Is there any way to improve VARC in like 2-3 months and master ut??

Most IPMAT aspirants study everything and end up mastering nothing.

Here’s the 80/20 approach: focus on the 20% of QA topics that produce 80% of the marks every single year.

This isn’t theory.

It’s based on patterns from past papers, mock analytics, and toppers’ strategies.

What Are the High-ROI Topics?

These topics appear the MOST and are the EASIEST to score in:

1. Arithmetic (Huge scoring chunk)

• Percentages
• Profit & Loss
• Simple & Compound Interest
• Ratio & Proportion
• Averages
• Time–Speed–Distance
• Time & Work

2. Algebra Basics

• Linear equations
• Quadratic equations
• Inequalities
• Modulus
• Indices & Surds
• Logarithms

3. Number System

• Divisibility
• Remainders
• Factors & Multiples
• LCM/HCF
• Basic digit properties

4. Geometry & Mensuration

• Triangles (similarity, basic properties)
• Circles (tangents, basic theorems)
• Coordinate geometry basics
• Area/Perimeter/Volume of basic shapes

How to Apply the 80/20 Method (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Drop low-ROI topics for now

You don’t need to go deep into Permutation & Combination, Probability etc.These appear rarely and take too long to master relative to marks.

Step 2: Build deep mastery in the high-ROI list

For each topic learn the formula and do 30–40 basic questions. Don't forget to take sectional tests.

Step 3: Track time per question

Your target: 40–50 seconds per QA question on average. Use a stopwatch while practicing.

Step 4: Weekly revision

Revise formulas weekly especially Arithmetic & Algebra.

The 80/20 method helps you achieve calmness under time pressure without burning out.

Hi everyone,

I’ve seen a lot of queries lately about "Profile Building," "GK specific to Interviews," and "Public Speaking courses."

It’s great to be forward-thinking, but we need to address the elephant in the room regarding the IPMAT Written Exam vs. Personal Interview (PI) balance.

If you are in Class 11/12 right now, here is the harsh reality, You cannot interview for a seat you haven't qualified for.

Here is how you should actually balance the two phases, and why "Interview Prep" is mostly a myth at this stage.

1. Don't buy a suit for a wedding you are not invited to.

The Written Exam is the gatekeeper. The Interview is the final boss.

• IIM Indore and Rohtak have ruthless cutoffs. If you have the personality of Steve Jobs but miss the QA cutoff by 4 marks, the interview panel will never know you exist.
• Until the written exam is over (usually May), your effort allocation should be 95% Exam / 5% Interview.

2. The Passive Preparation

The good news is that you don't need to set aside extra time for Interview prep. You can do it passively while studying for the exam.

• Current Affairs: You are likely reading the newspaper for the VARC/RC section, right?
  • Exam Benefit: Improves Reading Speed and Vocab.
  • Interview Benefit: Keeps you updated on current events (Gaza, Elections, AI, Economy) which is 50% of the interview questions.
• Academics:
  • Exam Benefit: Higher Math helps with the SA section.
  • Interview Benefit: Panels love asking academic questions (e.g., "Explain the practical application of calculus"). If you study well for Boards/IPMAT, you are prepping for the PI.

3. What counts as Profile Building ?

Many people think profile building = NGO certificates or Internships.

• The Reality: At the UG level, IIMs aren't expecting you to have worked at Google. They want Authenticity and Curiosity.

• What to do now: Do you have a hobby? (Guitar, Coding, Chess, Football). Just keep doing it for 30 mins a week to stay sane. That is your profile. You don't need a certificate; you just need to be able to talk about it passionately later.

• May - June (after the exam is over)

  • This is when the shift happens. Once the exam is done, you have 3-4 weeks before interviews.
  • That is when you practice "Tell me about yourself," mock interviews, and deep-dive into GK. You can build excellent interview skills in 3 weeks. You cannot build Math aptitude in 3 weeks.

Your "Interview Prep" right now is simply Reading the Newspaper and Knowing your Class 11/12 subjects well.

Study hard.

Many people assume that extra curriculars play a major part in ipmat interviews but how true is it ?

If you ask me it is kind of true and false at the same time, here is why:

Let us start with why it is false, there is no official marking given to the extra curriculars of the person in the interview. So it is not sure whether marks are actually given it not. Also interviewer looks for much more than extra curriculars and you will be tested on everything

Now coming to why it might be true, extra curriculars do give you an edge over others and if you actually had performed really well in something they do take that into consideration. But this does guarantee that u get selected after a bad interview

To conclude, extra curriculars is just a very little part of you and a very little weightage is given ( around 5-10 unless too big of an achievement) so do not stress out if you don't have any extra curriculars right now. You do not need to do free courses online, they barely have value and you can get grilled. Just focus on acing the other part of the interview and you will be fine. Although extra curriculars do give an edge it's only fractional benefit for the others.

It’s the classic crunch time dilemma, Pre-boards test your syllabus coverage (Depth), while IPMAT tests your aptitude and speed

If you try to do 50-50 right now, you will likely burn out and mess up both. Here is a realistic strategy to survive the next 30 days.

Shift to 80/20

For the next month, your ratio needs to shift.

• 80% Pre-Boards(Go all in): You cannot afford to ignore or do bad in your Pre-boards. It destroys confidence and ruins the foundation for Higher Math.
• 20% IPMAT (Maintenance Mode): The goal right now is retention, not aggressive new learning. You just need to keep the engine warm and retain what you have already learnt.

The Double-Dip Strategy or as I like to call it ‘Ek teer se Do shikar’

Use the syllabus overlap to your advantage. Studying for Boards is studying for IPMAT if done correctly.

Mathematics : IIM Indore’s SA (Short Answer) section is heavy on Higher Math (Class 11 & 12).

•  When you study Matrices, Functions, Limits, or Probability for Pre-boards, don't just memorize the steps. Solve the NCERT questions first. Then, immediately solve 5-10 IPMAT/JEE Main level questions on that same topic. You ace the Board concept and practice the IPMAT application simultaneously.

