IPMAT Exam Pattern 2026: Check Sectional Weightage, Marking Scheme & Exam Duration

Integrated Program in Management Aptitude Test 2026 ( IPMAT )

DeskCalelnderExam On - 4 May '26

Saumya Jain
Updated on Oct 9, 2025 11:16 IST

By Saumya Jain, Assistant Manager- Content

IPMAT exam pattern 2026 will consist of three sections, i.e. Quantitative Aptitude (SA), Quantitative Aptitude (MCQs), and Verbal Ability. Each section will have a time limit, likely 40 minutes per section. There will be a total of 90 to 100 questions in the IPMAT exam 2026. The IPM exam pattern mentions important details of the IPMAT question paper, including the type of questions, marking scheme, sectional weightage and other details. Knowing the IPMAT exam pattern can help students optimize their performance on the exam day.

The IPMAT exam will be conducted in an online mode. The IPM 2026 exam will be conducted for 120 minutes in the computer-based test mode in various cities across the country. Read below to know more details about the IPMAT question paper 2026, exam pattern, type of questions, etc.

IIM Rohtak also conducts the IPMAT Rohtak exam. However, there are a few differences between the IPMAT Rohtak exam pattern and the IPMAT Indore exam pattern. 

Table of content
  • IPMAT Exam Pattern 2026
  • IIM Indore IPMAT Pattern 2026: Sectional Weightage
  • IPMAT 2026 Exam Pattern: Composite Score Calculation
  • IPMAT Syllabus 2026
  • Important FAQs on IPMAT Exam Pattern
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IPMAT Exam Pattern 2026

Check out the IPMAT 2026 exam pattern in the table below.

Exam structure

Details

Number of Sections

3 Sections

  • Verbal Ability (MCQ)
  • Quantitative Ability (MCQ)
  • Quantitative Aptitude (SA)

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

Please Note: No marks will be given or deducted for questions that are not attempted by candidates.

Also Read:

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   Are 10+2 level maths questions asked in IPMAT?
A: 

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

SectionTotal QuestionsTime Duration
Quantitative Ability (MCQ)2540 minutes
Quantitative Ability (SA)2540 minutes

 

Q:   Will the Quantitative Aptitude section (SA) in IPMAT exam will also have negative marking?
A: 

No, the short answer type section of Quantitative Aptitude section will not have negative markings.

The IPMAT exam has negative markings for the other two sections. Each question in the IPMAT exam carries four marks. And for every incorrect answer, one mark is deducted. This means that if the candidate has four correct answers then 16 marks will be added to the IPMAT overall score. If the candidate marks more than one answer for a particular question, the answer will be considered incorrect. To avoid maximum marks deduction, candidates must attempt the easier question first and then move on to the more difficult ones in that particular section. If the candidate is unsure about a particular question, they can also skip the question. No marks will be deducted or awarded for unanswered questions. 

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IIM Indore IPMAT Pattern 2026: Sectional Weightage

Check the table below to know the sectional weightage in the IPMAT question paper. 

Section

Number of Questions

Time

Quantitative Ability (MCQ)

25

40 minutes

Verbal Ability (MCQ)

50

40 minutes

Quantitative Ability (SA)

25

40 minutes

Total

100

120 minutes/ 2 hours

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   Is there negative marking for wrong answers in IPMAT exam?
A: 

Yes, the IPMAT exam has negative markings. Each question in the IPMAT exam carries four marks. And for every incorrect answer, one mark is deducted. This means that if the candidate has four correct answers then 16 marks will be added to the IPMAT overall score. If the candidate marks more than one answer for a particular question, the answer will be considered incorrect. To avoid maximum marks deduction, candidates must attempt the easier question first and then move on to the more difficult ones in that particular section. If the candidate is unsure about a particular question, they can also skip the question. No marks will be deducted or awarded for unanswered questions. 

Q:   Are there subjective-type questions in the IPMAT exam?
A: 

Yes, there are subjective-type or long form answer questions in the IPMAT exam. The Quantitative Aptitude section of the IPMAt exam has Short Answer Type questions as well as Multiple-choice questions. There are 25 questions each in both the QA sections of the IPMAT question paper. The duration of the exam is 120 minutes and the candidates will have 40 minutes to solve one section and another 40 minutes to solve the other. Candidates must attempt all the sections keeping in mind that the exam has negative marking. Candidates must note that each question in the IPMAT question paper carries four marks and one mark is deducted for every incorrect answer. No marks are awarded or deducted for unattempted questions. The exam is conducted in the computer-based test mode, hence the candidates have to type down their answers on their screens. As for the MCQs, candidates will be required to choose the correct answer in from the four options give against each question. If the candidate marks two answers for one question, then the answer will be marked incorrect. 

Q:   What is the IPMAT exam duration and slot?
A: 

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.

