Written BySachin Gupta Content Writer
MAT Mathematical Skills is considered to be one of the toughest sections of MAT exam with respect to the syllabus and the difficulty level of questions. MAT Mathematical Skills section comprises objective-type questions from topics of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and mensuration.
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- 15-20 Questions of moderate difficulty level can be expected from the Arithmetic section alone. A total of 40 questions carrying 1 mark each will be asked in MAT Mathematical Skills section. Check MAT 2023 Exam Pattern.
- MAT 2023 Syllabus consists of 4 other sections apart from MAT Mathematical Skills, namely Data Analysis & Sufficiency, Language Comprehension, Indian & Global Environment, and Intelligence & Critical Reasoning.
- MAT Mathematical Skills is one of the most time-consuming sections of MAT exam, so the candidates are advised to go through the syllabus properly before starting preparation for MAT 2023. Check MAT Preparation Tips
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MAT Mathematical Skills 2023 Highlights
MAT 2023 Mathematical Skills is considered by students to be the most difficult part of the exam, and so it is recommended that every candidate should prioritize MAT Mathematical Skills preparation. Candidates must go through the highlights of MAT Mathematical Skills section tabulated below before making MAT MS Preparation Strategy:
| MAT Mathematical Skills 2023 | |
|---|---|
| Particulars | Details |
| Marks Allotted | 40 |
| Number of Questions | 40 |
| Type of Questions | MCQs |
| Number of Answer Choices per Question | 4 |
| Sectional Weightage in MAT Syllabus | 20% |
| Marks Awarded | +1 for each correct answer |
| Negative Marking | -0.25 for every wrong answer |
| Time Suggested | 40 minutes |
| MAT 2023 Exam Duration | 150 minutes |
| Considered for Percentile Calculation | Yes |
| Weightage in Percentile Calculation | 25% |
Check detailed MAT 2023 Exam Pattern
MAT 2023 Mathematical Skills Syllabus
MAT 2023 Mathematical Skills Syllabus is the first step towards MAT 2023 preparation process. Mathematical Skills Syllabus is designed to test the candidate's basic numeracy & mathematical ability and calculation skills. Here is the detailed MAT Mathematical Skills Syllabus 2023:
| MAT Mathematical Ability Syllabus | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ratio and Proportion | Percentage | Profit and Loss |
| Speed, Time and Distance | Number System | Work and Time |
| Simple Interest and Compound Interest | Mixtures and Allegations | Permutation and Combinations |
| Sequence and Series | Height and Distance | Commercial Maths |
| Elementary Mathematics | Linear equations | Averages |
| Triangles | Circles | Arithmetic Geometry |
| Quadratic Equations | Complex Numbers | Binomial Theorem |
| Surds and Indices | Inequalities | Set Theory |
| Coordinate Geometry | Trigonometry | Linear Programming |
| Venn Diagrams | Mensuration | Calculus |
Quick Links:
- MAT Language Comprehension Syllabus
- MAT Intelligence & Critical Reasoning
- MAT Indian & Global Environment Syllabus
Important Topics in MAT Mathematical Skills
Important Topics covered under different segments of MAT Mathematical Skills are:
| Topic | Sub-Topics |
|---|---|
| Arithmetic | Time & Work, Percentage, Average, Age, Speed, Ratio & Proportion, Time & Distance. Pipes & Cisterns, Mixtures, Alligation, Profit & Loss, Discount, Train, Boats & Streams |
| Algebra | Sequence & Series, Quadratic Equation, Permutation & Combination, Inequalities |
| Geometry | Lines & Angles: Parallel lines, Transversal, Perpendicular lines, Collinearity, Types of angles and their properties. |
| Circles: Chords, Concentric Circles, Circumscribed Circle, Inscribed Circle, Semicircle, Sector, Theorems. | |
| Quadrilaterals: Parallelogram, Square, Rectangle, Trapezium, Angles & Diagonals of Polygons | |
| Triangles: Theorems, Right-angled Triangles, Equilateral Triangles, Median, Centroid, Congruent Triangles, Similar Triangles, Perpendicular Bisector, | |
| Number System | BODMAS and Simplification |
