Shruti
Shruti Garg
Assistant Manager- Editorial
Updated on Jun 25, 2025 10:58 IST
IBSAT (ICFAI Business School Aptitude Test) schedule will be announced soon. The exam will be held tentatively in last week of December 2025. To prepare for the exam candidates can check on how to prepare for IBSAT 2025 in 3 months. Read this complete article to know more.

Most of you might find it a tough task to crack IBSAT in three months. So, what should be the strategy to crack the IBSAT 2025 exam? Let’s see.

IBSAT Preparation

IBSAT Preparation

IBSAT 2025 (ICFAI Business School Aptitude Test) will be held in tentatively last week of December. Aspirants who haven’t started IBSAT preparation yet must hold their nerve and chalk out a plan to crack the exam in three months. There is nothing wrong with being anxious about the exam. The IBSAT 2025 exam can be aced if you have a sound preparation strategy and a solid grasp of the exam syllabus.

In this article, we will talk about how to prepare for IBSAT in three months. First of all, let’s understand the IBSAT exam pattern and marking scheme. IBSAT has no negative marking and this should give you a sigh of relief for attempting as many questions as you want, given that you don’t apply the hit and trial method. The overall difficulty level of IBSAT exam is considered to be easy to moderate. Hence, if you have prepared or appeared for other MBA entrance exams like CAT, XAT, MAT or CMAT, then IBSAT 2025 preparation in three months would not be a difficult feat to achieve. 

Table of contents
  • IBSAT 2025 Exam Pattern: Overview
  • How to Prepare for IBSAT in 3 Months?
  • Reading Comprehension Section
  • Verbal Ability Section
  • Data Interpretation
  • Quantitative Skills
  • Prepare Time Table
  • IBSAT Mock Tests
  • Analysis of IBSAT Mock Tests
  • Peer Interaction
  • Expert Advice
View More

IBSAT 2025 Exam Pattern: Overview

Take a look at the table below to know the important point of the IBSAT exam pattern.

Sections

Number of Questions

Verbal Ability (VA)

50

Reading Comprehension (RC)

30

Quantitative Aptitude (QA)

30

Data Adequacy/ Sufficiency and Data Interpretation (DA/ DI)

30

Total

140

IBSAT is a computer-based test of two hours duration. Each question carries one mark, and there is no negative marking. This is an advantage of IBSAT as compared to other MBA entrance exams that have a negative marking scheme.  

Also Read: Detailed IBSAT 2025 exam pattern

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   Can I get direct admission at IBS Pune?
A: 

Candidates can get admission on the basis of score/rank secured in CAT/IBSAT/NMAT/XAT. Students are required to go through the national-level entrances and then appear for the university-level selection rounds for final admission. Applying to IBS Pune, candidates should register themselves for admission process, for that candidates needs to visit the official page of IBS Pune and click to "Apply to IBS" and verify your contact details. Fill out the registration form with the needed academic and personal details Provide the entrance exam score/rank required for the selected program, submitted the registration fee of INR 1800 via online gateway and proceed to submit the form with the required documents, After successful completion of registration, students will receive a unique ID and password to update and print the application form, Forms can also be collected from the IBS Pune campus. 

Q:   Which is the easiest of MBA entrance exams in India out of these: NMAT, MAT, CAT, IIFT, SNAP, CMAT, IBSAT, XAT?
A: 

Candidates find the exam easy of difficult based on their prep level. The syllabus for MBA entrance exams such as CAT, XAT, MAT, NMAT, SNAP, and CMATis mostly the same, with some minor differences.

