MAT 2024 Preparation Tips for Language Comprehension & Verbal Ability

Management Aptitude Test 2024 ( MAT )

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Admit Card: 3 Dec '24 - 7 Dec '24

Vipra
Vipra Shrivastava
Senior Manager - Content
Updated on Sep 16, 2024 17:53 IST

Scoring well in MAT Reading Comprehension requires long term preparation. Read this article to know how to prepare for MAT Language Comprehension and Verbal Ability section. Get key tips to improve reading and English grammar for MAT 2024.

MAT preparation

MAT Language Comprehension and Verbal Ability preparation is mainly about having a good control over the English Language and grammar. This section aims to test English language comprehension, vocabulary and verbal ability of the candidates. It has 30 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) from Verbal Ability, Vocabulary, English Grammar and Reading Comprehension.

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To prepare for Language Comprehension and Verbal Ability section of MAT 2024, you must focus on English comprehension and vocabulary. If your English skills are good, you may need less time to prepare for this section, but if your English is not strong, you need to start preparation early on. One of the best ways to expand English vocabulary is by developing the habit of reading. Read various kinds of English books and magazines to learn new words and idioms. Every time you come across a new word or idiom, check its meaning, etymology, antonym and synonyms. The habit of reading will be helpful in cracking Reading Comprehension (RC) passages too.. Although MAT RC passages are not that tough, one still needs to have speed in reading long paragraphs without missing context or important facts.

Q:   How can I prepare for MAT in six months?

A:

For MAT preparation in six months candidates need to have a focused plan. They must gather the best books for MAT preparation and start with covering the syllabus. MAT syllabus should be completed in three months. You can make a monthly/weekly or daily plan to cover the syllabus which should include studying one topic each from the main four sections - Mathematical Skills, Data Interpretation, Intelligence and Critical Reasoning as well as Language Comprehension. Keep the Indian and Global Environment section for the last. In the next two months, practice MAT sample papers and MAT mock tests to gain control over the topics you studied in the first three months. For a speed based test like MAT mock test and sample paper practice is a must because only with the help of these you can gain speed and accuracy in solving questions. The MAT question paper can have tough, tricky or easy question so you should be prepared for all types. In the last one month, study for the Indian and Global Environment section and do daily revision of all other topics. Solve a few previous year MAT question paper or solve a couple of mock tests to stay in touch with your abilities. Read More: MAT 6 months preparation plan

Q:   Which section of MAT exam has maximum weightage?

A:

Each section of MAT exam has equal weightage. All the five sections - Language Comprehension, Intelligence and Critical Reasoning, Data Analysis and Data Sufficiency, Mathematical Skills and Indian & Global Environment have 30 questions. Each question carries one mark thus the section wise weightage of marks is 30 per section. There is negative marking of 0.25 in MAT. Since, every section has equal weightage, you need to prepare well for each one of them for a good overall score. Even in the exam, spend a good amount of time on each section and solve a minimum number of questions to meet the sectional cut off. Since, there is no sectional time-limit in MAT exam. Candidates can decide themselves how much time they should spend on which section as one needs to score well in all sections because of equal weightage. Out of 2 hours or 120 minutes, candidates should allot maximum time to the section they find tough or are calculation intensive. It is advisable to attempt the easier sections first and then move to tougher sections.

Q:   If I am preparing for CAT, do I need to prepare separately for MAT?

A:
No, CAT and MAT syllabuses are almost same. MAT is easy. If you are preparing for CAT then no need of separate work for MAT. The syllabus is almost the same. I was also a student who prepared for CAT immediately after my graduation. The important things which you should look into while preparing for this exam are as follows: 1. Select one of the best coaching centers which offer quality education- TIME is one of the famous coaching centers for CAT. 2. Dedication- Be focused on the aim which you need to achieve. 3. Try to read Hindu newspaper editorial. Most of the passages which appear in CAT are from Hindu editorial. 4. Try to maximum number of online mock test. You will definitely clear CAT by doing the above. 5. Try to read as much as you can and make note of points. 6. Revision of each week topics is very important. 7. Mathematical ability questions will be little twisted try to do as faster as you can. These are my tips for you to crack both MAT and CAT.

