IPMAT 2026 Preparation: How to Prepare for IPMAT in One Month

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. 

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. 

Candidates appearing for the IPMAT exam for admission to the five-year integrated programme in management, must have a good percentile to clear the cutoff of IIM Indore. The validity of IPMAT score is one year and students will be offered admission to colleges accepting IPMAT scores through their IPMAT result. To gain admission, candidates need to match the cutoff criteria of their preferred institute. The IPMAT exam has 100 questions and the total marks are 400. But, the raw scores are then scaled and the composite scores are calculated. Knowing what is a good score in IPMAT exam is subjective, however, the current trends suggest that the following will be considered a good score with 90-100% accuracy:

1. Quantitative Aptitude (MCQs): 18-20 questions
2. Quantitative Aptitude (SA): 9-10 questions
3. Verbal Ability: 38-42 questions

Based on the scores obtained in the IPMAT exam, the candidates will be called for the PI round of the selection procedure conducted by IIM Indore. 

Aspirants should start preparing for the IPMAT exam at least six months before the test date. IPMAT preparation requires planning thus one must start early. They can also join coaching institutes for focused preparation. Starting early will also help you assess that whether you need to join a coaching institute or not. Divide your preparation into three phases -

1. Covering the syllabus
2. Practicing mock tests, sample questions
3. Revision.

The IPMAT syllabus includes the following topics: Verbal Skills: Parajumbles, Sentence Completion, Grammar, Comprehension Passages, Synonyms and Antonyms, etc., Analytical Reasoning: Tables, Graphs, Pie Charts, Blood Relation, Seating Arrangement, Strong and Weak Arguments, and Syllogism.

Quantitative Skills: Geometry, Algebra Number System Arithmetic, Mensuration etc.

You can read the following IPMAT books for exam preparation:

1. Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis

2. How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT by Arun Sharma and Meenakshi Upadhyay

3. High School English Grammar and Composition by Wren & Martin

4. How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT by Arun Sharma

5. Class 9 and Class 10 NCERT Mathematics books

6. Quantitative Aptitude by R. S Aggarwal.

Yes, one can appear for the IPMAT exam even if they didn't have mathematics in Class 12. There are no specific requirements of the IPMAT exam for having studied mathematics.

However, cracking IPMAT without having studied Mathematics in Class 11 and 12 can be a bit tricky and challenging. This is because higher level Mathematics dominate the exam. More than 60% of all the numerical are from Class 11 and Class 12 syllabus. One can also consider taking coaching for the sections they find difficult. The two sections based on Quantitative Aptitude are different in nature. One section has MCQs while the other has Short Answer Type questions. The 'Short answer type' section includes questions which will have no options with them, hence this section can be more difficult. Students who have not studied maths in HSC may be required to put in a bit more effort for the IPMAT preparation. 

Aptitude Test score or the ATS score in IPMAT is the deciding factor for the students if they will get a call for the Personal Interview or not after the exam is conducted. The higher the ATS, the higher the chances for IIM Indore PI call:

The ATS is calculated using the below mentioned formula:

ATS Score = (Candidate's score / Maximum score) X 100

Raw scores are converted to ATS scores and then the composite score is calculated after the PI round.