IRMASAT Preparation 2025: Tips, Strategy & Guide

The IRMASAT exam was scrapped by the Institute of Rural Management, Anand. The college started accepting scores of the popular national entrance exams such as CAT, XAT and CMAT for admission to the PGDM programme in Rural Management by the institute. 

No, IIMs do not accept IRMASAT scores for admission to their management programmes. IIMs have their own separate entrance exam, CAT (Common Admission Test) which is used for admission to MBA and other post graduate management programmes. IRMASAT, is only accept by the Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA) specifically for admission to its postgraduate programme in rural management. IRMA is an institute which has its focus on rural and development management. 

Candidates who wish to take admission to any IIMs, they need to appear for the CAT exam and meet the eligibility criteria set by the IIMs. 

The IRMASAT exam is designed to assess the candiates social awareness, analytical and problem-solving skills. It includes one section on Issues of Social Concern. The questions are designed to evaluate not only your knowledge but also your ability to apply that knowledge to readl-world social issues. 

To score well in the IRMASAT exam, candidates are expected to have a good grasp of the current social issues, general knowledge, and reading comprehension skills. Additionally, strong analytical, logical and reasoning abilities are essential for answering the IRMASAT questions easily. Candiates often find the social awareness and analytical reasoning sections to be challenging as they require an understanding of the socio-economic issues. Therefore, it is important to prepare for the IRMASAT exam by staying updated with the current affairs, by reading newspapers and magazines and practicing logical and analytical reasoning.

Overall, the difficulty level of the IRMASAT exam is moderate. With thorough preparation and a focus on improving your social awareness, the exam can be easily cracked. 

IRMASAT is conducted by the Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA) for admission to its Postgraduate Diploma in Rural Management (PGDRM) programme. The eligibility criteria for IRMASAT are as follows:

• Domestic Candidates:
  • Graduates in any discipline from a recognised university with at least 50% aggregate or equivalent CGPA.
  • Candidates in their final year of the examination are also eligible, but they must submit proof of qualifying the final year by September 2024.
  • Candidates must have scored 85 percentile or above in CAT 2023, XAT 2024, or CMAT 2024.
• Foreign Candidates:
  • Graduates in any stream with at least 50% aggregate or equivalent from a recognised university.
  • Candidates must have appeared in GMAT/GRE (from 2016 onwards) and have a score that meets the minimum cut-off criteria set by IRMA.
• Sponsored Candidates:
  • Candidates must hold a Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university/institution.
  • Candidates should have worked with the sponsoring organisation for a minimum of two years (as of July 1, 2024) as a regular employee on a full-time basis.
• There is no age limit to appear for IRMASAT.

IRMASAT marking scheme is simple. If the candidates can recall their attempts or have the answer key with them then they can calculate their IRMASAT raw score by adding and subtracting scores as per correct and incorrect attempts. Check IRMASAT marking scheme below:

1. For every correct attempt, 4 marks is awarded and for every incorrect answer, 1 mark is deducted.
2. For every unanswered question, no marks will be deducted or awarded. 

Candidates must choose the questions to solve very carefully and smartly. If they are not sure of the correct answer, they should leave the question instead of taking a chance.

IRMASAT syllabus primarily focuses on assessing the candidates' social awareness, analytical reasoning and communication skills. The important topics for IRMASAT preparation are:

1. Indian Economy
2. Environmental Issues
3. Human Rights
4. Rural Development
5. Sex Ratio
6. Education
7. Employment and Literacy
8. Health Issues
9. Human Development
10. Gender and Social Groups like Caste and Religion

The IRMASAT question paper has only one section which covers these topics. Each question carries one mark, and the exam duration is 80 minutes.

To prepare for IRMASAT, candidates should refer to books specific to IRMASAT or Social Awareness, and solve IRMASAT specific mock tests. It is also important to practice regular study sessions and attempt mock tests to improve speed and accuracy.

If you have a good study plan, you can study independently at home for the IRMASAT exam. This exam is conducted only once a year and is relatively easier than other exams. The following is advice from professionals on how to create an IRMASAT plan:

• Using the IRMASAT syllabus as a guide, make a list of the subjects that the study materials must cover.
• Plan your study time on a monthly, weekly, and daily basis according to the time available.
• Analyze previous IRMASAT tests to note important topics.
• Start reading newspaper and magazine editorials to gain a command of the IRMASAT syllabus.
• Examine your progress through mock tests on a monthly basis.
• Keep analyzing and improving your score over time until test day.

