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IPMAT Indore AIR 35 Akshara Shares Her Journey
October 25, 2025
Overview: From PCM to IPMAT Indore AIR 35 Akshara's drop-year journey redefines focus, grit, and belief. Read her story.
Everyone sees the success-no one sees the sleepless nights, second guesses, and silent struggles behind it.
In this Topper Talk episode, meet Akshara Sharma, who secured All India Rank 35 in IPMAT 2025.
Joined by her proud parents, Mr. and Mrs. Sharma, this interview delves into the journey of a PCM student who switched streams, took a gap year, and cracked one of India's toughest entrance exams with grace, resilience, and clarity.
Interview with Akshara - IPMAT 2025 Topper (AIR 35)
Q. How was the moment when you discovered the result?
Mr. Sharma: "I just randomly opened her email and saw the result. Then she came with her mom, and yes-it felt great because she was happy. These last 8 months were really important for her."
Q. Akshara, how did you get to know about IPM? When did you join Supergrads? Can you walk us through your journey?
Akshara: "I knew about Supergrads since Class 12. I missed the cut-off that year due to sectional marks. So, I decided to take a drop and chose Supergrads because the online course, IPMAT mocks, and resources were very accessible. I joined the Josh Batch in June-end, which was specifically for droppers."
Q. What was the lowest point of your preparation journey and how did you bounce back?
Akshara: "December-January was the lowest phase. I started reconsidering the IPM journey because milestone tests in the Josh Batch were tough. But mentorship sessions with Anil Sir and Nikhil Sir helped me refocus."
Q. What exactly happens in these mentorship sessions that helped you?
Akshara: "They were short-10 to 15 minutes-but I could clear all my doubts. I spoke to Anil Sir and Nikhil Sir. Those sessions helped a lot."
Q. Ma'am, how have you seen this journey unfold as a mother?
Mrs. Sharma: "I just want to appreciate the hard work of the Supergrads faculty. I talked to Nikhil Sir during a mentorship session and his words gave us a lot of confidence. Every night, we discussed her mock performance, and I believe it's very important for parents to stay positive, especially during a drop year. I'm thankful to Nikhil Sir and Arja Ma'am."
Q. Sir, would you like to add anything as a parent?
Mr. Sharma: "I've been a teacher myself. One thing I want to say is: always keep your child inspired and motivated. Be positive and encouraging. IPMAT is a great career option in India-BBA + MBA is a superb line. If your child isn't rigid about PCM/PCB, IPM is worth considering."
Q. Akshara, was there any moment with Supergrads that made a big difference in your journey?
Akshara: "Yes. In September, a mentorship session with Nikhil Sir cleared all our doubts-mine and my mother's. Also, Anil Sir constantly answered queries on Telegram. During the final interview, he kept motivating us. Supergrads really made a difference."
Q. How was your interview stage preparation, especially with 35% weightage given to it?
Akshara: "Supergrads helped a lot-especially with current affairs. IPMAT Preparation started right after the scorecards came out. Even for domain subjects, they revised everything. As a PCM dropper, revising those subjects along with current affairs was tough-but Supergrads made it manageable."
Q. What advice would you give to IPMAT 2026 and 2027 aspirants?
Akshara: "As a dropper, full-length tests were most important-especially the ones Supergrads provided every weekend. They replicated the real IPMAT exam pattern. Daily mocks were also critical. Since droppers don't have boards, that mock time is a key advantage. Also, Supergrads' RSLs were the best thing to follow."
Key Takeaways
- From PCM to IPM: Stream change is possible with clarity and proper support.
- Mentorship Matters: One-on-one sessions helped overcome mental blocks and low phases.
- Family Involvement: Constant positivity and encouragement from parents made a huge difference.
- Mocks Are Magic: Full-length and daily mocks replicated the real experience.
- Interview Prep Strategy: Structured current affairs + subject revision helped crack the final stage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it worth taking a drop year for IPMAT preparation?
What should students do when they feel like giving up during prep?
How important are full-length mock tests for droppers?
How can parents support a drop-year student at home?
What if your academic background isn’t commerce or management?
Leekesh Suryavanshi
Senior Content Writer
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