Miller Analogies Test Scores 2026 — Score Ranges & Percentiles

MAT Score Scale: 200 to 600

The Miller Analogies Test is scored on a scaled range from 200 to 600, with a population mean of approximately 400 and a standard deviation of roughly 25 points. Pearson designed this scale so that most test-takers cluster within two standard deviations of the mean — meaning the bulk of scores fall between 350 and 450. Scores below 300 or above 500 are statistically rare and represent the extreme tails of the distribution.

Your scaled score is derived from a raw score (the number of correct responses out of 120 items) that is then converted using a statistical equating process. This equating adjusts for minor differences in difficulty across different test administrations, ensuring that a score of 420 means the same thing whether you sat for the exam in March or October. Because equating is applied, there is no single fixed raw-to-scaled conversion chart — the relationship shifts slightly with each form of the test.

Pearson also reports a confidence interval alongside your scaled score to reflect the inherent measurement uncertainty of any standardized test. Typical confidence intervals span roughly ±10 to ±15 points at the 68% level, meaning a reported score of 415 likely reflects true ability somewhere between approximately 400 and 430.

MAT Percentile Rankings

Percentile ranks indicate the percentage of test-takers whose scores fall at or below a given scaled score. Pearson calculates percentiles using a national comparison group of all individuals who tested during a rolling multi-year window, which tends to be a highly educated population pursuing advanced degrees. This matters: because the MAT is used almost exclusively for graduate admissions, the comparison group is inherently more academically competitive than a general-population norm group.

Key benchmark percentiles based on Pearson-published norms:

• 500 and above — approximately the 99th percentile; exceptionally rare, competitive for elite doctoral programs
• 450 — approximately the 93rd percentile; highly competitive for most graduate programs
• 425 — approximately the 75th percentile; above average, strong for many master's programs
• 400 — approximately the 50th percentile; median performance for MAT test-takers
• 375 — approximately the 25th percentile; below average relative to the testing population
• 350 and below — approximately the 10th percentile or lower; may fall below minimum thresholds at many programs

Because the comparison group consists of graduate school applicants rather than the general public, a 50th-percentile MAT score already reflects a level of academic achievement well above the general population. Admissions committees that are familiar with the test understand this context.

Score Report Contents

When Pearson releases your MAT results — typically within 10 to 15 business days of your test date — your official score report includes several components beyond the raw scaled score:

• Scaled score (200–600 range)
• Percentile rank relative to the national comparison group
• Percentile rank relative to your intended graduate major field (if applicable)
• Confidence interval around your scaled score
• Score validity date — confirming the five-year window during which the score is reportable to institutions

The subject-area percentile rank is particularly useful for applicants. If you scored at the 60th percentile nationally but at the 80th percentile among psychology applicants, that context can meaningfully strengthen your application to psychology programs. Reviewing both percentile columns on your score report gives you a more complete picture of your competitiveness within your specific field.

Score Validity Period

MAT scores are valid for five years from the date of the test administration. Pearson will not report scores to institutions after the validity period has expired. If you tested more than five years ago and are applying to graduate programs now, you must retake the exam — there is no process to extend or reactivate expired scores.

The five-year window is generous relative to some other graduate admissions exams and gives applicants significant flexibility. A score earned in your final year of undergraduate study remains reportable throughout your mid-20s, which accommodates career breaks, military service, or years spent building professional experience before returning to graduate education.

For applicants who tested multiple times within the validity window, Pearson keeps all valid scores on file. Programs may request your complete score history or only your most recent score, depending on their policy. Review each program's score reporting requirements carefully — some explicitly state they will use the highest score, while others average multiple attempts.

Sending MAT Scores to Programs

Score reports are sent electronically through Pearson's MAT score-reporting system. At the time of testing, you may designate up to three institutions to receive your scores at no additional charge. Scores sent to additional institutions or requested after the initial reporting window incur a per-recipient fee, which Pearson periodically updates — check the official MAT website for current pricing.

Score reports are typically delivered to institutions within three to five business days of your request. Because graduate application deadlines vary, plan your test date to allow sufficient processing time. Testing within six weeks of a rolling application deadline is generally safe, but testing within two weeks of a hard deadline carries risk.

Unofficial scores are displayed on-screen immediately after you complete the exam at the testing center. These unofficial scores are for your reference only — institutions require official reports sent directly by Pearson and will not accept printouts or screenshots as verification.

Comparing MAT vs GRE for Graduate Admissions

The decision between the MAT and the GRE often comes down to which test plays to your strengths and which one your target programs accept. The GRE is more widely accepted across disciplines, while the MAT has a concentrated foothold in education, psychology, counseling, and certain humanities programs. Key differences that affect admissions decisions:

• Test length: The MAT is a 60-minute exam (plus administrative time), versus approximately three hours and 45 minutes for the GRE. For applicants who perform better in shorter, high-intensity formats, the MAT can be advantageous.
• Content focus: The MAT tests verbal reasoning exclusively through analogy problems, assessing vocabulary, general knowledge, and logical relationships. The GRE tests verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing. Programs that care about quantitative skills will typically prefer GRE scores.
• Concordance: When a program accepts both, admissions committees convert scores for comparison using concordance tables published by Pearson and ETS. A MAT score at the 75th percentile is treated as roughly equivalent to a GRE Verbal score at the 75th percentile, though conversion tables are approximations, not exact equivalents.
• Cost and availability: The MAT is offered at Pearson-authorized testing centers. The GRE is available at Prometric centers and as an at-home option. Depending on your location, one exam may be more accessible than the other.

If you are applying to a mix of programs — some accepting only the GRE, others accepting either exam — taking the GRE is typically the more strategic choice, as it covers all bases with a single testing investment.