MICAT Preparation 2026: Know Complete Strategy & Tips
MICA Admissions Test 2026 ( MICAT )
Registration - 30 Sep '25 - 20 Nov '25
MICAT Preparation 2026: Candidates aspiring for PGDM admission in Mudra Institute of Communications, Ahmedabad, must have a top-notch preparation strategy to ace MICAT exam. While preparing for any competitive exam, candidates must start by understing the exam pattern and syllabus. MICAT exam pattern and test structure differ from other MBA entrance exams. To appear for the MICAT exam 2026, aspirants must have a valid score in CAT/XAT or GMAT.
MICAT exam comprises three sections as mentioned below:
Section A: Psychometric Test
Section B: Descriptive Test
Section C: Aptitude Test (with sections similar to other MBA exams)
Section A is a qualifier, meaning the candidates will be assessed based on their CAT/XAT/GMAT score and subsequent sections of the exam only if they clear the MICAT Psychometric Test. Scroll down for more details on MICAT preparation tips 2026.
- MICAT 2026 Exam Pattern
- MICAT Exam 2026: Strategies for Sectional Preparation
- How to Prepare for Psychometric Test Section?
- How to Prepare for Descriptive Test Section
- How to prepare for MICAT 2026: Section-C Preparation Tips
MICAT 2026 Exam Pattern
As per the MICAT 2026 exam pattern, candidates will get 2 hours and 15 minutes to complete the paper. There is no negative marking in Sections A and B but in Section C, 0.25 marks will be deducted for each wrong answer. The table below mentions the sectional overview of MICAT exam based on the previous year's exam pattern.
| Parts |
Sections |
Number of Questions (Expected) |
Duration (in minutes) |
Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section A |
Psychometric Test |
150 |
30 |
No |
| Section B |
Descriptive Test |
4 |
25 |
No |
| Section C
|
Verbal Ability |
20 |
80 |
Yes. - 0.25 marks for each wrong answer |
| Quantitative Ability |
20 |
|||
| General Awareness |
20 |
|||
| Divergent-Convergent Reasoning |
10 |
Commonly asked questions
The exam structure of MICAT may change every year. Based on the previous year's analysis, here is what candidates can expect from the MICAT exam. MICAT exam has three sections, with four sub-sections in Section C.
- Section A, that is the Psychometric test had MCQ type questions with two or eight options.
- Section B, the descriptive test have four subjective questions.
- Section C has four sub-sections with MCQ types questions with upto eight options.
Section A and B do not have any negative marking, while Section-C has negative marking of 0.25 marks for every incorrect response.
The duration of the MICAT exam may change from year to year. MICA, Ahmedabad, does not specify all the details of the MICAT exam pattern. However, based on the previous year's trends MICAT exam will have to be completed within a time frame of 135 minutes. These 135 minutes are divided across three sections, that is Psychometric Test, Descriptive Test, and Aptitude Test. Additionally, candidates need to take the section in the prescribed order only. However, the choice of navigation is provided within the Section-C whiel answering questions in the sub-sections.
MICAT Exam 2026: Strategies for Sectional Preparation
With three sections in the exam, two are uniquely designed. Candidates might face troubles while preparing for Section A and Section B of MICAT 2026 as these sections are not common in any other competitive exams. Here is a section wise apprch on MICAT exam preparation. These tips have been followed by MICAT toppers to ace the exam.
Commonly asked questions
MICAT is among the difficult exams conducted for admission to MBA courses. Candidates appearing for MICAT exam get themselvbes involved in the MICA PGP admission process. The selection process by MICA involves the candidates to take CAT/XAT/GMAT exam. Additionally, candidates need to appear for the MICAT exam. MICAT involves three sections, as mentioned below:
A. Psychometric Test
B. Descriptive Test
C. Aptitude Test
MICAT is difficult as it may surprise candidates with an unpredictable structure and sectional time limit. Candidates may find the exam easy based on what they expected from the exam during preparation.
Preparing for MICAT in four months is easy as the preparation for Section C will be done while preparing for CAT/XAT/GMAT. Psychometric test does not have any correct or incorrect options. Additionally, Psychometric Test is a qualifier test. The Descriptive Test would require the candidate to widen the creative thinking and writing speed.
