IIFT 2025 Exam Preparation Tips - Check Preparation Strategy, Tricks, Study Plan, Time Table, Best Books

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How to Prepare IIFT 2024

Getting admission in the MBA International Business programme of the prestigious Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) is not a cakewalk. The IIFT entrance exam is a big hurdle that one needs to cross before actually making it to the other side of the gates of IIFT. IIFT 2024 is expected to be conducted in the first week of December and candidates must have a solid study plan to succeed.

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Candidates have to ensure that they do proper preparation for IIFT 2024 before sitting for the examination. No changes have been announced in the IIFT 2024 exam pattern and hence candidates can rely on previous-year data to guide their preparation.

It is also important to have a good preparation strategy to ace in IIFT 2024. Planning of studies and focusing on weak areas while practising strong points will ensure that a candidate is successful. First, take note of some of the important highlights of IIFT 2024.

Also Read: IIFT 2024 Last Week Preparation Tips

How to Prepare IIFT: Highlights

  • IIFT entrance exam was conducted in the pen-and-paper mode till 2019 but it was switched to the online mode (Computer-Based) from 2020 when NTA took over.
  • There are 6 sections in IIFT 2024 - English Grammar, General Knowledge & Current Affairs, Vocabulary and Comprehension, Logical Reasoning, Data Interpretation, and Quantitative Analysis.
  • The total time duration of IIFT 2024 is 120 minutes.

For those who are preparing for IIFT 2024, we've listed preparation strategies that can help candidates achieve high scores. By religiously following a well-structured study plan for cracking IIFT 2024, one can take his/her preparation to the next level. Also, you should check out the IIFT 2024 Exam day tips and instructions.

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IIFT 2024 Preparation Tips

It is always advisable to check the preparation tips from toppers when preparing for IIFT 2024. Some of the best tips to crack the exam have been listed below.

  • Find out your strong and weak areas and work on them accordingly.
  • Include regular practice and solving questions daily in your study plan.
  • Developing a proper understanding of the basic concepts will help you in advanced tricks.
  • It is important to establish a balance between speed and accuracy. Neither should be too low.
  • Read as much as you can to improve your language and reading comprehension skills.
  • Reading newspaper has multiple benefits. It improves your grammar as well as your general awareness.
  • Make a schedule and stick to it. Leave enough time to relax and unwind.

Section-wise Preparation Strategy for IIFT 2024

All of the sections in IIFT 2024, except for GK have equal weightage in the exam and hence must be given equal attention. Take out time to prepare and practice questions from each section and establish a balance based on your strengths and weaknesses. Given below are some of the best section-wise preparation tips for IIFT 2024.

IIFT 2024 VARC Preparation Tips

  • VARC requires a long=term preparation plan.
  • Work on improving your reading skills while also working on your technical aspects such as grammar.
  • It is important to develop the ability to focus and retain information as reading long passages is required.
  • The questions can get confusing and hence one should develop an understanding of the rules of grammar.
  • Read the business-related section in newspapers, books and blogs to increase your vocabulary and skill.
  • Studying from school books is a good strategy to prepare for the section.

IIFT 2024 QA Preparation Tips

  • Work actively to improve the speed and accuracy of your calculations.
  • Study and practice tips and tricks to solve questions in as few steps as possible.
  • Improving mental maths will not only make your calculations faster but also help you reduce the number of steps taken to solve a question.
    Check the Best Vedic Maths Tricks for CAT.
  • Practice as many questions as possible. Start from the basic level to improve questions and confidence and work your way up.
  • This is a section where guesswork should be avoided as much as possible. However, proper practice can help you develop the skill to make calculated guesses.
  • Use school books to develop your basics but don't spend excess time on them. Move on to higher concepts quickly.

IIFT 2024 DILR Preparation Tips

  • DILR tests your skills of logical and analytical reasoning
  • While working on your problem-solving skills in this section, it is important to look at the questions from different perspectives.
  • Practice a lot of questions. Spending time to crack difficult questions will build your mental stamina and approach.
  • Tips and tricks for this section are limited and hence a candidate often has to rely on their raw skill.
  • DI questions are generally set such that calculations that be minimised or entirely eliminated. Develop the skill to spot this while practising.