| HCF & LCM and Product of Numbers | |
| Unit’s Digit Theorem and Number of Zeros | |
| Divisibility Rules | |
| Remainder Theorem | |
| Mensuration | 2D figures: Rhombus, Triangles, Square, Trapezium, Parallelograms |
| 3D figures: Cylinder, Cone, Cube, Cuboid, Sphere, Frustum of cone | |
| Miscellaneous | Probability, Permutation & Combination, Set Theory |
Weightage of Important Topics in MAT Mathematical Skills
| Topic | Number of Questions | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|
| Arithmetic | 15-20 | Moderate |
| Geometry | 5-6 | Moderate-Difficult |
| Number System | 3-4 | Easy |
| Mensuration | 2-3 | Moderate |
| Permutation & Combination | 2-3 | Moderate |
| Probability | 2-3 | Easy-Moderate |
| Algebra | 5-6 | Moderate-Difficult |
Must Read: MAT 2023 IBT Mode Guidelines
MAT Mathematical Skills Preparation Books
| Name of the Book | Publisher/Author |
|---|---|
| Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Exams | RS Aggarwal |
| Quantum CAT | S K Verma |
| Quantitative Aptitude for CAT | Nishit K Sinha |
| Speed Mathematics: Do it Quick, Do it Right | Rajesh Kumar Thakur C |
| Magical Book on Quicker Maths | M. Tyra |
| How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT | Arun Sharma |
| Mat 23 Years Topic-wise Solved Papers (1997-2019) | Agarwal Deepak |
| For Competitive Exams Vedic Mathematics Made Easy | Dr Shastri Ramnandan |
| Weapons of Math Destruction | O'Neil Cathy |
Check Best Books for MAT Preparation
MAT Mathematical Skills Preparation Tips
- Practise is the key to acing MAT Mathematical Skills section in MAT 2023 exam.
- Refer to 1-2 good books for MAT Mathematical Skills to clear all the concepts and get shortcut methods to solve questions.
- Firstly, clear all the basics of MAT Mathematical Skills section before starting to solve the questions.
- Arithmetic Topics like Profit & Loss, Time Speed & Distance, Averages, Percentages, Ratio & Proportion, Time & Work have maximum weightage in MAT Mathematical Skills section and hence candidates must study these topics thoroughly.
- Find Short tricks and formulas to solve complex problems from books and online resources like youtube, Gradeup, etc.
- Solve section-wise sample papers to get hold of the types of questions asked in the exam.
- Solving MAT Previous Year Papers is the key to acing MAT 2023 exam. Try to solve at least 2-3 mock tests every week.
Check more MAT Preparation Tips
Mistakes to Avoid while Attempting Mathematical Skills Section
- Learning Too Many Short Tricks: Candidates often commit the mistake of learning different types of tricks from different resources for the same topic which often leads to confusion and wastage of time. It is advised to avoid all these errors and save valuable time by sticking to just 1-2 best short tricks for each topic in MAT Mathematical Skills section.
- Spending more than 90 seconds on a question: As you are required to attempt 40 questions in minimum time, it is advised not to spend more than 60-90 seconds on any particular question. If you are unable to solve the question it is advised to move to the next one instead of wasting your time and effort on that particular question.
- Committing Silly Mistakes: This is very common and leads to unnecessary loss of marks. Attempt the questions carefully and try to review the answer if you have time.
- Attempting Questions with very long calculations: Attempting questions with lengthy calculations can lead to very few attempts. Try to avoid such questions as you will be able to attempt more questions in the time taken by one question.
- Ignoring the Options: Some questions are easily solved using the option-based elimination strategy especially questions based on the Number system and Algebra. Use this strategy to solve such questions quickly and accurately.
- Not following a Logic-based approach: At times, candidates avoid the logical factor in solving questions. Certain questions don’t need unnecessary calculations and these can be avoided if the question is approached logically. For example, Some questions on Quadratic Equations can at times be solved by just looking at the question and don’t require too much effort.
