The Management Aptitude Test, MAT is a national-level entrance exam that is conducted once every year to give the students the opportunity to pursue their MBA degrees. The MAT exam is known to have the flexibility of being conducted in two modes, which are a paper-based mode and a computer-based mode. It is the students' choice whether they want to appear for the paper test or the computer-based test. Every year there are many students who are preparing for either mode of the exam. The students are very much waiting to appear for the exam. There are different months in a year when the paper-based test and the computer-based test are conducted. Whether students choose any mode, the one thing that becomes a sure shot is that the students have to prepare for the exam really well. MAT exam preparation is essential for students to score good results. A lot of students rely on the MAT sample papers in order to do well in the exam. There are many coaching centres as well as tutors who rely on the MAT test papers. Through this article, we will understand the importance and relevance of the MAT sample papers in the students' preparation journey.
MAT Exam Pattern
While students are preparing for any entrance exam, the exam pattern holds a lot of value for the students. It is the first thing that gives them a lot of information about how the exam will be conducted and what are the important aspects of the exam that they have to keep in mind. Similarly, while students are trying to prepare for the MAT exam as well, the exam pattern of the MAT exam is essential for the students to know about. The MAT exam, as discussed earlier, is conducted in two modes, which are the paper-based test and the computer-based test. There are a total of 5 sections of the MAT exam, which are namely language comprehension, data analysis and sufficiency, Mathematical skills, intelligence and critical reasoning, Economic and business environment. There are a total of 150 questions in the MAT exam. In each section of the exam, there are 30 questions each. The total duration of the exam is 120 minutes. And the total marks of the MAT exam are also 150. Talking about the marking scheme of the exam, 1 mark is given for every correct answer, 0.25 marks are deducted for every incorrect answer, and there is no negative marking for not attempting any question. This is the basic overview of the MAT exam pattern.
What are MAT Sample Papers?
Students have to understand what the MAT exam papers basically are. Whenever there are entrance exams that students are preparing for, usually there are MAT sample papers or sample papers in general which are released in accordance with every entrance exam. What this basically does is include the questions in the same exam pattern as the actual MAT exam question paper. This helps the students to kind of get a real-time idea of how the actual question paper will look. In this way, the students are able to practise many questions and get an idea of what they're going to attempt later on in the exam. MAT sample papers are able to replicate the actual exam question paper typology and give students better practice of the questions.
Tips On Solving the MAT Sample Papers
While students are trying to start solving the MAT sample papers, there are certain things they have to keep in mind. The first thing is that to be able to solve the MAT sample paper, students need to have their syllabus complete. If students feel that they can half-heartedly start with the practice questions, they wouldn't be able to really do well. This will do two things. Firstly, it will waste the student's time because they wouldn't be able to understand the questions really well, and they will make more mistakes than actually understanding anything. And the second thing that will happen is that students will not be able to complete their entire syllabus in time. The actual benefit of the sample papers is that they wouldn't be able to use them because they never focused on completing their syllabus initially, which will put a lot of pressure on the students to complete the syllabus towards the end, and they will lack the confidence to actually learn anything. Therefore, it becomes essential for the students that they firstly complete their syllabus and then begin solving the MAT sample papers. Students should also try to sit and, in one go, solve the entire sample paper so that they can keep a check on the time limit on the various sections and other aspects of the exam.
Why Should Students Solve MAT Sample Papers?
Sample papers always help the students to get the actual help that they need. It is always the best possible way for students to practise as many questions as possible in the same format as the actual question paper will be. This helps the students to continuously learn one thing or another and keep improving their skills. This is the best way that students will realise that they're getting to know more about the exam pattern, and at the same time, they're getting the practice that they need.
Students will also realise that sample papers will help them to not just work on their question-answering aspect, but they will also add to the preparation of the students in a way where they become better at time management. When students repeatedly try and solve questions, they realise that they're actually becoming good at managing their time and understanding how they're supposed to answer the questions in the exam. It is only going to come with practice, and the more the students practise, the better that they will become.
Conclusion
Students should always know that their preparation is entirely in their hands. However, if students want to prepare for the exam, they can crack the exam on their own or with external guidance through the coaching. In both ways, students' preparation is eventually their own. Even after taking the guidance from the coaching centre, some students are not able to crack the exam because nobody will be able to help the students as much as they can help themselves. Therefore, all the practice tools, like the sample papers and mock test papers students should try to use according to their own requirements so that they are able to understand at their own pace. This will help the students to actually improve their performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
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How many sections are there in the MAT exam?
There are five sections in the MAT exam.
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What is the time duration of the MAT exam?
The MAT exam is for 120 minutes.