Physics Wallah

MAT 2023 Preparation Guide For Intelligence And Critical Reasoning

The MAT Intelligence and Critical Reasoning section of the exam includes questions on coding-decoding, series, blood relations, and verbal reasoning, among others. This section tests a candidate's ability to reason in different situations.
authorImageAnil Solonki25 Nov, 2023
Share

Share

MAT 2023 Preparation

The MAT Intelligence and Critical Reasoning section of the exam includes questions on coding-decoding, series, blood relations, and verbal reasoning, among others. This section tests a candidate's ability to reason in different situations. While it's about choosing the correct or closest option, it's not as easy as it seems. You must develop the skill of selecting the right answer for reasoning questions.

To prepare for the Intelligence and Critical Reasoning section of MAT 2023, focus on observation and practice. Your preparation plan should include practicing questions of various types and difficulty levels. This section constitutes 1/5th of the MAT 2023 question paper with 40 questions. Each question carries one mark, but there is a negative marking of -0.25. Therefore, accuracy is crucial in this section.

MAT 2023 Exam For Intelligence and Critical Reasoning Key Highlights

MAT 2023 exam lasts 150 minutes, giving candidates around 30-40 minutes for each section. The question paper will have a total of 200 marks and is divided into five sections: Indian and Global Environment, Data Analysis and Sufficiency, Mathematical Skills, Intelligence and Critical Reasoning, and Language Comprehension. Now, let's look at the key highlights of the MAT reasoning section.
MAT 2023 Intelligence & Critical Reasoning Exam Pattern
Particulars Details
Marks Allotted 40
Number of Questions 40
Type of Questions MCQs
Marks Awarded +1 for every right answer
Negative Marking -0.25 for every incorrect answer
Time Suggested 30 minutes
MAT 2023 Exam Duration 150 minutes
Considered for Percentile Calculation Yes
Weightage in Percentile Calculation 25%

MAT Intelligence and Critical Reasoning Syllabus 2023

MAT Intelligence & Critical Reasoning section doesn't rely on rote learning or memorization. Instead, it assesses the candidate's mental aptitude in analyzing information and drawing accurate conclusions. To prepare for this section, candidates should familiarize themselves with the MAT 2023 Syllabus for Intelligence & Critical Reasoning, tabulated below.
MAT Intelligence and Critical Reasoning Syllabus
Fact-inference-judgment Passage Conclusion Clocks
Calendars Statement-Argument Analogy
Blood Relations / Family Tree Logical Sequence Assumption
Premise Conclusion Seating Arrangement
Linear and Matrix Arrangement Team Formation Input-Output
Series Syllogism Cubes
Rows Set theory, Venn Diagrams, and Network Diagrams Puzzles
Logical Reasoning based on Rankings Critical Reasoning Quantitative Reasoning
Direction sense Decision Making Incorrect Terms

How to Prepare for MAT Exam 2023 Intelligence & Critical Reasoning

Scoring well in the MAT Intelligence & Critical Reasoning section is highly achievable with the right approach and ample practice. Before diving into your MAT 2023 preparation, grasping the question pattern for Intelligence & Critical Reasoning is essential. To excel in this section, consider these helpful preparation tips:
  • You can refer to MAT's previous year's question papers to get an idea of the question pattern related to these topics. Analyzing these questions will help you understand the MAT exam's difficulty level.
  • Consistent practice is key to scoring well in the MAT Intelligence & Critical Reasoning section. Aim to practice at least 20-30 questions daily to excel in the MAT exam.
  • Before answering each question, read it carefully and understand what it requires. Analyze the question's demand before making any conclusions.
  • To improve your speed and accuracy, focus on practicing more questions from essential topics like syllogisms, blood relations, and cause & effect statements.
  • To strengthen your basics and learn short tricks for solving complex puzzles and arrangements, refer to books by renowned authors such as Arun Sharma and R S Aggarwal.
  • Be cautious not to assume any information not provided in the question. Base your answers only on the information given in the question.
  • Carefully read all the answer choices before selecting the correct one and eliminating the wrong ones.

Mistakes To Avoid While Preparing For Intelligence & Critical Reasoning

The MAT Intelligence and Critical Reasoning Section assesses candidates' critical reasoning and analytical abilities, making it crucial to approach it with care. Having a calm mindset and attentiveness while solving this section can greatly improve your performance. To excel in the Intelligence and Critical Reasoning section of MAT, avoid these common mistakes:
  • Take your time to carefully read and understand the information provided in the questions.
  • Avoid drawing hasty conclusions and read the entire question thoroughly to avoid making errors.
  • If you find a question too challenging, don't waste excessive time on it. Move on to other questions and come back to it later if needed.
  • Pay close attention to key terms in the questions, such as "Only and Only If," "Unless," "Not," "Definitely," "All," "Some," "None," and negative prefixes like "un-," "dis-," "non-," etc.

