Best Books for IPMAT Preparation 2026: Check Section-wise Books (Quant & Verbal)

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.

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. 

Students who are appearing for the Class 12 board exams and also the IPMAT exam should know that they need to balance the IPMAT preparation along with the Class 12 board preparation in order to succeed in both. Students can prioritize Class 12 board exams as they are important for the academic performance and future admission to the IPMAT colleges. 

Preparing for the board exams will build a strong foundation for the IPMAT exam preparation as well. No amount of preparation can be enough if you do not have a good study plan. A well structured study plan which allocates time to IPMAT exam preparation as well as Class 12 board preparation can help the students ace the exams. By identifying the common topics, students can prioritize and organize IPM and boards syllabus accordingly. Students should regularly revise the topics through a revision plan which covers the complete syllabus. 

IPMAT is a speed-based test which is designed to assess a candidate's quantitative aptitude skills and command over English langauge and comprehension skills. These are the subjects which the students have studied in Class 9 to Class 12, just that the in the IPMAT exam, students need to practice these at a slightly advanced level. 

Students can crack the IPMAT exam by brushing up the basics and practicing concepts with advance level problems. Applicants should solve previous years' question papers, attempt an ample number of mock tests and be consistent to score well in the IPMAT exam.

Having said that, the preparation for the IPMAT exam requires focus, dedication and diligence. If you can do that, despite being an average student, you can crack the IPMAT exam easily. A good preparation strategy can help you crack the IPMAT exam with a good score. Generally, the toughest section of the IPMAT question paper is Quantitative Aptitude (Short Answers). But with daily practice and focusing on understanding the fundamentals, this section of the IPMAT exam can be handled easily. For the Verbal Ability section, students must focus on Grammar and solving various mock tests to improve their vocabulary. 

The IPMAT exam is held for two hours or 120 minutes. There is only one slot for the IPMAT exam. IPMAT exam also has a sectional time limit of 40 minutes per section. The candidates need to solve the question paper in 120 minutes and this means that the candidates will have approximately two minutes to solve each question. Candidates must take care of saving their answers at every step as the moment 40 minutes get over, the screen will automatically redirect to the next section. The test will end automatically once 120 minutes of the test are over. The IPMAT exam is conducted in the afternoon shift. Also, there is no provision for changing the exam slot. Candidates must make sure that they reach the IPMAT exam centre at least an hour before the commencement of the examination in order to complete the frisking formalities at the entry gate. Candidates will not be allowed to enter the exam centre 15 minutes before the exam time.

IPMAT has a total of 120 questions. The Quantitative Aptitude section (part 1 and 2) carry 100 marks each and the Verbal Ability section carries 200 marks. For each correct attempt, four marks are awarded and one mark is deducted for an incorrect attempt. There is no deduction of marks for unanswered questions. Therefore, the total marks of IPMAT is 400. Sectional marking scheme for IPMAT is given below:

Verbal Ability:

• Number of questions: 50 questions
• Total marks: 200

Quantitative Aptitude (multiple-choice questions): 

• Number of questions: 25
• Total marks: 100

Quantitative Aptitude (short answer type questions):

• Number of questions: 25
• Total marks: 100

Since IPMAT has negative marking scheme, candidates must choose the questions to solve very carefully and smartly. If they are not sure of the correct answer, they should leave the question instead of taking a chance.

Integrated Program in Management Aptitude Test (IPMAT) is one of the most competitive entrance exams after Class 12. The difficulty level of the IPMAT exam is usually moderate. The IPMAT question paper is divided into three sections, i.e. Verbal Ability, Quantitative Aptitude (MCQs) and Quantitative Aptitude (SA). It is clear that QA (Maths) forms a big chunk of the IPMAT syllabus. The exam is a test of your speed and ability to pick and solve the right questions. Higher-level Maths dominates the exam. Usually, more than 60% of all the QA questions are from the Class 11 and Class 12 syllabus. Calculus and Class 12 Maths form a large portion of questions in IPMAT. To score well in the IPMAT exam, students must be very clear with the concepts of NCERT Mathematics to score well in IPMAT. 

Quantitiative Aptitude Sectional Weightage

Quantitative Aptitude (QA) section of the IPMAT exam covers a range of mathematical topics and is one of the toughest sections of the IPMAT question paper. While the exact weightage of each topic may vary from year to year, it is important to have a strong understanding of the following key topics:

1. Arithmetic: This includes topics such as Percentages, Profit and Loss, Simple and Compound Interest, Time, Work and Distance, Ratio and Proportion, Averages, and Partnerships.

2. Algebra: This includes topics such as Linear Equations, Quadratic Equations, Inequalities, Progressions and basic concepts of Functions.

3. Geometry: This includes topics such as Lines, Triangles, Quadrilaterals, Circles, Mensuration, Coordinate geometry.

4. Number System: This covers topics such as Divisibility rules, Factors and Multiples, Prime and Composite numbers, Fractions, Decimals, and Number series.

5. Probability and Statistics: This involves topics such as basic Probability concepts, Permutations and Combinations, Data Interpretation (tables, graphs, charts, etc.), and Mean, Median, Mode.

6. Set Theory: This includes topics such as Sets, Venn diagrams, Operations on sets (union, intersection, complement), and applications of set theory.

It's important to note that the IPMAT exam may include questions that require a combination of multiple topics or concepts. Therefore, it's crucial to have a thorough understanding of these topics, practice a variety of questions, and develop problem-solving techniques to ace the QA section of the IPMAT exam.

Just like other management entrance exams, the Verbal Skills section is divided into Reading Comprehension and Verbal Ability/English Usage. There are about four to five comprehension passages while the topics of English usage are as follows:

1. Synonyms
2. Antonyms
3. Grammar
4. Fill in the blanks
5. Vocabulary
6. Parajumbles
7. Idioms and Phrases
8. Error Identification
9. Para Completion
10. Confusing words 
11. Articles
12. Prepositions
13. Proper Usage of Words
14. Sentence Correction

The Quantitative Aptitude (SA) section is usually considered the lengthiest section in IPMAT. It is also considered one of the most difficult ones becuase it requires extensive calculations and problem-solving, which can be time consuming. Efficent timne management and practice are crucial to ace this section within in the given time limit.