Shruti
Shruti Garg
Assistant Manager- Editorial
Updated on Dec 22, 2023 12:39 IST
IBSAT exams will be held on December 23 and December 24, 2023 in remote proctored mode., wherein candidates are not required to report at the alloted exam centre. With just a few days left for the exam, we bring last-minute preparation tips for the IBSAT-takers.

IBSAT exams will be held on December 23 and December 24, 2023 in remote proctored mode., wherein candidates are not required to report at the alloted exam centre. With just a few days left for the exam, we bring last-minute preparation tips for the IBSAT-takers.

IBSAT Last Minute Preparation

IBSAT Last Minute Preparation

IBSAT exam will be held on December 23 and December 24, 2023, in remote proctored mode, wherein, candidates can take the test from their home by following the exam-taking guidelines which will be stated by the exam officials of ICFAI Business School. With 20 days left for the test, IBS aspirants must take the preparation level to the last gear and focus on the specific areas to ensure a high score in this competitive MBA entrance exam. The idea is to be smart and strategic about exam preparation. For candidates who have appeared for the other national/state-level MBA entrance exams, IBSAT preparation will be similar. Here are some last-minute tips for IBSAT 2023 preparation

Know IBSAT Pattern and Test Structure

You will have to be mindful of each and every detail of IBSAT pattern before the exam. Take a look at the important facts mentioned below-

Exam Structure

Details

Exam mode

Remote proctored home-based test

Exam hours

120 mins.

Number of questions

140 MCQs

Total marks

140 marks

Language of the paper

English

Number of sections in the question paper

4

Marking scheme

1 mark for each correct answer (no negative marking scheme)

IBSAT syllabus is divided into four sections, namely-

Explore popular MBA colleges for you

Based on ,MBA
Change

Ahmedabad
#1 NIRF
₹20.10 L
Bangalore
#2 NIRF
₹26.00 L
Delhi
₹66.00 K
Pune
₹11.84 L

Want better recommendations?

There is a 90% more chance of getting best college recommendations by sharing preferences.
Your preferences-MBAEdit
Indore
₹12.50 L
Kozhikode
#3 NIRF
₹14.00 L
Delhi
#4 NIRF
₹12.00 L
Delhi
#28 NIRF
₹53.75 K
Mysore
₹59.40 K
Lucknow
#5 NIRF
₹12.60 L
Confused about which college or exam to opt for?assitentRcpRhsImage
  • Chat with our counselor
  • Get your personalised list of colleges & exams matching your preferences
View allCollections

a) Verbal Ability (VA)

b) Quantitative Aptitude (QA)

c) Data Adequacy & Data Interpretation (DA/DI)

d) Reading Comprehension (RC)

The maximum weightage of marks is based on questions in the Verbal Ability section (50 questions of 1 mark), followed by Reading Comprehension, Quantitative Aptitude, Data Adequacy & Data Interpretation all of which will contain 30 questions in each of the sections. 

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   Which is the easiest of MBA entrance exams in India out of these: NMAT, MAT, CAT, IIFT, SNAP, CMAT, IBSAT, XAT?
A: 
Syllabus of all MBA entrance examinations such as CAT, XAT, MAT, NMAT, SNAP, CMAT, IIFT etc is similar with only minor differences. Toughness of examination is based on ratio of seats virus number of candidates appearing in MBA Entrance examination. CAT is the toughest because its score is used by legacy IIMs which are the best B-Schools in India. In India, based on MBA aspirants feedback, CMAT is the easiest MBA entrance examination. Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) is a national level entrance examination conducted by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) every year as per the directions of Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India. The CMAT is a three hour computer based online test which is conducted in a single session to evaluate the candidates’ ability across various segments like Quantitative Technique, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension and General Awareness. There is no fixed syllabus of CMAT examination. CMAT syllabus revolves around Basic Mathematics (mostly arithmetic from standard 1 to 10), Reasoning and Reading Comprehension.
Q:   How is IBSAT final merit list prepared?
A: 

IBSAT final merit list is prepared on considering the following parameters- Micro Presentation, Personal Interview and past academic records and weightage. Check below to know the criterias:

  • Micro presentation: 25%
  • Personal Interview: 25%
  • Past academic record: 50%

Only candidates who will qualify the above criterias, will be offered final admission to MBA/PGDM programme of applied IBS campuses. IBSAT 2026 selection process result will be announced tentatively in April 2027.

