IPMAT vs CUET UG: Know the Differences and Similarities
Integrated Program in Management Aptitude Test 2026 ( IPMAT )
Exam On - 4 May '26
Is IPMAT tougher than CUET UG? Read the article below to know the differences and similarities between CUET and IPMAT.
IPMAT vs CUET UG
IPMAT and CUET are two popular undergraduate entrance exams for BBA admissions. Besides being the gateway to the top management colleges in India, the IPM Aptitude Test (IPMAT Indore) and Common University Entrance Test (CUET) have several similarities. Every year lakhs of students appear for BBA entrance exams to get admission to the leading BBA colleges in India. There are about 11 colleges which accept IPMAT scores for admission. These include IIM Indore, IIM Ranchi, Nirma University, IIFT, etc. On the other hand, there are over 15 central universities and a total of 249 universities in India which accept CUET UG scores. Comparing the difficulty level of the IPMAT and CUET UG exams can be subjective and depends on various factors such as individual strengths, preparation, and familiarity with the exam pattern, etc.
The IPMAT and CUET exams are similar in terms of syllabus but very different in terms of the exam pattern, marking scheme, difficulty level, programme, etc. In this article, Shiksha.com has presented a comparative study of the IPMAT and CUET exams to understand if the IPMAT is tougher than CUET UG exam.
- IPMAT vs CUET: Highlights
- IPMAT vs CUET: Eligibility Criteria
- IPMAT vs CUET: Application Fee
- IPMAT vs CUET: Exam Pattern
- IPMAT vs CUET: Syllabus
- IPMAT vs CUET: Programme
- Colleges Accepting IPMAT Scores
- Top BBA Colleges Accepting CUET Scores
- IPMAT Preparation
- CUET Preparation
- How to Prepare for IPMAT and CUET Simultaneously?
IPMAT vs CUET: Highlights
Refer to the table below to know the comparison between IPMAT and CUET:
| IPMAT vs CUET |
IPMAT |
CUET |
|---|---|---|
| Exam conducting body |
National Test Agency (NTA) | |
| Exam Level |
Undergraduate |
Undergraduate |
| Duration of the course |
5 years |
3 years |
| Mode of the examination |
Computer-based test mode |
Computer-based test mode |
| Difficulty Level |
Moderate |
Moderate to Tough |
| Frequency |
Annually |
Annually |
| Courses offered |
Integrated MBA (BBA+MBA) |
Various undergraduate courses |
| Type of questions |
MCQs and Short-answer type |
MCQs |
| Medium of the exam |
English |
English, Hindi, Bengali, Assamese, Odia, Punjabi, Marathi, Gujarati, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Urdu |
| Official website |
https://www.iimidr.ac.in/ |
https://nta.ac.in/ |
Also Read: CUET 2026 FAQs
UGC has announced the deletion of 26 subjects from CUET UG 2025 onwards. CUET UG 20 foreign languages and six domain subjects have been removed. Check the list below to know the name of the subjects:
- Foreign Languages (French, Spanish, German, Nepali, Persian, Italian, Arabic, Sindhi, Kashmiri, Konkani, Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, Manipuri, Santhali, Sanskrit, Tibetan, Japanese, Russian, Chinese)
- Domain Subjetcs (Entrepreneurship, Teaching Aptitude, Fashion Studies, Tourism, Legal Studies, Engineering Graphics)
The choice between CAT and IPMAT is based on the career goal. CAT is the most recognised test for admission into MBA programs, mainly for those who have completed their undergraduate studies. It is accepted by the top management institutes like IIMs. Whereas IPMAT is targeted at those students who would like to join directly for a 5-year integrated programme BBA+MBA immediately after schools and institutes such as IIM Indore and IIM Rohtak are providing this integrated program. And if one looks for the MBA, post-graduation CAT would be more suitable for it.
