Saumya
Saumya Jain
Assistant Manager- Content
Updated on Oct 19, 2023 15:24 IST
If the students start preparing for the ATMA exam six months before, they will be able to clear it with a good rank and percentile. Shiksha brings the best six-month preparation strategy for ATMA exam 2024 in the article below. Know the syllabus, exam pattern, best books, etc. for ATMA preparation.

Shiksha brings the best six-month preparation strategy for the ATMA exam 2024 in the article below. Know the syllabus, exam pattern, best books, etc. for ATMA preparation.

AIMS Test for Management Admissions (ATMA) is conducted four times a year, which gives a candidate ample time for preparation. If they start preparing for the exam six months before, they will be able to clear it with a good rank and percentile. Candidates interested in taking the ATMA exam should have an effective preparation strategy in order to ace the exam in six months. The six-month preparation strategy for ATMA must include a month-wise plan and a section-wise plan. It is also important for the candidates to identify their strengths and weaknesses and prepare a plan accordingly, which will fetch them a good score. Knowing the ATMA exam pattern and syllabus is an important part of exam preparation. Before the candidates sit down to make their ATMA 2024 preparation plan, they must go through its exam pattern, syllabus and eligibility criteria. In this article, Shiksha brings you a six-month preparation strategy for the ATMA exam 2024.

Also Read:

Table of contents
  • ATMA Exam Pattern 2024
  • How to Prepare for ATMA 2024 in Six months
  • ATMA Preparation FAQs

ATMA Exam Pattern 2024

According to the exam pattern, the ATMA question paper consists of six sections. The questions are based on topics such as Analytical Reasoning, Quantitative Skills and Verbal Skills. These three topics are divided into two parts each. Check out the ATMA exam pattern below.

Exam Structure

Details

Number of sections

6 sections

  • Analytical Reasoning (part 1)
  • Quantitative Skills (part 1)
  • Verbal Skills (part 1)
  • Analytical Reasoning (part 2)
  • Quantitative Skills (part 2)
  • Verbal Skills (part 2)

Duration

3 hours (180 minutes)

Type of questions

Multiple-choice questions

Mode of examination

Computer-based test mode (CBT)

Total number of questions

180

Marking scheme

+1 for each correct answer

-0.25 for each incorrect answer

How to Prepare for ATMA 2024 in Six months

Here are a few pointers to keep in mind to prepare well for ATMA exam:

  • Time-table: When preparing for any exam, it is important to make a preparation schedule or a study routine. Preparing a study routine and sticking to it will help the candidates achieve their goals and get the desired result. Candidates can make a month-wise plan where they must dedicate the first three months to knowing the exam pattern, marking scheme, identifying the strengths and weaknesses and covering every topic of the ATMA 2024 syllabus. Candidates must make short notes during preparations for formulae and theories and other key points. The next month should be dedicated to strengthening one’s weaknesses and working on the pain points. The candidates should dedicate the last two months to revision and practicing ATMA mock tests to improve their speed and accuracy.  With an effective study routine, candidates will be able to manage time and make the most use of it.
  • Referring to the right study material: It is very important to refer to the right study material that covers the entire ATMA syllabus. There is no point in collecting a bulk of study material. Referring to the right one will make all the difference. Tons of study material is available both online and offline for ATMA preparation. The candidates can also join online study groups to avail study material, sample papers and guidance from mentors

Also Read: Best books to read for ATMA 2024 preparation

  • Subject-wise prep: Every subject covers different topics. The Analytical Reasoning section will have topics such as Puzzles, Riddles, Syllogisms, Coding and Decoding, Arguments, Data Sufficiency, etc. This section will analyse the candidates on their logical and critical thinking skills. To prepare for Analytical Reasoning, the candidates must focus on developing an eye for detail. Practice plays a very important role in the preparation of reasoning. The more you practice, the better you get at solving puzzles. Candidates can prepare for the Quantitative Skills section by brushing up on their mathematics skills. Referring to mathematics books of Class 10 and Class 12 will help them a lot to ace this section. They must ensure that they have complete clarity of the fundamentals of Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry and Trigonometry to perform well in this section. The Verbal Skills section will comprise topics such as Grammar, English Usage, Para Jumbles, Reading Comprehension, etc. Candidates should develop a habit of reading newspapers and magazines daily in order to strengthen their vocabulary and their hold on reading comprehension passages.

Also Read: How to prepare for the Analytical Reasoning section

  • ATMA mock tests: In the last two months of ATMA preparation, practice as many sample papers and ATMA mock tests as possible. Solving previous years’ question papers will help the candidates in having an in-depth understanding of the ATMA exam pattern and the type of questions that can be asked in the exam. They will also help in analyzing one’s performance and eventually improving on weak areas. They will also enhance the speed and accuracy of the candidate.
  • Revision: In the last few days before the exam, the candidates must move to focused revision. Revise all the concepts and formulae in the last 15 days of ATMA preparation. This will help the candidate assess their position vis a vis the exam and help them make a decision on what to do or not do in the last few days of the exam.

