MAT Study Guide | Free Miller Analogies Practice Test 2026 October

• 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.

Quick facts: The Miller Analogies Test (MAT) is a standardized, computer-based analogy exam of 120 partial-analogy items, completed in 60 minutes. It's owned and administered by Pearson through Pearson VUE test centers (and, where offered, remote online proctoring). There is no fixed "passing score" set by Pearson — individual graduate programs set their own minimum score requirements, so check with the specific program you're applying to.

Format and Content

• 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. 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. 

The MAT draws its 120 analogy items from a broad mix of general knowledge, humanities, mathematics, language, natural sciences, and social sciences — our practice quizzes below are organized the same way so you can target the content areas where you need the most work.

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 ID do I need to bring to the MAT?

Bring a current, government-issued photo ID (such as a passport, driver's license, or state ID card) that matches the name on your registration. Pearson VUE test centers generally do not accept a student ID, credit card, or library card as your primary form of identification — confirm the exact accepted ID list on your admission ticket or with Pearson VUE before test day, since testing-center ID policies can change.

How many questions are on the MAT, and how long do I have?

The MAT consists of 120 partial-analogy items to be completed in 60 minutes, delivered on computer at a Pearson VUE test center.

Is there a passing score on the MAT?

No single passing score is set by Pearson. Scores are reported on a scaled range with a mean around 400; each graduate program that accepts MAT scores sets its own minimum requirement, so check directly with your target program.

Sample MAT Practice Questions

Try these questions from our free MAT practice tests. The correct answer and an explanation follow each question.

1. A student is creating analogies for a study guide. They write: "GALAXY : STAR :: FOREST : TREE". This analogy is based on which type of classification relationship?

   • A. Synonym
   • B. Whole to Part
   • C. Cause and Effect
   • D. Member to Group

   Answer: B. Whole to Part

   This analogy demonstrates a "Whole to Part" relationship. A galaxy is a large whole that contains stars (its parts), just as a forest is a large whole that contains trees (its parts).

2. SPANISH ARMADA : 1588 :: D-DAY INVASION : ?

   • A. 1942
   • B. 1943
   • C. 1944
   • D. 1945

   Answer: C. 1944

   The D-Day Allied invasion of Normandy took place in 1944, just as the defeat of the Spanish Armada occurred in 1588.

3. AQUINAS : SCHOLASTICISM :: SARTRE : ______

   • A. STOICISM
   • B. HEDONISM
   • C. RATIONALISM
   • D. EXISTENTIALISM

   Answer: D. EXISTENTIALISM

   This question links a major philosopher to the philosophical school of thought they are most famous for founding or championing. Thomas Aquinas is the foremost figure of Scholasticism. Similarly, Jean-Paul Sartre is a central figure in Existentialism.

4. INSULATOR : RUBBER :: CONDUCTOR : ?

   • A. Glass
   • B. Copper
   • C. Wood
   • D. Plastic

   Answer: B. Copper

   Rubber is an insulator while copper is a good electrical conductor.

Take the full MAT practice test