IPMAT vs CUET: Eligibility Criteria
IPMAT eligibility criteria: The students appearing for the IPMAT exam must have cleared Class 12 from a recognized board. The students must have secured a minimum of 60% aggregate in Class 10 and Class 12. They must have also passed the qualifying exam in 2024, 2025 or 2026. Those completing Class 12 by July 30, 2026, are also eligible.
The student must be a maximum of 20 years of age as of July 30, 2026.
Also Read: Detailed IPMAT eligibility criteria
CUET eligibility criteria: Students appearing for the CUET UG exam should have also passed Class 12 from a recognized board in the relevant stream. Students appearing for Class 12 boards are also eligible to apply for the CUET exam. Unlike IPMAT, there is no age limit to appear for the CUET exam, however, the students will have to fulfil the age criteria (if any) of the University/Institution/Organization in which they are willing to take admission.
The student appearing for CUET must be an Indian citizen.
Also Read: Detailed CUET eligibility criteria
IPMAT vs CUET: Application Fee
IPMAT Application Fee: The registration fee is INR 4,130 for General and NC-OBC candidates. For SC/ST/PWD (DA) categories, the fee is INR 2,065. The application fee for the IPMAT exam can only be paid online using a credit card, debit card, internet banking or UPI.
CUET Application Fee: Like the IPMAT exam fee, the CUET application fee can also be paid online only. The CUET UG application fee is as follows:
| Category |
Up to 3 subjects |
For each additional subject |
|---|---|---|
| General UR |
INR 1000 |
INR 400 each |
| OBC-NCL/EWS |
INR 900 |
INR 375 each |
| SC/ST/PwD/Third Gender |
INR 800 |
INR 350 Each |
| Centres outside India |
INR 4500 |
INR 1800 each |
IPMAT vs CUET: Exam Pattern
To understand if the IPMAT exam is tougher than the CUET exam, one needs to understand the exam pattern of both exams. Take a look at the table below:
| Details |
IPMAT |
CUET |
|---|---|---|
| Mode of examination |
Computer-based test mode |
Hybrid mode (offline using OMR sheet and CBT mode) |
| Number of questions |
100 |
|
| Exam duration |
2 hours |
- 60 minutes for
- 45 minutes for all other test papers |
| Marking Scheme |
+4 marks for a correct answer -1 mark for an incorrect answer |
+5 marks for each correct response -1 mark for each incorrect response |
| Type of Questions |
Multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and Short-Answer Type Questions (SA) |
Multiple-choice questions |
| Sectional time limit |
Yes 40 minutes per section |
No |
| Medium of the exam |
English |
English, Hindi, Bengali, Assamese, Odia, Punjabi, Marathi, Gujarati, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Urdu |
Also Read:
IPMAT vs CUET: Syllabus
The IPMAT syllabus has three sections, i.e. Quantitative Aptitude (MCQs), Quantitative Aptitude (SAs) and Verbal Ability.
Whereas in the CUET exam, students can choose the subjects according to their preference, i.e., if they wish to pursue a BBA they can appear for Mathematics/Applied Mathematics, Business Studies, Accountancy, etc.
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Also Read: CUET syllabus
IPMAT vs CUET: Programme
IPMAT: The IPMAT exam is conducted for admission to the five-year Integrated Program in Management (IPM). IPMAT is a combination of a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree (under the dual-degree programme) offered by the IPMAT score-accepting institutes. Students will be provided with a BA (Foundations of Management) and an MBA by IIM Indore at the end of the programme. Students choosing IIFT as their college will be awarded a BBA (Business Analytics) and MBA (International Business) after the programme.
CUET: CUET also known as CUET UG is conducted by NTA for admission to various UG courses. CUET UG offers candidates a common platform for seeking admission to UG programs in top colleges/universities throughout India.
