Shruti
Shruti Garg
Assistant Manager- Editorial
Updated on Nov 6, 2025 13:40 IST
IBSAT will be conducted in remote proctored mode on December 27 and 28, 2025. Candidates appearing for the exam can check here strategy for IBSAT Preparation including test pattern, question papers, syllabus, section-wise preparation and more. Shiksha here brings you the detailed preparation guide for IBSAT exam.

IBSAT 2025 Preparation strategy must include knowing about the test pattern, subjects, section-wise syllabus, important topics and more. Get here preparation tips and strategies for IBSAT exam 2025.

IBSAT Exam Preparation

IBSAT Exam Preparation

IBSAT 2025 preparation requires focused approach to get admission to top ICFAI Business Schools. IBS Aptitude Test (IBSAT) is conducted by IBS Hyderabad for admissions to its MBA/PGDM courses offered at IBS Hyderabad, IBS Dehradun, IBS Jaipur, IBS Ahmedabad, IBS Bengaluru, IBS Gurgaon, IBS Kolkata, IBS Mumbai, and IBS Pune. IBSAT syllabus is similar to CAT syllabus, hence, candidates must prepare for the exam accordingly. Candidates must create a study plan for IBSAT preparation covering the sections- Verbal Ability, Reading Comprehension, Quantitative Aptitude and Data Adequacy & Data Interpretation. 

Creating a well planned IBSAT preparation dtrategy will help candidates manage time, develop concepts and increase speed in exam. Read this article below to know how to prepare for IBSAT 2025 exam.

Table of contents
  • IBSAT 2025 Exam Pattern
  • IBSAT 2025 Syllabus
  • IBSAT Mock Tests
  • IBSAT Preparation Tips

IBSAT 2025 Exam Pattern 

The preparation strategy for the exam should begin with knowing IBSAT 2025 pattern including subjects, type of questions, sectional weightage and other details mentioned below:

Features

Details

Exam mode

Remote Proctored Mode

Exam duration

Two hours

Subjects/Sections

Four sections –

  • Verbal Ability
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Quantitative Aptitude
  • Data Adequacy & Data Interpretation

Type of questions

Multiple choices based questions  

Number of questions in each section

VA – 50 MCQs

RC – 30 MCQs

QA – 30 MCQs

DA&DI – 30 MCQs

Total marks

140

Marking scheme

  • One mark per question
  • No negative marking
Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   What is the last date for admissions to MBA course at IBS Gurgaon?
A: 

The last admission dates (LAD) for applying to the PGPM course at IBS Gurgaon, students can apply from July to February. Thus, the deadlines for applying to the course always lie in the month of February. Also, IBSAT is usually conducted in the last week of December and the results are also released on December's last date.

 

Q:   Is IBSAT exam hard for IBS Gurgaon admission?
A: 

IBSAT entrance test for IBS Gurgaon testing verbal ability, reading comprehension, quantitative aptitude, and data interpretation. Difficulty is medium relative to other MBA entrance exams. Sufficient preparation can assist in achieving a good score.

Q:   Which entrance exam is accepted by IBS Mumbai?
A: 

ICFAI Business School conducts ICFAI Business School Aptitude Test (IBSAT) for admission to its Management courses. However, it is not compulsory for selection. Aspirants with a required score in other accepted exams: CAT/GMAT/NMAT by GMAC/XAT are also eligible to apply. Moreover, aspirants shall check out the eligibility requirements before applying for the course. Candidates are shortlisted based on accepted exam scores for further selection rounds. Read more on IBS Mumbai admissions here.

Q:   What is the admission process of MBA at IBS Jaipur?
A: 

The admission process for ICFAI Business School Jaipur is mentioned below:

  1. Application submission of IBSAT
  2. Appear for the exam and submit the score of CAT/GMAT/NMAT at the time of registration
  3. After that shortlisting will be done
  4. The selection Process will take place by the college/institute
  5. After the selection round the candidates will be provided with the admission letter
  6. Lastly, the commencement of classes

Click here to know about the detailed eligibility criteria for IBS Jaipur MBA course. 

IBSAT 2025 Syllabus 

In the preparation phase, candidates must go through the IBSAT syllabus thoroughly. Below are some important topics from IBSAT 2025 syllabus for each section:

Important Topics for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension Sections

Candidates must check topics given below specifically to score well in the Verbal Ability section:

  • Vocabulary
  • Synonyms & Antonyms
  • Fill in the blanks
  • Sentence Correction and Completion
  • Grammar (syntax and error correction),
  • Critical and Verbal Reasoning
  • Reading Comprehension (Passage based questions)
  • Para Jumbles
  • Word meanings
  • Contextual Usage
  • Idioms
  • Syllogisms

Important Topics for Quantitative Aptitude and Data Adequacy & Interpretation Sections

The sections include questions on basic problem-solving techniques, which require analytical and logical skills. Candidates can check here commonly asked topics in Quantitative Aptitude and DA& DI sections:

  • Algebra
  • Arithmetic and Numbers
  • Ratio & Proportion,
  • Speed, Distance, Time & Work problems
  • Permutation and Combinations
  • Probability
  • Sets theory
  • Analogies, Patterns, Series
  • Geometry
  • Data sufficiency – Statements and Conclusions
  • Data interpretation – Charts, Graphs and Tables
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IBSAT Mock Tests

IBS India released IBSAT mock test on the official website. The mock test provides a real-time exam-taking experience to the candidates appearing for the exam. IBSAT mock test is for all candidates registered for the exam.

