How to Prepare for IPMAT 2026
The Integrated Program in Management Aptitude Test (IPMAT) is a nation-wide aptitude examination used for admission into the five-year integrated program in management (BBA + MBA) at both IIM Indore and IIM Rohtak. The IPMAT exam is designed to assess candidates' quantitative abilities, verbal abilities, and logical thinking.
How to Prepare for IPMAT Indore
IPMAT Indore exam is often regarded as one of the hardest for getting into an undergraduate management program. The exam has a unique format with an emphasis on advanced quantitative aptitude, so it is important to have an effective and disciplined preparation strategy in place.
IPMAT Indore Syllabus
The IPMAT Indore syllabus consists of three major sections:
Quantitative Ability (MCQ): This component assesses your ability in mathematics and problem-solving.
- Arithmetic: It includes the topics of number systems, percentages, profits and losses, simple & compound interest, ratios and proportions, distance & time, work and time, and averages.
- Algebra: This includes linear and quadratic equations, polynomials, inequalities, arithmetic & geometric progressions, and logarithms.
- Geometry: Lines and angles, triangles, quadrilaterals, circles, area, volume, perimeter of all shapes (2-D and 3-D).
- Modern Math: Permutations & combinations, probability, and set theory.
In addition to the MCQ-type Quantitative Ability, the second component is (SA) Short Answer.
Quantitative Ability (Short Answer): This component requires you to enter your answer on a keyboard; unlike MCQs, there is no negative marking for SA questions.
Verbal Ability: This component measures your knowledge of the English language, comprehension skills, and analytical reasoning abilities.
- Reading Comprehension: This consists of passages with questions based on inference, main idea, tone, and vocabulary.
- Vocabulary: Synonyms, Antonyms, Analogies, Sentence Completion.
- Grammar: Error Identification, Sentence Correction, Fill in the Blanks.
- Para Jumbles: Arranging jumbled sentences to form a coherent paragraph.
- Critical Reasoning: Evaluating arguments, drawing conclusions, identifying assumptions
IPMAT Indore Exam Pattern
IPMAT Indore exam pattern are discussed in detail in the following table;
Section | Number of Questions | Time Limit | Marking Scheme |
Quantitative Ability (MCQ) | 30 | 40 minutes | +4 for correct, -1 for incorrect |
Quantitative Ability (SA) | 15 | 40 minutes | +4 for correct, 0 for incorrect (no negative) |
Verbal Ability | 45 | 40 minutes | +4 for correct, -1 for incorrect |
Total | 90 | 120 minutes | 360 marks (Maximum) |
Important Factors to Consider When Preparing for IPMAT Indore
- Use your time wisely: You have only 40 minutes to complete each section; therefore, using time efficiently is important to both speed and accuracy.
- The Quantitative Ability (SA) section does not require any negative marks (no penalty for an incorrect answer); therefore, try your best to answer all questions in this section.
- IPMAT Indore has high cut-offs, which means that if you want to get into IPMAT Indore, you must do well across all areas of the exam and achieve high scores in each section.
How to Prepare for IPMAT Rohtak
While both exams are highly competitive, their primary focus is different. In particular, IPMAT Rohtak has a Logical Reasoning section, so you need to adjust your preparation accordingly.
IPMAT Rohtak Syllabus
Like the IPMAT Indore, the IPMAT Rohtak exam will focus on three main topics:
Quantitative Ability:
All of the IPMAT Indore quantitative ability topics are included; however, generally speaking, they will be slightly easier than the same topics in the IPMAT Indore quantitative ability section.
- Arithmetic: Number Systems, Percentages, Profit and Loss, Simple and Compound Interest, Ratio and Proportion, Time, Speed and Distance, Work and Time, Averages.
- Algebra: Linear and Quadratic Equations, Polynomials, Inequalities, Progressions (AP, GP and HP), Functions, and Logarithms.
- Geometric Figures: Lines and Angles, Triangles, Quadrilaterals, Circles, and Mensuration.
- Modern Mathematics: Permutations and Combinations, Probability, and Set Theory.
Logical Reasoning:
This tests your critical thinking and analytical skills.
- Verbal Reasoning: Syllogisms, Statement and Assumptions, Statements and Conclusions, Cause and Effects, and Courses of Action.
- Non-Verbal Reasoning: This includes Series, Analogies, Classifications, Coding/Decoding, Blood Relations, Directions.
- Analytical Reasoning: Puzzles (Seating Arrangements, Schedules, and Selections), and Data
Verbal Ability: This section is similar to IPMAT Indore. It contains components that measure your knowledge of the English language, comprehension skills, and analytical reasoning abilities.
- Reading Comprehension: This consists of passages with questions based on inference, main idea, tone, and vocabulary.
- Vocabulary: Synonyms, Antonyms, Analogies, Sentence Completion.
- Grammar: Error Identification, Sentence Correction, Fill in the Blanks.
- Para Jumbles: Arranging jumbled sentences to form a coherent paragraph.
- Critical Reasoning: Evaluating arguments, drawing conclusions, identifying assumptions
IPMAT Rohtak Exam Pattern
IPMAT Rohtak exam pattern are discussed in detail in the following table;
Section | Number of Questions | Time Limit | Marking Scheme |
Quantitative Ability | 40 | 40 minutes | +4 for correct, -1 for incorrect |
Logical Reasoning | 40 | 40 minutes | +4 for correct, -1 for incorrect |
Verbal Ability | 40 | 40 minutes | +4 for correct, -1 for incorrect |
Total | 120 | 120 minutes | 480 marks (Maximum) |
Important Factors to Know About IPMAT Rohtak:
- Logical Reasoning is an independent section, so give this section your own separate practice.
- Weightage: The three sections of the exam have equal weightage, so prepare all three sections equally.