Q:   How can I crack IBSAT in 1 year?
A: 
IBSAT exam is comparatively easy as compared to other MBA entrance tests. You must work on efficiency and time management. Reasoning section, the candidates can practice through mock tests to be precise and accurate. Since for this section, there is no precise formula, the candidates can solve as many mock tests as possible. Simple preparation for this section can be done by solving puzzles and riddles. Quantitative section, the candidates can prepare from the NCERT books or secondary and Higher secondary level mathematics books. Candidates can also opt for solving mock tests, previous years ATMA question papers and CAT question papers. Lastly, for the verbal section, the candidates can brush up their grammar, vocabulary and increase their reading speed. Reading from various topics can give an advantage while dealing with long passages. It is essential that students refer to previous years question papers and rely on mock tests, as this will make them familiar with the paper pattern and will give them an idea about the type of questions asked. Thus, students are better prepared for the examination.
Q:   How to avoid common mistakes in IBSAT?
A: 
Here are some of the common mistakes which can be avoided by aspirants while preparing for IBSAT exam. Check the tips to avoid the common mistakes below: 1. Not solving enough mock papers To get a proper understanding of the format, time management and to be able to solve questions accurately one must take as many mocks. Solving and practicing individual questions is a lot different to attempting a full mock test. While taking mocks aspirants can realize mismanagement of time, silly errors which do not get highlighted otherwise. 2. Ignoring past years' sample papers Even if there are major changes in exam pattern, candidates should not ignore past year sample papers. They are a great source to practice section-wise questions. Moreover, there are chances of questions getting repeated after 3 to 4 years. 3. Not focusing on error analysis Analyzing mistakes is crucial for an all round preparation. One should revisit all the tests and questions solved and find out the repetitive mistakes. After identifying the mistakes one should just focus on getting the basics clear and be cautious while attempting those kinds of questions on the exam day. 4. Not iterating the preparation strategy Having one preparation strategy is good, but sticking to it despite no results in terms of scoring in mocks is stupidity. Changing the study plan if not working well is recommended. Here advices from industry experts and academicians can be followed. 5. Not listing down important formulas and concepts To have a quick access to all the important formulas, concepts and tricks, aspirants can prepare a list of the same. The list can be put on pin board, it proves good for revision. 6. Ignoring the SWOT Analysis Identifying strengths and weaknesses is very important for performing well in the exam. If strengths are known one can be confident and start solving the test from questions based on strong concepts. On the other hand the weak areas can be practiced and focus can be on minimizing errors.
Staying updated about the latest educational events is just a click away
Enter Mobile Number

Revise Broad Topics 

If you have appeared for any of the entrance exams- CAT, MAT, IIFT, or SNAP, by now, you must have covered a good portion of IBSAT syllabus, and it is important that you do not keep those portions untouched. Revise them, and do not just be in a rush to cover every part of the syllabus. Neglecting topics that you may be strong in can turn out to be disadvantageous. Do not start new topics and try to understand new concepts at this stage. Neither will you be able to learn those nor will you have time to improve the concepts or practice. 

Explore more MBA exams with upcoming dates

Last date of SSU CET 2026 Admi...

30 Aug '26

XAT 2027 mock test

30 Aug '26

IIHMR-U MAT Registration Deadline

1 Nov '25 - 31 Aug '26

MAT 2026 PBT (Special Drive)

3 Sep '26

Last Date to Apply for CAT 2026

15 Sep '26

NMAT 2026 Registration Window

20 Aug '26 - 10 Oct '26

MICAT (I) Registrations

30 Sep '26 - 20 Nov '26

SNAP 2026 Registration Process

21 Aug '26 - 25 Nov '26

MAH MBA CAP 2026 Round IV Disp...

28 Aug '26

AP ICET 2026 Phase 1 Counselli...

24 Aug '26 - 31 Aug '26

Time Your Revision Method in the Learning process

A large part of the last-minute preparation process is dependent on how you time the entire learning process. This will eventually help you in attempting questions in better ways in 120 minutes in IBSAT 2023. Devote much time to practising IBSAT sample papers during the time selected for revision of covered portions of the syllabus. Also, analyse your own rhythm and pace while you are attempting questions from previous years' IBSAT question paper. At the same time, you need to keep in mind that this year questions may come in a twisted format than they came in the previous years. In such situations, how will you solve those questions? You may even build your own set of questions and solve them by adopting various approaches.

