IBSAT 2021: Dates, Registrations, Eligibility Criteria, Pattern, Syllabus, Preparation

What is IBSAT?

IBS Aptitude Test or IBSAT is a national level entrance exam conducted by ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education (a deemed to be University) for admission to MBA/PGPM programmes.

IBSAT scores are accepted by nine ICFAI Business School (IBS) campuses, namely IBS Hyderabad, IBS Mumbai, IBS Bengaluru, IBS Pune, IBS Gurgaon, IBS Kolkata, IBS Ahmedabad, IBS Jaipur and IBS Dehradun. IBSAT is a two-hour Computer-based test (CBT) comprising multiple-choice questions. IBSAT 2021 notification is expected to be released in the first week of July. IBSAT is a computer-based test that is generally conducted over a window of two days in December. Last year, the exam was conducted in an online proctored mode or an Internet-based Test (IBT) mode wherein candidates had to appear for the test from their home or any location of their convenience. This step was taken as a response measure to the coronavirus pandemic, to avoid public gathering. This year also, it is expected that IBSAT will be conducted in the fourth week of December in an IBT mode. The result of IBSAT 2021 is expected to be declared in the first week of January. Qualified candidates will have to first attend a selection briefing round, which is likely to be held in January and then have to appear for the final selection rounds, including Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI) rounds in February 2022. 

IBSAT Eligibility Criteria 2021

 Candidates need to fulfil the following eligibility criteria to apply for the IBSAT 2021 exam:

• Candidates should have a bachelor's degree or equivalent in any discipline with minimum 50 per cent aggregate

• Candidates not meeting the eligibility criteria of English medium in graduation need to submit the TOEFL/ NELT/ IELTS score

• Applicants in their final year of graduation are also eligible to apply 

• Candidates with a valid score of GMAT, CAT and NMAT by GMAC need not appear for IBSAT and can apply for direct admission

Also Read: Detailed eligibility criteria for IBSAT exam

IBSAT Exam 2021 Highlights

IBSAT exam is conducted once a year in the online mode. The table below brings some quick facts about the exam.

IBSAT Exam 2021 Dates and Events (Tentative)

Find below the tentative dates of IBSAT 2021 for the important events in the table below.

Top Colleges Accepting IBSAT Exam Scores

Check out the table below to know the list of top colleges that will accept IBSAT 2021 scores.

IBSAT 2021 Admission Process

The admission process for IBSAT includes five stages — filling application form, issuing of admit card, IBSAT 2021 exam, declaration of result and selection process for shortlisted candidates. Each stage in the IBSAT Admission process is explained below:

Step 1: IBSAT 2021 application form

The first step of the admission process begins with filling the IBSAT 2021 application form. Candidates need to fill the application form within the slated time, as there would not be any provision for submitting the IBSAT 2021 application forms beyond the deadline. IBS aspirants can apply for the IBSAT 2021 exam online as well as offline. The application process will start with the creation of login ID and password and will end with paying the application fee of Rs 1,800. IBSAT is conducted in multiple test cities across the country.

Step 2: IBSAT 2021 admit card

IBSAT 2021 admit card will be issued only to the registered candidates. Without the hall ticket, no applicant will be allowed to enter the exam centre. IBSAT 2021 admit card will be available online on the official website. To download the hall ticket, key in the registration number, date of birth and password.

Step 3: IBSAT 2021 exam

IBSAT exam is conducted in the Computer-based Test (CBT) mode. Last year, the exam was conducted in online proctored mode, wherein candidates could take the test from their home. This year, in case the exam is conducted in test centres like the previous years, then it is likely that IBSAT 2021 will be held in 95 cities across India. The test duration is two hours and the total number of multiple-choice questions (MCQs) is 140. 

Step 4: Announcement of IBSAT 2021 results

IBSAT 2021 scorecard will be released on the official website. In order to check scorecard and download IBSAT 2021 result, test-takers need to log in using the hall ticket number, registration number and date of birth. Based on the scores obtained by the test takers, they will be called for the successive rounds.

Step 5: IBSAT 2021 Selection Process (Group Discussion and Personal Interview)

Based on the performance in IBSAT 2021, shortlisted candidates have to attend the Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI) rounds. In these rounds, candidates are judged on the basis of their optimistic outlook, leadership qualities and negotiation skills. The final result is likely to be announced in the mid-week of March 2022.

Also Read: Group Discussion (GD) Topics 2020 for MBA

IBSAT 2021 Preparation Tips

IBSAT is a speed-based test and students need to solve 140 questions within two hours. Keeping this in mind, candidates should chalk out an IBSAT preparation timeline to cover essential topics from the syllabus. Also, they need to shortlist and refer to the best books for IBSAT preparation, five-year IBSAT sample papers and online mock tests. They must follow the below-mentioned tips while preparing for IBSAT 2021:

1. Allot three to four months to cover the IBSAT syllabus

2. Analyse self-preparation level through practice of IBSAT sample papers

3. Read each topic included in the IBSAT syllabus and simultaneously create short notes on each topic to revise them from time to time

4. Rather than randomly preparing the topics, follow a systematic plan to complete the IBSAT syllabus

5. Discuss all the doubts with peer members to clarify them and also help others in the group to clarify their doubts as well

IBSAT Mock Test 

Try out this free of cost IBSAT Mock Test prepared by Shiksha to help all the test takers shape their accuracy skills to answer the question as well as master speed based skills for the test. 

IBSAT 2021 Exam Centres

IBSAT exam is generally conducted in 95 test centres across India. However, last year, the test was conducted in remote proctored mode wherein candidates had to take the test from home under the supervision of the exam invigilators through a web camera and microphone attached with the computer system. 

Also Read:  IBSAT 2020: Tips for Taking Online Proctored Test

IBSAT 2021 Exam Day Guidelines

• Candidates should be well equipped with a properly functioning laptop or desktop computer with sufficient memory and uninterrupted supply of power and Internet

• The operating system should be Windows 7, Windows 8 or 8.1 or Windows 10

• The laptop or computer should be enabled with a webcam which should be switched on throughout the exam duration

• The computer system should have attached speakers and a microphone –built-in or USB plug-in or wireless Bluetooth

• They must keep the IBSAT Admit Card and photo ID card handy as, without the verification, the test would not be started

• There should not be any electronic gadget, jewellery, wrist-watch, headphone, calculator or even study material, bag or stationery item inside the exam centre

• Follow the instructions of the exam invigilator and must not carry out any unethical activities while taking the exam

IBSAT Cut Off

The IBSAT cut off levels of IBS Hyderabad remain somewhere around 65-75. While for the remaining other campuses offering courses such as MBA specialisation in Finance or Marketing, OM, HRM, ITSM and PGP in Analytics, the cut off levels remain somewhere above 68. 

Read More:

• MBA specialisation guide
• IBSAT exam pattern