IPMAT Preparation 2026: Know Complete IPMAT Preparation Strategy & Tips

IPMAT or IPM Aptitude Test is conducted by the Indian Insitute of Management, Indore. The IPMAT question paper is divided into three sections, namely, Verbal Ability, Quantitative Aptitude. The QA section is further divided into two, that is, one which has MCQs and the other which has Short Answer Type questions. Time management is the key to scoring well in the exam.

The Verbal Ability section of the IPMAT question paper is based on English usage and Grammar. The Verbal Ability section aims to assess the candidate’s hold on language comprehension, grammar and vocabulary. The section examines the candidates on how well they comprehend the given data, analyse the question, vocabulary, grammar, etc. Speed and accuracy are the two key players in having a good preparation for IPMAT. To improve the reading speed in IPMAT preparation consider the following:

1. Students can dedicate a part of their study routine to focused reading practice.
2. They can challenge themselves by setting a time limit for reading tasks, and then gradually reducing the time limit to progressively increasing the reading speed.
3. Students should try to expand their vocabulary to facilitate comprehension skills and quicker reading skills. 
4. They should have a composed and focused mindset during their reading practice throughout. 

Keep a few practices like the above in mind, and make sure you give enough time to your mind to stay calm and prevent mental fatigue. Consistency is the only key which can fetch good marks in the IPMAT exam. 

No, there are no Science related questions in the IPMAT exam. The IPMAT exam typically has three sections, i.e. Verbal Ability, Quantitative Aptitude (SA) and Quantitative Aptitude (MCQs). The major topics in the IPMAT exam include:

Students who are appearing for the Class 12 board exams and also the IPMAT exam should know that they need to balance the IPMAT preparation along with the Class 12 board preparation in order to succeed in both. Students can prioritize Class 12 board exams as they are important for academic performance and admission to the IPMAT colleges. 

Preparing for the board exams will build a strong foundation for the IPMAT exam preparation as well. No amount of prep can be enough if one does not have a good study plan. A well structured study plan which allocates time to IPMAT exam preparation as well as Class 12 board can be good for acing the exams. By identifying the common topics, students can prioritize and organize IPM and boards syllabus accordingly. Students should regularly revise the topics through a revision plan which covers the complete syllabus. 

IIM Indore conducts the IPMAT exam only once a year. This year, the exam will be conducted in the computer-based test mode. Here are important topics for the exam according to the sections of IPMAT question paper.

1. Verbal Skills: Just like other management entrance tests, this section is divided into Reading Comprehension and Verbal Ability/English Usage. There are about four to five comprehension passages while the topics of English usage are as follows: 

• Synonyms (word pair)
• Fill in the blanks
• Para Formation Questions
• Idioms
• Error identification
• Word Meaning
• Antonyms
• Sentence Completion
• Para Jumbles
• Grammar

2. Quantitative Aptitude: This section of the IPMAT question paper is considered tough. However, the overall difficulty level can be considered to be moderate. Some of the important topics of this section include:

• Percentage
• Profit and Loss
• Partnership
• Simple Interest and Compound Interest
• Average, Mixture and Alligation
• Time and Distance 
• Time and Speed 
• Geometry
• Mensuration
• Time and Work
• Permutation & Combination
• Probability 

Check the table below to know IPMAT preparation books and tips:

To crack the IPMAT exam, students must have a concepts clear. A good command over English, and enough Maths practice seals place at IPM AT exam. It is necessary to practice and study regularly to score well in IPMAT exam.

Verbal Ability section of IPMAT exam is usually easier than other two sections. Important books are:

The IPMAT exam is conducted for two hours or 120 minutes. The exam is conducted every year in the computer-based test mode. There are three sections in the IPMAT question paper, I. e. two sections on Quantitative Aptitude and one section on Verbal Ability. Each section is to be solved within 40 minutes. Since IPMAT is a centre-based online exam the test screen will move from first section to the next section automatically as soon as the time limit gets over. Thus candidates have to be mindful of the on-screen timer and pre-decide the number of questions to solve in each section. It is not mandatory to solve all the questions in IPMAT exam so candidates can devise a strategy to use 40 minutes per section as per their strength and weakness. Candidates must also keep in mind the negative marking in the IPMAT exam. One mark will be deducted from the overall score for each incorrect answer. 

