IBSAT Previous Year Question Papers & Sample Papers: PDFs Download

ICFAI Business School Aptitude Test 2026 ( IBSAT )

Shruti Garg
Updated on May 29, 2026 11:18 IST

By Shruti Garg, Assistant Manager- Editorial

Overview

IBSAT question papers are most effective tool for exam preparation. The question paper assesses candidates on areas like verbal ability, quantitative ability, reading comprehension and data interpretation. ICFAI Business School does not release the IBSAT previous year question papers officially. However, candidates can prepare with the help of IBSAT sample papers provided on this page. IBS also conducts IBSAT national mock test at ibsindia.org, to help candidates become familiar with the mode of examination, structure and difficulty level.

Solving IBSAT sample papers will not only help students in strengthening the concepts but also improve their time management skills and accuracy. The IBSAT 2026 exam will be scheduled tentatively in last week of December 2026. The exam will be administered in remote proctored mode.

Table of contents
  • IBSAT Sample Papers with Answer Key by Shiksha
  • IBSAT 2026 Question Paper Pattern
  • Benefits of Solving IBSAT Sample Papers
  • FAQs on IBSAT Question Paper

Download previous year IBSAT question papers and sample papers. Use them for practice and improve your speed and accuracy. You can download IBSAT previous year question papers and the preparation guides for free.

IBSAT Sample Papers with Answer Key by Shiksha

IBSAT Sample Paper 1
IBSAT Sample Paper 2
IBSAT Sample Paper 3
IBSAT Sample Paper 4
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IBSAT 2026 Question Paper Pattern

IBSAT question paper 2026 will consist of 140 multiple-choice questions, divided across four sections. The exam will be conducted for a duration of two hours in remote proctored mode. Candidates can check the table below to know the IBSAT question paper structure 2026:

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

Also Read: IBSAT Exam Pattern

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   What is sectional time limit in IBSAT exam?
A: 

There is no prescribed sectional time limit for IBSAT exam. Candidates appearing for IBSAT exam can attempt any section as per their order preference and can switch between sections while attempting questions. Candidates must carefully review the pending questions.

Q:   Where can I get IBSAT syllabus PDF?
A: 

ICFAI Business School does not release the official IBSAT syllabus PDF on its official webiste. However, candidates preparing for IBSAT exam can refer to CAT syllabus. IBSAT syllabus is similar to CAT syllabus. Candidates can check the important topics for CAT and prepare for IBSAT exam accordingly. IBSAT exam difficulty level is easy as compared to CAT exam. 

Q:   What is IBSAT qualifying marks?
A: 

There are no prescribed IBSAT qualifying marks. Candidates preparing for IBSAT exam can check the expected IBSAT cutoff marks for IBS campuses below:

  • IBS Hyderabad: 72-80+ marks
  • IBS Mumbai: 70-78+ marks
  • IBS Bangalore: 65-75+ marks
  • IBS Gurgaon: 62-75+ marks
  • IBS Pune: 60-70+ marks
  • IBS Dehradun: 55-65+ marks
  • IBS Jaipur: 55-65+ marks
  • IBS Kolkata: 55-65+ marks
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Benefits of Solving IBSAT Sample Papers

Practising with IBSAT sample papers is important to understand the exam pattern and difficulty level of exam. Candidates can check some of the benefits of solving IBSAT sample papers below:

  • Helps in managing time and speed by practising solving the questions
  • Identifies the strong and weak areas, enabling focused revision
  • Develops a real exam environment and helps in gaining experience of remote proctored mode of examination
  • IBSAT sample papers help in increasing speed and accuracy
  • Helps in focusing on high-weightage topics, which can boost the overall score
Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   Where can I get best books for IBSAT to study?
A: 

To prepare for ICFAI Business School Aptitude Test, candidates can get the IBSAT best books online or offline from nearby book stores. Candidates must ensure to check the edition and author name for IBSAT books.

Q:   What topics are covered in IBSAT exam?
A: 

IBSAT question paper will cover the topics from the following sections:

  • Quantitative Aptitude
  • Verbal Ability
  • Data Adequacy/ Sufficiency and Data Interpretation (DA/ DI)
Q:   Does IBSAT syllabus change every year?
A: 

No, IBSAT syllabus does not change every year. The IBSAT syllabus is similar to CAT and NMAT exam syllabus. The IBSAT exam is comparatively easy in difficulty level compared to NMAT and CAT.

