Team8 · July 30, 2026 
Introduction
Most Class 12 students believe the IIM route requires CAT. That means years of graduation, work experience, and a two-year MBA journey in their mid-twenties.
That assumption is wrong.
IIM Indore and IIM Rohtak offer a five-year Integrated Programme in Management, or IPM, accessible directly after Class 12. One national-level entrance exam called IPMAT is all it takes to get in. No graduation. No work experience. No CAT.
The IPM awards a dual degree: a BA in Foundations of Management for the first three years and an MBA for the final two. At the end of five years, a student graduates with an IIM MBA credential at an age when most MBA aspirants are still completing their undergraduate studies.
This guide covers everything: IPMAT exam pattern for both IIM Indore and IIM Rohtak, section-wise cutoffs, the full list of colleges accepting IPMAT scores, and the honest differences between the two exams.
IPMAT: Two Separate Exams, Two Different Patterns
This is the first thing most aspirants miss. IPMAT is not one exam. It is two independent exams, conducted separately by IIM Indore and IIM Rohtak, on different dates, with different patterns, and different college ecosystems.
Appearing for one does not affect your eligibility for the other. Both exams run in May, typically a week apart. A serious aspirant registers for and attempts both.
Have Any Doubts?
IPMAT Indore: Exam Pattern and Structure
IPMAT 2026 for IIM Indore was held on May 4, 2026. The final answer key was released on May 21, 2026, and the result was declared on May 25, 2026.
The exam is a Computer-Based Test with three sections and a total of 100 questions carrying 360 marks.
| Section | Type | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Ability (Short Answer) | Non-MCQ, No Negative Marking | 15 | 60 |
| Quantitative Ability (MCQ) | MCQ, -1 Negative Marking | 30 | 120 |
| Verbal Ability (MCQ) | MCQ, -1 Negative Marking | 45 | 180 |
| Total | — | 90 | 360 |
The total duration is 120 minutes with no sectional time limits. Candidates can move freely between sections.
The Short Answer (SA) section in Quantitative Ability is the most distinctive feature of IPMAT Indore. These are numerical-entry questions where you type the answer directly. There is no negative marking for SA questions. Getting them right adds full marks. Getting them wrong costs nothing.
Marking scheme for MCQ sections: +4 for correct, -1 for incorrect, 0 for unattempted.
Eligibility: Candidates must have scored at least 60 percent in both Class 10 and Class 12 or equivalent. For SC and ST category candidates, the minimum is 55 percent. Students appearing in Class 12 final exams are also eligible to apply.
Registration fee: For IPMAT Indore 2026, approximately Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000. Check the official IIM Indore website for current cycle fees before applying.
IPMAT Rohtak: Exam Pattern and Structure
IPMAT Rohtak 2026 was held on May 10, 2026, exactly six days after the IIM Indore exam. Results were released on May 20, 2026. The PI round is conducted in June 2026 and the selection list is announced in the first week of July 2026.
The Rohtak exam is simpler in structure. It has 120 MCQs across three sections, all carrying equal weight.
| Section | Questions | Time | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Ability | 40 | 40 minutes | 160 |
| Logical Reasoning | 40 | 40 minutes | 160 |
| Verbal Ability | 40 | 40 minutes | 160 |
| Total | 120 | 120 minutes | 480 |
Marking scheme: +4 for correct, -1 for incorrect across all sections.
Key difference from Indore: IPMAT Rohtak has a dedicated Logical Reasoning section. IIM Indore’s exam has no LR section. Aspirants preparing for Rohtak must specifically prepare logical reasoning, a meaningful additional preparation requirement.
There are no sectional time limits at IIM Rohtak either. Candidates manage their own time across 120 minutes.
Registration fee for IPMAT Rohtak 2026: Rs 4,937 for all candidates.
Eligibility: Minimum 60 percent in Class 10 and Class 12 or equivalent for General and NC-OBC candidates. SC, ST, and DAP category candidates have relaxed eligibility as per Government of India norms.
IPMAT Indore Cutoff 2026: Sectional and Overall
IIM Indore’s selection process uses sectional cutoffs as hard filters. Missing even one sectional cutoff disqualifies a candidate regardless of total score.
Expected IPMAT Indore 2026 cutoffs (General category):
| Section | Expected Cutoff (General) | Expected Cutoff (EWS) | Expected Cutoff (OBC) |
|---|---|---|---|
| QA Short Answer | 28 marks | 16 marks | 22 marks |
| QA MCQ | 38 marks | 22 marks | 28 marks |
| Verbal Ability | 118 marks | 90 marks | 100 marks |
Historical total cutoffs for General category: 176 in 2023, 172 in 2024, and 164 in 2025, out of 360. The downward trend over recent years reflects increasing exam difficulty rather than lowering competition.
Only candidates who clear all three sectional minimums are assigned an Aptitude Test Score (ATS). The ATS is the metric IIM Indore uses to rank and shortlist candidates for the Personal Interview. Around 40,000 applications compete for 150 seats at IIM Indore, with 800 to 2,000 candidates shortlisted for PI.
A score of 200-plus out of 360 improves chances of a PI call at IIM Indore. A score of 270-plus is considered genuinely strong.
IPMAT Rohtak Cutoff 2026: Overall Score Based
IIM Rohtak applies an overall cutoff without separate mandatory sectional minimums, unlike IIM Indore. The expected IPMAT Rohtak 2026 cutoff for the General category is approximately 363 marks out of 480.