Our advice: It is very important to know your strengths and weaknesses and prepare accordingly for the ATMA exam 2024. All the best!

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Q:   Can I prepare for ATMA exam in one month?
A:

ATMA one month preparation can be done. Students can begin with ATMA syllabus and exam pattern. There on, they can focus on practicing what they have studied. The aim should be to strengthen concepts and practice time management. The remaining time should be given to taking mock tests and soving sample papers.  

Prioritize weak areas and enhance vocabulary. This condensed plan can be effective with consistent effort 

Q:   What are the dos and don'ts of the ATMA exam?
A:

On the ATMA exam day, students have to follow a number of guidelines which include cooperating with the exam centre staff during the identification process, following instructions given be the invigilator and following the test navigation for solving the questions. 

ATMA exam day dos:

  1. Reach the ATMA examination centre at the reporting time mentioned on the ATMA admit card.
  2. Carry two coloured copies of the ATMA admit card, one photo ID card, passport size photos and duly filled self-declaration form
  3. PwD candidates should carry the relevant certificates and documents as prescribed by the examination authorities.
  4. Carry a blue/black ball point pen for signing the attendance sheet
  5. Carry personal drinking water, hand sanitizer and face masks
  6. Cooperate with the test centre staff and follow the instructions

ATMA exam day don'ts:

  1. Do not carry prohibited items such as bags, purses, pencil box, beepers, wrist watch, calculators, mobile phones, electronic devices, etc.
  2. Don't be late for the exam. The entry gates will be closed 15 minutes before the commencement of exam. No candidate will be allowed to enter the exam centre after that. Hence, reach the exam centre by 1:00 PM.
  3. Don't cheat or indulge in mal practice. You can be disqualified due to any such ACT.
  4. Don't leave your seat until the exam duration is over.
Q:   Is ATMA exam difficult?
A:
ATMA is a speed-based test which is designed to assess a candidate's analytical aptitude, logical reasoning skills, and English comprehension. It may sound tough, but these are the skills which we are taught in school so there is nothing new to learn. What is required is to learn these subjects at an advanced level. All you will need is to brush up on the basics and practice the concepts on advance level problems. Students should solve previous years question papers, attempt an ample number of mock tests and be consistent to score well in the ATMA exam. Having said that, the preparation for the ATMA exam requires focus, dedication, discipline and diligence. If you can do that, despite being an average student, you can crack the ATMA exam. ATMA is one of the easiest MBA entrance exams and a good preparation strategy can help you crack the ATMA exam with a good score. Generally, the toughest section of the ATMA question paper is Quantitative Aptitude. But with daily practice and focusing on understanding the fundamentals, this section of the ATMA exam can be handled easily.
Q:   What is a good score in ATMA exam?
A:

ATMA exam has 180 questions and total marks are 180. But, raw scores are scaled and the final marks are awarded out of 800. Knowing what is a good score in ATMA exam is subjective, but, the current trends suggest that the following can be a good score: 

Very good score: More than 700 

Good score: 650 to 700 

Average score: 620 to 650 

Low score: Below 550

ATMA Preparation FAQs

Q: When will ATMA 2024 be conducted?

A: ATMA exam date will be in the month of February 2024, for the first session. The second and third session exams will be conducted in May 2024, and July 2024, respectively.

Q: Which institute will conduct ATMA 2024?

A: ATMA 2024 will be conducted by the Association of Indian Management Schools (AIMS).

Q: How many months are good enough to prepare for ATMA exam?

A: One must dedicate at least six to 12 months to prepare for ATMA exam.

Q: Which is the toughest section of ATMA exam?

A: One cannot really say which section is the toughest in ATMA. However, according to previous applicants, QA has been the toughest. But there are chances of another section to be tough too.

Q: Can I prepare for ATMA on my own?

A: Yes, you can prepare for ATMA on your own with self-discipline, hard work and dedication.

Q: Is coaching mandatory for scoring a good percentile in ATMA?

A: No, it is not mandatory. Taking coaching is an individual choice. There are some ATMA toppers who scored well by self-study only.

Q: How many questions are asked in ATMA?

A: The ATMA question paper has 180 questions.

Q: Is there negative marking for wrong answers in ATMA?

A: Yes, there is a negative marking of -0.25 marks for wrong answers.

Q: Can I do away with ATMA mock tests?

A: Candidates must appear for ATMA mock tests, as they give an insight into the ATMA question paper, exam pattern and the difficulty level of the questions. Hence, mock test are important.

Q: How can I master the Verbal Skills section of ATMA?

A: To have a stronghold on the Verbal Skills section, read English novels and books of all genres from the early stage of ATMA preparation. This will strengthen your vocabulary, grammar and reading comprehension skills. Also, read the newspaper daily which will also help in improving vocabulary and grammar.

Q: Is practicing sample questions enough to cover the Analytical Reasoning section?

A: To build a strong base to solve any type of puzzle question in Analytical Reasoning, it is very important to understand the fundamentals of Analytical Reasoning topics. The section assesses the candidate's logical and analytical ability.

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About the Author
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Saumya Jain
Assistant Manager- Content

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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