IIFT 2024 GA Preparation Tips

  • General Awareness holds the least weightage but the section is still important to improve the merit of a candidate.
  • Regular reading of newspapers, magazines or listening to related podcasts will help you gain success.
  • Many books are available in the market to prepare for Static GK. Make sure you are using the latest editions only for current affairs.

3 Month Preparation Strategy for IIFT

It is possible to prepare for IIFT 2024 in just 3 months if you have the will and a proper study plan. Check the month-wise study plan you should follow given below.

IIFT Preparation Strategy for First Month

  • Go through the IIFT 2024 syllabus, and solve a mock test or sample paper to check your level of preparedness.

  • You must evaluate whether or not you have gained a good clarity of your basic concepts and fundamentals.

  • In the entrance exam, one needs to attempt the objective type questions in 120 minutes duration. So, time management is a key requirement to perform well in the entrance exam.

  • Practising the mock tests helps in analysing the overall difficulty level of the entrance exam and helps in deciding how much time should be invested in each section. Candidates should focus on solving the most scoring questions first and deal with the remaining ones later.

IIFT Preparation Strategy for Second Month

  • Taking the section-wise approach can be really helpful. Candidates may prepare for Reading Comprehension and Verbal Ability in 10 days, Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation in 10 days, Quantitative Analysis and General Knowledge in 10 days.

  • Candidates must solve at least one mock test paper every day and work on maximising their attempts.

  • Identifying the type of questions that they have appeared in previous years' exams and practising them on a regular basis can be very helpful.

  • Candidates must also work on their calculation speed and accuracy of solving questions.

  • Join a coaching institute and referring to some popular books and study materials are some other options that can be taken up as part of the preparation process. 

IIFT Preparation Strategy for Third Month 

  • In the last month before the exam, starting from scratch is not an option. Hence, candidates should focus on revising the subjects and topics that carry the maximum marks.

  • During this time, candidates should also have a clear exam-taking strategy, which can be planned by solving the maximum number of mock tests.

  • Revision is the key if one intends to score high in the IIFT entrance exam. All the topics must be revised throughly days before taking the exam.

  • Self-preparation is another important element in achieving success in an exam like IIFT. 

IIFT 2024 Section-Wise Study Plan

IIFT 2024 consists of six sections, namely Logical Reasoning, English Grammar, Data Interpretation, General Knowledge and Current Affairs, Quantitative Analysis, and Reading Comprehension and Vocabulary. The total number of questions varies from year to year and the marking scheme of IIFT 2024 also differs for each section.  

IIFT 2024 Strategy for Quantitative Ability

Name  of the Subject

Quantitative Ability

Number of Units (Topics)

10

No. of Sub-Topics that Can be Covered Per Day 

Two

No. of Sub Topics that can be covered in a Week (Five Days - Monday to Friday)

2*5 = 10

Sixth Day, i.e., Saturday

Revision of the Topics

Seventh Day, i.e. Sunday

Take Practice Test for One Complete Topic

 IIFT 2024 Strategy for Verbal Ability 

Name of the Subject

Verbal Ability

Number of Units (Topics)

12 or 15

No. of Sub-Topics that Can be Covered Per Day

Two or Three

No. of Sub Topics that can be covered in a Week (Five Days - Monday to Friday)

3*5=15

Sixth Day, i.e., Saturday

Revision of the Topics

Seventh Day, i.e. Sunday

Take Practice Test for One Complete Topic

 IIFT 2024 Strategy for Logical Reasoning (LR)

Name of the Subject

    Logical Reasoning (LR)

Number of Units (Topics)

11 to 12

Number of Sub-Topics that can be Covered Per Day

Two or Three

No. of Sub Topics that can be covered in a Week (Five Days - Monday to Friday)

3*5=15

Sixth Day, i.e., Saturday

Revision of the Topics

Seventh Day, i.e. Sunday

Take Practice Test for One Complete Topic


 IIFT 2024 Strategy for Data Interpretation 

Name of the Subject

Data Interpretation

Number of Units (Topics)

5

No. of Sub-Topics that Can be Covered Per Day

 One

No. of Sub Topics that can be covered in a Week (Five Days - Monday to Friday)

