ATMA Exam Pattern 2025 (Available), Check Overall Paper Pattern of Exam

Yes, the ATMA exam has negative markings. Each question in the ATMA exam carries one mark. And for every incorrect answer, 0.25 marks are deducted. This means that if the candidate has four incorrect answers, then one mark will be deducted from the ATMA 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. Further, the top colleges accepting the ATMA scores generally place a cut-off of 70-95 percentile in ATMA for shortlisting candidates.

ATMA has a total of 180 questions. Each section carries 30 marks. For each correct attempt, one mark is awarded and 0.25 marks are deducted for incorrect attempt. There is no deduction of marks for unanswered questions. Therefore, the total marks of ATMA is 180. Each section in the ATMA question paper carries equal number of questions and marks. Sectional marking scheme for ATMA is given below: 1. Verbal Ability: 30 2. Analytical Reasoning: 30 3. Quantitative Ability: 30 Since ATMA 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.

AIMS conducts the ATMA exam at least three to four times a year. This year, the exam will be conducted thrice in the computer-based test mode. Here are important topics for the exam according to the sections of ATMA question paper.

Analytical Reasoning: Every year, this section is considered to be the toughest among the others. This section contains questions mainly from Analytical Reasoning and Critical Reasoning. Some of the important topics of this section include: 

1. Syllogisms 
2. Critical Reasoning
3. Course of Action
4. Cause and Effect
5. Statement and Conclusion
6. Strong and Weak Arguments
7. Statement and Inference
8. Coding and Decoding
9. Arrangements
10. Data Sufficiency

Verbal Skills: Just like other management entrance tests, this 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 (word pair)
2. Fill in the blanks
3. Para Formation Questions (PFQs)
4. Idioms
5. Error identification
6. Grammar
7. Sentence Completion
8. Word Meaning
9. Antonyms
10. Para Jumbles

3. Quantitative Skills: This section of the ATMA question paper is also considered tough. However, the overall difficulty level can be considered to be moderate. Some of the important topics of this section include:

1. Profit and Loss
2. Percentage
3. Simple Interest and Compound Interest
4. Partnership
5. Average, Mixture and Alligation
6. Time and Distance
7. Time and Speed
8. Geometry and Mensuration
9. Time and Work
10. Permutation & Combination
11. Probability
12. Statistics
13. Graphs and Pie Chart.

No, there are no subjective-type or long form answer questions in the ATMA exam. The ATMA question paper only has 180 multiple-choice questions that are to be solved in three hours or 180 minutes. Candidates must attempt all the sections keeping in mind that the exam has negative marking. Candidates must note that each question in the ATMA question paper will have four options. They will be required to choose the correct answer and select the radio button against the answer. If the candidate marks two options for a particular answer, then that answer will be considered incorrect. Each question in the ATMA carries one mark and 0.25 marks are deducted for every incorrect answer. No marks are awarded or deducted for unattempted questions.

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 

The medium of ATMA question paper is English . The structure of the ATMA exam has not changed from the past few years. The latest ATMA question paper structure is as follows: The ATMA exam will be conducted in the computer-based test. The duration of the exam is 180 minutes (3 hours). The exam consists of 180 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) carrying one mark each. The questions are from three different sections, namely Analytical Reasoning Skills, Verbal Skills, and Quantitative Skills. There is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for incorrect answers. The total marks for the exam are 180. The detailed section-wise exam pattern is as follows: Section 1: Analytical Reasoning Skills This section tests the candidate's analytical and logical reasoning abilities. It consists of 60 MCQs. The section tests the candidate's knowledge of topics such as Coding-Decoding, Blood Relations, Analogy, etc. Section 2: Verbal Skills This section tests the candidate's English language skills. It consists of 60 MCQs. The section tests the candidate's understanding of topics such as Grammar, Vocabulary, Reading Comprehension, etc. Section 3: Quantitative Skills This section tests the candidate's Quantitative Aptitude. It consists of 60 MCQs. The section tests the candidate's knowledge of topics such as Arithmetic, Algebra Geometry, Trigonometry etc.

Aspirants should start preparing for the ATMA exam at least six months before the test date. ATMA preparation requires planning thus one must start early. They can also join coaching institutes for focused preparation. Starting early will also help you assess that whether you need to join a coaching institute or not. Divide your preparation into three phases - 1. Covering the syllabus 2. Practicing mock tests, sample questions and 3. Revision. The ATMA syllabus includes the following topics: Verbal Skills: Parajumbles, Sentence Completion, Grammar, Comprehension Passages, Synonyms and Antonyms, etc. , Analytical Reasoning: Tables, Graphs, Pie Charts, Blood Relation, Seating Arrangement, Strong and Weak Arguments, and Syllogism Quantitative Skills: Geometry, Algebra Number System Arithmetic, Mensuration etc. You can read the following ATMA books for exam preparation: 1. A New Approach to Reasoning by BS Sijawali 2. Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT by Nishit K Sinha 3. Multi-Dimensional Reasoning by Mishra Kumar and Dr Lal 4. Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis 5. How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT by Arun Sharma and Meenakshi Upadhyay 6. High School English Grammar and Composition by Wren & Martin 7. How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT by Arun Sharma 9. Class 9 and Class 10 NCERT Mathematics books 10. Quantitative Aptitude by R. S Aggarwal.

The ATMA exam is held for three hours or 180 minutes. There is only one slot for the ATMA exam. ATMA exam has a sectional time limit of 30 minutes. This means, that the candidates will have approximately one minute to solve each question. Candidates must take care of saving their answers at every step as the moment 30 minutes will get over, the screen will automatically move to the next section. There is no provision of changing the exam slot. And there is no provision to apply for the same. Candidates will have to appear for the exam from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Candidates must make sure that they reach the ATMA exam centre by 1:00 PM in order to complete the frisking formalities at the entry gate. Candidates will not be allowed to enter the exam centre beyond 1:30 PM.

ATMA syllabus includes all the important topics of subjects that are relevant for business and general aptitude. For ATMA exam, candidates have to study, Verbal Ability, Quantitative Ability and Analytical Reasoning. Given below are the key topics included in the ATMA syllabus: -The Verbal Ability section of ATMA exam syllabus includes various topics of Grammar, Word Meaning, Vocabulary, Parajumbles, Fill in the Blanks, Sentence Completion, Synonyms and Antonyms, Reading Comprehension, etc. The Quantitative Aptitude section of ATMA syllabus includes all the topics of Mathematics from Class 9 to 10 such as Arithmetic, Geometry, Algebra Trigonometry Modern Math, Number System and Mensuration. The Analytical Reasoning syllabus of ATMA exam includes topics that require analytical interpretation of data presented in the form of Puzzles, Pie Charts, Venn Diagram, Tables and Bar Graphs.