- Overall Cut offs: The overall cut off (overall score) tends to be the most important for the selection and no one tends to look at sectional cut offs when short listing .
Section-Wise IPMAT Preparation Strategy
An excellent foundation should be laid out in a systematic way so that one can successfully complete the IPMAT examination successfully. Each section requires specific preparations to succeed in this exam in 2026. Here’s the Section-Wise approach for IPMAT Exam:
Quantitative Ability Preparation Strategy:
The Quantitative Ability is the easy scoring section of the IPMAT but also it is the most challenging section as well.
Establish a strong foundation: Go over all NCERT math books from Class 8 to 10. Basic fundamentals should be done before moving onto the more complicated concepts.
Understanding the concept: For each concept, verify you have all the basic concepts and are familiar with how to solve problems in different ways, not just memorizing formulas.
Diverse practice: Candidates should practice with problems of varying degrees of difficulty, and include both conceptual-based and problem-application based questions.
Speed and Accuracy: Solve problems while using a timer. Work on mental math techniques to improve your speed in solving problems.
Key Topics to Focus:
- Arithmetic: Strong fundamentals are essential in this area. These are the areas that will generally give high score yield.
- Algebra: Work through a variety of different types of equations and inequalities.
- Geometry & Mensuration: Visualize and memorize key theories and formulas required to solve the problems.
- Modern Math: Understand the conditions and properties of permutation and combination, and probability. These topics may come as a surprise but you have high scores.
Data Interpretation: While data interpretation does not have its own section, many of the QA questions will involve the use of data interpretation. You should also get comfortable interpreting graphs, charts, and tables.
Verbal Ability Preparation Strategy:
Read a lot of different things: Read the English newspapers, popular magazines, novels, and Editorials, articles, as this will help improve your vocabulary, comprehension skills, and grammar.
Build Your Vocabulary: Try to keep a dictionary of words you have come across and are new to you, and also write down 5 to 10 words each day along with their meanings, synonyms, antonyms, and how you would use them in a sentence. Also, note how to use prefixes and suffixes to help with learning new words.
Grammar: Review the basics of grammar (parts of speech, tenses, subject-verb agreement, parallel structure, and so on, and common errors), and practice giving example sentences that have errors/are incorrectly written, and then work on understanding/finding the rule of satisfactory explanation.
Reading Comprehension: By carefully Reading Comprehension (RC) questions to know the main idea and tone of the passage. Find the keywords and locate the relevant information fastly.
Para Jumbles: Develop an understanding of the flow of ideas, identify which paragraphs are the first and last, and look for connecting words and phrases.
Logical Reasoning (For IIM Rohtak IPMAT):
Understand All Types: Familiarise yourself with the different types of Logical Reasoning questions, such as, puzzles, series, coding, blood relations, and syllogisms, etc.
Practice Systematically: Start easy and work your way to more difficult, and focus more on patterns and logical sequences when you answer Logical Reasoning questions.
Diagram It Out: Diagrams can be a very useful tool to simplify the Logical Reasoning question at hand.
Time Management: Generally Logical Reasoning questions are a time consuming part. So, practise your speed to find the best answer to every question as fast as possible with greater accuracy.
Read More: IPMAT Previous Year Question Papers, Download PDF
IPMAT Preparation Strategy Mistakes to Avoid
It would be terrible for highly intelligent students to make these mistakes and not pass the test.
Ignoring Fundamentals: If you don’t have a strong foundation, you will not do well on advanced problems. Start by learning the basics before trying to do everything at once.
Neglecting A Section: Both the IPMAT Indore and IPMAT Rohtak tests have sectional cut offs. If you excel in one section but lack sufficient preparation in other sections, you will not be successful. Try to have a balanced amount of preparation for all sections.
Taking Too Few Mock Tests: Mock exams are great for assessing how you are doing but they also can help you figure out what strategies work best for you, build your time management skills and pinpoint where you need to improve. You should try to take as many of them as you can.
Not Analyzing Mock Tests: It is not enough to just take the exam and see how many points you earned. You should spend time going through your mistakes, learning the correct answers to the problems and analyzing your strategies.
Procrastination: You will be required to put in continuous effort over a long period of time while preparing for the IPMAT exam. Waiting until the last minute and cramming will hurt your chances of performing well.
Referring Multiple Resources: Always stick to a single resource and revise it multiple times. Because referring to multiple resources creates unnecessary confusion in the preparation.
Disregarding Time Management: The IPMAT exams are time sensitive, and you will need to learn how to solve problems within the required time from day one of your preparation.
Failing to Revise: You should routinely revise everything that you have learned, including concepts, formulas and strategies. By reviewing you are reinforcing what you have learned and helping yourself remember it better.
Panicking or Over Stressing: Getting good marks in this examination should not cause too much stress as it could adversely affect your test performance. You will do best on this exam if you are positive, take regular breaks, and believe you can achieve your goal.
Read More: IPMAT Preparation Strategy 2026, Section-Wise Tips for Exam
How to Prepare for IPMAT 2026: Conclusion
Preparing for IPMAT 2026 needs a clear plan and regular practice. Since IPMAT Indore and IPMAT Rohtak have slightly different exam patterns, you should first understand the syllabus properly and then prepare each section step by step. Build strong basics in Quantitative Ability, read daily to improve your Verbal Ability, and practice Logical Reasoning regularly if you are preparing for Rohtak. Managing your time well and analyzing mock tests are very important to clear both sectional and overall cut-offs.
To crack IPMAT 2026, focus on understanding concepts clearly instead of just memorizing formulas. Avoid using too many books or resources. Revise regularly and practice consistently. With smart preparation, regular mock tests, and confidence, you can improve your score and get admission into top institutes like IIM Indore and IIM Rohtak. Stay consistent and keep working on your weak areas