Additionally, practice previous years’ MAT question papers and sample papers to check English proficiency. The Reading Comprehension passages of MAT exam are inference based. The questions asked in the exam test the candidate’s conceptual clarity with respect to fundamentals of English comprehension. You need to have the practice of quick reading and spotting the answer. In this article, we will discuss MAT 2024 preparation strategy for Language Comprehension and Verbal Ability.

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MAT Exam Preparation 2024: Language Comprehension & Verbal Ability Topics

To make a MAT preparation plan for English, know the important topics of focus. Questions in MAT Language Comprehension and Verbal Ability section are based on the following topics:

  1. Word analogies
  2. Vocabulary with questions on antonyms and synonyms
  3. Rearranging sentences
  4. Reading comprehension
  5. Sentence completion

Unlike CAT, the MAT is not dominated by RC passages. It has a good mix of both Reading Comprehension and Verbal Ability. So, you will need to focus on both parts equally. 

Best Books for MAT Preparation: Language Comprehension and Verbal Ability

Since the syllabus of MAT is same as CAT, you can refere to CAT books too for MAT preparation. Check below some MAT books for Language Comprehension and Verbal Ability for exam preparation:

MAT preparation books

Publishers/ Authors

How to prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT

McGraw Hill

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT

Pearson

High School English Grammar

Wren and Martin

Mastering for Verbal Ability for CAT

Arihant Publication

Also Read:

MAT Exam Preparation for Language Comprehension

MAT 2020 Exam: Language Comprehension & Verbal Ability

MAT 2024 Exam: Language Comprehension & Verbal Ability

MAT Preparation Tips for Reading Comprehension

In the Reading Comprehension section of MAT exam, there are usually five passages comprising four questions each. MAT Reading Comprehension passages are short (300-500 words approximately) and they contain direct questions based on the given passages. All the passages are more or less easy to moderate in terms of difficulty. One needs to practice passages from various areas like history, sociology, and science & technology, etc. for MAT. Focus on the following three key aspects to upgrade skills for Reading Comprehension section.

Q:   How can I prepare for MAT?

A:
Hi, Set your plan right. Work on your plan and identify your weaknesses and strength. Get the right material. Try to plan and identify above stated things within a week. Set your plan agile and keep buffer time for revision and solving mock test papers. Start with your verbal and quantitative practice in parallel. Time management is very important at every single point of time till the final day and even on the day. Be positive. Solve questions in a specified time frame as this will help you in doing questions in time. Maintain a good balance between your accuracy and solving time. You can refer to the below link for complete information on MAT: https://www.shiksha.com/mba/exams/mat/preparation-tips

Q:   What is the difficulty level of MAT exam?

A:

MAT is one of the easier MBA entrance exam. The difficulty level of the exam much easier than CAT XAT or CMAT. Candidates usually prepare for CAT XAT and CMAT and use that experience to give the MAT exam. Even though the MAT has more questions than XAT CAT CMAT. It is easier because the questions of all the five sections include:

  • Mathematical Skills
  • Language Comprehension
  • Intelligence and Critical Reasoning
  • Data Analysis and Sufficiency
  • Indian and Global Environment

These are easy and straightforward. There are less Reading Comprehension passages of shorter length and are easy to comprehend. Since, the Indian and Global Environment scores are not taken into consideration for MAT percentile calculation, candidates find it easier to crack MAT in 2.5 hours with high scores.

Q:   Is MAT syllabus more difficult than other MBA entrance exams?

A:

The MAT syllabus is same as other MBA entrance exams, which is Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude English Comprehension and General Awareness, only their nomenclature is different. So, candidates preparing for MAT has to study the same subject, topics and sub-topics that they have to study in CAT or CMAT.

In fact, candidates can use the same books for studying for MAT as well as other MBA entrance exams. In terms of difficulty level of the exam, MAT is easier in comparison to other MBA entrance exams. The difficulty level of MAT question paper is usually easy and there is no sectional time limit.

Moreover, MAT is conducted multiple times a year so candidates can choose an exam date or session whenever they are fully prepared for the exam, unlike in other MBA entrances, where candidates have to cover the syllabus, etc. Before a particular exam date. In MAT candidates have the choice of multiple attempts to improve score. A lot of candidates opt for the MAT for the reason that it is easy and they can get a good MBA college through it.

Q:   What is the exam mode of MAT?