Along with the exam details, MICA releases MICAT demo, also known as MICAT mock test. Candidates can use the MICAT demo to get aware pf the user experience of the MICAT exam. Each part of the MICAT mock test is clocked on the similar lines to the MICAT exam. Candidates are not allowed to navigate across the three parts of the MICAT mock test. However, functionality to move across four sub sections of the Aptitude Test is provided in the MICAT mock test as well. After end of the sectional time, MICA will automatically submit the responses marked or unmarked by the candidate.
Since MICA does not release the questions of the Psychometric Test, MICAT mock test will be clocked to one minute. However, the actual Psychometric test in the MICAT exam will be clocked to 30 minutes. Candidates cannot go back or move ahead from the Psychometric Test until the end of 30 minutes.
How to Prepare for Psychometric Test Section?
Section A of MICAT is the Psychometric Test section. In this section there will be three types of questions:
- Questions based on human traits such as “Are you helpful by nature?”
- Questions based on two contradictory statements e.g. “What do you do to unwind? Read a book or watch TV.” You are expected to answer by grading these arguments as agree, agree moderately, disagree, etc.
- Open-ended questions such as, “what kind of person you would make friends with”. You have to answer these questions by rating them on six parameters from 1 to 6, with 1 being most important and 6 being least important.
So, there is no set formula to prepare for Psychometric Test.
While solving the questions, you need to be spontaneous and true to yourself. Thus, to prepare for this section, introspect and know yourself better. You can also take a few personality assessment tests online. Also, do not leave any questions in this section.
Commonly asked questions
Psychometric test of MICAT exam helps in screening candidates for the programmes offered by Mudra Institute of Communications, Ahmedabad. MICAT's Psychometric Test helps assess candidate's behavioural and psychological attributes to find whether an individual is right fit for the course or not.
Psychometric Test in MICAT involves 150 questions. These questions are objective type questions or onw word answer questions with two or more options. Candidates may find True/False type questions. MICA typically analyses the following attributes of a candidatre using the Psychometric Test:
- Science v/s Art
- Openness to Creativity
- New Ideas
- Deductive & Inductive Logic
- Decision Making
The Psychometric Test is a preliminary test to assesses a candidate's behavioral and psychological traits before their aptitude is assessed in the MICAT exam. The goal of this section is to determine whether a candidate is good fit for the programme offered by the institute. The questions in this section may have two options among true or false. Alternatively, candidates may find questions that have four options. Answers marked by a candidate in each question will help analyse candidate's readibility to pursue the course from MICA.
The psychometric section of MICAT is not a pass/fail test. However, candidates who do not perform well in this section will not be evaluated for further sections of the MICAT exam.
How to Prepare for Descriptive Test Section
The Descriptive Test section can be divided into two parts. The first part is ‘Argument or Opinion Writing’ and the second part of the descriptive test is ‘Creative Writing.’
To prepare for an Argument based topic, take a current topic, write three points for and three points against it, then draw a final conclusion. Practice this thrice a week to improve lucidity in writing.
In the creative writing section, four pictures will be given for candidates to connect them and write a story out of it. The word limit of the story is 300 words. So, how to prepare for creative writing within a limited time? Select four random pictures and try to build a logical story around them. Practice this at least thrice a week and you will be in a good place by the time MICAT exam approaches.
Practice & Improve Answering Ability
‘Practice makes a man perfect is the most common adage we have heard since childhood. It is the key to succeed in MICAT too. Practice at least five years’ MICAT question papers side by side as you keep completing the topics included in the syllabus. There are ample online mock tests available for exam preparation. This will not only help you evaluate your individual preparation level but give you actual insight on the MICAT exam pattern. Practising MICAT Question Papers and Mock Test helps candidates to master the skill of time management, which is essential to score good marks in speed-based exams.
