dMAT Exam Pattern

The dMAT exam pattern 2026 has two main parts: the Core Module and a Subject Module. For the dMAT required under the APS process for affected Indian applicants, the Subject Module is the General Academic Module. The Core Module checks general cognitive and analytical skills, while the General Academic Module checks how well you can apply academic knowledge to different problems.

The dMAT is conducted digitally at designated test centres. All questions are single-choice. The subject modules are conducted in English. The full examination lasts three and a half hours with a break between the two modules. Candidates cannot take notes during the test.

Here is a quick look at the dMAT exam pattern 2026:

Module	What it tests	Key details
Core Module	General cognitive and analytical skills	3 subtests, 20 tasks each, 25 minutes per subtest; 90 minutes for the module
General Academic Module	Application of academic knowledge and problem-solving skills	Around 60 single-choice questions on average, 90 minutes in total

 In this article, we will cover the dMAT exam pattern 2026, including the Core Module, General Academic Module, question types, number of questions, exam duration, question format, and how to prepare according to the test pattern. 

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dMAT Exam Pattern 2026 for Indian Students

The dMAT exam pattern 2026 for Indian students is connected to the APS process for certain applicants who want to study a graduate programme in Germany. From 2026, the dMAT Exam is an additional element in the APS documentation and verification process for Indian graduates. The requirement applies to Indian graduates from specific academic backgrounds who plan to start their graduate studies from the summer semester 2027 or later. 

The dMAT requirement currently covers graduates from the following fields:

Undergraduate field	dMAT requirement	Modules
Engineering	dMAT required for affected applicants	Core Module + General Academic Module
Commerce, Accounting, Finance and Economics	dMAT required for affected applicants	Core Module + General Academic Module
Business/Management	dMAT required for affected applicants	Core Module + General Academic Module

For the applicants covered by this requirement, the test has two parts:

• Core Module: Tests general cognitive and analytical abilities.
• General Academic Module: Tests how well you can apply cognitive and analytical skills to academic problems. 

The General Academic Module is the subject module used for the APS process for the affected Indian applicants. The questions are not only about remembering information. They focus on understanding a problem and using the right knowledge to solve it.

Note: The requirement applies to applicants who registered online with APS and sent their documents on or after 29 June 2026. Applicants who already received their APS certificate do not need to take the dMAT for that completed APS procedure. 

dMAT Core Module

The dMAT Core Module tests general thinking, logic, and problem-solving skills. It does not focus on one particular academic subject. Instead, the questions check how well you can understand patterns, work with numbers, and use logical thinking.

The Core Module has three subtests: Figure Sequences, Mathematical Equations, and Latin Squares. Each subtest has 20 tasks and 25 minutes, so the Core Module has 60 tasks and takes 90 minutes in total. You cannot take notes in any of them. 

1. Figure Sequences

Figure Sequences test how well you can spot rules in changing pictures. You get 20 series of matrices and 25 minutes to solve them all, without taking notes.

• You see a series of pictures called matrices.
• The figures can change their position, colour, and/or orientation from one matrix to the next, following specific rules.
• You need to find the logical pattern in the sequence.
• You then determine the next two matrices.
• Figures can move vertically, horizontally, or diagonally, and they can also rotate or change colour.
• Figures cannot disappear or overlap, and they cannot leave the matrix. At an outer boundary, they either bounce off or move along it.
• The official preparation material has six Figure Sequences exercises, two each at low, medium, and high difficulty.

2. Mathematical Equations

Mathematical Equations test how well you can solve linked equations. You get 20 systems of equations and 25 minutes to solve them, again without taking notes.

• Each system has several single equations.
• The letters in the equations stand for unknown numbers.
• Each letter is an integer between 1 and 20.
• Each letter has only one solution that makes all the equations correct.
• For example, if A + 2 = B and B = 6, then A = 4.
• The official preparation material has six Mathematical Equations exercises, two each at low, medium, and high difficulty.

3. Latin Squares

Latin Squares test your logical thinking with letter grids. You get 20 tasks and 25 minutes to solve them, and you cannot take notes during this part.

• You are given a 5x5 grid, which has 5 rows and 5 columns.
• Some fields of the grid contain letters.
• Each letter can only appear once in each row and each column.
• Only the letters shown as response options can appear in the grid.
• You need to find the letter that belongs in the box marked with a question mark.
• Sometimes you need to fill in other fields in your head before you can find the answer.
• The main focus is on spotting the rule and using it correctly.
• The official preparation material has six Latin Squares exercises, two each at low, medium, and high difficulty.