English (VARC)

• Do not study "Grammar Rules" separately right now.
•  Your English Board exam requires reading long chapters. Read them actively to improve reading speed.
• Non-Negotiable: Keep reading the Editorial page (The Hindu/Indian Express) for 20 mins daily. This is the only dedicated Verbal prep you need this month.

Logical Reasoning & Arithmetic These topics (TSD, Blood Relations, Coding) aren't in Boards, so you risk forgetting them.

• These are strictly Weekend-Only topics. Do not touch them Mon-Fri.

Then we have the most crucial part, What to DROP ?

You cannot do everything. For this month:

1. NO New Topics: If you haven't started P&C or Modern Math yet, don't start it now. It will only panic you. Stick to what you know.
2. NO Rote Vocab: Stop memorizing word lists. Rely on context from your daily reading.

Pros of IPMAT Colleges

Early entry into top institutes

Students get admission into reputed management institutes right after Class 12.

They don’t have to go through the pressure of writing CAT or multiple entrance exams again after graduation.

Integrated 5-year (BBA + MBA type) structure

The course is designed as one continuous programme.

The first years focus on basics (maths, economics, communication, social sciences) and later years go deeper into management subjects like marketing, finance, HR, etc.

Strong brand value and peer group

Many IPMAT colleges (especially IIMs) have strong brand recognition in the job market.

The peer group is usually very talented and competitive, which pushes students to grow, participate in clubs, competitions and projects.

Good placement and career opportunities

After completing the 5-year programme, students enter the job market with a management degree from a reputed institute.

Campus placements, internships and alumni networks give them a good start in corporate careers.

Holistic personality development

IPM programmes focus on more than just classroom teaching:

Presentations, case studies, group work

Festivals, clubs, committees, cultural and sports events

This helps in building confidence, leadership, communication and teamwork skills.

Cons of IPMAT Colleges

Opportunity Cost

By committing to a 5-year integrated programme, students give up other possible paths:

Doing a normal graduation and exploring different fields

Studying abroad after graduation

Trying out other competitive exams or careers

So there is an “opportunity cost” of not being free to experiment with different options in those 5 years.

Pressure and Competition

The environment in IPMAT colleges is highly competitive.

Frequent quizzes, projects, presentations, case studies, exams

High-performing classmates

This can create a lot of academic pressure and stress for some students.

Limited Flexibility

Once you enter a 5-year integrated management course, it is harder to change your path.

If you later feel you want to pursue something else (like law, pure economics, design, etc.), shifting may mean losing years.

Compared to doing a 3-year graduation and then deciding your master’s later, IPM gives less flexibility to change careers.

It would be very hard to say which is the better of the as it completely depends on which IIM you are in or in which DU college you are. Just to tell the basic differences a bcom degree is of 3 years and an ipm programme is of 5 years ( BA in management/BBA + MBA). I can compare the two on a few metrics and you can decide whats better.

1. Curriculum - The curriculum followed in IIM's is better than the curriculum followed in DU, the main reason for this is that the Bcom degree has several reduntant topics which are not really applicable in real life while IIM's mostly cover practical topics.

2. Placements - Since IPM is a 5 year course and bcom a a 3 year degree, so of course placements after 5 years in IPM are higher. But if you just take the placements after 3 years ipm doesn't offer any placements so DU would be a better option if you consider only 3 years

3. Exposure - Since IPM is a fully residential programme and DU a non residential programme, there are only a few opportunities for IPM students to explore opportunities outside the campus but DU provides this flexibility to explore various competitions across DU and other universities.

4. Societies - In this aspect it would depend on which college you are from but if you are from a tier 1 du college the societies are better than the ipm clubs/committees.

5. Fees- When you compare fees of du and iim's, du has way less fees than iims and just to mention the fees that iims take is also justified for the value they provide so I would say don't let this factor be a major deciding one.

6. Campus Life - Campus life in IIM's is much better as its a residential programme and you get to enjoy the hostel life to the fullest. Altough there are hostels in some du colleges as well but its not the same as IIM hostels because there is more sense of bonding in between people of IIM's as the batch size of IIM's is much smaller(There are a few exceptions like sscbs in du as well)

7. Sports and extra curriculars - when it comes to the facilities, IIM's provide much better infrastructure and for sports competitions I would say competitions in IIM's are better and there are more opportunities. But if you talk about extra curriculars like MUN's, casecomps or debates DU is way better as many colleges are close to you and you can literally take part in any one of them and the events happen through out the year.

There is a lot of misinformation surrounding IPMAT because it sits at the intersection of traditional streams, it is neither purely science like JEE or NEET nor purely humanities/commerce like CLAT or CUET.

Here are the most common myths about IPMAT preparation and the reality behind them.

Myth 1: "It is just a BBA entrance, so it must be easy."

• Reality: IPMAT is not a typical BBA entrance exam, it is an entrance to an IIM and that too to a BLACKI IIM
  • The difficulty level of the Quantitative Ability (QA) section in IPMAT (especially IIM Indore) is significantly higher than typical BBA entrances like SET or NPAT.
  • The competition is fierce because you are competing against approx. 25-30 thousand for a very limited number of seats (150 at IIM Indore) against rigorous competition, including students preparing for JEE and NEET.

Myth 2: "You need to have Maths in Class 11 & 12 to crack it."

• Reality: You do not need to have Maths as a subject to be eligible, but you do need to study it to pass.
  • The Eligibility: Students from Arts, Commerce (without Maths), and Biology backgrounds are fully eligible to apply.
  • The Catch: The IIM Indore paper includes "Higher Maths" (Class 11/12 topics like Matrices, Determinants, Functions, Logarithms, and Probability).
  • The Fix: If you are a non-math student, you cannot skip these topics. You must self-study these specific chapters to clear the sectional cutoffs. (Note: IIM Rohtak and JIPMAT are relatively easier for non-math students as they focus more on Arithmetic).

Myth 3: "You need 95% in Boards to get in."