- Ignoring Basic Calculation-friendly tricks: Candidates often learn all the complex formulas and tricks but ignore the very basics that aid in the calculation. Some of the must study basics are:
| Tables till 25 | Divisibility Rules |
| Squares till 30 | Cubes till 20 |
| Important Percentage Ratios (10%= 1/10, 25%= 1/4, 33%=1/3,….,etc.) | Square Root and Cube Root Tricks |
| Alligation | Unitary Method |
MAT Mathematical Skills (MS) Sample Papers
Solving mock tests, sample papers, and previous year question papers of MAT Mathematical Skills section is necessary to get an idea of the difficulty level of the questions asked in MAT exam. The Mathematical Skills section of MAT exam has 40 questions of moderate-high difficulty level. Before solving the sample papers, candidates are advised to set a timer to increase efficiency. Although there is no sectional time limit set by AIMA, candidates are suggested to spend not more than 40 minutes on this section.
MAT Mathematical Skills Syllabus 2023 FAQs
Ques. How to improve in MAT 2023 Mathematical Skills?
Ans. To improve in MAT Mathematical Skills, you need to first clear all the basics of mathematics first. If you lack understanding of the core concepts of Mathematics, ask for help from a tutor or search for adequate study material for Mathematical Skills on YouTube, coaching institutes, or online learning platforms. You can find plenty of excellent resources for learning Mathematical Skills online, and very detailed explanations for every important topic so preparing for Mathematical Skills will not be as difficult as you might think.
Ques. My Maths is very weak. Can I score good marks in MAT 2023 Mathematical Skills?
Ans. Yes, with ample dedication, practice, and hard work, every candidate can score excellent marks in MAT 2023 Mathematical Skills easily. The most important step in this aspect is to clear all the core concepts of mathematics, and do not be afraid to go back to high school books. Refer to the NCERT Mathematics textbooks for the basics, as it has both solved examples and unsolved questions. Once the basics are clear, you can easily move on to much more complex questions. Another thing is to work on the calculation speed, so be thorough with basics like squares & square roots, cubes & cube roots, averages, percentages, and ratios.
Ques. I have not studied Maths in class 12th. So how can I perform better at MAT Mathematical Skills?
Ans. Even if you didn’t have maths in your higher secondary and graduation, there is nothing to worry about as the syllabus is mostly of class 10th level. Focus on understanding all the core concepts of MAT Mathematical Skills. Refer to 2-3 good books by Arun Sharma, Nishit K Sinha, and RS Aggarwal. Also, it is highly recommended to go for online or offline classes for Mathematical Skills as these will be helpful in planning your preparation.
Ques. How much time is required for preparing for MAT Mathematical Skills?
Ans. For MAT Mathematical Skills, candidates have to give at least 2-3 hours every day for thorough preparation until the date of the exam. If this is your weakest section, give more time to it and prioritise preparation for MAT MS, and focus more on this section.
Ques. What is the fastest way to prepare for MAT Mathematical Skills?
Ans. The Fastest Way to prepare for MAT MS is to practice using sample papers of MAT and the previous year’s question papers. By practicing these, you can easily understand what kind of questions are asked in the paper and you will have a good idea of what to expect.
Ques. What are some of the best books for MAT Mathematical Skills preparation?
Ans. Some of the most recommended books for MAT Mathematical Skills preparation are:
- How to Prepare for QA for CAT by Arun Sharma
- Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by RS Aggarwal
- Quantitative Aptitude for CAT by Nishit K Sinha
Ques. What is the overall difficulty level of MAT Mathematical Skills section?
Ans. Based on the analysis of the previous years’ MAT exams, the Mathematical Skills section is considered to be of moderate-high difficulty. The Arithmetic and Algebra questions are a bit tricky to solve. The questions on geometry and mensuration require the application of basic concepts and involve some logical thinking. However, candidates who have done good practice and cleared all the basic concepts won’t find it much difficult.
Ques. Which topic will have the highest weightage in MAT 2023 Mathematical Skills section?
Ans. In the Mathematical Skills section, Arithmetic will have the highest weightage. Candidates can expect 15-20 questions of moderate difficulty from this topic. The most important topics of Arithmetic are Time & Work, Percentage, Average, Age, Speed, Ratio & Proportion, Time & Distance. Pipes & Cisterns, Mixtures, Alligation, Profit & Loss.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.
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