Is IPMAT tougher than SET Exam 2026? Know the Key Differences and Similarities
IPMAT vs SET Exam - IPMAT and SET are two of the most popular BBA entrance exams in India. Both the BBA entrance exams are accepted by the prestigious BBA institutes in the country. Read here the key differences between IPMAT and SET.
IPMAT vs SET
IPMAT vs SET Exam: Every year, many students appear for BBA entrance exams to get admission to some of the top BBA colleges in India. Some of the popular BBA entrance exams include IPMAT, SET, UGAT, Christ University Entrance Test, CUET, etc. Integrated Program in Management Aptitude Test (IPMAT) and Symbiosis Entrance Test (SET) are the two BBA entrance exams that are taken by many students aspiring to pursue the BBA course. There are about ten colleges which accept IPMAT scores for IPM admissions 2026. These include IIM Indore, IIM Ranchi, IIM Sirmaur, IIM Shillong, Nirma University, IIFT Kaikananda, etc.
On the other hand, SIU's eight colleges accept SET exam scores, including colleges such as SICSR, SCMS Pune, SCMS Noida, etc. Often students think about which entrance exam to take and whether is IPMAT tougher than SET. Comparing the difficulty level of the IPMAT and SET exam can be subjective and depends on factors such as individual strengths, preparation, and familiarity with the exam pattern, etc.
IPMAT 2026 will be held on May 4, 2026, and the SET 2026 exam will also be held on May 2 and May 10. The IPMAT and SET exams are very 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 SET exam to understand if IPMAT is tougher than SET.
- IPMAT vs SET Exam: Conducting Body
- IPMAT vs SET: Eligibility Criteria
- IPMAT vs SET: Fees
- IPMAT vs SET: Exam Pattern
- IPMAT vs SET: Syllabus
- IPMAT vs SET: Programme
- Colleges Accepting IPMAT Scores
- Colleges Accepting SET Exam Scores
IPMAT vs SET Exam: Conducting Body
IPMAT: IPMAT is conducted annually by the Indian Institute of Management Indore (IIM Indore). The exam is conducted for admission to the Integrated Program in Management (IPM). The exam is conducted in the computer-based test mode (CBT).
SET: The SET exam is conducted by the Symbiosis International University. SET exam is also conducted in the computer-based test mode (CBT). The exam is conducted only once a year for admission to the BBA (Bachelor of Business Administration) course.
Commonly asked questions
IPMAT Indore and IPMAT Rohtak have similar syllabus but they differ in terms of difficulty level. IPMAT Indore exam has 3 sections based on Verbal Skills and Quantitative Skills but the IPMAT Rohtak exam has an extra section on Logical Reasoning.
Level of difficulty of IPMAT Indore is slightly higher than IPMAT Rohtak as seen in the previous years. Also, IPMAT Indore scores are accepted by over 10 BSchools including IIM Sirmaur, IIM Shillong, IIM Ranchi, etc. but IPMAT Rohtak scores are accepted only by IIM Rohtak.
Yes, IIM Indore has achieved 100% placements for its PGP and IPM batch 2025. The key highlights of IIM Indore placements for the Class of 2024 are tabulated below:
Particulars | Placement Statistics (2025) |
|---|---|
Highest package | INR 70 LPA (PGP and IPM) INR 40 LPA (PGP HRM) INR 36 LPA (EPGP) |
Average package | INR 29.57 LPA (PGP and IPM) INR 24 LPA (PGP HRM) INR 23.5 LPA (EPGP) |
Median package | INR 27 LPA (PGP and IPM) INR 25 LPA (PGP HRM) |
Total recruiters | 225+ (PGP and IPM) 30+ (PGP HRM) 65+ (EPGP) |
Placement rate | 100% (PGP and IPM) |
The Symbiosis International Pune placement report 2025 has been out all the schools. The data tabulated below provides SIBM placement highlights for 2025:
Particulars | Placement Statistics (2025) |
|---|---|
the highest Package | INR 53.58 LPA |
Average Package | INR 28.83 LPA |
Median Package | INR 26.04 LPA |
PPO's offered | 98 |
Companies visited | 109 |
IPMAT vs SET: Eligibility Criteria
IPMAT Indore eligibility criteria: The students appearing for the IPMAT exam must have cleared Class 12 from a recognised board. 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 2026
SET eligibility criteria: The students appearing for the SET exam must have also cleared Class 12 from a recognised board. They must have secured a minimum of 50% aggregate in Class 12. Students appearing for the Class 12 Board exams are also eligible to apply for the SET exam.