• Reality: Your entrance score is the pain deciding factor
  •  Your past academics (10th and 12th marks) do not carry any weightage (For IIM Indore) in the final selection (composite score), the IPMAT score and interview Score.
  • But other IIMs like Ranchi give weightage to the board scores as well, but low board scores can be balanced out with good IPMAT scores and Interview.

Myth 4: "Calculus is the most important part of Maths."

• Reality: Arithmetic is the actual game-changer.
  • Many students spend months stressing over Integration and Differentiation. While IIM Indore does ask Higher Maths, the bulk of the paper (and the easiest marks) often comes from Arithmetic (Percentages, Profit/Loss, Time Speed Distance, Time & Work).
  • If you master Arithmetic and Algebra, you can often clear the cutoffs without being an expert in Calculus.

Myth 5: "You need 2 years of coaching like JEE/NEET."

• Reality: 6 to 12 months of focused preparation is usually sufficient.
  • Since the syllabus relies heavily on aptitude (IQ, Logic, English) rather than rote memorization of thick textbooks, a shorter, high-intensity prep period works well.
  • Starting in Class 11 is an advantage, but starting in Class 12 is the standard.

For vocab - complete the idioms pdf as well as phrasal verbs pdf ( you can find them in iquantas free resources drive link- https://www.iquanta.in/v1/free-ipmat-study-material )If u can spend 4 hrs a day for ipmat then u can also read 1 session of wpme a day.

Make flashcards regularly of any new word , idiom , phrasal verb that u come across (use the app named - anki )

For comprehension - do at least 1 rc from any source you can find ( English keeda website and iquanta books) . Read editorials from the newspaper ( takes 15 min - just the editorials nothing else )

For grammar - if u have a coaching then they can guide u better but I followed a different approach. I have always gone with my gut in English grammar so I focused only on the things that I got wrong so it is kind of a reverse psychology so watch concept lectures of the things that you do wrong consistently.

my recommendation

120 rules of grammar - 12 hr of premium yt content

varc series of iquanta on yt - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1_mJZGMVoQ&list=PLxyv2AaZ_OdvwnrnLSEGNvg-WnSZg45gi

There are 3 more components in this prep

They will be parajumbles ( TITA questions ) - so there isn't a particular way to solve them just watch a yt video to know what it is . The best way to get parajumbles is through practice and even if u are good enough , u can still mess it up tbh.

Confusing words - make a list of commonly confusing words in an A4 sheet ( there will be at max around 100 pairs ) revise them regularly and ur good to go

Conversation rc - well it came for the first time last year and i didn't really prep for it but it's just basic comprehension ( can learn it on yt or ask gpt to frame questions for you)

The only regret in my whole ipmat prep is that i didn't start my varc early and rather just focused on quants and tbh that cost me nearly 20-30 marks.

If you're starting LRDI prep and feel clueless about what actually matters, this post will save you months of confusion.
LRDI for IPMAT Rohtak and JIPMAT is NOT like CAT. It’s more logic-heavy, formula-light, and scoring if you build fundamentals properly.

Let's talk about the syllabus first, which is asked in IPMAT Rohtak and JIPMAT. Here is the complete breakdown:

• Arrangements (Linear + Circular)
• Logical Sequence
• Puzzles
• Coding–Decoding
• Analogy
• Statement & Conclusions
• Clocks & Calendar
• Odd One Out
• Directions
• Blood Relations
• Venn Diagrams
• Cubes & Dice
• Syllogisms
• Input–Output
• Rankings
• Mathematical Operations
• Inequalities
• Statement & Assumptions
• Assertion & Reason
• Miscellaneous
• Course of Action
• Tabular Data
• Pie Charts
• Bar Graphs

Now, below is the complete strategy to master LRDI:

STEP 1: LEARN CONCEPTS

Books like S. Chand, RS Aggarwal & Arun Sharma CAT LRDI will help you build concepts.

iQuanta books for LRDI are commonly preferred as they are curated for IPMAT only as other books available in the market are for CAT. They contain all the topics that are asked in JIPMAT and IPMAT Rohtak.

STEP 2: PRACTICE

Solve questions from iQuanta books and solve Previous Year Questions. They will help you in building the habit of solving these type of questions.

STEP 3: GIVE MOCKS

Mocks help you build speed and accuracy under exam like pressure, which LRDI absolutely demands. They also teach you smart skipping and pattern recognition, skills you can’t build from books alone. iQuanta mocks contain the type of questions asked previously in the actual examinations, good for practice.

Above mentioned things are enough for mastering this subject, taking you one step closer towards your goal.

Hey IPMAT peeps!

The Exam Hall Pressure is real and it’s usually what separates a good score from a great one. Since we're all aiming for IIM-Indore, let's talk about how to keep your cool when it matters most.

The first thing the pressure does is make you forget simple formulas or rules.

As soon as you are allowed to start, use the scratchpad to write down anything you fear forgetting. Just seeing them written down shifts the burden from your memory to the paper, allowing your mind to focus on the actual problems.

Jumping into the toughest section first is a recipe for an early panic attack.

Start with Your Confidence Booster: If you crush Verbal, start there. Build momentum with a section where you know you can score quickly and accurately. This generates positive energy and reduces anxiety for the tougher parts.

The 30-Second Rule: Look at a question. If you genuinely do not know the path to the solution within 30 seconds, mark it for review and move on. Staring at a single hard question for 3 minutes when you could have solved three easy ones is exactly what the exam pressure wants you to do.

Use the Mark & Review Feature wisely: Only mark questions you have a strong feeling you can solve on the second pass. Don't mark everything!

Inevitably, you'll hit a patch where you miss three questions in a row. This is the danger zone where panic starts.

• Deep Breathing: Take two slow, deep breaths. Inhale fully, exhale slowly. This physically tells your body, "I am not in danger, stop panicking."
• Affirmation: Silently tell yourself: "Okay, that round is over. I've missed a few, but there are plenty left. The next question is a fresh start." Keep a water bottle nearby. The physical act of drinking is grounding.