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dMAT General Academic Module

The dMAT General Academic Module is the subject-based part of the test. For the Indian applicants covered by the APS requirement, this is the module used along with the Core Module. It is the same for all applicants, whatever their undergraduate field. 

The questions are not simply about remembering facts from a textbook. They give you a problem or situation and ask you to use your academic knowledge to work out the answer.

What Is Tested in the General Academic Module?

The module checks whether you can transfer what you know to a new academic problem. The points below explain how the tasks are built and what each one looks like.

• Each task combines a typical subject-related problem (the input) with related single-choice questions.
• The input is a text, and the text, the questions, and the answer options can contain figures, tables, and formulas.
• Each question has 4 answer options, and only one is correct.
• You need to understand the information before choosing an answer.
• The focus is on applying knowledge rather than recalling facts word for word.
• Questions can come from different academic areas.

Area	What you may need to use
Mathematics	Mathematical concepts and problem-solving
Computational Sciences	Basic concepts and logical application
Natural Sciences	Scientific concepts and their application
Engineering	Technical and problem-solving knowledge
Business and Economics	Business, finance and economic concepts
Social Sciences and Humanities	Concepts, information and logical reasoning

How Does the General Academic Module Work?

Questions are designed around problem situations. To answer a question you first need to understand what is happening and then use the knowledge. 

Knowing a formula is not always enough; you also need to read the information given in the question decide which concept is useful and then apply it. 

This makes the General Academic Module different, from a test that relies on memorisation. The module checks how well you can transfer and apply knowledge in a new situation.

dMAT General Academic Module Question Pattern

The dMAT General Academic Module has approximately 60 individual questions on average. However, the exact number can be a little higher or lower. All questions use a single-choice format, so you need to select one answer from the options given.

The questions can be based on different academic areas. You do not need to prepare every subject in the same way. All applicants receive the same tasks, so the topics are the same for everyone. The main focus is on understanding a problem and applying the right knowledge.

Key Details of the Question Pattern:

• The module has around 60 questions on average.
• The actual number of questions may be higher or lower.
• All questions are single-choice questions with 4 answer options and one correct answer.
• Each task has an input text, and questions follow it. Questions are based on academic problem situations.
• You need to use the information given in the input, which can include figures, tables, and formulas, to find the answer.
• The questions can cover different academic fields.
• You cannot take notes, and you have 90 minutes for the whole module.

Academic Areas Covered

The General Academic Module can include questions from areas such as:

Academic area	Type of knowledge used
Mathematics and Computational Sciences	Calculations, concepts and logical application
Natural Sciences and Engineering	Scientific and technical concepts
Business Administration and Economics	Business and economic concepts
Social Sciences and Humanities	Subject knowledge and analytical thinking

The important thing to remember is that the module tests application of knowledge. So, simply memorising definitions or facts may not be enough. You should practise reading a problem, understanding what it asks, and choosing the correct concept to solve it.

dMAT Question Format

The dMAT question format is designed to test how you understand and use information. The test is conducted digitally, so you will answer the questions on a computer at a designated g.a.s.t. test centre. It is not a home-based test. 

The main points to know about the question format are:

• The dMAT is a digital test.
• Questions use a single-choice format.
• You need to select one answer from the options given.
• The Core Module has three task types. In Figure Sequences, you choose the next two matrices. In Mathematical Equations, you find the number each letter stands for. In Latin Squares, you choose the letter that belongs in the box with the question mark.
• In the General Academic Module, each task has an input text followed by questions. Every question has 4 answer options and only one is correct.
• The texts, questions, and answer options can include figures, tables, and formulas where needed.
• Some questions require you to identify a pattern or relationship.
• Other questions give you a problem and ask you to apply your cognitive and analytical skills to it.
• The answer is based on the information given in the task.
• Your score is based on the number of correct answers. If you do not know an answer, the official instructions tell you to guess.
• You cannot take notes, and the exam shows only short reminders of how each task type works.

What Should You Focus On?

The dMAT is not only about remembering information. You should be able to understand what a question is asking and decide how to solve it.

For example, a question may give you a figure and ask you to find the next pattern. Another question may give you an academic problem and require you to apply a concept you already know.

This means understanding the question is just as important as knowing the subject. Practising the official dMAT sample questions can help you become familiar with the different formats before the test. 

dMAT Exam Duration and Break

The dMAT exam duration is around 3.5 hours, including the break. The test includes the Core Module and the General Academic Module, with a break between the two parts.