There is no age limit to appear for the SET 2026 exam.
Also Read: Detailed SET 2026 eligibility criteria
IPMAT vs SET: Fees
IPMAT: 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.
SET: The registration fee for SET is INR 2,250 for one paper. Candidates need to pay INR 1,000 for each institute to which they choose to send their SET scores.
Also Read:
Commonly asked questions
The written ability test (WAT) is a selection criteria in the Symbiosis SET exam for admission to the various undergraduate courses. The WAT round assesses the candidate's ability to express themselves in writing, evaluate a situation and write a comprehension about their views.
Yes, Symbiosis International Pune campus is safe for girls and boys. The college campus is located in center of Bangalore. It has a good connection with roads and public transports. CCTV cameras are installed in the campus to keep a check on students safety.
The Symbiosis International, Pune placement report 2025 has been out the on the official website for all the schools. Check out the Symbiosis International, Pune placements recorded during 2025 given below:
Institute Name | Highest Package (2025) | Average Package (2025) |
|---|---|---|
SIT Pune | INR 24 LPA (domestic) INR 16.46 LPA (international) | not available |
SIBM Pune (MBA) | INR 53.58 LPA | INR 28.83 LPA |
SIDTM Pune (MBA) | INR 29.04 LPA | INR 13.2 LPA |
SIIB Pune (MBA) | INR 27.6 LPA – MBA IB INR 21.6 LPA – MBA AB INR 19.2 LPA – MBA EE | INR 16.2 LPA – MBA IB INR 12.6 LPA – MBA AB INR 14 LPA – MBA EE |
SCMHRD Pune (MBA) | INR 35.9 LPA | INR 21.47 LPA |
SCMS Pune (MBA) | INR 17 LPA | INR 6.89 LPA (median) |
SIMS Pune (MBA) | INR 21 LPA | INR 13.5 LPA (top 50%) |
SSBF Pune (MBA) | INR 21.42 LPA | INR 11 LPA |
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IPMAT vs SET: Exam Pattern
To understand if the IPMAT Indore is tougher than the SET exam, one needs to understand the exam pattern of both exams.
| Details |
IPMAT |
SET |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions |
100 |
60 |
| Total marks |
400 |
60 |
| Exam duration |
2 hours |
1 hour |
| Marking Scheme |
|
|
| Type of Questions |
Multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and Short-Answer Type Questions (SA) |
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) |
| Sectional time limit |
Yes, 40 minutes per section |
No sectional time limit |
There are 100 questions in the IIM Indore IPMAT which are to be solved within 120 minutes, whereas, there are only 60 questions in the SET BBA exam which are to be solved in 60 minutes. This means, the students will get one minute per question to solve each question in the SET exam. But since the IPMAT exam has short-answer type questions as well and there is a sectional time limit too, IPMAT becomes a speed-based exam. This also makes IPMAT a tougher exam in terms of execution. However, if the candidates prepare for IPMAT keeping the sectional time limit in mind, they can easily score well.
