The MAH MBA CET 2026 kicked off on a relatively comfortable note, with Day 1 – Slot 1 being rated easy to moderate by most aspirants. However, despite the low conceptual difficulty, the paper turned out to be lengthy, making time management the biggest challenge.
With 200 questions in 150 minutes and no negative marking, the exam once again rewarded candidates who focused on maximizing attempts while maintaining accuracy.
Based on student feedback and expert insights, this slot is expected to have a higher cutoff compared to last year.
Overall Exam Overview
| Section | No. of Questions | Difficulty Level |
| Logical Reasoning | 75 | Easy but Lengthy |
| Abstract Reasoning | 25 | Easy |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 50 | Easy to Moderate |
| VARC | 50 | Easy to Moderate |
| Total | 200 | Easy but Lengthy |
Key Highlights of Slot 1
- The paper was easy overall but highly time-consuming
- Logical Reasoning had no traditional puzzles, mostly individual questions
- Quant was calculation-heavy, especially with decimals
- Abstract Reasoning was easy, dominated by figure-based questions
- VARC was scoring, with focus on grammar and vocabulary
- Several questions were similar to mock tests, benefiting well-prepared students
Section-wise Analysis
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
The VARC section was easy to moderate and leaned heavily towards grammar and vocabulary, making it a high-scoring section.
- 5 RC passages (20 questions)
Topics included:- Women Empowerment
- Cybercrime
- Tariffs
- Electric Vehicles
- One general topic
- RCs were mostly direct and detail-based, with a few inference questions
- One passage was reported to be slightly time-consuming
Breakdown:
| Topic | Questions |
| Reading Comprehension | 20 |
| Vocabulary | 7 |
| Grammar | 10 |
| Fill in the Blanks | 7 |
| Para Jumbles | 1 |
| Idioms & Phrases | 5 |
| Total | 50 |
Grammar included:
- Error spotting
- Active-passive voice
- Direct-indirect speech
- Sentence correction
Overall: Manageable and scoring with high accuracy potential.
Quantitative Aptitude
Quant was easy to moderate, but calculation-intensive, making it time-consuming.
- Heavy use of decimals and multi-step calculations
- Concepts were simple, but execution slowed students down
Breakdown:
| Topic | Questions |
| Time-Speed-Distance | 7 |
| Profit & Loss | 7 |
| Time & Work | 5 |
| Data Interpretation | 10 |
| Geometry | 3 |
| Percentages | 3 |
| Others (Averages, Ages, HCF-LCM, etc.) | Remaining |
| Total | 50 |
- Dominated by Arithmetic
- Minimal Algebra presence
Attempts: Most students attempted 30–35 questions
Overall: Doable but required strong time management.
Logical Reasoning
Logical Reasoning was easy in difficulty but unique in structure.
- No traditional puzzles
- Mostly standalone questions
- Only one puzzle-type set reported
Breakdown:
| Topic | Questions |
| Arrangements & Ranking | 13 |
| Number Series | 8 |
| Coding-Decoding | 4 |
| Syllogisms | 5 |
| Blood Relations | 5 |
| Directions | 5 |
| Input-Output | 5 |
| Miscellaneous | Remaining |
| Total | 75 |
- Included quant-based reasoning (TSD, Probability, Divisibility)
- Many questions allowed quick elimination
Overall: Easy but very lengthy, requiring smart selection.
Abstract Reasoning
This section was easy and highly scoring, though slightly ambiguous in a few questions.
Breakdown:
| Topic | Questions |
| Series | 8 |
| Figure Counting | 8 |
| Pattern Comparison | 5 |
| Paper Folding | 2 |
| Others | 2 |
| Total | 25 |
- Dominated by visual reasoning
- 3–4 questions were slightly confusing
Overall: Quick wins for well-practiced students.
Expected Score vs Percentile (Slot 1)
| Percentile | Score (Approx) |
| 99.9 | 153–158 |
| 99.5 | 130–132 |
| 99 | 122–124 |
| 95 | 103–105 |
| 90 | 96–98 |
| 85 | 90–92 |
| 80 | 85–87 |
| 75 | 80–82 |
| 70 | 75–77 |
| 65 | 70–72 |
| 60 | 65–67 |
Student Reactions
Student feedback across Slot 1 was largely consistent:
- The paper was very easy but lengthy
- Logical Reasoning had no puzzles, only individual questions
- Quant was calculation-heavy
- VARC and Abstract were scoring sections
- Many questions felt familiar from mocks
Key challenge: Time management, not difficulty.
Overall Takeaway
Slot 1 of MAH MBA CET 2026 was a speed-driven paper.
- Low conceptual difficulty
- High time pressure
- Strong scoring opportunities in VARC and Abstract Reasoning
- Smart selection needed in Quant and Logical Reasoning
The biggest shift was seen in Logical Reasoning, moving away from puzzles to standalone questions.
Given the ease level and student feedback, the cutoff is expected to be higher, making normalization across slots crucial.