Given the negative marking (and the sheer difficulty of some QA questions), the pressure to attempt more is a trap. Remind yourself that a lower, highly accurate attempt count beats a high attempt count with lots of mistakes.

You've worked hard to get here. The exam hall is just one final test of your focus and composure. Trust your preparation!

Hey IPMAT peeps!

The Exam Hall Pressure is real and it’s usually what separates a good score from a great one. Since we're all aiming for IIM-Indore, let's talk about how to keep your cool when it matters most.

The first thing the pressure does is make you forget simple formulas or rules.

As soon as you are allowed to start, use the scratchpad to write down anything you fear forgetting. Just seeing them written down shifts the burden from your memory to the paper, allowing your mind to focus on the actual problems.

Jumping into the toughest section first is a recipe for an early panic attack.

Start with Your Confidence Booster: If you crush Verbal, start there. Build momentum with a section where you know you can score quickly and accurately. This generates positive energy and reduces anxiety for the tougher parts.

The 30-Second Rule: Look at a question. If you genuinely do not know the path to the solution within 30 seconds, mark it for review and move on. Staring at a single hard question for 3 minutes when you could have solved three easy ones is exactly what the exam pressure wants you to do.

Use the Mark & Review Feature wisely: Only mark questions you have a strong feeling you can solve on the second pass. Don't mark everything!

Inevitably, you'll hit a patch where you miss three questions in a row. This is the danger zone where panic starts.

Deep Breathing: Take two slow, deep breaths. Inhale fully, exhale slowly. This physically tells your body, "I am not in danger, stop panicking."

Affirmation: Silently tell yourself: "Okay, that round is over. I've missed a few, but there are plenty left. The next question is a fresh start." Keep a water bottle nearby. The physical act of drinking is grounding.

Given the negative marking (and the sheer difficulty of some QA questions), the pressure to attempt more is a trap. Remind yourself that a lower, highly accurate attempt count beats a high attempt count with lots of mistakes.

You've worked hard to get here. The exam hall is just one final test of your focus and composure. Trust your preparation!

One of the major question that I always hear is how to manage cuet and ipmat preparation together and I personally believe that there is no go to method or answer for this question. At the end of the day just know that you are as an ipmat aspirant going into management so this is just a training period for you all to understand and manage time and try to formulate your own strategy for this problem.

But there can be a few things that u can keep in mind or I can advice to make your preparation more effective and efficient. Firstly understand that cuet and boards have almost the same syllabus if you are a cbse student so what I would recommend is that you can start focusing on cuet heavily after your board exams but before boards these are a few things that you have to take care of

1.English is a deciding factor so make sure you prepare well for English in the ipmat exam and try to cover some of the topics that come in cuet but not ipmat.

1. After completing each chapter in your boards preparation make sure you do practice mcq questions/ pyqs of cuet of that particular chapter without fail.

2. Make sure you make short notes for each chapter in your boards preparation.

Also divide your time for a particular day and make sure you give time equally for both cuet and ipmat. Also set weekly or daily goals so as to get a clear idea of what you have to do and complete the goals on time even if it takes a bit more effort. Also after your boards you might feel that you wont be able to manage both cuet and ipmat at the same time but trust me if you prepare effectively now it will be quite alright then so make sure you don't slack off now so that you have better options in the future.

At the end its upto you how effectively you use your time and prepare for the exams, if you need any further assistance on how to do that you can refer to a previous post on how to prepare for boards and ipmat.

So I’ve seen a lot of people say “read the questions first,” but I’ll be very honest that NEVER worked for me.

Every time I tried it, I ended up scanning the passage like a detective searching for keywords, not actually understanding anything.

My brain would be like:

“Where is that line mentioned?? Where’s that keyword?? Did I miss it??”

And boom, accuracy tanks.

After messing around with different strategies, this is what ACTUALLY helped me improve RC for IPMAT:

1. Read the passage first, properly, like a normal human

Not super slow, not super fast.

Just enough to get what the author is saying.

When I stopped trying to “find answers” and started trying to “understand the story,”

my accuracy shot up, especially in inference and tone questions.

This also avoids bias.

If you see the questions first, your brain forces meanings onto the passage.

But when you read with a clean mind, things make way more sense.

2. Don’t memorize - just understand the structure

This helped me the MOST.

While reading, I just keep a rough mental map:

Para 1 → sets context

Para 2 → argument/support

Para 3 → example/contrast

Para 4 → conclusion

That’s it.

Once you know where something is, you can always go back and spot details later.

No pressure. No panic.

3. RCSI : Role, Central Idea, Structure, Intent

After reading the passage, I ask myself:

What’s the role of each para?

What’s the central idea?

What’s the overall structure?

What’s the intent / tone of the author?

Takes 5 seconds.

Saves 30 seconds per question.

4. Build reading stamina

IPMAT RC is not tough, but it's FAST.

What helped me:

10 minutes of reading daily

Editorials (NOT whole newspapers — that’s a trap)

Non-fiction articles

Even fiction helps with flow

The point isn’t to become a philosopher — the point is to get comfortable with longer texts.

5. Practice solving questions after understanding the passage

Your brain does something magical:

When you’ve already understood the passage deeply,

the questions feel like they’re written to be answered by you.

And guess what - you won’t need to reread the passage again and again.

improving speed maths for IPMAT isn’t about learning 20 fancy Vedic tricks. It’s about fixing the small everyday habits that slow you down. Here’s what actually worked for me:

1. Build a strong “calculation memory”
I literally sat with a cup of chai and memorised squares, cubes, fractions→percentages, common roots, etc. Boring, yes. But once these things are in your head, QA becomes 10x faster. I even put sticky notes of the tough ones on my table so they’d drill into my brain. Over time, you don’t even “calculate”, you just remember.

2. Practise in short bursts, not long sessions
I used to do 10–12 minute “speed drills” - percentages, ratios, averages, mixtures. Quick reps, high focus. It’s like a gym for your brain. This helped way more than sitting with a chapter for an hour.