Q:   How to prepare for GDPI? Which are the best MBA colleges of IBSAT?
A: 
Top colleges in IBSAT are: 1. IBS Business School – Hyderabad. 2. IBS Business School – Dehradun. 3. IBS Business School – Pune. 4. IBS Business School – Gurgaon. 5. IBS Business School – Bangalore. Group Discussion: You should be updated about current affairs, international events, issues affecting India and the world, etc. so that you can put forward your opinion and views when asked. You need to have patience and effective listening skills to respond effectively in a group discussion. Remember the interview panel consists of people from college management who are sitting down only to reject candidates and sort the final admission list quickly. So, even a slight mistake can cost you heavily. Personal Interview (PI): 1. Introduce yourself in a very brief and formal way. 2. Limit introduction to entirely yourself. DO NOT speak about parents, siblings and family, unless asked by the interviewer. 3. Give straight and simple answers to the questions asked by the interviewer. 4. Answer in small sentences. 5. To the point and precise answers are far better than beating around the bush. 6. Don’t try be aggressive, overconfident. And definitely, DO NOT try to impress the panel by using some cheesy mugged up lines. It won't work. 7. Dress formally.
Q:   Is IBSAT an online exam?
A: 

Yes, IBSAT exam is conducted in online mode. The exam is held in remote proctored mode. Applicants can book the exam slot after completing the IBSAT application process online. To appear for the online mode of examination, candidates must have a desktop or laptop and download the required software to appear for the exam.

IBSAT 2026 exam will be held tentatively in last week of December. Candidates can book the exam slot tentatively from October 2026.

How to Prepare for IBSAT in 3 Months?

Most of you might find it a tough task to crack IBSAT in three months. But with a well-charted strategy, one can easily crack the IBSAT 2025 exam with the preparation of three months. Take a look at the pointers mentioned below.

  • Understand the IBSAT 2025 exam pattern and know the topics well
  • Don’t just be dependent on the books for IBSAT preparation, also check online IBSAT preparation guides
  • Keep appearing for IBSAT mock test, check your weak points and polish them
  • Answer the previous year's IBSAT question papers
  • Determine your strengths and weaknesses

Apart from the above-mentioned points, there are several important points section-wise that you must consider while preparing for the IBSAT exam. Let's take a look at the section-wise preparation strategy:

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Reading Comprehension Section

In the Reading Comprehension section of IBSAT, usually, the passages are not too long, but they happen to be inference-based. Along with the inference, you have to work on the speed so that you can go through all the passages and solve them well within time.

This section is supposed to be a scoring one, so you should try to solve it as quickly as you can in the minimum time possible. Making a habit of reading two to three editorials daily would help you a lot and will increase your speed of reading the passage effectively. Read editorials of different English newspapers. The editorial could be anything in nature, i.e. didactic, descriptive, analytic and psychometric, etc. After that, jot down the major points of the editorial or any article that you read. This would help you answer the RC questions during the mock test or actual exam. 

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   Can I get direct admission to IBS Mumbai?
A: 

No, IBS Mumbai does not offer direct admission. The admission process is strictly entrance-based. Aspirants are required to take the IBSAT exam to become eligible for admission to the PGPM course. In addition, candidates with the required minimum score in CAT/XAT/NMAT or GMAT are also eligible to apply and are exempted from IBSAT exam. After this, the shortlisted candidates have to participate in the Micro Presentation and Personal Interview round for final selections. Check complete details about IBS Mumbai admission process.

Q:   If I am preparing for CAT, do I need to prepare separately for IBSAT?
A: 
If you are preparing for CAT exam then you don't need to prepare separately for IBSAT exam. The reason behind this is the topics which are asked in CAT exam are the same topics that are asked in IBSAT exam. So, both exams are almost same but the thing differs is difficulty level. CAT is tougher as compared to IBSAT. So, try to prepare for CAT exam because this can help you score good marks in IBSAT. IBSAT exam includes Reading Comprehension, Verbal Ability (VA), Quantitative Aptitude (QA) and Data Interpretation (DA). Whereas, CAT exam includes Verbal Ability (VA), Reading Comprehension (RC), Data Interpretation (DI), Logical Reasoning (LR) and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). So, both the exams are having similar content. Preparing for CAT exam can cover the IBSAT exam syllabus too and this can help a candidate in every aspect.
Q:   Does ICFAI Business School, Gurgaon offer admission to foreign students?
A: 

Yes, ICFAI Business school has a centralised admission process. Candidates desiring to take admission in the management programme offered at 9 IBS Campuses must appear for an IBS Aptitude Test (IBSAT). Students who clear IBSAT are invited for Group Discussion and Personal Interviews. The allocation of centers is made on the basis of merit and the choice of center exercised by the student.