1*5=5

Sixth Day, i.e., Saturday

Revision of the Topics

Seventh Day, i.e. Sunday

Take Practice Test for One Complete Topic

 IIFT 2024 Strategy for General Awareness (GK)

Name of the Subject

General Awareness (GK)

Number of Units (Topics)

15

No. of Sub-Topics that Can be Covered Per Day

 Three

No. of Sub Topics that can be covered in a Week (Five Days - Monday to Friday)

3*5=15

Sixth Day, i.e,  Saturday

Revision of the Topics

Seventh Day, i.e. Sunday

Take Practice Test for One Complete Topic

To begin with IIFT 2024 preparation, candidates must be aware of the section-wise list of topics that must be covered from IIFT 2024 syllabus. Here, we’ve provided a detailed list of topics to be prepared for appearing in the entrance examination.

Important Topics in IIFT 2024 Vocabulary and Comprehension Section

Odd word out

Figures of speech 

Spellings

        Matching word meanings

Grammar

Prepositions

Phrases

Synonyms-Antonyms

Analogy

Fill in the blanks

Para Formation Questions

Reading Comprehension

Topics Covered in IIFT 2024 GK & Current Affairs

Economics

Politics

History

Society

Sports

Business

Industry

Science

Banking

  Geography

Mythology

  Films

Awards

  Literature

International  Affairs

-

Topics Covered in IIFT 2024 Data Interpretation

Bar Graph

Caselets

Tables

Line Graph

Pie Chart

      -

Topics Covered in IIFT 2024 Logical Reasoning (LR)

Selections

Coding-Decoding

Comparisons

Linear word formation

Deductions

Series  & Analysis

Input  & Output

Directions

Family  tree problem

Seating Arrangements

Symbol Based problems

-

Topics Covered in IIFT 2024 Quantitative Ability

Number

Logarithms

Geometry

PPL

Probability

Time, Distance, Work and Heights

AMA

Permutation and Combination

SI and CI

Mensuration

ERPV

-

Daily Study Timetable for IIFT 2024

As IIFT 2024 exam is approaching, MBA aspirants must make it a point to plan their per-day preparation strategy so that they can have a track of time and their routine. Take a look at the table below that displays the number of hours and topics that one must cover per day until the day of the entrance examination.

Total Number of Hours to be spent for Exam Preparation (Per Day)

10 Hours

(7:00 AM to 9:00 AM)

Choose a sub-topic from IIFT syllabus and start reading and understanding it. List down and highlight the important points that you must prepare

(9:00 AM to 10:00 AM)

Take a Break/Daily Routine Activities

       (10:00 AM to 12:00 AM)

Choose another sub-topic from IIFT syllabus and start reading and understanding it. Note down and highlight the important points that you must prepare

(12:00 AM to 2:00 PM)

Take a Break/Daily Routine Activities

(2:00 PM to 5:00 PM)

Revise the topics that you have studied during the day time and start with another sub-topic from IIFT syllabus and try to understand it completely. Note down and highlight the important points that you must prepare

(5:00 PM to 7:00 PM)

Take a Break/Go for a walk/ Daily Routine Activities

 (7:00 PM to 10:00 PM)

  Review whatever you’ve learnt so far from the topics, make notes side by side and then proceed with another sub-topic

(10:00 PM)

Go to Sleep 

IIFT 2024 - Best Tips for Exam Day

While every candidate will have his/her own strategy for the exam day, we are providing some basic tips that IIFT aspirants should definitely keep in mind to increase their chances of scoring high in the exam. 

1. Don’t spend too much time on one question. If you have doubts about a question and if you think it's taking away your precious time, move to the next question.

2. While writing the exam, keep a track of time.

3. Handle your OMR sheet with care and avoid causing any damage to it.

4. Try not to panic on the day of the exam. It will negatively impact your performance. 

5. Be careful when you are going through the Comprehension passage.

6. Things you should carry to the exam hall -

7. Things you should not carry to the exam hall - 

  • Bags or valuable items are not allowed inside the exam hall as there will be no lockers available at the exam center.
  • No mobile phone, pager, tablets, or any device with a radio transmitter are allowed.
  • Avoid carrying any piece of paper to the exam hall.
  • Nothing should be printed on your stationery box.
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IIFT 2024 Coaching Institutes vs Preparation at Home

It has been observed that candidates often get confused when it comes to deciding whether to join a coaching institute or prepare at home to crack the IIFT entrance. We have provided some insights on both - preparation at coaching institutes and preparation at home, which can put an end to this very prominent dilemma. 