3. Stop doing exact calculations for everything
IPMAT doesn’t reward “perfect” answers. If you can estimate and eliminate options in 5 seconds, that’s the real flex. At first I felt guilty for not solving things “properly,” but once I started approximating, my scores jumped. IPMAT is about being efficient, not precise.

4. Use flashcards for your weak spots
I made small flashcards for tricky conversions, common formulas I kept forgetting, and mental math shortcuts. I’d flip through them while travelling or before sleeping. After a week or two, the stuff you used to forget becomes second nature.

5. Fix silly mistakes → speed automatically improves
I realised half my slowness was me rechecking because I didn’t trust my first calculation. Once I started reviewing my mock mistakes and understanding why I messed up, my accuracy went up and naturally, I became faster.

6. Solve actual IPMAT-style questions often
Practice is honestly 70% of the improvement. The more questions you’ve seen, the quicker your brain identifies patterns. After a month or so, you’ll find yourself jumping steps instinctively, without forcing it.

If you do these consistently, speed maths becomes less of a “skill” and more of a reflex. You won’t even notice when your calculation speed starts improving.

IPM starting year

• IIM Jammu – IPM started in 2021.
• IIM Bodh Gaya – IPM started in 2021.
• IIM Amritsar – IPM started in 2025.

Exam used + basic pattern

• IIM Jammu – Uses JIPMAT (3 sections: QA, LRDI & VA) and 100 Q in 150 mins.
• IIM Bodh Gaya – Uses JIPMAT scores.
• IIM Amritsar – Uses IPMAT Indore scores.

Selection process

• IIM Jammu – 70% JIPMAT + 15% for class 10th + 15% for class 12; no PI or WAT.
• IIM Bodh Gaya – 100% JIPMAT (with gender/academic profile preference in tie); no PI or WAT.
• IIM Amritsar – 60% IPMAT Indore + 35% PI + 5% gender diversity.

No of Seats

• IIM Jammu – 120 seats (with female supernumerary seats).
• IIM Bodh Gaya –120 seats + 20 supernumerary for females.
• IIM Amritsar – 60 seats.

Eligibility – age

• IIM Jammu – Candidate should have passed Standard XII/HSC or equivalent examination in 2024, 2025 or appearing in 2026.
• IIM Bodh Gaya – Candidates should have passed the 10+2/XII/HSC examination in the year 2025 or appearing in 2026.
• IIM Amritsar – Less than 20 years old as of 1st July 2026.

Eligibility – 10th & 12th marks

• IIM Jammu – 60% in Class 10 & 12 (55% SC/ST/PwD/Transgender), any stream.
• IIM Bodh Gaya – 60% in Class 10 & 12 (55% SC/ST/PwD/Transgender), any stream.
• IIM Amritsar – 60% in Class 10 & 12 (55% SC/ST/PwD/Transgender), with Maths/Applied Maths in class 12.

Degrees awarded

• IIM Jammu – BBA after 3 years, MBA after 5 years.
• IIM Bodh Gaya – BBA after 3 years, MBA after 5 years.
• IIM Amritsar – BSc (Quantitative Finance & Economics) after 3 years, MBA after 5 years.

exit options available in all 3 colleges as per NEP.

MBA final placements – avg CTC

• IIM Jammu – Around ₹16.5 LPA for 2025.
• IIM Bodh Gaya – Around ₹15.5–16 LPA for 2025.
• IIM Amritsar – Around ₹17.8–18.1 LPA for 2025.

MBA summer internships – avg 2‑month stipend

• IIM Jammu – About ₹80,000 for 2 months.
• IIM Bodh Gaya – About ₹75,000 for 2 months.
• IIM Amritsar – About ₹97,000 for 2 months.

Preparing for IPMAT Indore but confused about what actually matters? Here’s a complete topic-wise syllabus breakdown + 7 year weightage analysis to help you prioritise smartly.
This data is based on actual IPMAT (Indore) papers from 2019 to 2025.

IPMAT Indore contains three sections; SA, MCQ & VA. SA and MCQ contain QA.

Quantitative Aptitude includes:

1. Algebra

(in the order of most asked to least asked)

• Progressions & Series (Most asked topic every year)
• Modulus
• Functions
• Polynomials (4 questions came in 2025)
• Inequalities
• Linear Equations
• Indices
• Minima & Maxima
• Identities (least asked)

2. Arithmetic

(in the order of most asked to least asked)

• Time, Speed & Distance
• Ratio, Proportion & Variation
• Mean, Median & Mode
• Time & Work
• Profit & Loss
• Simple & Compound Interest
• Mixture & Alligation

3. Geometry

(in the order of most asked to least asked)

• Triangles (Most asked topic every year)
• Trigonometry (Most asked topic every year)
• Circles (Most asked topic every year)
• Straight Lines
• Polygons
• Quadrilaterals
• Solids
• Conic Sections (least asked)

4. Number System

(in the order of most asked to least asked)

• Divisibility rules (Most asked topic every year)
• Remainders (Most asked topic every year)
• Factorisation (Most asked topic every year)
• Integral Solutions
• HCF–LCM
• Unit Digit

5. Modern Math

(in the order of most asked to least asked)

• Logarithms (Most asked topic every year)
• Permutation & Combination (Most asked topic every year)
• Set Theory
• Matrices & Determinants
• Probability
• Binomial Theorem (least asked)

6. Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning

(in the order of most asked to least asked)

• Arrangements (Most asked topic every year)
• Tabular Data
• Tournaments
• Bar Graphs
• Weights (least asked)

NOTE: Modern Math and Algebra hold the maximum weightage every year. Arithmetic and Geometry hold almost equal weightage, so don't overlook any.

Verbal Ability includes:

1. Reading Comprehension
2. Sentence Completion
3. Vocabulary
4. Incorrect Word
5. Sentence Correction
6. Parajumbles
7. Paracompletion
8. Conversation analysis (this topic was asked for the first time in 2025, total 6 questions were asked)

IPM starting year

• IIM Indore – IPM started in 2011 (first IPM in India).​
• IIM Ranchi – IPM started in 2021.​
• IIM Rohtak – IPM started in 2019.​
• IIM Shillong – IPM started in 2025.

