The Miller Analogies Test (MAT) is used for graduate school admissions. After taking the MAT, how soon will you know how well you did? If you’re taking a computer-based MAT, you’ll receive a preliminary score right on the screen after you complete the exam. You’ll receive your official MAT score in the mail about two weeks after you take the exam.
The report you receive in the mail will show you the following:
Your scaled score, which ranges from 200 to 600 (400 is average)
Your percentile rank for your desired major
Your percentile rank among all test takers
The codes for the schools your scores will be sent to
Note that schools that receive your MAT score will also receive all your MAT scores within the last five years. Schools usually consider your highest score, but the fact that they’ll see all your scores may motivate you to postpone the test until you’re fully confident.
You’ll also receive a Re-Test Admission Ticket along with your score report, and you’ll need to bring the ticket if you want to retake the test. This ticket allows the testing center to make sure they don’t give you the exact same MAT you took previously (wouldn’t that be nice?) if you decide that your first attempt wasn’t good enough.
You must take your Re-Test Admissions Ticket with you to the testing center if you take the MAT again. If you retake the test but don’t bring your ticket, your new score will be cancelled.
Remember, if you are taking the MAT for graduate school admission, that it is just one factor graduate schools consider when deciding whether to offer you a place in a program. However, you shouldn’t pretend that it’s not an important factor.
Don’t let preparing for the MAT consume your life, but don’t underestimate it, either. Intelligent preparation will make you comfortable with the test’s format, build your analogy-solving skills, and help you improve the skills you need to get an impressive score.