How to Crack IPMAT 2026 in First Attempt?
Integrated Program in Management Aptitude Test 2026 ( IPMAT )
Registration - 31 Mar '26
Cracking IPMAT 2026 exam in first attempt is not impossible but can be challenging. Read the article below to know the preparation tips to crack the IPMAT Indore 2026 exam in first attempt.
How to Crack IPMAT 2026 in first attempt: IPMAT Indore exam is a highly popular UG entrance exam which is a gateway to the integrated programme in management at IIM Indore. Cracking IPMAT exam 2026 in first attempt requires discipline. With the right mindset and preparation plan, one can fetch a good score in IPMAT 2026. Cracking IPMAT 2026 in first attempt is not impossible, but can be difficult. There are about 25,000 candidates who appear for IPMAT exam every year and the number of seats at IIM Indore for IPM programme are just 150. Hence, the competition is stiff, but it is not impossible to make it to the top 150. Read the article below to know how to crack IPMAT 2026 in first attempt.
- IPMAT 2026: Difficulty Level
- IPMAT 2026 Exam Pattern and Syllabus
- How to Crack IPMAT 2026 in First Attempt: Preparation Strategy
IPMAT 2026: Difficulty Level
With only a few months left for IPMAT exam, cracking it limited time can be challenging, but it is not impossible. The IPMAT exam tests both Quantitative Aptitude and Verbal Ability of students, and the difficulty level is high. Students often struggle with making a structured plan for IPMAT whilst incorporating every important topic of the IPMAT syllabus 2026.
The right IPMAT preparation plan, consistency and solving IPMAT previous year questions will help students ace the exam. Check the table below to know the difficulty level of IPMAT Indore 2026 over the years:
| Year | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|
| IPMAT 2025 | Moderate |
| IPMAT 2024 | Moderate |
| IPMAT 2023 | Difficult |
| IPMAT 2022 | Moderate |
| IPMAT 2021 | Easy to Moderate |
| IPMAT 2020 | Difficult |
| IPMAT 2019 | Difficult |
Looking at the table above, IPMAT is a moderate to difficult exam. Hence, students who have just started their preparation would require to put in more effort in order to crack the exam.
Also Read: IPMAT vs other BBA entrance exams
Commonly asked questions
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.
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.
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 -
- Covering the syllabus
- Practicing mock tests, sample questions
- 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.
IPMAT 2026 Exam Pattern and Syllabus
Knowing the IPMAT question paper structure and syllabus is important so that students would know what to expect to the IPMAT exam. The IIM Indore IPM exam has sections based on Quantitative Aptitude and Verbal Ability. Take a look at the table below to know the IPMAT exam pattern 2026.
| Exam structure |
Details |
|---|---|
| Number of Sections |
3 Sections
|
| Duration of Exam |
120 minutes or 2 hours |
| Mode of Exam |
Online |
| Total Number of Questions |
90 to 100 |
| Marking Scheme |
+4 for every correct answer -1 for every incorrect answer |
IPMAT Syllabus 2026
IPMAT syllabus 2026 is spread across the three sections of the IPM exam. IPMAT Indore syllabus 2026 is as follows:
| Section | Important Topics |
|---|---|
| Quantitative Ability | Time and Work, Quadratic Equations, Profit and Loss, Number Systems, Mensuration, Geometry, Algebra, Arithmetic, Integration and Differentiation, Mixtures and Allegations, etc. |
| Verbal Ability | Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary, Tenses, Etymology and Roots, Subject-Verb Agreement, Direct and Indirect Speech, Grammar, etc. |
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How to Crack IPMAT 2026 in First Attempt: Preparation Strategy
Scattered efforts lead to poor results. So, having a well planned study routine for IPMAT exam 2026 is important. Students should begin their preparations but setting clear and measurable goals. They should divide their preparation in the weeks left for the exam. Making a time table would help students prioritize properly. Students who are appearing for the Class 12 board exams will understand how to strike a balance between board preparations and IPMAT preparation.
