A Study Review of the Miller Analogies Test

What is the MAT examination?

The MAT or the Miller Analogies Test is an exam that assesses the analytical ability of candidates for graduate school. It is a test that is often used by graduate programs as a requirement for admission. It measures the analytical skills of candidates to determine the relationships between different subject areas, or it measures the ability of your brain to make connections. It also measures your cultural literacy. 

What is an analogy?  

An analogy is a statement that suggests that two terms are related to each other in a similar way that two other terms are related to each other. The MAT is an analogy test that makes use of such items to test the candidate’s capabilities.

What is the structure of MAT analogies?

In the test, the analogy questions are written in the equations “A : B :: C : D.”  It can be read in two ways: A is related or similar to B in the same way that C is related or similar to D, or A is related or similar to C in the same way that B is related or similar to D. 

What are the advantages of taking the MAT?

  • It will help test your analytical reasoning, which is an ability that is vital for success in your graduate school and in your professional life.
  • It will help graduate schools determine whether a candidate has knowledge that goes beyond memorizing.
  • It has been proven as a reliable IQ or assessment test.
  • Studies have acknowledged the correlations between a candidate’s MAT scores and success in graduate programs.

Format and Content 

The MAT contains 120 analogy questions out of which 20 are experimental questions.  The time limit for the exam is 60 minutes. Each of the analogy question or item has two objectives. The first objective is that it has a specific type of analogical relationship. The second one is that it has a particular subject matter or content area. 

As mentioned, MAT makes use of analogy items because there are various ways in which two terms can be related. There are four categories that describe the different types of relationships in Miller analogies. 

4 Relationship Types Included in MAT Items

Relationship Description
Semantic  It includes meaning, definition, synonym and antonym, contrast, parts of words, degree, intensity, and expressions.
Classification  It includes category, whole or part, classification, membership and hierarchy.
Association  It includes purpose, sequence, agent, characteristic or object, transformation, creator or creation, order and function.
Logical/Mathematical  It includes letter or sound patterns and mathematical equivalence.

 

  • Semantic – this is the type of analogy that involves the definition of the terms. It is about what a word stands for and how it can be connected linguistically to other words. They may be any part of speech.
    1. Synonym – the words or terms have the same meaning.
    2. Antonym – the words or terms have the opposite meaning.
    3. Intensity – a word or term indicates a greater degree of something than the other word or term. 
  • Word Part/Meaning – a word or term explains what is the meaning of the other word or term.
  • Classification – this is the type of analogy that deals with the hierarchy of words and concepts.
  1. Category – the word or term is a subordinate class of the other word or term. It means that the word is a type or example of the other word.
  2. Membership – both of the words or terms are parts of the same thing. They can also be members of a bigger category.
  3. Whole/Part – a word or term is a part of another word or term.
  • Association – this is the type of analogy that portrays or illustrates the largest group. It involves relationships between two different but related ideas. They are usually nouns, but they can also be any part of speech.
  1. Object/Characteristic – a word or term is a characteristic or source of another word or term. The word or term is also an attribute or description of the other word or term.
  2. Order – the words or terms are in a relationship that is reciprocal or sequential to one another.
  3. Agent/Object – the word or term causes, uses, relies, etc. on the other word or term.
  • Logical/ Mathematical – this is the type of analogy that contains numerical fractions, mathematical or logical equations, negation, letter and sound patterns and multiples.
  1. A word or term is a multiple or fraction of another word or term.
  2. The words or terms are similar through a non-semantic change such as homophones, rhyming and other wordplays. 

What are the subjects for the MAT exam?

6 Content Areas for the MAT Test

Content Area  Description
General  It is about cultural literacy in general. It also includes work, business, and other life experiences.
Humanities  It is about topics such as history, literature, art, music, philosophy, and religion.
Mathematics  It contains subjects such as quantitative and numerical computation.
Language  It includes topics such word meanings and usage, grammar and vocabulary.
Natural Sciences  It covers subjects such as Astronomy, Chemistry, Biology, Physics and Ecology.
Social Sciences  It consists of Political science, Psychology, Economics, Anthropology and Ecology.

According to the MAT for Dummies, there are 5 subjects covered on the MAT, excluding the general knowledge part. These are as follows:

1. Humanities – analogies of this topic come from popular literature, fine arts, religion, etc. The questions that are often asked are things like the author, literary device or literary genres.

Sample Questions:

1.) Van Gogh: Expressionism :: Monet:______

  1. impressionism
  2. classicism
  3. surrealism
  4. cubism

2.) Da Vinci: Cezanne :: ______: The Card Players

  1. The Birth of Venus
  2. Virgin of the Rocks
  3. Easter Monday
  4. Deposition of Christ

3.) ______: Madrid :: Uffizi: Florence

  1. Guggenheim
  2. Louvre
  3. Pergamon
  4. Prado

3. Mathematics – analogies of this topic will challenge your knowledge of numbers and equations. You must know basic arithmetic, Algebra and Geometry, among others. It will make use of symbols, words and numbers.

Sample Questions:

1.) Abscission: Deciduous  :: Division:______

  1. dividend
  2. divisor
  3. factor
  4. quotient

2.) Isosceles Triangle:______ :: Scalene Triangle: Trapezoid

  1. right triangle
  2. line
  3. rhombus
  4. pentagon

3.) _______: XXXVI :: 81: LXXXI

  1. 34
  2. 35
  3. 36
  4. 360

3. Language – analogies of this topic will test your grammar and vocabulary. You must have a broad understanding of different word meanings. You should also know your sentence structure and rhythms.