Q:   What are the essential qualifications for admission to BBA course at IBS Hyderabad?
A: 

Candidates must pass Class 12 or equivalent with at least 60% aggregate in English Medium to apply for BBA at IBS Hyderabad. If an applicant is found ineligible even at a later date, after admission into the course is cancelled.

Applicants who appeared for Class 12 or equivalent and awaiting results can also apply.

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Verbal Ability Section

As the section consists of the maximum number of questions and mostly they are based on vocabulary, it plays a big role in the IBSAT exam. Quite naturally, there is no end to how much vocabulary you should hold in your bucket. Again, if you have had the habit of reading newspapers, articles, blogs, and magazines, you don’t need to worry because a major portion of the verbal ability section is covered. Moreover, stick to reading articles of different genres; the variety of articles will expand your vocabulary base. For English grammar, stick to Wren & Martin. In the exam, you should not dedicate more than 30-35 minutes to this section. Practice is the key to preparing this section. Note the mistakes you are habitually committing in this section while taking practice tests. Try to understand if they are silly mistakes or if you lack conceptual clarity. In case it is the latter, go back to the grammar books and get a hold of those areas, coupled with regular practice.

Also Read: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension Preparation Tips

Data Interpretation

The Data Interpretation section of IBSAT comprises calculations as well as a deeper understanding of the information given. There will be questions based on line graphs, growth rates, consolidated tables and percentages, profitability sets, etc. Good calculation speed has a big role to play in this section, so practice as much as you can as there is not much theoretical knowledge apart from a basic understanding of graphs and charts. It is recommended that you don’t spend more than 25 minutes on this section in the exam.

Also Read: DILR Preparation Tips

Quantitative Skills

More or less, the Quantitative Skills section of IBSAT is generally considered time-consuming and difficult. But having a basic understanding of algebra and arithmetic (time-speed-distance, averages, ratios, percentages, interest and mixtures) and geometry will come in handy to you. The level of difficulty can be from intermediate to difficult. But again, if you are one of those students who love to keep basics right, you can easily sail through the questions.

Also Read: Quantitative Ability Preparation Tips

Prepare Time Table

To ensure a systematic approach, prepare a timetable that will determine section-wise preparation duration in a day. Make sure that you allocate more time for the weaker areas while not compromising the areas of strength as well. The timetable should also include at least two to three mock tests and practice tests.

IBSAT Mock Tests

IBSAT mock tests are the best way to test your knowledge and preparation level. As you don’t have much time left for the exam, you must appear for two to three full-length mock tests in a week and one sectional test every day. This way you’ll be able to find out where you are lacking and work on your weaknesses. Once you are done with the basics, you can increase the number of mock tests daily. Eventually, you will be able to appear for two to three mock tests and this will help enhance your speed as well as accuracy. 

Analysis of IBSAT Mock Tests

For IBSAT preparation in three months, along with taking mock tests, it is of utmost importance to get the mock tests analysed by experts or mentors to understand the shortcomings and ways of improvement. After that, you have to modify the preparation plan accordingly, based on the expert's suggestion.

Peer Interaction 

 It is also important to be connected with fellow IBSAT takers or other MBA entrance exam aspirants to discuss and exchange your preparation strategy and plans. This would not only keep you encouraged but also can give you new ideas and strategies for preparation. You may also exchange books and notes, and plan group studies. At the same time, keep track of the competition level as well.

