Exam pattern
dMAT exam pattern and syllabus for 2026.
The dMAT has two parts: a core module of three reasoning subtests, and a general academic module of reading comprehension. Together they run about 165 minutes of testing time, with a 30-minute break between the two modules. The core module is the same whatever your degree subject; only the academic module is subject-related.
At a glance
| Part | Tasks | Time | Answer format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Figure sequences | 20 | 25 min | 3 options per matrix |
| Mathematical equations | 20 | 25 min | Integers 1–20 |
| Latin squares | 20 | 25 min | Letters A–E |
| General academic module | Text-based | 90 min | 4 options, single choice |
01Core module
Three subtests, 20 tasks and 25 minutes each.
The dMAT core module tests reasoning rather than knowledge. Nothing in it depends on your degree subject, which is why practice is about method and pacing.
Figure sequences
20 series · 25 minutes
A series of matrices in which figures change position, colour and/or orientation by a fixed rule. You work out the next two matrices in the series, choosing from three options for each.
Mathematical equations
20 systems · 25 minutes
Each letter stands for an integer between 1 and 20. Every system has exactly one solution, so the arithmetic is never the hard part — finding the order to substitute in is.
Latin squares
20 tasks · 25 minutes
A 5×5 grid of letters A–E, each appearing once per row and once per column. You identify the letter in the marked cell only, not the rest of the grid.
No calculator, no rough paper, no notes at any point in the exam. Every step is done in your head, which is why practising the deduction order matters more than practising the arithmetic.
Task counts and timings above are taken from the official g.a.s.t. preparatory materials for the dMAT, published at d-mat.de.
02General academic module
90 minutes of reading, then single-choice questions.
You are given a text, followed by single-choice questions on it. Each question has four options and exactly one is correct. Texts and questions may contain figures, tables and formulas, so the reading is not purely verbal.
The material is drawn from a wide subject range and you are not tested on your own field. What is being measured is how quickly you take in an unfamiliar academic text and work with what it says.
Duration
90 minutes
Topics may cover
- Mathematics
- Computational sciences
- Natural sciences
- Engineering
- Business administration
- Economics
- Social sciences
- Humanities
03Exam rules
What you may and may not use.
- No calculator at any point, in either module.
- No rough paper and no notes — every deduction is mental.
- The test is computer-based and taken under supervision.
- There is no pass mark. Your certificate reports a result, and universities weigh it themselves.