Sample Questions:

1.) Mycology: Fungi :: Oncology:______

  1. tumors
  2. mushrooms
  3. reptiles
  4. oceans

2.) ______: Hair ::  Culture: Bacteria

  1. key
  2. lock
  3. strand
  4. fur

2.) Castle:______ ::  Capitol: Capital

  1. cattle
  2. king
  3. town hall
  4. kingdom

4. Natural Sciences – analogies of this topic contain the different sciences such as Physics, Chemistry and Biology. You must know a lot of scientific terms. 

Sample Questions:

1.) Quasar: Black hole :: Cytoplasm:_______

  1. mitochondrion
  2. nebula
  3. cilia
  4. acid

2.) Genus:_______ ::  Atom: Quark

  1. order
  2. family
  3. species
  4. kingdom

3.) Ichthyology: Ornithology :: _______: Cardinal

  1. robin
  2. iguana
  3. salmon
  4. newt

5. Social Sciences – analogies of this topic will include a lot of things. From Economics, Psychology to Geography, you must have some knowledge of these subjects. 

Sample Questions:

1.) Mount Blanc: Alps ::  Mount Everest:______

  1. Andes
  2. Pyrenees
  3. Himalayas
  4. Rockies

2.) Slavery: Alchohol :: _______: Prohibition

  1. abolitionism
  2. apartheid
  3. communism
  4. suffrage

3.) Recession:_______ :: Debit: Credit

  1. depression
  2. expansion
  3. Inflation
  4. monopoly

What is the scoring for the MAT test? 

The applicants will be provided with their Miller Analogies test scores, which will contain their scaled score (200 to 600) and two percentile ranks. One would be their percentile rank in comparison with all of the test-takers. The other one would be their percentile rank in comparison with those of the same major.

Based on the official booklet, the mean or standard score for the MAT test is 400. It represents the 50th percentile. Here are some of the rough estimates of the score ranges:

Score Range Percentile Rank
400 to 404 50th percentile
405 to 409 60th percentile
410 to 415 70th percentile
416-420  80th percentile
421-425  90th percentile
430-440  95th percentile
450-600  99th percentile

How should I prepare for the MAT?

You should read the questions and the choices as carefully as you can.

Since it is an analogy test, you have to take your time in choosing the right answer. You can’t just right away pick since it could be confusing. Some answers might fit the question, but with careful consideration, you’ll have to pick the best answer. The purpose of the analogy test is to determine whether you have a high level of critical and analytical skills.

You should reconsider other  meanings.

There might be words that have various meanings. You’ll have to think of other terms when you are stuck with an analogy. You should always remember that you have to think critically and analyze the questions so you won’t be tricked. This is a helpful method, especially when you have a hard time finding some relation between the words or terms. 

You should answer each question in the exam.

Your score will not be affected if you have incorrect answers. That’s why as much as possible, you should answer everything because your score is taken from the number of questions you answered correctly. You are time-pressured, so it is best to go through the exam as calmly and as quickly as you can.   

You should take a MAT Practice Test.

You should practice for the Miller Analogies Test with the help of study materials. You’ll be able to test your capabilities, and through it, you’ll improve more. These MAT test preps will show you what to do when the exam day comes. You’ll know how to approach certain questions. It will help you tackle things that might have been difficult had you not taken a practice test. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the MAT eligibility criterion?

Before you can take the MAT test, you must first present two forms of identification. The primary I.D. must be issued by the government, and it must have your photograph and signature. The secondary I.D., on the other hand, does not require it.

Your local testing center will accept these as primary I.D.:

  • Passport
  • Driver’s License
  • Government-issued Identification Card

For your secondary I.D., the following are accepted:

  • Student I.D.
  • Credit Card
  • Library Card

When is the MAT exam conducted?

You can take the  Miller Analogies Test by scheduling a month in advance so you’ll know the date and time you want to take it. Most graduate schools have a deadline for their application submissions. That’s why it is also crucial that you check up on the necessary requirements so that you can base the date of your exam with it. 

Where can you take the MAT?

There are hundreds of MAT testing centers in the U.S. You can pick any at your preferred location. You can check out Pearson testing centers at https://www.pearsonassessments.com/ to find one near you.   

How difficult is the Miller Analogies Test?

It wouldn’t be difficult if you prepared for it months before. You have to cover a lot of subjects so you won’t be able to study for it in just a few days. Make a study plan and stick to it. If you want to pass on your first take, you have to make sure that you reviewed everything. You should make use of practice tests so you can check your progress. 

How many times in a year will the MAT exam be conducted?

The MAT test will be offered throughout the year. The only thing you need to do is to go to a testing center and pay the appropriate fees. After that, you can schedule your preferred date and time.

How much does the MAT cost? 

The average cost for the Miller Analogies Test is $100 to $200. There is no set price for it because most testing centers offer varying costs. Often, students who want to take the test have to pay $70 to $100. 

How common are scores of 600 on the Miller Analogies Test?

The standard score for the MAT is 400. It is rare to get a score of 600 because nearly 99 percent of the test-takers have scores between 200 to 425. Even though it is hard to get a perfect score, getting 400 and above is already enough. It all depends on the school you are applying for. 

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