MAT September 2026 Registration Open at mat.aima.in: PBT Exam on September 13, CBT on September 20 — Check Dates, Fee, Pattern

MAT September 2026 Exam: The All India Management Association (AIMA) has thrown open the registration window for the Management Aptitude Test (MAT) September 2026 session, the third of the four MAT cycles conducted every calendar year. Candidates targeting MBA admission 2026 can now submit the MAT application form online at the official portal, mat.aima.in.

The September session will be conducted in two modes on two separate dates. The Paper-Based Test (PBT) is scheduled for September 13, 2026, while the Computer-Based Test (CBT) will be held on September 20, 2026. The dual-mode structure is a defining feature of MAT — candidates choose the format that suits them, or attempt both and submit whichever score is higher.

MAT September 2026: Important Dates at a Glance

Registration for the September session ends on September 7, 2026 for PBT and September 14, 2026 for CBT. There is no correction window once the form is submitted, so candidates should verify every field — name, date of birth, category, test-city preferences — before final submission.

How to Apply for MAT September 2026: Step-by-Step

Candidates can complete the application process online by visiting mat.aima.in, creating a new account, filling in personal and academic details, selecting the preferred exam mode, uploading the required documents, paying the fee, and downloading the confirmation page.

1. Open mat.aima.in and register with a valid email ID and mobile number.

2. Verify via OTP and log in to the candidate dashboard.

3. Fill in personal, academic and communication details.

4. Choose your exam mode — PBT, CBT, or both.

5. Select two preferred test cities.

6. Upload the photograph, signature and supporting documents in the prescribed format.

7. Pay the fee online and download the confirmation page.

 Note: Candidates must select two cities for centre allotment, and test cities may differ between the two modes — so choose the mode and city according to preference.

MAT 2026 Application Fee

The MAT 2026 exam fee is ₹2,300 for a single mode (PBT or CBT) and ₹4,000 for both exams. The fee is non-refundable, and re-registration requires a fresh payment.

MAT Exam Structure 2026: 150 Questions, 120 Minutes

The MAT exam structure is uniform across all modes. MAT has five sections of thirty questions each, with a total of 150 questions to be attempted in 120 minutes.

Marking scheme: One mark is awarded for every correct answer and 0.25 marks are deducted for each incorrect answer. All five sections count toward the MAT score.

MAT Eligibility Criteria 2026

The minimum eligibility for MAT is graduation, with no minimum percentage requirement — candidates with passing marks are eligible. Candidates holding professional degrees such as CA, CS or ICWA are also eligible to apply. There is no age limit, no work-experience requirement, and no cap on the number of attempts — a candidate may appear in all four sessions in a year, and in both modes within the same session. Final-year students awaiting results may also apply.

Why MAT Matters for MBA Admission 2026

Conducted by AIMA since 1988 and recognised by the Government of India as a national-level test since 2003, MAT is one of the largest MBA/PGDM entrance examinations in the country and serves as a gateway to over 600 leading B-schools. More than 30 lakh management aspirants have taken the test over its 35-year history.

Its biggest structural advantage over single-shot exams is frequency. Because AIMA conducts MAT in February, May, September and December, candidates can appear when they are best prepared and improve their score within the same academic session — a flexibility that CAT, XAT and CMAT do not offer.

The MAT score remains valid for one year, and candidates may submit their highest score to participating institutes.

PBT or CBT: Which MAT Mode Should You Choose?

The syllabus, duration, question count and marking scheme are identical in both modes — only the delivery medium changes. Choose PBT if you are comfortable marking OMR sheets and prefer working on a physical paper. Choose CBT if you are used to on-screen mocks and want a one-week extra buffer to prepare, since the CBT date falls a week later. Applying for both gives you two attempts in the same cycle at a discounted combined fee — a rational choice for serious MBA admission 2026 aspirants.

MAT September 2026 Result and Admission

Scorecards are typically released within a few weeks of the test window, and are uploaded to the candidate dashboard on mat.aima.in. AIMA forwards a candidate's score to the institutes named in the application form, and candidates applying to additional colleges must fill out those institutes' application forms separately. There is no centralised counselling by AIMA — MAT cut-offs are determined independently by each institute, and AIMA has no role in the admission process. The selection process usually includes GD-PI or WAT-PI rounds.

Key Takeaway

With the PBT deadline on September 7 and the CBT deadline on September 14, candidates should not wait for the final 48 hours — portal traffic peaks near the close of the window and there is no correction facility for errors. Register early, lock your test-city preferences, and download the admit card on the day it drops.