September 8, 2026
Preparing for IPMAT 2027 is not only about learning concepts and solving mock tests. You also need to understand the IPMAT marking scheme. A correct answer can increase your score, while an incorrect MCQ can reduce it because of negative marking.
The IPMAT marking scheme is particularly important because IIM Indore and IIM Rohtak do not follow exactly the same test structure.
IIM Indore's latest officially published pattern includes Quantitative Ability MCQs, Quantitative Ability Short Answer questions and Verbal Ability MCQs. IIM Rohtak's latest published pattern has Quantitative Ability, Logical Reasoning and Verbal Ability, with all questions in MCQ format.
For 2027 aspirants, knowing the IPMAT marking rules early can help you build a better attempt strategy. You can decide which questions deserve more time, where guessing is risky and how many questions you should realistically attempt.
Important: The official 2027 admission notifications should be checked when released. The tables below are based on the latest official admission information currently available from IIM Indore and IIM Rohtak and are intended to help students prepare for IPMAT 2027.
The IPMAT marking scheme explains the marks awarded for a correct response, the penalty for an incorrect answer, and the marks awarded for an unattempted question.
The basic calculation is:
IPMAT Score = Marks obtained for correct answers − Negative marks for incorrect answers
For example, if a section has 20 correct answers and 5 incorrect answers, and each correct answer carries 4 marks while each wrong answer carries a 1-mark penalty:
Score = (20 × 4) − (5 × 1)
Score = 80 − 5 = 75 marks
This is why attempting every question simply because it is on the screen is not always a good strategy. The difference in exam patterns between IPM Indore and IPM Rohtak is an interesting aspect of IPMAT.
The latest official IIM Indore admission procedure available states that the IPM Aptitude Test contains three sections:
Each question carries 4 marks. A 1-mark deduction applies to incorrect answers in the MCQ sections, while the Quantitative Ability Short Answer section does not have negative marking.
| Section | Correct Answer | Incorrect Answer | Unattempted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Ability (MCQ) | +4 | -1 | 0 |
| Quantitative Ability (Short Answer) | +4 | 0 | 0 |
| Verbal Ability (MCQ) | +4 | -1 | 0 |
The biggest point to remember is that QA Short Answer questions are different from MCQs.
If you make a mistake in an MCQ, you lose one mark. In the Short Answer section, there is no negative marking under the latest published IIM Indore pattern.
That difference can influence your attempt strategy.
Along with the IPMAT makring scheme, the candidates should also be aware about the exam structure. The IIM Indore pattern has 90 questions divided across three sections.
The latest officially published 2026 admission procedure confirms the three-section structure and gives each section a 40-minute duration.
| Section | Question Type | Questions | Marks per Question | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Ability | MCQ | 30 | +4/-1 | 40 min |
| Quantitative Ability | Short Answer | 15 | +4/0 | 40 min |
| Verbal Ability | MCQ | 45 | +4/-1 | 40 min |
Maximum Marks
Based on this structure:
Total = 360 marks
IIM Indore Final Selection Weightage for 2027
The IIM Indore final selection score is based on two components: aptitude test score and personal interview.
The weightage for both of them are mentioned below:
| Component | Weightage |
|---|---|
| Aptitude Test Score | 65% |
| Personal Interview | 35% |
However, because admission policies can change between batches, candidates should verify the final 2027 selection formula in IIM Indore's official admission notification before using these percentages for application decisions.
The institute's official IPM page confirms that its selection process includes an entrance examination followed by further selection stages.
The IIM Rohtak marking scheme is comparatively straightforward.
According to the latest official admission information, the IPM Aptitude Test contains:
Each section has 40 questions, giving a total of 120 questions. Each question carries 4 marks, and one mark is deducted for every incorrect answer. All questions are MCQs.
| Section | Correct Answer | Incorrect Answer | Unattempted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Ability | +4 | -1 | 0 |
| Logical Reasoning | +4 | -1 | 0 |
| Verbal Ability | +4 | -1 | 0 |
The latest official IIM Rohtak information specifies 40 questions each in Quantitative Ability, Logical Reasoning and Verbal Ability, with a total test duration of 120 minutes.