IRMASAT syllabus is based on topics related to “Issues of Social Concern”. Some of the important topics include: 

• Indian Economy
• Women-oriented schemes
• Socio-Economic Development
• Human Rights
• Short-term migration
• Sex ratio
• Rural development
• Rural and urban population
• Agriculture
• Environmental Issues
• IRDP schemes
• Health issues
• Human development
• Education
• Gender and social groups

The syllabus of IRMASAT is based on General Awareness and social issues. 

The time required for IRMASAT preparation can vary from one individual to another. It may depend on your current level of knowledge and preparation. It is important to be familiar with the IRMASAT exam pattern and syllabus. 

The specific duration required for the IRMASAT preparation can vary widely. Some candidates may need few months while others may require more time. A typical preparation period for competitive exams like IRMASAT is not just the number of days you allocate but the quality of your preparation. On average a preparation period of two to six months might be enough. Focus on understanding the concepts, practicing reularly and improving your social awareness and communication skills to perform well in all the components of the exam. 

The difficulty level of IRMASAT and SNAP may be subjective and varies from one to another. However, there are a few differences between the two exams that can help one understand their relative difficulty:

• IRMASAT primarily assesses candidate's social awarness and analytical reasoning skills along with communication with a focus on rural and social issues. It includes a Group Discussion and Personal Interview. 
  SNAP evaluates the candidate's aptitude in various areas including English, Quantitative Aptitude, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning. It does not have any topics related to social awareness. 
• IRMASAT includes subjective components such as Essay, Group Discussion and Interviews which as evaluated subjectively by the interviewers. On the other hand, SNAP is a MCQ based exam where answers are either right or wrong. 
• IRMASAT include questions on social and economic issues, which require deeper understanding of societal problems. Analytical reasoning questions can also be challenging but in SNAP questions are more traditional in nature covering areas like English, Logical Reasoning, Mathematics, etc. 

IRMASAT's difficulty level may be preceived a bit higher than SNAP due to its focus on social awareness, analytical reasoning and subjective evaluation. However, having said this, the difficulty level of the exams may vary on an indivdual's strengths and preparation. It is important to consider your interests and career goals when deciding which exam aligns better with your aspirations. 

Preparing for IRMASAT is relatively easy as the difficulty level of the other entrance exams is much higher. Mentioned below are a few preparation tips for IRMASAT exam:

1. Candidates must familiarize themselves with the IRMASAT exam pattern, including the number of sections, types of questions, duration, and marking scheme. This will give you a clear idea of what to expect and help the candidates planning their preparation accordingly.

2. Candidates must devise a study plan in a way that it allocates sufficient time for preparation and revision. They must set aside dedicated study hours and stick to the schedule consistently. This will ensure that they cover all the topics and have enough time left for revision.

3. Candidates should have a thorough understanding of the IRMASAT syllabus. They must focus on identifying the key topics and subjects. This will help the candidates prioritise their preparation and focus on the areas that carry more weightage.

4. Solving previous years' question papers and mock tests is an excellent way to familiarize oneself with the exam pattern and gain insights into the types of questions asked. It will also help the candiadtes to identify their strengths and weaknesses, allowing them to focus on areas that require improvement. The mock tests also help in assessing the preparaiton level and improve time management skills along with accuracy. 

5. Students must be updated with the latest current affairs and general knowledge topics. They must read newspapers, magazines, and online news portals regularly. This will help them perform well in the General Awareness section of the exam.

6. Allocating sufficient time for revision, especially in the weeks leading up to the exam can be very helpful. Review notes, formulae, and important concepts and focus on practicing sample questions and taking additional mock tests to reinforce the learning.

7. Lastly, stay calm and maintain a positive mindset, stay motivated, and manage stress effectively. Students shoudl take breaks, get enough sleep, eat well, and engage in physical activity to keep their mind and body refreshed.

Remember that consistent and focused preparation is key to performing well in the IRMASAT exam. Good luck!

Yes, IRMA provides scholarships and financial assistance to deserving candidates through various schemes and scholarships. Scholarships for SC/ST Students Up to 12 SC students can avail this scholarship. The scholarship covers tuition fees, non-refundable charges, lodging and boarding expenses, cost of books, stationery, and a personal computer. Up to five ST candidates can avail this scholarship. It covers tuition fees, boarding and lodging expenses, book grant, and a one-time grant for the purchase of a personal computer. Scholarships for Students with Disabilities IRMA offers scholarships to students with disabilities through the Central Sector Scheme of Scholarship for Top Class Education for Students with Disabilities of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities. Bridge Fund A fund of INR 50 Lacs has been set aside by the Institute for students with a weak financial background. Educational Loans IRMA PGDRM students can avail education loan service from Canara Bank, Anand, Central Bank of India, Anand, and Bank of Baroda, Anand.