IPMAT Preparation Tips 2026: How to Prepare, Best Books & Important Topics

IPMAT exam preparation 2026 includes knowing the IPMAT exam pattern, important concepts of the IPMAT syllabus and consistent practice with mock tests and previous years' question papers. Read the article below by Shiksha to get the best IPMAT preparation tips and tricks. 

IPMAT Indore preparation 2026 requires a strategic and well-structured study plan, which begins with understanding the IPMAT exam pattern and IPMAT syllabus 2026. IPMAT is a highly competitive exam, which requires a blend of discipline, smart study strategies and time management.

The IPMAT 2026 exam will be conducted on May 4, 2026. Aspirants planning to appear in the exam must start preparing for it at least six months in advance. A good IPMAT preparation strategy will go a long way if the students appearing for the exam set goals, have conceptual clarity by covering the IPMAT syllabus and look out for common mistakes in the IPMAT exam. These things should be kept in mind to have an effective and efficient IPMAT preparation plan.

Every year, approximately 25,000 to 35,000 students appear for the IPMAT exam. The competition has increased with time in competitive exams and a good preparation strategy goes a long way in scoring well. Read below to know how to prepare for IPMAT 2026, tips, important topics, best books, etc.

IPMAT Indore Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2026

IPMAT exam preparation begins with understanding the IPMAT syllabus and exam pattern. Take a look at the table below to get an overview of the IPMAT exam pattern and syllabus:

IPMAT Exam Pattern 2026

The following table depicts the IPMAT exam structure including the IPMAT question paper structure, marking scheme, number of questions, etc.

Also Read: IPMAT vs CUET UG

IPMAT 2026 Syllabus & Important Topics

IPMAT syllabus includes topics on Quantitative Aptitude and Verbal Ability. The IPMAT exam aims to test the candidate’s quantitative ability and hold over English grammar and language. Check out the table below to know the IPMAT exam syllabus and the section-wise important topics:

IPMAT Preparation 2026 Roadmap

Here is an overview of the IPMAT exam preparation. Students can follow the below-mentioned roadmap for IPMAT preparation 2026 if they haven’t started yet.

Subject-Wise IPMAT Preparation Strategy: How to Prepare for IPMAT

The IPMAT question paper has two main sections, i.e. Quantitative Aptitude and Verbal Ability. Each section is unique and requires an exclusive approach and preparation strategy. Accuracy and speed are the key players to ace the IPM exam.

Quantitative Ability IPMAT Preparation Tips

The Quant section of the IPM exam is usually considered tough, as the QA section has multiple-choice questions as well as short-answer type questions. Students who have a strong mathematical ability and calculation skills, scoring well in the QA section, can be easier. Students can begin by strengthening their Class 9-level mathematics. They can prepare short notes for mathematical formulas and theories. Practising previous years’ IPMAT question papers is important to understand the difficulty level of the exam. The difficulty level of IPMAT’s QA section ranges from Class 10 to Class 12 mathematical concepts.

Students should also work on time management skills, especially for the short-type of answers, as there will be no options.

Important Topics of Quantitative Ability in IPMAT

The key topics of focus in the QA section include:

• Algebra
• Number System
• Geometry
• Mensuration
• Permutation and Combination
• Profit and Loss
• Probability
• Arithmetic (Percentages, Time, Speed and Distance, Averages, etc.)
• Set Theory
• Data Interpretation and Graphs

Also Read: Important maths formulas to boost IPMAT score 2026

Verbal Ability IPMAT Preparation Tips

The Verbal Ability section of the IPMAT exam aims to evaluate the aspirant based on his/her hold over English grammar and language. It also tests the vocabulary and verbal reasoning ability of the student. Relatively, this section is scoring for students who have a strong hold over grammar.

Students can start the VA preparation by cultivating the habit of reading newspapers every day such as The Hindu, The Economic Times, etc. This will help them improve their vocabulary and build comprehension skills. Students can target learning five to ten new words daily and revise them weekly.

Students should also focus on practising reading comprehension passages regularly. They can begin with solving short RCs and then move on to the lengthier ones and editorials. Students can opt for using flashcards and grammar apps to improve their vocabulary.

Students should focus on the grammar rules of each VA topic and regularly solve grammar worksheets. The difficulty level of the VA section is moderate and can be tackled with regular practice and contextual understanding of the concepts.

Important Topics of Verbal Ability in IPMAT

The key topics of focus in the VA section include:

• Vocabulary (Synonyms, Antonyms, Spelling Rules/Errors, One Word Substitution, Odd One Out, etc.)
• Parts of Speech
• Verbs and Tenses
• Active and Passive Voice
• Direct and Indirect Speech
• Figures of Speech
• Etymology and Roots
• Subject-verb agreement
• Articles
• Deductive Reasoning
• Para Jumbles
• Analogies
• Reading Comprehension
• Assumption-based questions

Best Books for IPMAT Preparation 2026

Choosing the right set of books for IPMAT preparation 2026 is important if one wants to crack IPMAT 2026. Given below is the list of expert-recommended IPMAT books, which have extensive topic coverage and is suitable for beginners as well as advanced learners.

IPMAT prep tip: Students should start with the NCERT maths book and then level up to Arun Sharma and mock tests. For the VA prep, students must start with editorials and newspapers such as The Hindu and focus on concept clarity.

Common Mistakes to Avoid During IPMAT Exam Preparation

Mentioned below are a few common mistakes that students should look out for when preparing for the IPMAT Indore exam 2026:

• Ignoring reading daily: Reading newspapers and editorials daily will strengthen the aspirant’s verbal and vocabulary skills. To learn and understand different types of writing styles and grammar usage, newspapers and editorials can be a great source.
• Not having a structured IPMAT study plan: If the student does not have a proper, structured IPMAT prep plan, then they must do it immediately. One might be a topper in Class 12 or a dropper, it wouldn’t matter if he/she does not have a personalised timetable to prepare for the IPMAT exam made according to their strengths and weaknesses.
• Prioritising quantity over quality: Choosing the books and study material is as important as choosing the right set of books, which cover the complete IPMAT 2026 syllabus, and adapt to changes according to the latest IPMAT paper pattern.
• Not making short notes: Students can dedicate at least 30 minutes of their study routine to making short notes on formulas, shortcuts, tricks, etc. This will come in very handy during the preparation phase as students will have quick references if they forget something.
• Only practicing mock tests: One mistake that students should completely avoid is starting their IPM exam preparation with mock tests. IPMAT mock tests hold much importance, but they should only be used for practice once the student has completed the IPM syllabus and has conceptual clarity. Students can take full-length mock tests as well as sectional IPMAT mock tests to prepare for the exam.

Preparing for IPMAT Along with Boards

IPMAT and boards preparation can be a bit overwhelming. IPMAT preparation requires studying extensively complex topics in the QA and VA sections, while the board preparation is based on conceptual clarity and the school syllabus. Having said that, both exams have significant syllabus overlap and hence, IPMAT and Class 12 board exam preparation can be done by proper time management, preparation strategy and planning. A good mathematics preparation for boards will automatically help the students prepare a large chunk of the QA section of the IPMAT exam. Reading newspapers, magazines, journals, editorials, etc. will help the students crack the English part of IPMAT as well as Class 12 boards. IPMAT 2026 and board exam preparation require time management. Both are speed-based exams, and hence, preparing for one concept can significantly help with the other exam. Also Read: How to prepare for IPMAT with Class 12 Boards- A detailed summary

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