MAT Intelligence & Critical Reasoning Sample Paper

To prepare for the Intelligence & Critical Reasoning section of the MAT 2023 exam, candidates can benefit from solving MAT sample papers and previous year question papers. These practice papers give an insight into the type and difficulty level of the questions that may appear in the actual exam. The Intelligence & Critical Reasoning section contains 40 questions, which are generally of easy to moderate difficulty. To score well in this section, effective time management is crucial. Since there is no specific time limit for each section, candidates are advised to spend around 30-35 minutes on the Intelligence & Critical Reasoning section during the exam. By practicing with sample papers and managing time wisely, candidates can aim to score above 30 marks in this section.

MAT Exam 2023 FAQs

How can I improve in Intelligence & Critical Reasoning for MAT 2023?

To enhance your performance in MAT 2023 Intelligence & Critical Reasoning, start by practicing sample questions for each subtopic. Learn short tricks and efficient methods to solve questions accurately and quickly. Make sure you understand the core concepts before moving on to the next topic. Practice 5-10 questions daily on all the studied topics. Focus on the more challenging topics during preparation and tackle them towards the end.

I have never attempted a management exam before. What should I keep in mind while preparing?

If you're new to Intelligence & Critical Reasoning papers, begin by clearing your basics and learning the methods to solve each question type. Start with solved examples to gain confidence. Once you become proficient and quick at solving, move on to solving sample papers and previous years' question papers for MAT.

Which topics are crucial for MAT 2023 Intelligence & Critical Reasoning?

The vital topics for MAT Intelligence & Critical Reasoning are Family Relation, Statements-Cause & Effect, Statement –Assumptions, Reasons, analogies, direction, series, and Incorrect Terms. These topics are frequently asked in the exam and can be solved quickly.

How much time is needed to prepare for MAT Intelligence and Critical Reasoning?

For MAT Intelligence and Critical Reasoning, allocate at least 1.5 hours daily for thorough preparation until the exam date. If this section is your weakest, invest more time and prioritize your preparation for MAT IC.

What is the fastest way to prepare for MAT Intelligence and Critical Reasoning?

The quickest way to prepare for MAT IC is to practice using sample papers and previous years' question papers of MAT. These resources will familiarize you with the types of questions asked and provide you with valuable insights.

Which topics carry the most weightage in the Intelligence and Critical Reasoning section of the MAT exam?

In the Intelligence & Critical Reasoning section, blood relations and statement (cause & effect) contribute to about 50% of the weightage. Expect around 8-10 questions each from these topics. Additionally, questions will be asked from other topics like direction test, syllogisms, analogies, and logical series & sequences.
Join 15 Million students on the app today!
Point IconLive & recorded classes available at ease
Point IconDashboard for progress tracking
Point IconMillions of practice questions at your fingertips
Download ButtonDownload Button
Banner Image
Banner Image
Free Learning Resources
Know about Physics Wallah
Physics Wallah is an Indian edtech platform that provides accessible & comprehensive learning experiences to students from Class 6th to postgraduate level. We also provide extensive NCERT solutions, sample paper, NEET, JEE Mains, BITSAT previous year papers & more such resources to students. Physics Wallah also caters to over 3.5 million registered students and over 78 lakh+ Youtube subscribers with 4.8 rating on its app.
We Stand Out because
We provide students with intensive courses with India’s qualified & experienced faculties & mentors. PW strives to make the learning experience comprehensive and accessible for students of all sections of society. We believe in empowering every single student who couldn't dream of a good career in engineering and medical field earlier.
Our Key Focus Areas
Physics Wallah's main focus is to make the learning experience as economical as possible for all students. With our affordable courses like Lakshya, Udaan and Arjuna and many others, we have been able to provide a platform for lakhs of aspirants. From providing Chemistry, Maths, Physics formula to giving e-books of eminent authors like RD Sharma, RS Aggarwal and Lakhmir Singh, PW focuses on every single student's need for preparation.
What Makes Us Different
Physics Wallah strives to develop a comprehensive pedagogical structure for students, where they get a state-of-the-art learning experience with study material and resources. Apart from catering students preparing for JEE Mains and NEET, PW also provides study material for each state board like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and others

Copyright © 2025 Physicswallah Limited All rights reserved.