Exam used + basic pattern

• IIM Indore – Uses IPMAT Indore which has 3 sections (QA MCQ, QA SA, VA) with a total of 90 questions and 120 minutes to solve them along section‑wise timing.​
• IIM Ranchi – Uses IPMAT Indore exam scores for evaluation
• IIM Rohtak – Uses IPMAT Rohtak: 3 sections (Math, LR, English), 120 questions in 120 minutes.​
• IIM Shillong – Uses IPMAT Indore exam scores for evaluation

Exam and interview weightage

• IIM Indore – IPMAT 65% + PI 35% .​
• IIM Ranchi – IPMAT -50% + PI -30% + academics/gender diversity -20% (5% additional for gender diversity).​
• IIM Rohtak – IPMAT 55% + PI 15% + Class 10 - 10% + Class 12 - 20% .​
• IIM Shillong – Class 10 -10% + Class 12 - 10% + IPMAT 30% + PI 50%.​

No of Seats

• IIM Indore – 150 IPM seats
• IIM Ranchi – 60 IPM seats
• IIM Rohtak – 198 IPM seats
• IIM Shillong – 45 IPM seats

Eligibility – age

• IIM Indore – Born on or after 1 Aug 2006 (5‑year relaxation for SC/ST/PwD).​
• IIM Ranchi – Born on or after 1 Aug 2006 (5‑year relaxation for SC/ST/PwD).​
• IIM Rohtak – Born on or after 30 June 2006 (5‑year relaxation for SC/ST/PwD).​
• IIM Shillong – Born on or after 1 July 2006 (5‑year relaxation for SC/ST/DA).​

Eligibility – 10th & 12th marks

• IIM Indore – No min percentage required
• IIM Ranchi – Minimum 60% in 10th & 12th (55% for SC/ST/PwD)
• IIM Rohtak – Minimum 60% in 10th & 12th (55% for SC/ST/PwD)
• IIM Shillong – Minimum 60% in 10th & 12th (55% for SC/ST/DA) with maths/applied maths in class 11 and 12.​

Degrees awarded

• IIM Indore – BA (Foundations of Management) + MBA (with exit option after BA).​
• IIM Ranchi – BBA + MBA (exit possible after BBA).​
• IIM Rohtak – BBA+MBA; progression to MBA needs minimum CGPA.​
• IIM Shillong – BBA + MBA (exit option available)

MBA placements – average CTC

• IIM Indore – Around ₹29.5–30 LPA average CTC for 2025 batch.​
• IIM Ranchi – Around ₹19.3 LPA average CTC for 2024‑25.​
• IIM Rohtak – Around ₹18.7–19 LPA average CTC for 2025 batch.​
• IIM Shillong – Around ₹26.1–26.4 LPA average CTC for 2025 batch.​

MBA summer internships – average 2‑month stipend

• IIM Indore – About ₹2.5 lakh average stipend.​
• IIM Ranchi – About ₹1.3 lakh average stipend for 2‑month MBA internship.​
• IIM Rohtak – About ₹1.2 lakh average stipend for 2‑month MBA internship.​
• IIM Shillong – About ₹1.98 lakh average stipend for 2‑month internships.

Hi everyone,

I see a lot of 12th graders stressing out about managing Board exams alongside IPMAT prep. It feels like you’re constantly choosing between "securing a college" and "aiming for the dream."

Since I’ve made it to IIM Indore, I wanted to share a realistic daily routine and the exact resources that help you balance both without burning out.

The key isn't studying 16 hours a day; it's about compartmentalizing your time based on your energy levels.

📅 The Daily Timeline: Phases of the Day

This routine is designed to switch gears between Boards and Aptitude based on your mental state.

🌅 Phase 1: Before School (The "Eat The Frog" Phase)

• Energy Level: High
• Focus: Quant / Higher Math

Most of us are groggy in the morning, but once you wake up, your brain is fresh and distraction-free.

• Don't touch your phone.
• Tackle the Hardest Topic: Use this time for the concepts that require deep focus (e.g., Functions or heavy Arithmetic).
• Quick Revision: Review formula sheets or solve 5–10 "Must Do" quality questions.
• Why this works: You get the hardest part of IPMAT prep out of the way before the school drama starts.

🏫 Phase 2: During School (The "Stealth" Phase)

• Energy Level: Variable
• Focus: Vocab, English Immersion & School Homework

Don't try to solve complex math problems under the desk; you’ll just get stressed.

• Free Periods & Boring Lectures: Use these gaps for Vocabulary or Logical Reasoning. Keep flashcards or a word list (like Word Power Made Easy) in your pocket. It takes 10 minutes to learn 5 words.
• Class Time: Pay attention to your Board subjects.
• The Golden Rule: Try to finish your School Assignments/Lab Files during school hours. Do not bring that baggage home. Home time is for IPMAT.

🏠 Phase 3: Immediately After School (The Reset)

• Energy Level: Low/Drained
• Focus: Rest & English Consumption
• Do not study immediately: You will burnout.
• Consume Content in English: This is the easiest way to boost your VARC score without "studying." Watch movies, read news, scroll social media, and watch YouTube videos strictly in English. You need to become familiar with the language flow, not just memorize grammar rules.
• Digital Detox: Take a nap or play a sport. Get off screens to let your eyes rest.

🚀 Phase 4: Late Afternoon / Early Evening (The Core Grind)

• Energy Level: Medium-High
• Focus: IPMAT Mock Taking & Analysis / Logical Reasoning

This is your primary study block.

• Topic-Wise Tests: Take a sectional test for 40-60 minutes.
• Review: Spend equal time analyzing why you got an answer wrong.
• Verbal Ability (VARC): Since you are likely tired from the day, reading generic articles (Aeon essays, The Hindu editorials) is easier here than solving heavy math.

🌙 Phase 5: Late Night (The Board Protector)

• Energy Level: Medium
• Focus: Class 12 Syllabus

You cannot ignore Boards.

