MAT September 2026 CBT Registration Closes September 14: Exam Date, Admit Card and How to Apply

Online registration for the Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode of the MAT September 2026 session closes on September 14, 2026. Candidates who have not yet applied need to complete the application at the official AIMA website, mat.aima.in, before the deadline to remain eligible for the exam. The MAT CBT exam is scheduled for September 20, 2026, and admit cards will be issued to registered candidates on September 17, 2026.

The Management Aptitude Test (MAT) is conducted four times a year — in February, May, September and December — by the All India Management Association (AIMA), and its score is accepted by over 600 MBA and PGDM programmes across India.

Key Dates at a Glance

For context, the PBT (Paper-Based Test) leg of the same September session had an earlier timeline: registration closed September 7, 2026, and the PBT exam was held on September 13, 2026.

How to Register for MAT CBT 2026

1. Visit mat.aima.in and select the "Register" option.
2. Enter your name, date of birth, mobile number, email ID, state and city, and set a password.
3. Verify your registration using the OTP sent to your registered mobile number.
4. Log in using the credentials sent to your email ID to access the application form.
5. Select CBT as the test mode and choose your preferred test cities.
6. Upload a recent passport-size photograph and signature as per the prescribed file specifications.
7. Select up to five MBA/PGDM institutes for admission.
8. Pay the application fee via debit card, credit card or net banking.
9. Fill in your personal, academic and address details.
10. Review the form, tick the declaration checkbox, and submit.

Candidates can choose two centre cities during registration, and the cities selected for CBT can be different from those chosen for PBT — so pick based on genuine convenience, since the choice becomes final once submitted.

Registration Fee and Test Cities

The MAT 2026 application fee is ₹2,300 for a single mode (CBT or PBT). Candidates registering for both PBT and CBT together pay ₹4,000. AIMA has listed test centres in more than 50 cities across India (54, per the published 2026-session schedule) for the CBT mode — a higher count than the "30-plus" figure that has circulated in some earlier reports on this session.

Documents Required: Photo and Signature Specifications

Common rejection triggers include oversized files, blurred or low-resolution photos, a signature scanned on coloured paper, and spectacle glare that obscures the face.

Eligibility Criteria

• Candidates must hold a bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university.
• Final-year undergraduate students are also eligible to apply, subject to producing proof of degree completion at the time of admission.

MAT 2026 Exam Pattern

The exam runs for 120 minutes. Each correct answer earns 1 mark, and 0.25 marks are deducted for every wrong answer; unattempted questions carry no penalty. Scores from the Indian and Global Environment section are reported separately and are not counted toward the composite score most B-schools use for shortlisting — candidates aiming for a strong percentile typically focus their attempts on the other four sections, with 100–120 attempts overall considered a solid effort.

Common Mistakes That Can Get Your Form Rejected

• Skipping the eligibility check: Submitting the form without confirming you meet the criteria, or assuming last year's eligibility still applies.
• Document errors: Wrong file format, incorrect size, blurred images, or a signature on coloured paper.
• Incorrect contact details: AIMA sends all communication — including the admit card link — to the registered email and phone number, so errors here can mean missed updates.
• Mismatched personal details: Name, date of birth, or other details that don't match your Class 10 certificate can cause rejection, and the form cannot be edited after submission.
• Test city selection: Choosing a city without checking seat availability, or picking the wrong city for the wrong mode — this becomes final once submitted.
• One form, one session: Using a single form or fee payment across multiple MAT sessions leads to rejection; fees are non-refundable, so a fresh form is needed for each session.
• Unconfirmed payment: The application is not considered submitted until the fee payment status shows as confirmed on the portal.

What Happens After Registration Closes

• September 17, 2026: Admit cards become available for download from the applicant dashboard on mat.aima.in.
• Exam day: Candidates must carry a printed admit card along with a valid government-issued photo ID (Aadhaar, PAN, passport or driving licence); entry is not permitted without both.
• Result: Expected in the last week of September 2026, though AIMA has not yet published an exact result date for this session. (Treat this timeline as indicative until officially confirmed.)
• Score validity: A MAT score is valid for one year from the test date and can be sent to additional institutes for a nominal fee through the official portal.

Official Website and Important Links

• Registration and login: mat.aima.in
• Admit card download: Applicant dashboard on mat.aima.in (from September 17, 2026)