Review Your Own Notes

You must surely prepare your own notes and keep doing that but take out time to cross-check. Therefore, in case you miss out on something more important while you were jotting simultaneously when covering a particular section, you may, later on, be able to cover that area. This helps at the quantum level. Similarly, check the data in the quantitative techniques and important data interpretation and questions to remember them for a long time. Check if you are still struggling to remember any formula or Data Interpretation and create fresh notes on it. Mark them bold so that you lay more emphasis on them in the last 15 days of preparation before the exam day.

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   How can I crack IBSAT in 6 months?
A: 
IBSAT is an online management aptitude test which is conducted by The ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education. The test scores are used for the intake of MBA and PhD programs of ICFAI Business School, The campuses that consider these scores are Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Dehradun, Gurgaon, Jaipur, Kolkata, Mumbai and Pune. Each section except Verbal Ability has 30 questions. The Verbal Ability section has 50 questions Verbal ability section in IBSAT exam basically tests students written language abilities. To clear this section, you must follow strategies like making a habit of reading more newspapers, quality magazines, novels etc. Spending qualitative time in reading also helps to overcome your weakness in your language skills. The verbal ability section of IBSAT exam is classified into following parts - Vocabulary Usage - Para Jumble - English Grammar - Replace the missing words - English Usage Few tips and tricks for IBSAT Preparation are - The first step to follow is IBSAT previous years question papers in order to understand the structure of the exam. You may also try solving them within the 120 minutes and examine the answers after completing the paper. - Make sure to check the speed while solving the questions. Time management plays a very critical role as the candidates will get more than a minute for each question. To improve this part, solve sample papers and try mock tests. - Since IBS is a Computer Based test, the candidates are recommended to appear for as many mock tests as possible. The online mock test will offer a similar atmosphere as that of the exam. - Do not lose confidence and do not get anxious in the exam or solving the sample papers. Go through the questions cautiously and try to comprehend them and then solve them. - Try reading newspapers, magazines, novels, books, journals, etc. for a better hold over vocabulary.
Q:   Which are the most important topics to focus for IBSAT preparation?
A: 
There is nothing like an important topic for the preparation. You have to go with complete preparation for the exam. There are a number of exams conducted in India for the MBA type courses. Exams like CAT, XAT, GMAT, MAT, IBSAT, NMAT, SNAP, etc. have some minor tweaking and variations apart from the main sections. Each of these exams has quantitative aptitude, verbal reasoning, logical reasoning and data interpretation, apart from GK or essay writing section in some of the exams. So, you have to prepare accordingly for these exams either by taking coaching classes or correspondence course or by self-preparation or by following recommended books. After you have prepared for the most difficult level questions, you may try to get some question banks for the specific exam you are targeting either offline mode i.e. books on exams or online mode i.e. free question banks websites or paid question banks for practice.
Q:   How to prepare for Micro Presentation and PI? Which are the best MBA colleges of IBSAT?
A: 

Top colleges for IBSAT are:

ICFAI Business School – Hyderabad

ICFAI Business School – Dehradun

ICFAI Business School – Pune

ICFAI Business School – Gurgaon

ICFAI Business School – Bangalore

ICFAI Business School – Mumbai

ICFAI Business School – Jaipur

ICFAI Business School – Kolkata

ICFAI Business School - Ahmedabad

Personal Interview (PI): 1. Introduce yourself in a very brief and formal way. 2. Limit introduction to entirely yourself.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.

Micro Presentation: Candidates need to be prepared to speak for about 2-3 minutes on a given topic. The selection panel will evaluate the candidate on their communication skill, topic awareness, confidence and body language. So, to prepare for Micro Presentation follow current/business affairs, be socially aware and practice public speaking. 

Q:   How should I prepare for IBSAT?
A: 

To prepare for the IBSAT

  1. Students must check IBSAT exam pattern and syllabus. 
  2. Get IBSAT preparation books and resources.
  3. Understand important concepts of each section.
  4. Solve IBSAT previous year question papers to improve speed

Approach Last-Minute Preparation on a Positive Note

Much of your last-minute preparation tips for IBSAT exam are dependent on how positive you feel inside about attempting questions than mastering everything. Do not panic rather, keep your nerves cool and revise every topic enthusiastically. Think you still have time in your hands to answer all the questions right with your focused and smart IBSAT preparation strategy. Importantly, follow your own preparation strategy and you are there to top the exams. Good luck!

