IIFT Exam 2023: Last Week Preparation Tips and Exam Day Strategy

In 2023, the IIFT did not conduct the entrance exam. MBA admission was based on CAT 2023 score. Candidates had to apply for CAT 2023 before September 13, 2023, for admission to IIFT's MBA admission 2024.

Till 2024, the IIFT exam used to be conducted in the third week of December. IIFT is a computer based test mode exam wherein candidates have to solve 110 questions in 2 hours. The exam is held in one shift in about 60 plus cities across India. Sectional difficulty level of the IIFT entrance exam is usually as follows:

• Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning section – moderate questions
• Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension section – difficult questions
• Quantitative Aptitude – difficult questions
• General Knowledge section – moderate questions

IIFT has negative and differential marking both so candidates need to handle the exam in such a way that they don’t lose marks for wrong selection of question.

IIFT 2024 exam was not conducted. Admission to the IIFT MBA programmes for 2024-26 batch was done through CAT 2023 score. The announcement was made by IIFT in August that it will accept CAT score for admission and that aspirants should register for it. CAT 2023 exam was held on November 26, 2023.

IIFT admission forms were released in October 2023, which the aspirants had to fill to be eligible for selection and shortlisting for WAT-PT round of the MBA admission process.

Until 2022, the IIFT entrance exam was held nationwide in the month of December. It was conducted by the NTA.

IIFT may conduct the WAT-PI and GD in online mode for 2024 admissions as in 2023, the institute gave option to candidates to appear for this round of shortlisting of candidates for MBA-International Business and MBA-Business Analytics admissions in person or online. Most of the candidates opted for the online mode thus, the institute conducted the personality assessment round online via video conferencing.

The IIFT WAT-PI and GD round was conducted online in 2020, 2021 and 2022 due to COVID-19 pandemic in which WAT and GD were replaced by Extempore. Before that, the selection round was conducted face to face every year.

The IIFT entrance exam will not be conducted this year, for admission to the batch of 2025-27. The selection of candidates will be be based on CAT 2024 scores. 

Till 2022, the National Testing Agency (NTA) used to conduct the entrance exam on behalf of the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) Delhi. The NTA had been conducting the IIFT entrance exam since 2019. The IIFT exam pattern, syllabus, fees, eligibility criteria and fees, etc. were determined by the institute. The NTA only conducted online registration and the exam and announced the IIFT result. The NTA was also the sole authority for accepting or rejecting candidature, allotment of test centres, managing arrangements at the exam centre, checking response sheets, examining answer keys and objections.

After the IIFT result announcement by the NTA, the institute would take over for admission and selection process which includes, release of cut offs, written assessment, extempore, personal interview. Now, the selection process will be conducted after CAT 2024 result announcement.

There is no arrangement for depositing bags and valuables at the IIFT exam centre. Thus, candidates must not carry anything else than IIFT admit card, photo ID, pen, face mask, hand-sanitizer and drinking water bottle. In case, they are carrying a bag or such item, they will have to make arrangement themselves of keeping it safe. Information related to items to carry and not carry will be mentioned in every candidate's admit card. They should read all the exam related instructions and guidelines printed on the IIFT admit card one or two days before the IIFT exam. 

No, candidates are not allowed to carry any electronic gadget to the IIFT exam centre. This is to prevent cheating or any kind of malpractice by any candidate. For the assistance of candidates an onscreen calculator will be present on the computer screen and pen and paper for rough work will be provided inside the exam hall. Candidates can use the rough sheet and pen for calculation and leave them at the test lab before exiting. However, the best practice is to use mental calculation for saving time as IIFT is a time bound test and you have to attempt about 100 questions in 2.5 hours.

Reporting time for IIFT exam is mentioned on each candidate's admit card. Until last year, the IIFT exam was held from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. And the reporting time for candidates was 8:00 AM. The reporting time is two hours before the commencement of exam because the test centre staff has to conduct candidate identification and document verification. The exam centre gates will close half and hour before commencement of exam. Candidates reaching the exam centre after the gates have been closed will not be allowed entry under any circumstances.

Yes, there could be some e non-MCQs in IIFT exam, most likely in the Quantitative Aptitude section. However, the number of non-MCQs will be lesser than MCQs. The candidates will have to type in the answer with the help of computer keyboard. For doing calculation and rough work, candidates will be given rough sheet that will have to be submitted at the end of the test. The non-MCQs are usually of low difficulty level and have simple calculations. So, candidates will not face a lot of difficulty in solving the non-MCQs. Solving all the questions is not mandatory so one can skip the non-MCQ questions too if they find it difficult.