Mock tests are the most crucial steps in preparation. Without mock tests, candidates will not be able to gauge their preparation level or derive ways to improve their performances. Hence, it is a must for candidates to take IBSAT mock tests. 

Shiksha has also created an IBSAT mock test which the aspirants can attempt online. Click on the link below to access Shiksha’s free mock test for IBSAT 2025.

Also Read:

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   What is the eligibility criteria for IBS Mumbai PGPM course admission?
A: 

The minimum eligibility for IBS Mumbai PGDM is graduation in any discipline with a minimum aggregate of 50% with the medium of study being English. Atleast of 15 years of education must be completed to be eligible. Moreover, the candidates in the last year of the degree programme are also eligible to apply. 

Q:   Does IBS Mumbai accept CAT score for MBA?
A: 

Yes, IBS Mumbai does accept a valid score of CAT for IBS Mumbai PGPM course. In addition, candidates with a 60 percentile and above CAT score are exempted from writing the IBSAT 2023 exam. Moreover, apart from this, it is also crucial that the aspirants fulfil the course-specific eligibility requirements as prescribed by the ICFAI Business School, Mumbai. For more details about the CAT entrance examination, Click Here.

Q:   What is the lowest percentile to get into IBS Hyderabad?
A: 

IBS Hyderabad cutoff 2025 was released for enrollment to the MBA course based on the students' performance in the CAT entrance examination. For the General AI category, the lowest percentile needed for admission was 85 based on the estimated cutoff data for this category. 

Note: The institute doesn't release the CAT cutoff to the public, and it is instead only available to those with login credentials. Hence, the data mentioned is an estimate and not official. 

Q:   How can students join IBS Mumbai?
A: 

The admission process at IBS Mumbai requires a bachelor's degree with a minimum of 50%. Entrance exams are mandatory for most courses. Students must first appear for national-level entrances and then move on to university-level selection rounds for final admission. IBS Jaipur offers full-time MBA/PGDM courses for two years and qualify in CAT/IBSAT/NMAT/XAT. It is mandatory for students to qualify the national entrance exam before admission. 

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IBSAT Preparation Tips

Read: Good reading skills are important to attempt each section of IBSAT question paper. In order to be able to read, interpret and solve the questions, the best strategy to follow is to build a reading habit. This would serve a dual purpose of improving the reading speed, as well as the comprehension ability. Newspapers and magazines would serve as the best reading materials to crack an MBA entrance exam like IBSAT. 

Time Management: The total duration for solving all the sections in IBSAT exam is two hours, therefore candidates should strategise smartly for the time required in attempting each section. Time management skills will be crucial because if candidates are able to save enough time in the end, then they can attempt difficult questions. Before starting the test, they must allocate time for each section and maintain it. For each question, candidates should not spend more than two to three minutes. 

Vocabulary and Grammar: The best way to ace Verbal Ability, Reading Comprehension as well as DA & DI is to improve vocabulary and grammar. This save a lot of time and help student understand questions quickly too. Practice grammar papers, read books, play google word coach games to enhance vocabulary, antonyms, synonyms and more.

Calculation methods: It will be much easier to attempt QA and DA&DI sections if calculations skills are fine. Candidates should be quick in basic arithmetic. They should practice mental calculations, and simple methods of calculation to improve their quantitative aptitude. Working on shortcut techniques will help them manage time judiciously. After working out the shortcut techniques, they should write those down in a handy notebook and revise them regularly. 

Practice and Analysis: Regular practice or taking mock tests would improve the aspirant's preparation level. Not only will they be able to realise their preparation level, but they will also be able to work on time management. IBSAT aspirants should take at least two full-length mock tests each week and one sectional mock test a day and get them analysed by an expert or mentor. Based on the analysis, they have to modify their sectional preparation and test-taking approach. 

Dealing with Strengths and Weaknesses: Regular analysis of mock test performance will help the candidates understand the areas of strength and weakness. This is the right time to decide which topics are weak and not pursue those any further. As around one month is left, it is best to focus on the strength areas only and ensure that maximum marks can be scored by attempting questions from the strong areas. 

Read More

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
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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