May 16, 2025
Overview: Discover the mistakes to avoid while preparing for IPMAT 2026 and learn smart strategies to secure one of the coveted seats in IIM's Integrated Program in Management.
Preparing for the IPMAT can be one of the best decisions for your management career, but even the best students fall into common traps that cost them valuable marks.
This blog will highlight the top mistakes to avoid while preparing for IPMAT 2026.
From ignoring mock tests to misjudging time management, we’ll help you pinpoint your pitfalls and let you stay on track for success.
Let’s ensure your IPMAT journey is mistake-free!
After some research, we have gathered seven mistakes students tend to commit while preparing for the IPMAT exam.
We do not want you to waste your valuable time, so please remember these things.
Let's check the common mistakes students make while preparing for IPMAT.
Around 18,000 to 20,000 students will attend IPMAT 2026, but the university offers only 150 seats.
You cannot get into the institute without focusing on IPMAT math preparation and preparing thoroughly in this critical area.
So, practice maths daily. Let your timetable have a variety of topics from all subjects.
Revision is important; you need time to revise much of the syllabus!
Don't leave the difficult or the easy topics for the end. While preparing, have a mix of easy and tough topics so you don't feel overwhelmed or anxious.
Your liking of a topic does not hold any precedence; any topic that holds more weightage must be covered and revised. Therefore, you must be sure to revise and prepare for them.
Generally, students don’t take notes because they think it's time-consuming and unnecessary, and they also don't know how to take good notes.
Allot 30 minutes in your IPMAT Study Plan to prepare notes on quantitative aptitude and verbal ability.
Preparing notes is found to be very fruitful during your revision time.
We suggest that you take proper notes and use coloured pens to make them attractive. Writing your notes will make you feel much more familiar with the material.
Making notes will take a lot of time when you are studying, but it will be worth it when you revise each topic and don’t have to spend your whole day practising one topic.
While making notes, it will take 2 to 3 hours to complete one topic, but in the end, during your revision period, it will take hardly 10 minutes to recall the topic and revise it thoroughly.
Each subject must be maintained in different notebooks.
This is one of the biggest Mistakes to Avoid while Preparing for IPMAT, so be careful.
Read: How do you prepare for IPMAT 2026 in one month?
Generally, students start practising mock tests late or practice mock tests but not as much as is required to crack the IPMAT entrance examination.
Listen!! Do not wait to cover your syllabus to start your preparations. Mocks are very important and clearly define your performance on the test.
We understand that most class 12th pass-out students are taught in school first to complete the syllabus and then practice sample papers or mock tests. However, this does not apply to this type of national-level entrance examination.
Students must give at least 50 to 70 full and partial mock tests before the final exam.
Taking mocks will help you determine your weak and strong sections, allowing you to dedicate more time to the sections you need.
You have been given an exam duration of 120 minutes; you must be fast to attempt as many questions as you can.
You can get this experience and learn time management only by taking mocks and not just studying books.
If you cannot regularly attempt IPMAT Mock Tests or the sectional tests, you can’t improve your speed and accuracy to attempt the examination.
When you wake up in the morning, you should have a proper preparation plan ready.
You can be in class 12th or drop out! It doesn't matter as long as you have a good strategy. Once you prepare a feasible timetable, stick to your plan and meet targets.
You must sit down and make a timetable that works for you. Your friend's timetable may not adjust to your schedule, so understand your capabilities and prepare a study plan.
Make sure you meet your targets daily. If you achieve them regularly, you're on the right track and need not worry. Love what you learn! With a negative mindset and lousy attitude, it's unlikely to clear the exam.
Read: IPMAT Dropper Strategy
After addressing 'Mistakes to Avoid while Preparing for IPMAT', let's know the strategies to follow during the prep.
Here are some specific strategies to address each one:
Read: Current Affairs PDF for Competitive exams
Strategy 4: Choose the Right Study Material
Strategy 5: Revise Regularly
Strategy 6: Keep a Positive Mindset
There are many books available both online and offline. With lots of materials available online, it can be quite confusing to pick the right one.
The following are some of the best IPMAT books you can consider for your preparation.
Sr. No. | Books |
Author/Publisher |
1 | IIM IPMAT Preparation Books | Supergrads |
2 | Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Exams | R.S. Aggarwal |
3 | Word Power Made Easy | Norman Lewis |
4 | Brush Up Your English | ST Imam |
5 | ML Agarwal Books for Classes 11th and 12th (ICSE Course Books) | ML Agarwal |
6 | Magical Book on Quicker Maths | M. Tyra |
Apart from this, you can enroll for TopRankers Crash Course for 360-degree IPMAT prep.
The Integrated Program in Management Aptitude Test (IPMAT) is a national-level management entrance examination conducted for young, talented, hardworking students pursuing careers in Management, Business Analytics, Marketing, Sales, etc.
You will be admitted to one of India's most prestigious management colleges upon clearing the IPMAT entrance exam.
Feature | Details |
---|---|
Medium of Exam | English only |
Frequency | Once a year |
Application Mode | Online |
Application Fee | General: Rs. 4,130, SC/ST/PwD: INR 2065 |
Candidates Appeared (2024) | 28,596 candidates |
Exam Duration | 2 hours (120 minutes) |
Exam Sections | VA, SA, MCQs |
This article emphasizes the importance of strategic and focused preparation for IPMAT 2025 aspirants.
It highlights the mistakes to avoid while preparing for IPMAT, such as neglecting regular newspaper reading, poor selection of study materials, inadequate mathematics preparation, inefficient note-making, and delayed mock test practice.
The conclusion stresses that adhering to these guidelines can significantly increase the chances of success in this competitive exam.
Read: Crucial Concepts of Coding and Decoding For IPMAT 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How much time does it take to prepare for IPMAT 2026?
What are the highly recommended books for IIM IPM Exam 2026?
What is the syllabus for IPMAT 2026 exam?
Do I need to take specific coaching for IPMAT 2026 Maths preparation?
How can I improve my vocabulary for IPMAT 2026 exam?
What are some of the mistakes to avoid while preparing for IPMAT 2026?