All India Management Association, a federation of Local Management Associations (LMAs), has witnessed a 20 per cent growth in registration for MAT (management aptitude test) in 2023 compared to the pre-Covid year.

MAT has actively expanded its test centers across the country, making the examination more accessible to aspiring candidates and increasing the number of locations where the test is conducted, eliminating geographical barriers, which allowed students from diverse regions to participate.

“This strategic expansion has undoubtedly contributed to the significant rise in the applicant count. MAT has seen a significant 20 per cent growth in candidate registrations post-Covid.

“There has been a rise in the number of women candidates registering for MAT. With 45 per cent of women candidates in 2023, there is a growth of approximately 3 per cent compared to 2019,” AIMA Director Daljeet Singh told PTI.

There has also been a 3 per cent growth in registration by women candidates for MAT last year compared to 2019. The rise in popularity of MAT has led to an increasing number of registrations in tier II and III cities.

“Providing candidates from tier II and III cities an opportunity to pursue their management dream from B-Schools of choice has also played a part in increase in MAT popularity and registrations.

“There is more participation of candidates from smaller cities including Agra, Asansol, Aurangabad, Balasore, Bhilai, Darbhanga, Durg, Durgapur, Ernakulam, Erode, Salem among others,” he said.

The growth was notable in southern states like Tamil Nadu (52 per cent), Karnataka (22 per cent), and Kerala (20 per cent), as well as in states like West Bengal (15 per cent), Uttar Pradesh (8 per cent), and Bihar (4 per cent).

Top B-Schools participation in MAT and acceptance of its score for MBA (Master of Business Administration) and PGDM (Post Graduate Diploma in Management) admissions has further contributed significantly for surge in candidate registrations and MAT popularity, he added.