with speed and accuracy.

While questions on Data Interpretation (DI) occupied more than 50% of the section, rest of the part covered questions on data sufficiency and data comparison.

Question topics
No. of questions

Tables
5

Bar diagram
3

Line diagram
3

Pie charts
3

Caselets
3

Data sufficiency
7

Data Analysis & Comparison
4

Indian and Global environment: The suggested time limit to answer the 40 questions in this section was 15 minutes but we advised 10 minutes to attempt this section. There is no point to go on re-thinking or recalling what you do not know or are confused on it. One question therefore, could be attempted in less than 30 seconds.

The questions were based on conventional GK, business and economics, current affairs, although this section would not count for calculation of percentile. Candidates could answer this section well within the time limit but many of them continued struggling in this section instead of moving forward. There was not need to waste the time as there was nothing to solve in this section of MAT May exam.

More questions in this section were asked on Sports and international market as compared to last MAT exam.

MAT exam scoring pattern
The MAT score predictor reveals how to calculate MAT score and how to interpret MAT score. MAT Score card contains MAT scaled scores as the MAT exam raw score is scaled before it is reported to MAT percentile after normalization process.

AIMA advises how to interpret MAT score and shares MAT exam Marks pattern. The total score in MAT exam for all the 4 sections is awarded out of 800 maximum score. Candidates scoring around 330 in 4 sections out of 800 marks are expected to score 99+ percentile.

The section on Indian & Global environment is not taken into account to calculate MAT Percentile or MAT score for merit position. This section has MAT exam qualifying marks and many B-schools do not consider the GK section scores in their admission process.

Scores on Language Comprehension, Mathematical Skills, Data analysis & Sufficiency and Intelligence & Critical Reasoning are reported on scales ranging from 0 to 100. Scores below 20 or above 80 are rare.
The Composite Score in May MAT 2017 result will be reported on a scale ranging from 199 to 801, but extreme scores below 200 or above 800 are uncommon. These uncommon scores in MAT result i.e. all below 200 are reported as 199 and all above 800 are reported as 801.

Those who have opted for Computer based MAT 2017 on May 13 should revise and further strengthen their strong areas and should remember to maximise their attempts in the exam with accuracy to score high as per the above suggested time limit.

Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more updates on MAT 2017 exam analysis, MAT percentile predictor and expected cut offs in MBA colleges