| Section | Number of Questions | Marks per Question |
|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Ability | 40 | +4/-1 |
| Logical Reasoning | 40 | +4/-1 |
| Verbal Ability | 40 | +4/-1 |
| Total | 120 |
Since all 120 questions carry 4 marks:
Maximum marks = 120 × 4 = 480 marks
There is also a one-mark penalty for each incorrect answer.
The latest official IIM Rohtak admission information gives the following weightage:
| Component | Weightage |
|---|---|
| Aptitude Test Score | 55% |
| Personal Interview / Personal Assessment | 15% |
| Class X Academics | 10% |
| Class XII Academics | 20% |
| Total | 100% |
IIM Indore vs IIM Rohtak Marking Scheme 2027
If you are preparing for both institutes, this is the comparison you should remember.
| Feature | IIM Indore | IIM Rohtak |
|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Ability | Yes | Yes |
| Logical Reasoning | No separate section in latest published pattern | Yes |
| Verbal Ability | Yes | Yes |
| QA Short Answer | Yes | No |
| Correct Answer | +4 | +4 |
| Wrong MCQ | -1 | -1 |
| Negative Marking in QA Short Answer | No | Not applicable |
| Total Questions | 90 in supplied pattern | 120 |
| Question Type | MCQ + Short Answer | MCQ |
The major difference, then, is not the basic +4/-1 scoring rule. It is the structure of the paper and the presence of QA short-answer questions in the IIM Indore pattern.
Understanding the marking scheme is useful only when you apply it to your preparation.
Do not measure your mock-test performance only by the number of questions attempted.
After every mock, it is suggested to calculate:
Accuracy = Correct Answers ÷ Total Attempts × 100
This gives you a clearer picture of whether your problem is speed, conceptual understanding or question selection.
If you are targeting IIM Indore, do not prepare QA MCQs and Short Answer questions in exactly the same way.
For MCQs, practise:
For Short Answer questions, focus more on solving the problem independently because there are no answer options to guide your approach.
After every mock test, classify your mistakes.
For example:
| Mistake Type | Example |
|---|---|
| Conceptual | Formula or concept not known |
| Calculation | Arithmetic mistake |
| Reading | Misread question |
| Time pressure | Could solve but ran out of time |
| Guessing | Attempted without sufficient confidence |
This simple habit can make your mock-test analysis much more useful.
Do not wait until the actual exam to think about negative marking.
During IPMAT mock tests, follow the same scoring rules as the real examination.
After completing the test, check:
This turns every mock into a learning exercise.
1. Attempting every question
More attempts do not automatically mean a higher score when negative marking is involved.
2. Ignoring unattempted questions
An unattempted question carries no penalty under the published patterns. Sometimes leaving a low-confidence question unanswered is better than taking an unnecessary risk.
3. Focusing only on speed
Speed matters, but fast mistakes are still mistakes.
4. Not analysing mock tests
Taking 20 mocks without analysing them is usually less useful than taking fewer mocks and carefully reviewing your mistakes.
The IPMAT Marking Scheme 2027 should be one of the first things you understand before starting serious exam preparation. Knowing the value of a correct answer and the impact of a wrong answer can change the way you approach mocks, practice sets and the actual examination.
For IIM Indore, the latest published pattern awards 4 marks for a correct response, with a 1-mark penalty for incorrect MCQs and no negative marking in the QA Short Answer section.
IIM Rohtak's latest published pattern awards 4 marks for a correct answer and deducts 1 mark for an incorrect MCQ across its three sections.
But knowing the numbers is only the first step. Your real advantage comes from using the marking scheme to make smarter decisions: attempt questions you can solve, avoid careless errors, manage your time and analyse your mocks honestly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions are there in the IPMAT Indore 2027 exam?

How is the IPMAT marking scheme structured for 2027?

Are there different exam patterns for IPMAT at IIM Indore and IIM Rohtak?

What happens if I leave a question unattempted in the IPMAT?

Is there any sectional time limit in IPMAT?

How is the final selection weightage determined for IPMAT Indore 2027?

How does the IPMAT Marking Scheme differ for IPMAT Indore and IPMAT Rohtak?

What is the IPMAT Marking Scheme 2027?

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