IPMAT & Integrated Programme in Management (IIM) Guide

What is the IPMAT?

IPMAT stands for Integrated Programme in Management Aptitude Test. It is the entrance examination for admission to the five-year integrated management programmes offered by IIM Indore and IIM Rohtak. Unlike CAT, which requires a bachelor's degree, IPMAT is taken directly after Class 12.

The two institutes run separate tests — IPMAT Indore (conducted by IIM Indore) and IPMAT Rohtak (conducted by IIM Rohtak) — each with its own notification, schedule, and process. Always refer to the respective official institute website for current details.

What degree does it lead to?

The integrated programme spans five years and leads to a management degree on completion. IIM Indore's IPM culminates in a Bachelor of Arts (Foundations of Management) and MBA from the institute. IIM Rohtak's programme awards dual BBA and MBA degrees.

Students who successfully complete the programme earn a management qualification comparable to a postgraduate management degree, without the need for a separate undergraduate degree or a subsequent CAT/GMAT attempt.

Broad eligibility and exam structure

Both tests are designed for Class 12 pass or appearing students. The broad eligibility — including age limits, minimum marks, and category relaxations — is set in the official notification each cycle and must be verified on the official site before applying.

Both tests are computer-based and broadly cover quantitative ability and verbal ability. IIM Rohtak's paper also includes a logical reasoning section. The number of questions, duration, marking, and negative-marking rules are published in each year's official notification.

• Eligibility: Class 12 pass or appearing (exact criteria per official notification)
• Mode: computer-based test
• Sections: broadly quantitative ability and verbal ability (IIM Rohtak also includes logical reasoning)
• Exact question counts, duration and marking: see the official notification

Selection process after IPMAT

Shortlisted candidates are typically called for a further stage — such as a personal interview or written skill assessment — before final admission. The exact process and weightages are set by each institute and published officially each year. No part of the selection process guarantees admission; all decisions rest with the respective institute.

How IPMAT differs from CAT

CAT is a postgraduate management entrance test requiring a bachelor's degree, used for admission to the two-year MBA or equivalent at the IIMs and many other institutes. IPMAT is an undergraduate entry point — you sit it after Class 12 and earn the management degree over five years. Both routes lead to an IIM management qualification, but via different timelines and eligibility conditions. Neither route is universally better; the right choice depends on your goals and situation.