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IPMAT 2026 Exam Pattern: Composite Score Calculation

Given below are the instructions on how the composite score for IPMAT will be calculated:

  • Quantitative Section(MCQ) Section Scores:

25 X (candidate's score - Minimum score)

      (Maximum score - Minimum score)

  • Quantitative Section(SA) Section Scores:

    25 X (candidate's score - Minimum score)

          (Maximum score - Minimum score)

  • Verbal Ability Section Scores:

    50 X (candidate's score - Minimum score)

          (Maximum score - Minimum score)

Note: Maximum and minimum scores are the highest and lowest scores obtained in respective sections by the students from the eligible pool. The total score of the candidates in the exam will be the sum of scores obtained in all three sections. 

Also Read: IPMAT Indore vs IPMAT Rohtak

IPMAT Exam Pattern: Computation of Composite Scores

Candidates will be shortlisted for Personal Interviews based on the scores obtained in the IPMAT exam. Category wise merit list will be generated based on Composite Score (CS) and provisional admission offers will be made accordingly, adhering to the Government of India reservation norms. Refer to the table below to know the computation of composite scores. 

Component Weightage
IPMAT 65%
Personal Interview 25%
Composite Score (CS) Sum of the above

Read More: 

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   What is the medium and structure of IPMAT exam?
A: 

The medium of IPMAT question paper is English. The structure of the IPMAT exam has not changed from the past few years. The latest IPMAT question paper structure is as follows:

  • The IPMAT exam will be conducted in the computer-based test. The duration of the exam is 120 minutes (2 hours).
  • The exam consists of 100 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) and Short-Form Questions carrying four marks each.
  • The questions are from two different sections, namely Verbal Ability and Quantitative Aptitude. The QA section is divided into two parts.
  • There is a negative marking of one mark for each incorrect answer. The total marks for the exam are 100.

The detailed section-wise exam pattern is as follows:

  1. Verbal Ability: This section tests the candidate's English language skills. It consists of 50 MCQs. The section tests the candidate's understanding of topics such as Grammar, Vocabulary, Reading Comprehension, etc.
  2. Quantitative Aptitude: This section tests the candidate's Quantitative Aptitude. It consists of 25 MCQs and 25 short-form answers. The section tests the candidate's knowledge of topics such as Arithmetic, Algebra Geometry, Trigonometry etc.
Q:   What is the composite score of IPMAT?
A: 

The IPMAT admissions are based on the IPMAT entrance exam and the counselling process which includes a Personal Interview. Candidates who qualify the IPMAT exam have to take part in the further admission process. The composite score is the sum of the score obtained by the candidate in the IPMAT exam as well as PI. The calculation of the composite score is done as follows:

ComponentWeightage
IPMAT65
Personal Interview25
CSSum of the above
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IPMAT Syllabus 2026

For an effective IPMAT preparation, students should have a good knowledge of the IPMAT paper pattern and IPMAT Indore syllabus. The IPM syllabus for IIM Indore is divided into three major sections, i.e. Quantitative Ability (MCQs), Quantitative Ability (SAs) and Verbal Ability.

  • The Quantitative Ability sections of the IPMAT exam are divided into two parts, i.e. Short-Answer Type Questions and Multiple-choice questions. The QA sections test the student's understanding of mathematical and numerical ability.

  • The Verbal Ability section in the IIM Indore IPMAT syllabus tests the candidate's proficiency and hold over the English language and grammar usage

Download IPMAT 2026 syllabus PDF Here

Also Read: Top colleges accepting IPMAT 2026 scores

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   Does the IPMAT exam consist of any science-related questions?
A: 

No, there are no Science related questions in the IPMAT exam. The IPMAT exam typically has three sections, i.e. Verbal Ability, Quantitative Aptitude (SA) and Quantitative Aptitude (MCQs). The major topics in the IPMAT exam include:

SectionImportant Topics
Quantitative AptitudeAlgebra, Arithmetics, Percentages, Ratio and Proportion, Number Systems, Geometry, Data Interpretation, Averages, Time, Speed and Distance, etc.
Verbal AbilityGrammar, Vocabulary, Synonyms and Antonyms, Articles, Articles, Prepositition, Etymology and Roots, etc.
Q:   What are the important topics of the Verbal Skills section of the IPMAT exam?
A: 

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
View Syllabus
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Important FAQs on IPMAT Exam Pattern

Check some of the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on IPMAT pattern:

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   What is the exam pattern of IPMAT?
A: 

IPMAT (Integrated Program in Management Aptitude Test) is a national-level entrance exam conducted by the prestigious Indian Institute of Management, Indore, for admission to integrated MBA programme offered by the institute. The exam pattern for IPMAT is as follows: 

Section 1: Verbal Ability: This section tests the candidate's English language skills. It consists of 50 MCQs. The section tests the candidate's understanding of topics such as Grammar, Vocabulary, Reading Comprehension, etc.

Section 2: Quantitative Aptitude: This section tests the candidate's quantitative skills. It consists of 25 MCQs and the second part of this section carries 25 short answer type questions. The section tests the candidate's knowledge of topics such as Arithmetic, Algebra Geometry, Trigonometry etc. 