Also Read: How to Prepare for Boards and IPMAT Together?
Students should first clear the basics. They should learn formulas and theories to prepare for the exam. Eventually, they can move to complex topics.
Regularly solving IPMAT mock tests and PYQPs, will help the students understand the exam structure better and also analyze which are the important topics asked in the question paper. Solving IPM mock tests under timed setting will help students improve accuracy and speed. They will also be able to manage time better on the exam day. Students should analyze their mistakes and find checkpoints where they are going wrong.
- Reading Comprehension passages in the IPMAT question paper 2026 will carry a good amount of marks. But, they can also be challenging and time consuming. Students should develop a habit of regularly reading newspapers and editorials to improve their reading speed and also learn new set of words in order to improve their vocabulary.
Also Read: Maths formulas to remember to boost IPMAT score 2026
Students should try to figure out how much time they should spend on a particular question. IPMAT is a time based exam which also has sectional timings. Students should allocate a fixed time to each section and try not exceed the time as it will only save the time to check the answers marked at the end.
Revising every day and adhering to the time table will work wonders for students preparing for the IIM Indore IPMAT exam 2026.
Acing the IPMAT 2026 exam in first attempt required planning, consistency and discipline. All the efforts would go waste if one is not serious about their studies. One should practice as much as they can after clearing their basics to crack the IPMAT exam 2026 in first attempt.
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 4 days ago
IIM Ranchi will also accept IPMAT Indore scores. IPMAT Indore scores are also accepted by IIM Shillong, IIM Amritsar, IIM Sirmaur, etc.
S
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 4 days ago
Students have to reach the IPMAT exam centre a hour before the exam. IPMAT 2026 will be conducted from 2 PM to 4 PM and so students have to reach the latest by 1 PM.
M
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 4 days ago
Yes, that is minimum eligibility to appear for IPMAT exam. Students awaiting for Class 12 results can also apply for IPMAT exam.
V
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 4 days ago
No, the IPMAT cutoffs are not same for all categories. Cutoffs are different for each category. Reserved categories (OBC, SC, ST, PwD) have lower cutoffs as compared to General category.
R
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 4 days ago
IPMAT is usually considered a bit more difficult than SET, as IPMAT exam has advanced mathematics and is calculation intensive. The exam also have a sectional time limit. But, SET is easier in terms of difficulty, does not have negative marking or sectional timings.
S
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 2 weeks ago
Any amount of IPMAT preparation is not enough without practising previous year question papers.
- It will help candidates in identifying strong and weaknesses.
- By practicing IPMAT questions and sample papers candidates will get an insight into IPMAT exam pattern.
- Solving previous year sample papers wil
M
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 2 weeks ago
Check the table below to know the difficulty level of IPMAT exam over the years:
| Year | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|
| IPMAT 2025 | Moderate |
| IPMAT 2024 | Moderate |
| IPMAT 2023 | Difficult |
| IPMAT 2022 | Moderate |
| IPMAT 2021 | Easy to Moderate |
| IPMAT 2020 | Difficult |
| IPMAT 2019 | Difficult |
S
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 2 weeks ago
IPMAT is known to be a difficult exam because of its mathematics component. The Quant questions include high level mathematics. The VA section is also at par but is easier than QA.
V
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a month ago
IPMAT and JEE are two most competitive exams but cater to different fields. JEE focuses on maths and physics and JEE demands proficiency in quantitative ability, verbal ability and reasoning skills
V
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a month ago
Preparing for IPMAT exam at home can be possible with a good IPMAT study plan. Following is advice from experts and toppers on how to create an IPMAT preparation plan:
- Candidates should use IPMAT syllabus as a guide for exam preparation. They can make a list of the subjects that study material they a
R
Contributor-Level 6
Saumya Jain is an English Literature graduate from the University of Delhi. She has over 8 years of editorial and content writing experience. At Shiksha.com, she has spent more than six years creating research, stud
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