dMAT Exam Pattern 2026: Core Module, GAM, Duration, and Official Prep

The dMAT exam pattern is simple once you ignore university-specific variants. For APS India, you sit one digital test run by g.a.s.t.: a dMAT Core Module plus the dMAT General Academic Module. You book that sitting on g.a.s.t., not on APS India.

This page explains format, dMAT duration 3.5 hours, language, and where official prep lives. It does not copy g.a.s.t. sample booklets.

Confirm you actually need the test first: eligibility checker and dMAT affected fields. Dates and booking: dMAT registration India.

Official structure: This is how the dMAT is structured and dMAT in India.

What is the dMAT exam pattern?

The dMAT exam pattern for APS India is a Core Module plus the General Academic Module, sat digitally at a g.a.s.t. centre. Official duration is three and a half hours including a break. Questions are single-choice and in English. You do not sit a Computer Science subject module for the APS certificate.

Two modules, one sitting

g.a.s.t. describes two parts with a break between the examination modules.

Core Module — general study aptitude. Three subtests of cognitive skills:

Those item counts and times come from the official General Academic Module preparatory booklet (July 2026). They can change; the booklet on d-mat.de wins.

Subject module for APS India — General Academic Module. You read a typical academic problem (text, sometimes figures or tables) and answer related single-choice questions. The booklet gives 90 minutes for the whole subject module and four answer options with one correct solution. It tests transfer and application, not memorised facts.

Some German programmes (for example certain Computer Science or Data Science Master's) use a different subject module for admission. That is not the APS India certificate path. Do not book a university module thinking it replaces GAM for APS.

Duration, language, and test-day rules

• Duration: three and a half hours including the break (structure page). The GAM booklet describes about three hours of testing plus a 30-minute break.
• dMAT single-choice English: the India APS sitting is digital and in English at licensed centres. Guess if you do not know — the booklet says you should.
• No notes in the exam (official booklet).
• Not pass/fail for the APS certificate. If dMAT applies, APS will not finish your certificate until the g.a.s.t. PDF is in the file.

First India sitting (confirm live): registration 15 September 2026, test 26 September 2026, certificates from 12 October 2026. Fee €150 (~₹16,500) to g.a.s.t., separate from APS India's ~₹18,000.

Official prep only (g.a.s.t. dMAT preparatory materials)

We will not invent mock papers or republish booklet items.

Use:

1. Preparation for the exam — videos for the on-screen interface (Figure Sequences, Mathematical Equations, Latin Squares, subject module).
2. General Academic Module preparatory PDF — structure, instructions, and official exercises with solutions.
3. dMAT in India — APS-specific GAM note and dates.

University-specific PDFs (Data Science, Computer Science, Battery Science) are for those admissions modules. Skip them unless a German university asked for that module in addition to APS.

g.a.s.t. says the detailed task instructions live in those materials and will not be repeated at length on test day. Watch the videos so the interface is not a surprise.

What this test is not

• Not TestAS (Bachelor's / Studienkolleg path). See who needs dMAT vs TestAS.
• Not an anabin fix. An H- university stays H-. Check Anabin before you pay €150.
• Not a substitute for APS documents. You still courier self-attested copies.

After the score

Certificates are issued on the g.a.s.t. test-takers portal. Upload that PDF to APS when they ask. APS can start document checks earlier, but it will not issue the APS certificate until dMAT is matched if you are in scope.

Related: Who needs dMAT · Affected fields · How to book · Eligibility checker

Rules and booklet editions change. Recheck d-mat.de before you sit.