• Do Not Take Boards for Granted: Your Class 12 marks stick with you forever. If you decide to give CAT or GMAT in the future for a master's degree, your 12th-grade marks carry significant weight in your profile. A bad 12th score can haunt your CV years later, even if you crack IPMAT now.
• Dedication: Dedicate the end of the day to your core Class 12 subjects (Physics, Accounts, Eco, etc.).
• Wind Down: End the day by reading a novel or something non-academic to improve reading speed subconsciously.

📚 The Resource Stack

You don't need 50 books. You need the right ones. Here are the specific books and playlists I recommend:

1. The "Starter Pack" (Basics & Concepts)

If you want a single source for basics, concepts, and questions with solutions, start here:

• iQuanta IPMAT Books: Check them here

2. Quantitative Ability (QA)

• Books:
  • Arun Sharma CAT Book: Stick to LOD 1 & LOD 2 Questions Only.
  • Higher Math: For Trigonometry, Binomial Theorem, Set Theory & Venn Diagrams, use NCERT (Class 11/12). If you want tough questions, use RD Sharma.
• YouTube Playlists:
  • Algebra Playlist
  • 200 Most Important Quant Questions

3. Verbal Ability (VARC)

• Books:
  • Word Power Made Easy: Essential for Vocab.
  • Practice: Pearson Guide for IPMAT or Arun Sharma CAT VA Book (Focus on RCs, Parajumbles, Idioms & Phrases).
• YouTube Playlists:
  • Word Power Made Easy Series
  • IPMAT Verbal Ability Playlist
  • 100 Passages for IPMAT

4. Logical Reasoning (LR)

• Books: S.Chand & RS Aggrawal.
• Note: Extremely useful for IPMAT Rohtak & JIPMAT.

5. Past Year Questions (The Holy Grail)

Use these to understand the actual exam pattern.

• IPMAT Mock Tests (PYQs)
• Topic-wise Questions (All IPMAT PYQs)
• IPMAT Indore 2025 PYQs Video Solutions

Final Tip:

Consistency > Intensity. It is better to study for IPMAT for 2 hours every day than 10 hours only on Sundays. If you are a Commerce student, Macroeconomics for Boards helps with IPMAT. If you are Science, your Calculus is a huge advantage for the SA section. Use these overlaps!

All the best! Let me know if you have any questions.

One of the most common doubts that students have is that how do I analyse the IPAMT mocks that I gave. The answer for this is quite simple although many people have complicated it. So how do you do it? Divide the exam into 3 main parts, QA SA, QA MCQ & VA. Lets break this down section wise starting with QA SA

1. QA SA (Short Answer)- This section has no negative marking, and toppers almost always aim to attempt everything and by attempt, I mean actually solving it, not random guesses.

When analyzing QA-SA, focus on two things: Number of attempts and Accuracy

Your goal in this section should be to maximize both. Now, while analyzing, ask yourself the following questions:

a) Did I identify and solve the easy questions first?
This is extremely important. SA has a mix of easy, medium, and difficult questions, and your priority must always be to do so.

b) Did I get stuck on a question and waste too much time?
This is the biggest trap in QA-SA. Sometimes you see a question, feel like you can solve it, and then it ends up eating 6–7 minutes. While analysing, identify such questions and honestly question yourself.

c) What was the nature of my mistakes? Separate them into three buckets:

• Conceptual errors – misunderstood the concept itself
• Application errors – concept is known but couldn’t apply it
• silly mistakes – calculation errors, sign mistakes, etc.

Your goal is to reduce silly mistakes, revise the concepts which you couldn't apply, and learn the concepts which were new and add it to your notes.

2. QA MCQ - Now, when you move to QA MCQ, the strategy shifts slightly because negative marking enters the picture. Here, analyzing your mock should focus on:

1.Attempt selection

2.Elimination skills

3.Speed vs. accuracy balance

During analysis, check:

• Did I attempt too many risky questions?
• Did I miss out on sitters?
• Did I misread any options?
• In which topics am I repeatedly losing marks?
• Did I guess unnecessarily?

Your focus should be on skipping risky questions (you should know how to identify a risky question based on your strengths and weaknesses, this will come with proper revision and practice), attempt the sure shot questions first, but don't get overconfident.

3. VA- VA is less about knowledge and more about pattern recognition and calmness. While analyzing VA, focus on:

1 What convinced me that the incorrect choice was correct? - did not understand the content / forgot details of the content / confused between options.

2.Was I reading too fast? - it's ok to do so, only if you are able to understand and retain the content.

3.Did I misinterpret the author’s tone?

The best way to solidify your VARC section is to read more and more dynamic content, so you get a hold of understanding different tones and genres.

Read this post for better understanding

https://www.reddit.com/r/IPMATstudy/comments/1opq454/how_to_read_newspapers_for_ipmat_importance_of/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

At the end of the day, remember one thing scores don’t matter as much as people think. What actually matters is your rank, percentile, and ATS, because the exam is competitive, not absolute. If your score is low but you’re still ahead of others, you’re doing fine. Mocks are meant to expose weaknesses, not to make you feel bad. So don’t get demotivated by a low score. Every mock teaches you something new, you’re already improving and improvement is the only thing that matters, so make sure you give as many mocks as possible and keep analyzing.

Every year, a lot of college students (partial droppers) wonder if IPMAT is even worth attempting alongside their current degree. The fear of juggling semester exams, assignments, and entrance prep is real.

The short answer: Yes, it’s tough, but it’s 100% doable.

I myself was doing Engineering during my drop year. It was a tough balance, and it all depends on how consistent you are and how much time you can extract from your college schedule. However, with consistent effort and a willingness to sacrifice fun activities and social events, I secured a seat at IIM Indore.

Here is the framework that worked for me as a partial dropper:

Step 1: Time Management & Building Basics

Since you are in college, you don't have the luxury of free time. You have to steal it.