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Expert Advice

There are many blogs and articles which help aspirants during MBA exam preparation. Many successful candidates and alumni share their fruitful advice and opinions about the patterns and how to approach the questions. Aspirants must note their way of solving questions and the method they use while solving particular questions. Read their articles and blogs. Watch MBA preparation videos by experts.

Try this IBSAT Mock Test to get an idea about the type of questions that will be asked, the exam pattern and the marking scheme. After taking the test, you can immediately check your score. You can also download the Question Paper along with answers and their explanations for Free. Click below to start the free online test now.

Free IBSAT Mock Test

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About the Author
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Shruti Garg
Assistant Manager- Editorial

Shruti Garg is a graduate in English and Education with over 7 years of experience in content writing/editing and education journalism. At Shiksha.com, Shruti covers UG and PG entrance exams like MBA entrance exams,

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Answered 2 weeks ago

IBSAT question paper includes 140 multiple choice questions which are divided across four sections- verbal ability, reading comprehension, quantitative aptitude and date adequacy & data interpretation. Candidates will be required to attempt all questions within 120 minutes. IBSAT exam includes no ne

...Read more

N

Nishtha Pandey

Contributor-Level 7

Answered 2 weeks ago

Yes, IBSAT exam is comparatively easier than CAT in terms of syllabus difficulty level and competition. CAT question paper requires high anlaytical solving skills to score well in exam, whereas IBSAT exam assesses candidate's speed and accuracy. The difficulty level of IBSAT exam is moderate.

N

Nishtha Bhandari

Contributor-Level 7

Answered 2 weeks ago

IBSAT cutoff varies for each IBS campus. Candidates seeking admission to top IBS campus must score a minimum of 80 percentile in IBSAT exam. Generally a score between 70 and 80 percentile in IBSAT exam is considered a good score.

D

Dhanya Dhyani

Contributor-Level 7

Answered 2 weeks ago

To cover the IBSAT syllabus timely, candidates must first prioritise the high weightage topics and follow the section-wise preparation timetable. Students must focus on conceptual clarity and take regular mock tests to identify the weak areas and strong areas in IBSAT syllabus.

N

Nishtha Arora

Contributor-Level 7

Answered 2 weeks ago

The difficulty level of IBSAT syllabus is generally moderate. The syllabus for IBSAT is similar to the CAT syllabus. However, the IBSAT question paper includes more straightforward and less tricky questions compared to other MBA entrance examinations.

S

Satyendra Kaur

Contributor-Level 7

Answered 2 weeks ago

IBSAT exam is generally considered easy to moderate in difficulty level compared to other major MBA exams like CAT and XAT. For an average student it is possible to score well in exam with good preparation strategy.

N

Nishtha Kumar

Contributor-Level 7

Answered 2 weeks ago

IBSAT exam is conducted for a duration of two hours. It is a remote proctored test held across India. The IBSAT question paper consists of 140 multiple choice questions which have to completed in 120 minutes. The paper involves no negative marking.

K

Kritika Malhotra

Contributor-Level 7

Answered 2 weeks ago

Yes, IBSAT books are enough to cover the exam syllabus. Candidates can refer to the recommended books and study materials to prepare for the exam. Candidates must ensure that the books cover basic concepts, include section-wise practice questions and mock tests.

N

Nishtha Singh

Contributor-Level 7

Answered 2 weeks ago

No, it is not compulsory to attempt all sections of IBSAT exam. Some top tier IBSAT accepting colleges consider the minimum sectional scores to be shortlisted for admission. IBSAT exam does not involve any negative marking, hence candidates must focus on answering all 140 questions.

N

Nishtha Datta

Contributor-Level 7

Answered a month ago

Yes — the IBSAT cutoff does change every year.


 Why the IBSAT Cutoff Varies

  • Exam Difficulty: If the paper is tougher, the cutoff percentile may be lower; if easier, higher.
  • Number of Applicants: More applicants competing for limited seats can push the cutoff up.
  • Seat Availability: Each ICFAI Business Sc

...Read more

S

Sidhartha Singh

Contributor-Level 10