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FAQs on IBSAT Question Paper

Check frequently asked questions on IBSAT sample papers below:

Q:   In which mode is MBA/PGDM course offered at IBS?
A: 

ICFAI Business School offers MBA/PGDM programmes at 9 IBS campuses in offline mode. For admission to IBS campus, candidates must appear for IBSAT, CAT, XAT, NMAT by GMAC, or GMAT examination to qualify for admission process.

Q:   What will be the mode of IBSAT exam?
A: 

IBS conducts IBSAT exam in remote proctired mode. In this mode of examination, exam can be taken from preferrable place. Students must make sure to fulfil the exam day guidelines to appear for online test.

Q:   Where can I get IBSAT syllabus PDF?
A: 

ICFAI Business School does not release the official IBSAT syllabus PDF on its official webiste. However, candidates preparing for IBSAT exam can refer to CAT syllabus. IBSAT syllabus is similar to CAT syllabus. Candidates can check the important topics for CAT and prepare for IBSAT exam accordingly. IBSAT exam difficulty level is easy as compared to CAT exam. 

Q:   What is sectional time limit in IBSAT exam?
A: 

There is no prescribed sectional time limit for IBSAT exam. Candidates appearing for IBSAT exam can attempt any section as per their order preference and can switch between sections while attempting questions. Candidates must carefully review the pending questions.

Q:   Can I apply for MBA/PGDM admission without IBSAT score?
A: 

Yes, candidates can apply for MBA/PGDM admission at IBS campuses without ISAT scores. Such candidates must have a valid score in any of the national-level MBA entrance exam:

  • CAT: Top 75 candidates with a minimum score of 90 percentile and above
  • XAT: Top 25 candidates with a minimum score of 80 percentile and above
  • GMAT TM: Top 25 candidates with a minimum score of 550 and above
  • NMAT by GMAC TM: Top 100 candidates with a minimum score of 225 and above
Q:   When will IBSAT notification release?
A: 

ICFAI Business School will release the IBSAT 2026 notification at general.ibsindia.org. Candidates seeking admission to MBA/PGDM programme of IBS must fill the online application form. Authorities will commence IBSAT 2026 registrations tentatively on July 01 and will end in last week of December 2026. IBSAT 2026 registration is an online process.

Q:   What actions can lead to the disqualification of the candidate during the IBSAT online proctored examination?
A: 

If students are found not obeying rules of examination or trying to practice unfair means, they will be disqualified from the examination. The system will find any kind of unusual movements and will notify the online proctor for:

  1. Focus changed to a different window
  2. Browser not supported
  3. Webcam is disabled
  4. Face is not visible in the camera
  5. Several faces in front of the camera
  6. Face does not match the profile
  7. Microphone muted or its volume is low
  8. Conversation or noise in the background
  9. Screen activities are not shared
  10. Second display is used
  11. Full-screen mode is disabled
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:   What is IBSAT qualifying marks?
A: 

There are no prescribed IBSAT qualifying marks. Candidates preparing for IBSAT exam can check the expected IBSAT cutoff marks for IBS campuses below:

  • IBS Hyderabad: 72-80+ marks
  • IBS Mumbai: 70-78+ marks
  • IBS Bangalore: 65-75+ marks
  • IBS Gurgaon: 62-75+ marks
  • IBS Pune: 60-70+ marks
  • IBS Dehradun: 55-65+ marks
  • IBS Jaipur: 55-65+ marks
  • IBS Kolkata: 55-65+ marks
Q:   Is there negative marking in IBSAT?
A: 

No, there is no negative marking in IBSAT exam. IBSAT question paper will consist of 140 question of one mark each. Candidates will given two hours to attempt 140 MCQs. For any incorrect answer or not attempted question, no mark will be dedcuted. In this scenerio, candidates must attempt all questions even if they are not sure of correct answer.

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Student Forum

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

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

10 Institutes accepting IBSAT

ICFAI Business School (IBS), Hyderabad

Donthanapally, Hyderabad Private

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