MAT 2026 Preparation Strategy: Section-Wise Tips for Success

The MAT PBT Exam 2026 is all set to be held on March 1, and the MAT CBT will be held on March 8, 2026, for PBT and CBT modes, respectively. You must have a detailed MAT 2026 preparation strategy for each section to score better. The MAT exam 2026 will have a total of five subjects: Language Comprehension, Intelligence and Critical Reasoning, Data Analysis and Sufficiency, Mathematical Skills, and Economic and Business Environment. There will be 30 questions from each section. Since the weightage is the same for all the sections, you must prioritize them all equally. Section-wise tips to prepare for MAT 2026 have been shared below for your ease.

MAT is one of the easiest management entrance exams, and thus, if prepared strategically, you can score better in your very first attempt. There will be a total of 150 questions for 150 marks and the MAT questions will be asked in multiple-choice form. You will have 120 minutes to complete the exam. You must also note the MAT marking scheme before starting with the preparations. You will be awarded +1 mark for each correct attempt and -0.25 for each incorrect attempt.

Section-Wise Preparation Strategy for MAT 2026

As mentioned, there are five sections in the MAT exam syllabus 2026, and the targeted strategy should be different for each of them. A MAT section-wise preparation plan has been shared below for your ease.

1. Preparation Tips for Data Analysis and Sufficiency

The MAT Data Analysis and Sufficiency syllabus consists of topics such as Series, Data Caselet, Data Comparison, and Table Charts. There will be 30 questions in this section, you must complete it within the allotted time. It is the second most lengthiest section of the MAT Exam 2026. This section will have questions on different types of graphs and charts/tables.

How to Cover MAT DA Sufficiency Effectively?

You can follow these effective tips and tricks to prepare for the MAT Data Analysis and Sufficiency section before the exam.

1. Understand the Syllabus and Question Type- Practice the Data Interpretation, Pie Charts, Bar Graphs, and other similar sections precisely. The Caselets and Data Sufficiency Questions will have more dominance and thus they must be mastered with regular revision. While the Ratio, Percentage, Averages, and Comparisons questions can be covered with multiple mock tests and previous year papers as the pattern is generally similar every year.
2. Practice with Different Sets- Do not rely solely on just one type of set for practice. There are various patterns and types of questions available and you must refer to them to practice. The expected pattern of question is unknown and thus you must be prepared with every type.
3. Build Strong Calculation Skills- Since the entire MAT Data Analysis syllabus is based on calculation, you need to have a strong hold on your calculation skills. Avoid using calculators and try it yourself as much as possible. You must learn shortcuts for percentages, ratios, and averages to ease down your practice.

2. Preparation Strategy for Mathematical Skills in MAT 2026

The MAT Mathematical Skills syllabus 2026 includes chapters on percentage, profit and loss, average simple and compound interest, inequalities, linear equations, trigonometry, geometry, and more.

Tips to Master Mathematical Skills Section

Here are a few tips to master this section of the MAT Exam 2026:

1. Practice Quant Regularly- You must solve at least 20-30 Quant questions daily. However, do not pick similar level questions, but play among easy, medium, and difficult-level questions. The sectional tests for quantitative aptitude section will strengthen your mathematics skills.
2. Use Shortcut Methods and Tricks- The best way to master the mathematics section is to learn Vedic Math techniques for quick calculations. This is one of the easiest way to solve lengthy and tricky questions in the MAT 2026 Exam. Cover questions from square roots, cube roots, and percentage conversions from different sample papers and previous papers. Also, a smart substitution will help you save enough of your time.
3. Practice Time Management- Since there will be lengthy and tricky questions in this section, it is very important for your to master time management. This can be easily mastered by solving sample papers and MAT previous papers by setting time limits.

3. How to Prepare for Language Comprehension in MAT 2026?

The MAT Language Comprehension syllabus 2026 will have questions based on Reading Comprehension, Para Jumble, Fill in the Blanks, One Word Substitution, Antonyms and Synonyms, and others. This is one of the relaxing sections of the syllabus as the questions are comparatively easier except the reading comprehension section.

Tips to Cover the MAT Language Comprehension and Passage Section

Here are a few tips to master this section of the MAT Exam 2026:

• Build a Strong Vocabulary- Learn 5-10 new words every day from newspapers and magazines. The syllabus of vocabulary is very vast and you cannot cover it in a day or two. Thus, you must prepare a personal vocabulary journal or book with meaning and usage, and keep revising it daily. You can also use flashcards and word apps to revise them.
• Practice Every Sort of Comprehension- Reading comprehension is quite challenging, along with lengthy and tricky. Thus, regular practice from different sites and books will make your learning easy. However, you must write every type of passage such as literary, situational, and others.
• Develop a Habit of Fast Reading- Since the comprehension syllabus is filled with questions and passages, you ought to have fast reading skills to cover all the questions in the given time. Or else you may miss out on many of them. You can develop fast reading by inculcating a habit of book reading, newspaper reading, or even article reading.

4. How to Tackle Intelligence and Critical Reasoning in MAT 2026?

The MAT Intelligence and Critical Reasoning syllabus includes chapters on analogy and multidimensional arrangements, statements and assumptions, columns, bars, pie charts, and more. This section is designed to test your analytical ability.

Tips to Prepare for MAT Intelligence and Critical Reasoning Section

Here are a few tips and tricks to cover the MAT ICR section of the syllabus:

1. Develop Logical Thinking Skills- You must practice a lot of puzzles and brain teasers to develop your critical thinking and logical reasoning. Develop your skill to identify observation and pattern recognition as quickly as possible to tackle the questions real-quick. A step-by-step reasoning guide will help you prepare this section better.
2. Get All Previous Papers and Mock Tests- To ease this section of the MAT exam syllabus, practice as many MAT previous year papers and MAT mock tests as possible. This is one of the best ways to prepare for the exam for each section, but since the Intelligence and Reasoning section is numerically based, you will get different forms and types of questions through it.
3. Learn the Common Mistakes to Avoid Them- You may often get confused in the statement-based questions, as the options are very close to. Thus, do not overthink and start by eliminating the wrong options first. But to avoid it, do not rely on intuition and ignore logic there. Read the questions twice and focus on words such as “not,” “cannot,” and “never.”

5. Indian and Global Environment Preparation Strategy

The MAT Indian and Global Environment syllabus has no set syllabus, and the chapters here are dynamic. Thus, you are advised to stay updated with the latest trends and news being issued by the official websites. The best way to get a guide for this section of the MAT syllabus is to go through the MAT previous papers and MAT online mock tests to understand the pattern of the questions. The questions are generally based on economic issues, current affairs, business and finance, corporate news, etc.

Tips to Tackle the MAT Intelligence and Global Reasoning Section

Here are a few tips and trciks that you can follow to prepare for the MAT Intelligence section:

1. Keep Yourself Updated- Go through newspapers, television channels, and magazines to keep yourself updated with the latest news. You can also follow monthly or weekly curent affair pocket size magazines to cover the topics.
2. Understand the Nature of the Section- Since the syllabus is not devised and everything is dynamic, you must first understand the syllabus. Go through previous ten years of MAT question papers and note down the genres from which questions are asked. You can create your personal syllabus likewise and this will help you ease down what books to or what form of news to refer to.
3. Give More Focus to Static General Knowledge- Since the current affairs is not constant, you shall not get a lot of questions from there. You can expect around 5-6 questions from the latest events, be it national or international. Thus you must give more focus to static GK and cover the Geography, History and Science and Technology section more.

The detailed section wise preparation tips for MAT has been shared below for your ease. You are advised to give equal attention to each section as the weightage is divided equally.