Also Read

Check IBSAT cut offs and predict calls from colleges accepting IBSAT score for admission. Check Fees, Placement Reviews, Admission, Shortlist Criteria and Eligibility of all IBSAT participating colleges by clicking the link below:

Predict IBSAT Admission Calls
Videos you may like
About the Author
author-image
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,

Read Full Bio
Download Important Dates for MBA/PGDM Exams

News & Updates

Latest NewsPopular News

Explore Other Exams

20 Aug '26 -

10 Oct '26

NMAT 2026 Registration Window

20 Aug '26 -

22 Oct '26

NMAT 2026 Scheduling Window

Sep '26

MICAT (I) Registrations

Nov '26

MICAT (II) registration proces...

22 Jun '26 -

7 Sep '26

MAT September 2026 Registratio...

22 Jun '26 -

14 Sep '26

MAT September 2026 Registratio...

15 Jul '26 -

6 Dec '26

XAT 2027 registration

30 Aug '26

XAT 2027 mock test

21 Aug '26 -

25 Nov '26

SNAP 2026 Registration Process

7 Dec '26

SNAP 2026 admit card session 1...

17 Oct '24 -

5 Dec '24

IIFT 2025 registration and app...

The list of exams are recommended based on what other exams do the students in your area show interest in
qna

Student Forum

chatAnything you would want to ask experts?
Write here...

Answered 4 weeks ago

IBS Hyderabad has shared the dates for IBSAT National Mock Test on its official website. Candidates can register for any date as per their convenience. Apart from this, IBS also provides Free Mock Test that can be taken anytime after registration.

N

Nupur Jain

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 4 weeks ago

The number of questions in each section of IBSAT Mock Test are as follows:

Section

No. of questions

Verbal Ability

50

Quantitative aptitude

30

Reading Comprehension

30

Data Adequacy and Interpretation

30

R

Rachit Katariya

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 4 weeks ago

Yes, the IBSAT mock test is free of cost. Candidates just have to register for it on the official website.

V

Vikrant Kaur

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 4 weeks ago

Only candidates who fulfill the below mentioned eligibility criteria can register to appear for IBSAT mock test:

  • Candidate must be a resident of India with Aadhaar Card (Except for NE States, may provide Government ID)
  • Student must be a 2025-26 graduate or in final year of qualifying examination

S

Sumridhi Bisht

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 4 weeks ago

IBSAT National Mock Test is a mock conducted by IBS Hyderabad at a national level for IBSAT aspirants. This year, IBS has announced six mock tests from July to December 2026. The mock test is designed to help students practice in exam-like environment.

N

Nishtha Singh

Contributor-Level 6

Answered 4 weeks ago

ICFAI Business School Ahmedabad accepts candidates from diverse academic & professional backgrounds:  

Graduates & Final-Year Students: Candidates who have completed graduation or are currently in their final year in any discipline like Commerce, BBA, Science, Engineering, Arts.

Working Professionals:

...Read more

R

Rakshit Prabhakar

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 4 weeks ago

ICFAI Business School (IBS), Kolkata secures candidates from diverse academic & professional backgrounds:  

Graduates & Final-Year Students: Candidates who have completed graduation or are currently in their final year in any discipline like Commerce, BBA, Science, Engineering, Arts.

Working Professio

...Read more

R

Rakshit Prabhakar

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 4 weeks ago

IBSAT secures candidates from diverse academic & professional backgrounds:  

  • Graduates & Final-Year Students: Candidates who have completed graduation or are currently in their final year in any discipline (Commerce, BBA, Science, Engineering, Arts, etc.).  
  • Working Professionals: Individuals with 2 t

...Read more

R

Rakshit Prabhakar

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 4 weeks ago

The IBSAT 2026 is a 2-hour computer-based test containing 140 MCQs. It features zero negative marking and no sectional time limits.

Section No

Section Name

Marks

1

Verbal Ability

50

2

Reading Comprehension

30

3

Quantitative Aptitude

30

4

Data Adequacy & Interpretation

30

TOTAL

140

National Mock Tests

Aspirants can prepare and practice through proctored Free National Mock Test with 100 prizes to win.

  • 1st Prize INR 2 Lakh
  • 2nd Prize INR 1 Lakh
  • 3rd Prize

...Read more

R

Rakshit Prabhakar

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 4 weeks ago

Students can apply for IBSAT entrance exam from diverse academic & professional backgrounds:  

  • Candidates who have completed graduation or are currently in their final year in any discipline (Commerce, BBA, Science, Engineering, Arts, etc.).  
  • Working Professionals with 2 to 3 years of work experience

...Read more

R

Rakshit Prabhakar

Contributor-Level 10