The difficulty level of the IPMAT exam is slightly higher than the SET exam. The IPMAT exam is known for its challenging and analytical nature. On the other hand, SET is comparatively an easier BBA entrance exam. The questions in the SET exam are much doable than those in IPM. The candidates are tested on their mathematical ability, logical and analytical reasoning and general awareness.

No, IPMAT is conducted only once a year. Candidates have to wait for the next session if they miss this year's exam. The IPMAT exam is being conducted in the CBT (computer-based test) mode. Based on the IPM Aptitude Test scores, students can apply for admission to integrated management programme offered by the prestigious Indian Institute of Managment, Indore. The exam will only be conducted in the computer-based test mode for all the sessions across various cities. The difficulty level of the IPMAT exam is usually moderate and the candidates can easily prepare for this exam. Candidates who wish to appear for the IPMAT exam need to apply on the official website of IIM Indore and fill out the IPMAT application form once the application window opens. IPMAT is held in about 28 test cities across the country, and the students need to visit the exam centre in order to take the exam.

IPMAT 2025 preparation can be done through IPMAT books, sample papers, mock tests and other study material available online as well as offline. Some of the recommened IPMAT books which the students can refer for IPMAT exam preparation include:

Practice Papers and IPMAT Mock Tests

Old IPMAT Question Papers: IPMAT question papers from previous years give an understanding of the IPMAT exam pattern to the students and also help them with the commonly asked topics/questions in the exam. 

IPMAT Mock Tests: They are exact replicas of the exam. Since they stimulate the exam like environment, many toppers suggest that taking ample number of mock tests will surely land students with good scores. Students can check free IPMAT mock tests by Shiksha. 

IIM Indore conducts the IPMAT exam only once a year. This year, the exam will be conducted in the computer-based test mode. Here are important topics for the exam according to the sections of IPMAT question paper.

1. Verbal Skills: Just like other management entrance tests, this section is divided into Reading Comprehension and Verbal Ability/English Usage. There are about four to five comprehension passages while the topics of English usage are as follows: 

• Synonyms (word pair)
• Fill in the blanks
• Para Formation Questions
• Idioms
• Error identification
• Word Meaning
• Antonyms
• Sentence Completion
• Para Jumbles
• Grammar

2. Quantitative Aptitude: This section of the IPMAT question paper is considered tough. However, the overall difficulty level can be considered to be moderate. Some of the important topics of this section include:

• Percentage
• Profit and Loss
• Partnership
• Simple Interest and Compound Interest
• Average, Mixture and Alligation
• Time and Distance 
• Time and Speed 
• Geometry
• Mensuration
• Time and Work
• Permutation & Combination
• Probability 

IPMAT Indore and IPMAT Rohtak have similar syllabus but they differ in terms of difficulty level. IPMAT Indore exam has 3 sections based on Verbal Skills and Quantitative Skills but the IPMAT Rohtak exam has an extra section on Logical Reasoning.

Level of difficulty of IPMAT Indore is slightly higher than IPMAT Rohtak as seen in the previous years. Also, IPMAT Indore scores are accepted by over 10 BSchools including IIM Sirmaur, IIM Shillong, IIM Ranchi, etc. but IPMAT Rohtak scores are accepted only by IIM Rohtak. 

Top colleges accepting IPMAT scores are:

The difficulty level of the IPMAT exam is slightly higher than the SET exam. The IPMAT exam is known for its challenging and analytical nature. On the other hand, SET is comparatively an easier BBA entrance exam. The questions in the SET exam are much doable than those in IPM. The candidates are tested on their mathematical ability, logical and analytical reasoning and general awareness.

• Do not reach late.
• Do not forget to carry IPM admit card. 
• Do not carry any prohibited items, including electronic devices, study materials, notes, rough papers, bags, etc. 
• Don't panic. 
• Do not ignore instructions given by invigilator

IPMAT mock tests are important for preparation. To analyze IPMAT Indore mock tests, 

• They can identify places where they lost marks due to conceptual erros or silly mistakes.
• They should focus on questions in mock test which took them above 1 minute to solve
• They must consistently work on improving their time management skills for IPM exam.

IPMAT is a speed-based test which is designed to assess a candidate's quantitative aptitude skills and command over English langauge and comprehension skills. These are the subjects which the students have studied in Class 9 to Class 12, just that the in the IPMAT exam, students need to practice these at a slightly advanced level. 