Also Read:
IPMAT vs SET: Syllabus
The syllabus of both these exams is not very different from each other, but there are three sections in the IPMAT 2026 exam whereas there are four sections in the SET question paper. The IPMAT question paper has three sections based on two subjects- Quantitative Ability and Verbal Ability. Look at the table below to know the syllabus of the two exams.
| IPMAT |
SET |
|---|---|
| Quantitative Ability (MCQs) |
Quantitative Aptitude |
| Quantitative Ability (Short-Answers) |
General Awareness |
| Verbal Ability |
General English |
|
|
Analytical and Logical Reasoning |
Also Read:
| IPMAT syllabus 2026 | Download Here |
| SET syllabus 2026 | Download Here |
Commonly asked questions
The IIM Indore highest package offered during the 2025 placement session was INR 70 LPA. Check the table below for course-wise highest placement details between 2024 and 2025 drives:
Course | Highest Package (2024) | Highest Package (2025) |
|---|---|---|
PGP and IPM | INR 100 LPA | INR 70 LPA |
PGP-HRM | INR 33.6 LPA | INR 40 LPA |
EPGP | INR 47 LPA | INR 36 LPA |
The Studio Test (ST) in the Symbiosis Entrance Test SET selection process is a practical assessment conducted for some courses. It evaluates the student's design aptitude, creativity and ability to handle pressure and situtations. The Studio Test is conducted at SCMS, Pune and is an important part of the counselling process.
IIM Indore has a good record of placements for its PGPHRM program. More than 30 recruiters participated during the 2025 placement session and placed students with decent packages. Check out the IIM Indore packages offered to PGPHRM batc 2025 form the table below:
| Package | PGPHRM Statistics - 2025 |
|---|---|
| Highest | 40 LPA |
| Average | 25 LPA |
| Median | 24 LPA |
| Top 10% | 38.30 LPA |
| Top 25% | 30 LPA |
| Top 50% | 29.30 LPA |
IPMAT vs SET: 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.
SET: The SET exam is a gateway for admissions to undergraduate courses offered by SIU such as Management, Law, Engineering, Economics, Mass Communication and Computer Studies. On completing the course through SET, students will only be awarded a bachelor's degree.
Also Read:
Colleges Accepting IPMAT Scores
Given below is the list of colleges in India accepting IPMAT score.
| Colleges Accepting IPMAT Scores in India |
|
|---|---|
| Indian Institute of Management, Indore (IIM Indore) |
|
| IIM Shillong |
IIM Amritsar |
| IIM Sirmaur |
Alliance University |
| NICMAR University |
|
Also Read:
| How to Prepare for IPMAT and Boards Together? | Mistakes to Avoid While Preparing for IPMAT exam 2026 |
| IPMAT PYQs with Solutions PDF |
Commonly asked questions
IIM Indore offers a five-year integrated programme in Management accredited by the Association of MBAs, AMBA London. This five-year Management programme is a combination of both UG (BBA) and PG (MBA) course. Aimed at students who have completed their Class 12 from a recognised board in India, the last two years of the programme are at the PG level. Candidates who have passed Class 12 or HSc or equivalent examination in 2021, 2022 or appearing in 2023 can apply for IIM Indore IPM course.
IIM Indore had concluded placements for the batch passing out in 2023. The placement statistics for IIM Indore IPM are the same as that of the IIM Indore PGP programme since in last two years of the five-year course, IPM students pursue PGP. The placement statistics from the 2020 report are as follows:
Particulars | IPM Statistics (2023) |
|---|---|
Batch strength | 568 |
Total recruiters | 160 |
the highest package | INR 114 LPA |
Average package | INR 30.21 LPA |
Median package | INR 27.20 LPA |
Symbiosis Entrance Test (SET) is a national-level entrance exam which is conducted only once a year. The exam is usually conducted in the computer-based test mode in about 80 test cities across the country. This year, the SET exam 2026 will be conducted on May 2 and May 10. The students who wish to appear for SET exam had to apply online by filling the SET application form.
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2 May '26
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16 Apr '26 - 10 May '26
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31 Mar '26 - 3 May '26
Colleges Accepting SET Exam Scores
SET exam is conducted by SIU and is accepted by the colleges affiliated to Symbiosis International University. Check the table below to know the colleges accepting SET exam scores:
| Colleges Accepting SET Scores in India |
|
|---|---|
| Symbiosis Institute of Computer Studies and Research [SICSR], Pune |
|
| Symbiosis Artificial Intelligence Institute (SAII), Pune | |
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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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