The IIM entrance exams like CAT, IPMAT and JIPMAT are conducted for admission into management programmes including both undergraduate-level integrated programs and postgraduate programs like MBA, PGP, Integrated MBA or IPM. The primary IIM entrance exam 2024 for enrolling in the two-year MBA/PGP programmes at the IIMs and many other top B-schools in India is the Common Admission Test or CAT 2024, which is scheduled for November 24, 2024. Apart from CAT, IPMAT exam and JIPMAT are conducted for the five-year Integrated Program in Management (IPM) offered by a few IIMs like IIM Indore, IIM Rohtak, IIM Bodhgaya and IIM Jammu. 

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IIM Entrance Exam 2024 for MBA/PGP

For admission into an MBA course or Post Graduate Programme (PGP) in Management, Indian students must clear the CAT exam while international candidates can take the GMAT. 

CAT

IIMs are responsible for conducting a common entrance exam known as the Common Admission Test (CAT) to provide admission into their MBA/PGP courses on a rotational basis. Candidates seeking management education at the IIMs must appear for the CAT 2024 exam which is regarded as one of the most competitive exams in India for MBA/PGP courses. Candidates must note that it is used not only by the top IIMs in India but also by several other top B-schools in India. Candidates must have obtained a bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD candidates) from a recognized university to apply for the CAT 2024 exam. Final-year undergraduate students or candidates awaiting results are also eligible to apply but final admission will be contingent upon the aggregate score obtained in graduation.

The exam pattern for the CAT 2024 exam can be summarized as follows:

• The CAT 2024 exam will be conducted in a computer-based format over a duration of 2 hours or 120 minutes with a time limit of 40 minutes allocated to each section. 
• The CAT 2024 exam will consist of three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). 
• A total of 66 questions (both MCQs and Non-MCQs) will be asked in the exam with the total marks being 198. 
• 3 marks will be awarded for every correct answer, 1 mark will be deducted for every incorrect answer, and no marks will be deducted for unattempted questions. 

Candidates are shortlisted for further selection rounds, which typically include Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD), and Personal Interview (PI) depending on the CAT scores. The final selection of candidates for MBA/PGP courses at IIMs is based on the overall percentile score obtained in CAT exam, academic record (Graduation score, Class 12 score, Class 10 score), work experience (extra points ranging from 1-5 are allotted to candidates having prior work experience), and performance in the WAT/GD/PI rounds.

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GMAT

The GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) is also considered by some IIMs like IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Lucknow, IIM Indore, and IIM Calcutta for international candidates. The sections under the GMAT exam include Quantitative Reasoning (QR), Verbal Reasoning (VR), Data Insights (DI). A total of 64 questions will be asked in GMAT out of which 21 questions will be asked from QR, 23 questions from VR, and 20 questions from DI. The total duration of the exam is 2 hours and 15 minutes with 45 minutes being allotted for each section.

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IIM Entrance Exam 2024 After 12th/Integrated MBA/IPM

If you have completed your 12th grade and are aspiring to join an IIM to pursue BBA+MBA or an Integrated Program in Management, you must appear and qualify for the Integrated Program in Management Aptitude Test (IPMAT) or Joint Integrated Programme in Management Admission Test (JIPMAT). 

IPMAT

IPMAT is conducted specifically to provide admission into the five-year Integrated Program in Management (IPM), which is a combination of a Bachelor’s degree (BBA) and a Master’s degree (MBA/PGP). IIMs that are responsible for conducting the IPMAT include IIM Indore, IIM Rohtak, and IIM Ranchi. 

In order to appear for the IPMAT 2024 exam, General, NC-OBC and EWS category candidates must obtain a minimum of 60% in standard X/ SSC and standard XII/ HSC or equivalent examinations, and qualifications of CA, ICWA, or CS. Candidates must not be older than 20 years of age as of June 30, 2025. SC, ST and PWD category candidates can avail themselves of a 5% relaxation and obtain at least 55% in standard X/ SSC and standard XII/ HSC or equivalent exams. Candidates are shortlisted for further selection rounds like the WAT and PI based on their performance in the IPMAT exam. 

The detailed exam pattern for IPMAT Indore has been provided below:

• IPMAT 2024 comprises 3 sections: Quantitative Aptitude (SA), Quantitative Aptitude (MCQ), and Verbal Ability. 
• Under QA, important topics are HCF & LCM, Remainder, Linear Equations, Quadratic Equations, Percentage, Average, Time & Work, Time, Speed & Distance, Sequence & Series, Permutation & Combination, etc. 
• Important topics for Verbal Ability are Synonyms & Antonyms, Idioms & Phrases, Direct & Indirect Speech, Prepositions, Subject-Verb Agreement, Para jumbles, Analogies, Sentence Completion, etc. 
• Under Logical Reasoning, important topics are Blood Relations, Coding, Arrangements, Games and Tournaments, Venn Diagrams, Cubes & Dices, Syllogisms, Linear and Circular Seating Arrangements, etc.
• 40 minutes are allotted for each section with the total duration of the exam being 120 minutes.
• A total of 90 questions will be asked in the exam and 4 marks will be allotted for each question. Thus, the total marks of the exam is 360.
• 4 marks will be awarded for each correct answer and 1 mark will be deducted for each incorrect answer. However, there will be no negative marking for Quantitative Aptitude (SA).

JIPMAT

Apart from the IPMAT, the JIPMAT exam is conducted as a national-level entrance exam by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission to the Integrated Programme in Management at IIM Jammu and IIM Bodhgaya. To appear for JIPMAT, candidates must have completed their Class 12 or equivalent examination from a recognized board with 60% minimum aggregate marks for general category candidates and 55% minimum aggregate marks for SC/ST/PwD candidates.

Additionally, applicants should not be older than 20 years. The JIPMAT exam is conducted online through the Computer-Based Test mode and typically comprises three sections: Quantitative Aptitude, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, and Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension. A total of 100 questions are asked in the JIPMAT exam out of which 33 questions are asked from QA and DILR sections each and 34 questions are asked from VARC. 4 marks are allotted for each question making the total marks of the exam 400. The time duration of the exam is 2.30 hours, i.e. 150 minutes, and there is a negative marking of 1 mark for each incorrect answer.

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Candidates will obtain a strong foundation in management education, along with gaining a broader perspective of the undergraduate curriculum in the first three years, followed by advanced management training in the last two years. Admission to the Integrated MBA/IPM programme will be done on the basis of IPMAT/ JIPMAT scores, scores in 10th and 12th grades, followed by a Written Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI). 

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