For each correct answer, candidates will be awarded four marks each and for every incorrect answer, one mark will be deducted from the overall score. This means, if the candidate has got ten correct answers, then, he/she will be awarded 40 marks in the total score. The IPMAT question paper has sectional timing of 40 minutes per section which the students must adhere to. 

Q:   How many section does the IPMAT exam have?
A: 

The IPMAT question paper is divided into three sections, i.e. Quantitative Aptitude, Quantitative Aptitude (Short-answers) and Verbal Ability. Two sections carry multiple-choice questions and one Quantitative Aptitude section has short-answer type questions. Each question carries four marks. One mark will be deducted from the total score for each incorrect answer. The students have to complete the exam within two hours or 120 minutes. Given below is the number of questions in each section:

  • Verbal Ability- 50  multiple choice questions
  • Quantitative Aptitude- 25 multiple choice questions
  • Quantitative Aptitude- 25 short answer type questions

There is total of 100 questions which are divided across the IPMAT question paper. They are to be solved within the sectional time limit. 

Q:   Is the IPMAT exam given online or offline?
A: 

The IPMAT exam is conducted by the Indian Institute of Management, Indore. The exam is conducted once every year for admission to the five year integrated programme in management. The exam is conducted in the computer-based test mode or online mode every year. The complete IPMAT admission process is online. Students who have filled the IPMAT application form online on the official website will be required to appear for the online exam on the designated exam centre. The students need to reach the exam centre in order to take the online test. For the multiple-choice questions, students will be required to select the radio button on the computer screen against the correct answer and for the short-answer type questions, students will be required to type in their answers on the answer tupple given on the screen. 

Q:   What are the important topics of the Quantitative Aptitude (QA) section of the IPMAT exam?
A: 

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.

Q:   What is the marking scheme of IPMAT?
A: 

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.

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IPMAT Exam

Student Forum

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Answered a month 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

...Read more

N

Nishtha Shukla

Beginner-Level 5

Answered a month 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

...Read more

R

Rashmi Chatterjee

Beginner-Level 5

Answered 2 months ago

Yes, students who are in Class 12 or are awaiting their Class 12 board results can certainly apply for the IPMAT Indore exam. The basic eligibility criteria for appearing for the IPMAT 2026 exam is as follows:

  • The candidate should have scored a minimum of 60% aggregate in Class 10/SSC and Class 12/ H

...Read more

M

Mani Malhotra

Beginner-Level 5

Answered 2 months ago

IPMAT Indore application form 2026 is expected to be released in the second week of February 2026. The registration window will likely be open for approximately a month. The registration process usually completes by the end of March. The IPMAT 2026 exam will be conducted on May 4, 2026. 

The IPMAT ap

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S

Shiksha Shukla

Beginner-Level 5

Answered 2 months ago

Yes, Class 12 mathematics is relevant to IPMAT exam. The exam relies heavily on the mathematics component. In the IPMAT question paper, there are two sections on Quantitative Ability and one on Verbal Ability. IPMAT is one of the most sought after competitive exams after Class 12 for students seekin

...Read more

M

Mayank Singh

Beginner-Level 5

Answered 2 months ago

IIMs participants In IPMAT counselling are mentioned below:

IIM Indore

IIM Ranchi 

IIM Amritsar (recently launched IPM)

IM Shillong 

IIM Sirmaur.

D

Dipa Mandal

Beginner-Level 5

Answered 2 months ago

During the IPMAT admission you need to carry original documents like 

Class 10 & 12 mark sheets and certificates

IPMAT Admit Card & Scorecard

Category certificate

Identity proof (like Aadhaar, PAN card, etc.)

Passport-size photographs (as per guidelines)

Provisional admission offer letter (if already issu

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D

Dipa Mandal

Beginner-Level 5

Answered 2 months ago

Even if the candidate clears the sectional and overall cutoff in IPMAT exam but does not get shortlisted for the PI round, it means that the candidate is eligible but not among the top-ranked candidates based on the composite score. Such a candidate will not be considered for admission to the IPM pr

...Read more

78438432
Saumya Jain

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

IPMAT Indore and IPMAT Rohtak counselling process is conducted by the IIM Indore and IIM Rohtak, respectively. The processes are different and conducted differently. Majorly the difference lies in exam structure, weightage, number of seats, etc. 

IIM Indore counselling process: Weightage

RoundWeightage
IPMAT exam65%
PI Round35%
Total100%

IIM Rohtak IP

...Read more

M

Mani Malhotra

Beginner-Level 5

Answered 2 months ago

Every student who clears the IPMAT cutoff will get a call from the participating institutions, but will not be guaranteed admission. If they do not match the academic eligibility or IPMAT score they will not be given admission to the IPM programme. IIM Indore checks factors such as IPMAT score, numb

...Read more

S

Shiksha Shukla

Beginner-Level 5

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