If the candidates are to join a coaching institute for IIFT 2024 entrance, they have to first find the best among the lot. There are many institutes that offer coaching classes to prepare for IIFT entrance, and candidates must keep a few important pointers in mind while choosing one. The coaching institutes have a very different approach while preparing the candidates for an entrance examination. The study material provided by these institutes comprises important notes on all the topics present in the IIFT 2024 syllabus. Apart from this, they conduct mock tests in regular intervals that help the candidates work on their weaknesses. Taking mock tests also help in boosting their confidence, which is a key element in finding success. Eminent and experienced academic experts deliver lectures to the candidates who enroll in coaching programmes. In a nutshell, joining a coaching institute means students can expect to achieve comprehensive preparation for IIFT 2024.

However, those who choose not to join any coaching institute can also do well in the exam. They must prepare a strategy in advance and stick to the same in order to complete the syllabus on time. The next step is to find the right set of books for preparation. There are many toppers who have achieved success without any help from coaching institutes. The two most important elements to do well in any examination are hard work and perseverance. Diligent and strategic self-study will make the candidates competent enough to deal with any sort of challenge during the preparation process as well as during the examination. 

Preparation for IIFT 2024 in 6 months

Here is the preparation strategy that can be adopted to prepare for IIFT 2024 in 6 months:

  • Six months is a lot of time for preparation of IIFT 2024. Therefore, candidates are at first advised to go through the detailed exam pattern of the entrance. 

  • Next, the candidates should be aware of the IIFT syllabus. Without knowing the syllabus, they won't know what topics and subjects need preparation.

  • After going through the syllabus, candidates can focus on identifying their weak and strong areas.

  • Clarity is the key to do well in an examination. Candidates should act on building their fundamentals to gain conceptual clarity.

  • Candidates are advised to not waste a lot of time in preparing the theoretical portions. Once the concepts are clear, candidates should take part in the IIFT quiz.

  • Implementing theoretical knowledge is a must. Therefore, candidates should appear for more and more mock tests to get an idea about the types of questions asked in the exam.

  • Candidates should find out the best study materials to prepare for the entrance examination. And the first steo is to get hands on the right set of books.

  • Candidates should maintain their confidence level throughout the preparation journey.

  • Time management is an important element in the preparation strategy. Candidates should allot equal time to prepare all the sections of the IIFT syllabus. 

Preparation for IIFT 2024 in 3 months

Candidates should keep these pointers in mind and adapt them in their preparation strategy:

  • Aspirants should have a good grasp over the fundamentals in order to strengthen their basic concepts.

  • Candidates should look for effective study materials on the internet along with books.

  • It is high time for them to appear in mock tests to understand the type of questions that can be asked in the entrance. This will also help the candidates to evaluate their capabilities.

  • Due to the scarcity of time candidates should not go through the theory again and again. Instead of that, they should pay more heed to clarify fundamental concepts and work on their weaker sections. 

  • Candidates should also start considering solving previous years’ question papers of IIFT.

Preparation for IIFT 2024 in 2 months

It might sound surprising but many candidates who top the IIFT entrance exam preparation for it in two months. We have provided certain pointers that should be kept in mind while preparing for the entrance exam:

  • Candidates should put more focus on the IIFT Exam Quiz, IIFT Mock tests, and various types of questions that have been already asked in the IIFT entrance over the years.

  • Taking mock tests without analysis is an effort gone waste. Hence, candidates should evaluate their performance after every mock test.

  • Candidates should go through the study materials for IIFT 2024 entrance and mark the important areas.

  • Instead of being worried about the weaknesses, candidates should focus on their strengths. They should not invest too much time in thinking about what they don't know. They can, in fact, think about what all can be done to maximize the scores on the day of the exam.