A:
MAT exam is conducted in three modes - Paper Based Test or PBT in which candidates have to report to a test centre to take the test. They have to fill an OMR answer sheet with a blue/black ball point pen in the PBT mode exam. The PBT mode is conducted only once in every MAT phase as the number of applicants is least for PBT. In the Computer Based Test or CBT, candidates have to take the test at designated exam centre on a computer system. Candidates have to fill in their answers in an online test page with the help of computer mouse. They can choose only one of the four given options as answer. In the Internet Based Test or IBT, candidates have to take the test on a computer system at home or any preferred location. The test structure is same as CBT but the candidates are monitored in remote proctored mode. Since MAT exam is conducted multiple times in a year during February, May, September and December, one can take the exam in more than one mode. Candidate can also take the test any number of times. The score of the latest MAT attempt will be taken into consideration for admission.

Q:   Can I make another attempt at MAT exam, if I score low in first attempt?

A:

Yes, you can attempt MAT exam as many times as you want. MAT is conducted multiple times in a year and three different modes. The MAT exam is held in February, May, September and December. In each phase there are 4-5 IBT sessions, 2 CBT sessions and 1 PBT session. If a candidate is not satisfied with their score of first attempt, they can choose any upcoming session to appear for it again. They can choose an exam phase and a session as per their preparation level, decision to pursue MBA or admission cycle of the target college. However, for each session, the candidate will have to fill a fresh application form and pay the fees. The score of the last attempted MAT exam will be considered for admission. Read More: https://www.shiksha.com/mba/articles/mat-exam-preparation-tips-blogId-11997

 

1. Content Knowledge - This is gained purely by reading informative books, articles and passages. Read on diverse topics. The more you read, the more you gain knowledge. Devote one hour to reading every day.
2. Strategic Knowledge - It is not simply about reading. You need to make inferences while reading. This is critical because the questions of Reading Comprehension topics are based on inferential data. 
3. Cognitive Knowledge - Develop the ability to grasp arguments, hidden meanings, word play, statements & conclusions, theme and structure of the passage to be able to answer Reading Comprehension questions correctly.

MAT Preparation Tips for Verbal Ability

In the Verbal Ability section of MAT 2024, most of the questions will be related to the essence of the passage or the logical flow of the passage. To crack this section of MAT exam, break the passages into three parts – conclusion, facts and assumptions. Rephrase passages into simple words to understand the essence. This will help in weeding out confusing statements and irrelevant data.

Vocabulary

The questions on vocabulary usage are based on finding the synonyms, antonyms, meaning of idioms and phrases, one word substitution, similar sounding word and fill in the blanks. The level of difficulty of vocabulary-based questions is usually moderate.

Sentence Rearrangement & Completion

In order to attempt all the sentence rearrangement questions correctly, one should focus on the flow of the argument. It is important that MAT test takers understand the context and be aware of the meanings of the options provided in the test.

MAT Mock Tests

Practising MAT mock tests and sample questions from Language Comprehension and Verbal Ability section is critical to MAT 2024 preparation as it helps you assess your strengths and weaknesses thereby guiding you in modifying your preparation plan if required. Your hold on Vocabulary, Verbal Reasoning and Grammar will improve only by practicing sample questions. Mock test series and sample questions are a good source of improving performance in RC passages. Time-bound MAT mock tests, will provide you practice of reading 500-word passages in short time without missing out on important points.

MAT exam does not have sectional time-limit, but for a better time management, we recommend that students invest not more than 30 minutes on Language Comprehension and Verbal Ability section. In comparison to CAT, XAT and SNAP, MAT is easier to crack if you follow a strategy focused on scoring maximum marks. Practice of MAT mock test is highly recommended because then the MAT exam will be just another mock test for you.

MAT_Mock_Test_1 MAT_Mock_Test_1_Solutions
MAT_Mock_Test_2 MAT_Mock_Test_2_Solutions

Last but not the least, any exam mainly checks student's memory and ability to retain information. Thus, greater the power to recall information, better are the chances to score high in the exam. For this, we recommend playing brain teasers and memory booster games based on English vocabulary and grammar in your leisure time to help you exercise your brain muscles. These games are easily available on the internet.

Read More:

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Vipra Shrivastava
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Vipra is a massive Breaking Bad fan. When not watching crime drama series, she spends time in updating the list of places she wants to visit and people she wants to meet, but she is happiest in the company of dogs. ... Read Full Bio

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