Understand the exam
Exam overview
Institution-specific aptitude route for eligible integrated management admissions; participating IIM processes differ.
IPMAT
Admission
Undergraduate
Institutional
Integrated Programme in Management Aptitude Test
Last updated · Confirm dates, fees and eligibility on the official website before you apply.
Institution-specific aptitude route for eligible integrated management admissions; participating IIM processes differ.
Who can appear
Eligibility to appear
Class 12
Class 12 or an accepted equivalent under the rules of the IIM conducting the selected IPM process. IPMAT processes are institution-specific. Age, marks, year-of-passing and selection stages differ between participating IIMs.
Eligibility to appear is not the same as eligibility to be admitted. Individual institutions add their own criteria on top of the exam's rules.
Overview
What this exam is
The aptitude route into the five-year integrated management programmes offered by certain Indian Institutes of Management, entered directly after Class 12. It leads to an IIM degree without the usual work-experience and CAT route.
Subjects
What the paper tests
Quantitative ability in both multiple-choice and short-answer form, and verbal ability. The short-answer quantitative section has no options to work backwards from and no negative marking, which changes how it should be attempted. Shortlisted candidates then face a written test and interview.
PreparationPlan
How to prepare
The mathematics is at Class 11 and 12 level but asked with far more speed and trickery than a board paper, so board preparation alone is insufficient. Attempt every short-answer question since there is no penalty. Verbal ability needs reading built over months rather than vocabulary lists. Note that processes differ between the participating institutes, so prepare for the specific one you are targeting.
Where the score is used
Courses connected to this exam
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Can I join an IIM straight after Class 12?
Yes, through the five-year integrated management programme at the participating institutes. It leads to an IIM degree without the usual work experience and CAT route, which is why competition is intense.
How should I approach the short-answer section?
Attempt everything. There are no options to work backwards from and no negative marking, so leaving a question blank guarantees zero while an attempt costs nothing. Many candidates leave marks unclaimed here.
Is board preparation enough for the mathematics?
No. The content is Class 11 and 12 level but asked with far more speed and misdirection than a board paper. Board preparation is the foundation, not the preparation.
Do all participating IIMs use the same process?
No. Selection processes, weightings and stages differ between the institutes, and some run their own separate test. Prepare for the specific one you are targeting rather than treating them as interchangeable.