Want to know more about IIFT

FAQs about IIFT Preparation Tips

Where can I find IIFT previous year’s question papers for preparation?

Aspirants can find IIFT previous year’s question papers for preparation at various sites on the Internet. Candidates will be able to download the IIFT previous year’s question papers in PDF format which will help them enhance their IIFT preparation.

How can I prepare for IIFT General Awareness?

The IIFT General Awareness section can help aspirants increase their overall score very easily if they prepare for this section well. In order to prepare for IIFT General Awareness candidates must induce a habit of reading newspapers, journals, and keeping up with current affairs. Candidates must also prepare for static GK questions from books like Manorama Year Book and Competition Success Review and other popular GK yearbooks.

Which are the best books for IIFT QA preparation?

The Quantitative Aptitude section of the IIFT exam can be tough if aspirants are not prepared properly. Some of the best books for IIFT QA preparation are as follows:

  • Arun Sharma's How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude
  • Guha Abhijit's Quantitative Aptitude For Competitive Examinations Tips, Techniques, And Short-cut Methods
  • Nishit Sinha's The Pearson Guide To Quantitative Aptitude And Data Interpretation
  • Sarvesh K Verma's Quantum CAT
  • NCERT Mathematics books of Class 8 – Class 10

When should I practice sample papers for IIFT preparation?

IIFT sample papers must be practiced once candidates have finished the IIFT syllabus completely. Before the exam, aspirants should allot around a month practicing sample papers and mock tests exclusively. Candidates can also take one or more mock exams while studying the syllabus to determine whether their preparation technique is effective or not and whether they need to make adjustments.

What is the ideal number of mock tests for IIFT preparation?

Each candidate must choose the number of practise exams based on their individual skill level, areas of strength and weakness, and the IIFT syllabus. To achieve a 99 percentile score on the exam, applicants are advised to take at least 25 to 30 IIFT practise exams.

Can I crack IIFT with one month of preparation?

Yes, aspirants can crack the IIFT exam with just one month of preparation. If the individual is already preparing for other MBA entrance examinations like the CAT and XAT, then it is possible to pass the IIFT exam with just one month of preparation. However, receiving a high score in IIFT may not be possible with just a month of preparation. As a result, it is advised that one start studying for the IIFT exam at least three months in advance. 

Which are the best books for IIFT VARC preparation?

The Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension section of the IIFT exam is the component with the highest weightage. Since the number of questions in this section is so high, candidates must prepare for it with equal dedication. Some of the best books for IIFT VARC preparation are as follows:

  • Meenakshi Upadhyay and Arun Sharma's How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension
  • Norman Lewis' Word Power Made Easy 
  • Editorial sections of newspapers, Journals, Novels, etc.
  • Geoffrey Leech's A Communicative Grammar of English
  • Wilfred Funk and Norman Lewis' 30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary
  • Nishit K. Sinha's The Pearson Guide To Verbal Ability And Logical Reasoning

Should I invest more time in GK during IIFT preparation?

Yes, the General Awareness section should be taken seriously during IIFT preparation. The General Awareness questions on the IIFT are typically of a medium difficulty. The majority of questions come from static GK. Candidates should keep up with current events and read GK yearbooks for competitive exams to prepare for this section. However, aspirants must not spend more than 15 minutes on the General Awareness component of the test.

What is the adequate IIFT preparation time?

There is no exact IIFT preparation time since the requirements for every student is different. However, candidates must be ready to devote a particular amount of time for IIFT preparation if they wish to score well in the exam. Candidates will need to study for roughly six to nine months in order to adequately prepare for the IIFT exam. Candidates who are also prepared for the CAT, NMAT, XAT, and SNAP examinations can begin their IIFT preparation three months prior to the exam and succeed by appearing for mock tests and practicing sample question papers.

How much time should a working professional invest in IIFT preparation?

Experts advise working professionals to dedicate six to eight hours each day to IIFT exam study, but because they can't spare that much time, they should at least aim for four hours per day. On Saturday and Sunday, they can study for longer periods of time. Working professionals who balance their weekends and weekdays can pass the IIFT exam. if they can study after work and complete the IIFT syllabus effectively.

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