Here are the main details:

• Total exam time: About three hours, with a 30-minute break between the two parts 
• Modules: Core Module + General Academic Module
• Break: 30 minutes between the modules 
• Test mode: Digital
• Question format: Single-choice

The time for each module is fixed in the official preparation materials. The table below shows the order of the test, the number of tasks, and the time for each part, so you can plan your practice around the real timings.

Part	Tasks	Time
Core Module: Figure Sequences	20	25 minutes
Core Module: Mathematical Equations	20	25 minutes
Core Module: Latin Squares	20	25 minutes
Core Module total	60	90 minutes
Break	None	30 minutes
General Academic Module	Approximately 60 questions on average	90 minutes in total

NOTE:

• The Core Module is scheduled for 90 minutes and the General Academic Module for 90 minutes. With the 30-minute break, the full exam takes 3 hours 30 minutes.
• Each Core subtest has its own 25-minute limit, so you work out about 75 seconds per task. 
• The General Academic Module has one 90-minute limit for the whole module, so it works out to about 1.5 minutes per question on average. You cannot take notes in any part of the test.
• Time yourself with the real limits: 25 minutes for each Core task type, and 90 minutes for a full General Academic Module practice set.

dMAT Exam Pattern vs Other Aptitude Tests

The dMAT exam pattern is different from a general aptitude test because it combines two types of assessment. The Core Module checks general cognitive and analytical skills, while the General Academic Module checks how well you can apply those skills to academic problems.

The dMAT is part of the APS process for the affected Indian applicants. It does not replace tests such as the GRE or GATE. Whether a university also considers the dMAT in its own admission process must be confirmed with that university.

The table below compares the dMAT with general aptitude tests:

Feature	dMAT	General aptitude tests
Main focus	Cognitive and analytical skills, plus applying them to academic problems	Usually general aptitude skills
Structure	Core Module + Subject Module (General Academic Module for APS India)	Varies by test
Question style	Single-choice questions with different task types	Depends on the exam
Academic application	Tested through the General Academic Module	Varies by test
Role in the APS process	Required for affected applicants, and the certificate goes with the APS documents	Not part of the APS dMAT requirement

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How to Prepare According to the dMAT Exam Pattern

Knowing the dMAT exam pattern 2026 makes preparation easier. You know exactly which question types you will face, so you can plan your practice around them. Instead of studying everything at once, start with the Core Module and then work on applying your cognitive and analytical skills to academic problems. 

1. Practise Core Module Task Types

The Core Module has three task types with 20 tasks and 25 minutes each. Practise each one without taking notes, because notes are not allowed in the exam.

• Figure Sequences: Find the rules that change position, colour, and orientation, then choose the next two matrices.
• Mathematical Equations: Solve systems of equations where each letter is an integer between 1 and 20.
• Latin Squares: Place letters in a 5x5 grid so each letter appears once per row and column.
• Start with simple questions and move to harder ones, using the real 25-minute limit.

2. Practise Applying Academic Knowledge

The General Academic Module is not about remembering facts. You need to use what you know to solve a problem, and you have 90 minutes for the whole module.

• Read the complete input text and each question before choosing an answer.
• Find the information that matters, identify the concept you need, and apply it.
• Practise with figures, tables, and formulas, because tasks can include them.
• Practise across all areas, because all applicants get the same tasks.

3. Use Official dMAT Preparation Material

The official material is the best way to learn the real question style. Use all of it, because detailed task instructions appear only in the preparation materials.

• Download the official General Academic Module Preparatory Materials and do the six exercises for each Core task type and the four General Academic Module exercises.
• Check the solutions and note how each question is solved, not just the final answer.
• Watch the official videos for the introduction, each Core task type, and the Subject Module.
• Try the demo version in your g.a.s.t. participant portal under “Exam Preparation.”

Conclusion

The dMAT exam pattern 2026 has two main parts: the Core Module and the General Academic Module. The Core Module checks general cognitive and analytical skills. The General Academic Module checks how well you can apply those skills to academic problems.

Before the exam, make sure you understand:

• The three Core Module tasks: Figure Sequences, Mathematical Equations, and Latin Squares, each with 20 tasks in 25 minutes, and 90 minutes for the whole Core Module.
• The single-choice question format, with no notes allowed
• The General Academic Module’s 90-minute limit and its approximately 60 questions on average
• The total exam time of about three hours, plus a 30-minute break
• That all applicants get the same tasks, so the module tests transfer and application skills, not memorised facts

For Indian students covered by the APS requirement, understanding the dMAT exam pattern is an important part of planning for the test. Use the official dMAT sample tasks, solutions, and videos, along with the demo version in the g.a.s.t. participant portal, to get familiar with the questions before exam day.

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