Students can crack the IPMAT exam by brushing up the basics and practicing concepts with advance level problems. Applicants should solve previous year question papers, attempt an ample number of mock tests and be consistent to score well in the IPMAT exam.

Having said that, the preparation for the IPMAT exam requires focus, dedication and diligence. If you can do that, despite being an average student, you can crack the IPMAT exam easily. A good preparation strategy can help you crack the IPMAT exam with a good score. Generally, the toughest section of the IPMAT question paper is Quantitative Aptitude (Short Answers). But with daily practice and focusing on understanding the fundamentals, this section of the IPMAT exam can be handled easily. For the Verbal Ability section, students must focus on Grammar and solving various mock tests to improve their vocabulary. 

IPMAT exam can be a bit challenging for an average student. But with a good knowledge of the basics of IPMAT syllabus topics and exam pattern, students can fetch good IPMAT scores. 

Students should read daily and take sectional and full length mock test to ace IPM exam.

IPMAT is one of the most popular BBA entrance exams. An entrance exam like IPMAT may create anxiety among the aspirants. The first tip to ace the IPMAT exam is to stay calm. Here are a few last minute preparation tips for IPMAT exam:

• Confirm the exact location of the IPMAT test centre at least one day before the IPMAT exam day to ensure that transportation is available on time. If you are new to the city or the location of the centre, it is adivsable to visit the centre once.
• Arrive early to the exam centre. Applicants must ensure that they arrive at least an hour before the exam begins.
• Use the restroom before to the start of the test. Because you will not have time and may not be able to exit the exam hall throughout the examination period, use the restroom before entering the examination hall. 
• Do not bring cell phones or other electronic devices, such as Smartwatches, to the exam centre because the machines are not always available. Personal property will not be safeguarded outside of the exam centre, and IIM Indore or exam centre authorities will not be held liable for any loss of personal property. There are no stationary objects allowed, such as a pen, stylus, or paper. Rough pads and pens will be given to the applicants. Candidates should write their name and application number on their rough pads/sheets.
• Stay calm and have a healthy breakfast in the morning before the exam. 

IPMAT is a speed based test with judges students on their quantitative and verbal skills. It checks the command of students over the English language and their comprehension skills. Questions in IPMAT exam are based on Class 9 and 12 syllabus but students need to practice a slightly advanced level questions to ace the exam. IPMAT requires focus and dedication. It is known to be a highly competitive exam but with practice and a good study plan they can get good scores.

Preparing for the IPMAT exam at home can be possible with a good strategic IPMAT study plan. The IPMAT Indore exam is conducted only once a year and is usually tougher than the other BBA exams. The following is advice from experts and toppers on how to create an IPMAT preparation plan:

1. Candidates should use the IPMAT syllabus as a guide for the IPMAT exam preparation. They can make a list of the subjects that the study material they are referring to is covering. 
2. Students should divide their IPMAT study plan on a monthly, weekly and daily basis.
3. Students should analyse previous years' IPMAT questipn papers and make notes of the important topics. 
4. Students can join coaching institutes, study groups, etc., to prepare better. 
5. Students should focus on completing the IPMAT exam syllabus
6. They must start reading newspapers and editorials daily to gain command of the VA section. 
7. Analysing the progress made is as important as preparing for the IPMAT exam. Students should analyse their weaknesses and strengths and change their prep strategy accordingly. 

The choice between CAT and IPMAT is based on the career goal. CAT is the most recognised test for admission into MBA programs, mainly for those who have completed their undergraduate studies. It is accepted by the top management institutes like IIMs. Whereas IPMAT is targeted at those students who would like to join directly for a 5-year integrated programme BBA+MBA immediately after schools and institutes such as IIM Indore and IIM Rohtak are providing this integrated program. And if one looks for the MBA, post-graduation CAT would be more suitable for it.

Just like other management entrance exams, the Verbal Skills section is divided into Reading Comprehension and Verbal Ability/English Usage. There are about four to five comprehension passages while the topics of English usage are as follows:

1. Synonyms
2. Antonyms
3. Grammar
4. Fill in the blanks
5. Vocabulary
6. Parajumbles
7. Idioms and Phrases
8. Error Identification
9. Para Completion
10. Confusing words 
11. Articles
12. Prepositions
13. Proper Usage of Words
14. Sentence Correction