Commonly asked questions
Mudra Institute of Communications, Ahmedabad, conducts MICAT exam in two phases every year. Candidates can appear for either of the exam phase or both the exam phases. The syllabus for MICAT I and II is same. Therefore, candidates can follow a similar strategy to prepare for both phases of the exam. However, candidates who are preparing for MICAT II must have a structured approach designed based on their analysis from first phase of the exam. Candidates must plan their exam date based on the pattern, syllabus, important topics, marking scheme, and question weightage they found in the first phase of the MICAT exam.
Mudra Institute of Communication, Ahmedabad, conducts the MICAT exam in two phases. Typically, the examination under first phase is conducted in the first week of December. Whereas, the second phase exam is conducted in the last week of January. Candidates can find the MICAT exam dates on the official website along with other exam details. Candidates can choose to apply for both or either of the exam phases for MICAT.
MICAT 2025 exam is scheduled to be conducted on December 7 for first phase, and January 25 for second phase.
Besides the official website, candidates can also find the MICAT exam date mentioned on the admit card. Alternatively, MICAT exam dates article from Shiksha also hosts the updated information on the MICAT schedule and important timeline.
How to prepare for MICAT 2026: Section-C Preparation Tips
Verbal Ability
For Verbal Ability Section, work on mastering topics like Para Jumbles, Reading Comprehension, Statement assumption, statement- conclusion, etc. Practice the questions on studying fill in the blanks, para jumbles and para completion. The vocabulary-based questions are context-based, meaning you can choose the right answer only if you know the meaning and usage of a particular word.
Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation
For the Quantitative Ability section, candidates must practice Arithmetic topics including Time and Speed, Time and Work. Average, Allegations and Mixtures. Other topics included in the section are Profit and Loss, Numbers, Venn Diagrams, Functions, Probability, Mensuration and Equations. Any candidate who is preparing for CAT, XAT or any other MBA entrance exam, will find it easy to prepare for this section. You can apply the same preparation strategy here.
Practice mock tests, write down the formulas and memorise them occasionally.
Divergent and Convergent Thinking
The Divergent and Convergent section has 30 questions, including seven questions on visual reasoning, 4-5 questions on statement conclusion and statement assumption, 7 questions on data sufficiency and 10-15 questions on word association. This section tests any candidate’s analytical ability or a combination of logical and verbal reasoning. Candidates need to prepare well for the statement assumption and conclusion sub-section as it is an important section and most of the candidates lack preparation. One can try out online mock tests to evaluate their preparation level occasionally.
General Awareness
The General Awareness section covers static GK and current affairs topics from business and, advertising. It is therefore important that candidates keep themselves informed in both national and international current affairs.
Read More:
Commonly asked questions
Section C, or Aptitude Test of MICAT exam is divided into four sub-sections. The number of questions may change with each examination cycle. Based on the previous year's exam analaysis, there were a total of 70 questions in the Aptitude Test of MICAT exam. These 70 questions were divided into four sub sections in the following weight:
- Divergent-Convergent Reasoning: 20
- Verbal Ability: 20
- Quantitative Ability: 20
- General Awareness: 10
The Aptitude Test section of the MICAT exam had negative marking of 0.25 marks for each incorrect response.
MICA does not release a detailed syllabus for MICAT. However, MICA notifies the names of the sections with the release of the exam details. Sub-section wise important topics in Section C of MICAT exam are as follows:
Divergent-Convergent Reasoning
- Puzzles
- Blood Relations
- Coding-Decoding
- Number Series
- Seating Arrangement
- Data Sufficiency
- Venn Diagrams
- Pie Charts
- Syllogism
Verbal Ability
- Reading Comprehension
- Grammar
- Idioms
- Word Meaning
- Sentence Correction
- Para jumbles
- Antonyms & Synonyms
- Spelling
- One-Word Substitution
Quantitative Ability
- Geometry
- Mensuration
- Trigonometry
- Number System
- Surds and Indices
- HCF & LCM
- Logarithms
- Modern Maths
- Time-Speed-Distance
General Awareness
- Business
- Art
- Mass Media
- Entertainment
- Advertising
- International Business
- Brands
- Sports
- Static GK
Besides the topics mentioned above, MICAT exam may be dominated by any other topic. Therefore, candidates must prepare for any type of questions and topics as per the MICAT sections.
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