Also Read:
Colleges Accepting IPMAT Scores
Given below is the list of colleges in India accepting IPMAT scores.
| Colleges in India Accepting IPMAT Scores |
|
|---|---|
| Indian Institute of Management, Indore (IIM Indore) |
|
| IIM Amritsar |
IIM Shillong |
| IIM Sirmaur |
|
Top BBA Colleges Accepting CUET Scores
Check out the table below to know a few top BBA colleges/universities accepting CUET scores:
| Universities in India Accepting CUET scores |
|
|---|---|
| Tata Institute Of Social Sciences | |
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Also Read: Detailed account on top universities accepting CUET scores
IPMAT Preparation
The table below mentions links to study material, tips and tricks, and a holistic preparation plan to crack IPMAT exam.
CUET Preparation
The table below mentions links to study material, tips and tricks, and a holistic preparation plan to crack the CUET exam.
How to Prepare for IPMAT and CUET Simultaneously?
Preparing for IPMAT and CUET together requires a strategic approach. The syllabus of both exams has many common topics. Hence, preparing for both exams can save time. To prepare for the IPMAT and CUET exams simultaneously, students should start by understanding the exam pattern and preparing a study routine. For the Quantitative Ability or Mathematics section, focus on knowing the concepts rather than learning the formulae.
The Quantitative Aptitude section of the IPMAT exam can be difficult and demanding. Hence, the QA preparation of the IPMAT exam would require the students to focus on advanced topics such as Integration, Probability, etc. Students have to go beyond the Class 12 mathematics to prepare well for the IPMAT's QA section. But, for CUET mathematics exam/section, students can easily prepare with Class 10 and Class 12 mathematics.
To tackle the IPMAT QA section, students should refer to the preparation books for IPMAT such as Complete Manual for IIM Indore (IPM) by Pearson Publications, Pearson Guide to Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation for CAT by Arun Sharma, etc.
To prepare for CUET mathematics, students can focus on strengthening their fundamentals and gaining conceptual clarity. Referring to the NCERT mathematics book for Class 9, 10 and 12 can help the students prepare for the mathematics subject. To score well in this subject, consistency coupled with practice is the key.
On the other hand, to prepare for the VA section of IPMAT, students should strengthen their comprehension skills by reading and practice vocabulary using flashcards. Practicing using previous years' question papers and sample papers is a great way of preparing for any entrance exam and it will also work well for both IPMAT and CUET preparation. Aspiring students can take sectional mock tests to prepare for the English sections of IPMAT and CUET. Creating a structured and strategic study plan can help the students prepare for the IPMAT exam along with CUET. Students can opt for crash courses which are focused on a particular exam which will ensure efficient usage of time.
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 2 months ago
IPMAT Rohtak registration 2026 will begin in the first week of February 2026. The application process usually goes on for approximately two months. Candidates will be able to fill the IPM Aptitude Test application form online. The IPM Rohtak application form will be available on the official website
N
Beginner-Level 5
Answered 2 months ago
IIM Rohtak will announce the IPMAT Rohtak date 2026 and schedule online. The IPMAT 2026 exam will likely be conducted in the first week of May 2026. The registrations for IIM Rohtak IPMAT 2026 will likely begin in the first week of February 2026. The registration window will likely be open for appro
R
Beginner-Level 5
IPMAT and IPM Aptitude Test (IIM Rohtak) have similar syllabus but the difficulty level is different. Both exams have Quantitative Aptitude and Verbal Ability sections. However, IIM Rohtak's IPMAT exam has an additional section- Logical Reasoning. While IPM Aptitude Test is an easy exam, IIM Indore's IPMAT is moderately tough but to say which is better totally depends upon the college a candidate is targeting for the five-year integrated programme. The participating colleges for both exams are different. If a candidate's dream college accepts IPMAT score, then they should appear for IPMAT exam. The IPMAT exam conducted by IIM Indore is accepted by other institutes such as IIFT, IIM Ranchi, Nirma University, Alliance University, NICMAR University, Department of Management Studies and NALSAR University of Law. The benefit of IPMAT by IIM Indore is that the exam is accepted by multiple top management insitutes in country, whereas the one conducted by IIM Rohtak is only accepted by IIM Rohtak.