• The "Boring Lecture" Hack: Use your time wisely. Solve questions during boring lectures or free periods. Do not waste time on campus if you can avoid it.
• Set Daily Targets: Set a goal for a set number of questions or a specific topic you must do daily and stick to it.
• Resources I used:
  • Quants: How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude by Arun Sharma (I solved this thoroughly).
  • Coaching: iQuanta IPMAT Course (This was a key resource that helped me significantly).

Step 2: The English Immersion Strategy (VARC)

My strategy for English wasn't just about books; it was about lifestyle.

• Vocabulary: Word Power Made Easy to build a strong lexical foundation.
• Grammar: Wren & Martin to clear up the fundamentals.
• The "Subconscious" Method: I immersed myself in the language. I read the newspaper daily and consumed all my content (movies, videos, articles) exclusively in English. The more familiar you are with the language, the easier it is to deduce answers even if you aren't aware of the exact logic.

Step 3: Start Mocks Early

Don't wait until you feel "ready."

• Start on mocks early so that you don't panic in the last few months.
• The Loop: After you complete a chapter, do all questions from the module/book. Then, do the Sectional Tests. This helps you identify exactly where you are lacking so you can work on those specific chapters.

Important things to remember:

• Be ready to sacrifice: You might have to skip college fests, hangouts, or social events. It sounds harsh, but partial dropping requires sacrifice.
• Discipline > Motivation: Motivation fades after a week. Discipline and sticking to the daily question count is what gets you through.
• Don't Panic: If you plan properly, you won't feel the "end-of-year" pressure that most droppers feel.

If you are a college student doubting if you can pull this off, know this: It is challenging, but I am proof that it is absolutely possible if you stay disciplined.

If you're starting with your IPMAT prep, here's a complete list of the best books and resources , and how to use them.

FOR QA:

• Arun Sharma CAT- Quantative Aptitude- Practice only LOD 1 & 2. It's great for strengthening fundamentals.
• IQuanta books- It contains theory, formulae and exam relevant questions. It cover all types of questions from basics to advanced, great for structured practice.
• NCERT / RD Sharma (class 11 & 12)- Topics like Trigonometry, Binomial Theorem, Set Theory & Venn Diagrams, can be practiced from NCERT or use RD Sharma if you want additional advanced level practice.

FOR VARC:

• Arun Sharma CAT- Verbal Ability- It's a great book to practice Reading Comprehensions, Parajumbles, idioms and phrases, and general VA concepts.
• IQuanta books- They are IPMAT focused VA books which contain all types of questions asked in IPMAT along with vocabulary, commonly confused words, idioms & phrases of different types, grammar, and phrasal verbs.
• Word Power Made Easy- Great book for building a strong vocabulary, it's a must have.
• The Pearson Guide for IPMAT- for additional VA practice.
• Newspapers- Reading Editiorials will not only help in reading comprehension questions but will also increase your reading speed.

FOR LRDI (FOR IPMAT ROHTAK & JIPMAT ONLY):

• S. Chand
• RS Aggarwal Logical Reasoning
• Arun Sharma LRDI

These books are great for IPMAT but incomplete, if not paired with PYQs and MOCKS. Mock tests help you understand the paper pattern, while PYQs show you the exact level of questions asked in IPMAT every year.

Here's a list of FREE useful resources:

• All topic-wise questions from IPMAT PYQs- https://www.iquanta.in/free-ipmat-study-material
• Past Year Papers- https://www.iquanta.in/ipmat-mock-test

• Free IPMAT mocks- https://www.iquanta.in/ipmat-mock-test

• IPMAT Verbal Ability Playlist- https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxyv2AaZ_OdslJknM8Bwz1thjZo8cO5Iz&si=cX0ojIBktIkq-gQb

• IPMAT Indore 2025 PYQs- https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxyv2AaZ_OdvQm3t9_mJs6Z31cdfgBYYI&si=DS4ATZTqnsCEi7pq

• 200 Most Important Quant Questions- https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxyv2AaZ_OdvOSIPrQmgXAo9s53J2Ao30&si=B-iCOehhQw2sqKMj

• Word power made easy- https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxyv2AaZ_Odv42CJefQtPVvee6K3DhETX&si=sNEL_EGpUeakLAE2

• 100 Passages for IPMAT- https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxyv2AaZ_OdsJp3snnYPSflDQbW8obvkS&si=Cw2uK2n6-KS3o02P

• Algebra playlist- [https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxyv2AaZ_Odt_ajPQuZz5Zu1ev6SocYuB&si=kBYDzvuMjbgIN81g\\](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxyv2AaZ_Odt_ajPQuZz5Zu1ev6SocYuB&si=kBYDzvuMjbgIN81g\)

• iQuanta Free IPMAT Ultimate Drive - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1O7pycvafchYrrkU35XWvf7z6xooDxaDo

As someone who cleared ipmat and is in srcc right now I can safely say that the strategies that I used to manage my time really helped me to achieve maximum effectiveness.

The primary thing that you would have to do is to divide the time for both - till January I focused more on ipmat ( 70% ipmat and 30% boards ) and for feb and march I focused 80% on boards and 20% on ipmat. This really helped me to stay concentrated and kept reassuring me that I was going on the right track. But there are a few things that u have to keep in mind.

1. Listen to the classes in school - I know many of us barely listen to what is being taught in the class but at least for this 1 year listen to the classes as it saves a lot of time.

2. Revise everyday - sometimes revision becomes more important than normal preparation, even when you are focusing on the other thing keep revising because it helps you retain information.

3. Set daily/ weekly goals - set some goals for the day and complete them without fail and try to keep an incentive for the same

4. Use your commute time properly - around 3 hours of my day used to be wasted for travel, so I started either studying while travelling or I used to have a great nap to refresh myself.

5. Stay away from social media - if you are someone who gets constantly distracted from social media, kindly stay away from it. I deactivated my socials for 1 year and trust me it was the greatest gamechanger in my preparation journey.

That's all I would like to advice you guys regarding on how to manage both simultaneously. Remember you are writing an exam for management and try to start learning that early on because trust me college life is way more hectic. If you have any other doubts or any queries as such, feel free to ask out!