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Exam information

What you need to know about the MAT

The Miller Analogies Test (MAT) is a computer-administered test that is used for admission to graduate school. It does assess background knowledge, but its primary purpose is to test how well you understand the English language and can use that language with your background knowledge to think about many types of relationships between things.

The entire test is composed of analogies that are incomplete. Your job is to complete them by selecting the correct word from four choices.

Each analogy represents some sort of relationship between two pairs of words. This similar relationship may be between the first two words and the third and fourth words or between the first and third words and the second and fourth words. There are also many types of relationships represented on the test, including size comparisons, opposites, locations, and many others.

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Exam facts

Answers to all your questions about the MAT

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What are the costs?

The fee for taking the MAT is determined by each testing center, so you’ll need to obtain this information from your testing site.

What should I bring?

There is a more comprehensive list available through the Pearson MAT website, but here is some basic information:

  • You’ll need your Social Security number.
  • Also required will be two forms of ID. More information about the types of IDs required can be found in the Pearson Candidate Information Booklet for the Miller Analogies Test®. A link to this booklet can be found on the Pearson testing website.
  • You may bring a paper with the addresses of schools to which you want your scores sent if you are concerned that they are not listed by code on the test center list. Find this out before test day through the Pearson/MAT® website.
  • Most other items are prohibited at the testing site, including cell phones and purses, etc.

How is it scored?

There is no set “pass” or “fail” score on the MAT test. A required score may be set by each institution to which you apply, and this score level varies. There is no penalty for guessing, so you should make an attempt to answer every question on the test.

What kind of job can I get?

A good score on the Miller Analogies Test is sometimes a requirement for graduate school enrollment. While some job opportunities require a graduate degree for consideration, many others may increase compensation based on the fact that you have one. You may also be eligible for advancement at a faster pace if you possess a degree beyond a bachelor’s.

Am I eligible?

The MAT test may be retaken and there is no official time constraint for doing so. However, some institutions may have their own restrictions concerning how frequently they will accept scores from the same person resulting from different testing sessions.

Why does it matter?

Admission to graduate school is your key to advancing in your chosen profession and acceptance may at least partially depend on your MAT test scores.

What salary can I expect?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, workers with a graduate degree outpace (in terms of salary) those with a bachelor’s degree by about 17%. The weekly salary for those with a graduate degree averages $1,401 and the average for a bachelor’s degree is only $1,173. There is an even greater difference between graduate degree-holders’ salaries and those for workers with lower levels of education, such as an associate’s degree and a high school diploma.

When is it available?

There are over 500 testing centers nationwide that administer the MAT test. While currently available, The MAT test is being discontinued and will no longer be offered after November 15, 2023.

How much time is allowed?

You will have 60 minutes to complete the 120 questions on the MAT® test. Only 100 questions count toward your actual score, but you won’t know which ones those are.

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