IIM Rohtak offers a higher seat count than IIM Indore, with approximately 180 to 200 seats in the IPM programme. The higher seat availability and the absence of rigid sectional cutoffs make Rohtak comparatively more accessible for aspirants who score more uniformly across sections.
The selection process at IIM Rohtak involves the IPMAT score and an online Personal Interview. Academic performance is considered alongside the PI. The final selection list for 2026 is expected in the first week of July 2026.
Full List of Colleges Accepting IPMAT Score
This is the most underappreciated aspect of the IPMAT ecosystem. One strong IPMAT Indore score can unlock not just IIM Indore but twelve-plus other institutions, each running its own shortlisting process using your IPMAT scorecard.
Colleges accepting IPMAT Indore scores:
- IIM Indore — 150 seats, strongest brand, highest competition
- IIM Ranchi — 120 seats, IIM brand, strong BFSI placements
- IIM Shillong — growing IPM programme, Northeast India location
- IIM Amritsar — newer IIM, North India location
- IIM Sirmaur — newer IIM, Himachal Pradesh
- IIM Sambalpur — newest IIM accepting IPMAT scores
- IIFT Kakinada — 40 to 60 seats, international business focus
- TAPMI Manipal — AMBA-accredited, BFSI specialisation
- Alliance University Bengaluru — private university, Bengaluru location
- NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad — unique law-management combination
- Nirma University, Ahmedabad — strong Gujarat placement access
- NICMAR University — infrastructure and construction management focus
- Krea University (IFMR) — finance and analytics focus, Sri City campus
- LM Thapar School of Management — engineering-integrated management
Colleges accepting IPMAT Rohtak scores:
- IIM Rohtak exclusively. The Rohtak exam score is not accepted by other institutions.
Total IPM seats across IIM and non-IIM institutions accepting IPMAT Indore scores is approximately 1,399, with around 450 seats available through IPMAT Indore and IPMAT Rohtak combined. IIM Indore, IIM Shillong, and IIFT Kakinada show the strongest ROI among IPMAT-accepting colleges based on placement outcomes relative to programme fees.
IPMAT Indore vs IPMAT Rohtak: Key Differences:
| Parameter | IPMAT Indore | IPMAT Rohtak |
|---|---|---|
| Conducted By | IIM Indore | IIM Rohtak |
| Exam Date 2026 | May 4, 2026 | May 10, 2026 |
| Total Questions | 90 | 120 |
| Total Marks | 360 | 480 |
| Sections | QA-SA, QA-MCQ, VA | QA, LR, VA |
| Logical Reasoning Section | No | Yes |
| Short Answer (Non-MCQ) Questions | Yes (15 Questions) | No |
| Sectional Cutoffs | Yes, Mandatory | No Separate Sectional Cutoff |
| Seats | 150 | 180 to 200 |
| Score Accepted Elsewhere | 12+ Colleges | IIM Rohtak Only |
| Registration Fee | Rs. 4,000 to 5,000 | Rs. 4,937 |
Selection Process: What Happens After the Score
Both IIM Indore and IIM Rohtak use a two-stage selection model. The exam score gets you shortlisted. The Personal Interview determines your final placement.
At IIM Indore, the PI is conducted in person by faculty in July 2026. The Composite Score for final selection is based on 65 percent Aptitude Test Score and 35 percent PI performance. Academic record and diversity are considered within the PI evaluation framework.
At IIM Rohtak, the PI is conducted online, typically in June. The selection considers aptitude score and interview performance, with academic marks forming part of the final assessment.
PI preparation for IPMAT requires a different approach than MBA PI preparation. Candidates are Class 12 students. Interviewers assess intellectual curiosity, communication clarity, career motivation, and awareness of current affairs rather than professional experience. Reading a business newspaper daily for four to six weeks before PI is the minimum preparation benchmark.
How Career Plan B Helps
Preparing for IPMAT, understanding sectional cutoff strategy, and getting ready for the IIM PI process after Class 12 is a genuinely unique challenge.
Career Plan B’s Personalised Career Counselling helps you map your Class 12 profile to the right IPMAT colleges across the full accepting-institution list.
Psycheintel Career Assessment Tests identify whether the IPM pathway fits your learning style and career goals.
Admission Guidance covers IPMAT preparation strategy and PI readiness, while Career Roadmapping builds a structured five-year plan from Class 12 to your first post-IPM role.
Get In Touch With Us
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is the difference between IPMAT Indore and IPMAT Rohtak?
IIM Indore’s exam has 90 questions including a Short Answer section, while IIM Rohtak’s exam has 120 MCQs with a Logical Reasoning section. The Indore score is accepted by 12-plus colleges; Rohtak’s score is only for IIM Rohtak.
Q2. How many seats are available at IIM Indore through IPMAT?
IIM Indore offers 150 seats in the five-year IPM programme through IPMAT, with around 40,000 applications competing for those seats annually.
Q3. Can I appear for both IPMAT Indore and IPMAT Rohtak in the same year?
Yes. Both exams are independent, run a week apart in May, and require separate registrations. Appearing for both is strategically recommended.
Q4. What is the minimum Class 12 percentage required for IPMAT eligibility?
General and OBC candidates need at least 60 percent in both Class 10 and Class 12. SC and ST candidates require 55 percent in both.
Q5. Which non-IIM colleges accept IPMAT Indore scores?
IIFT Kakinada, TAPMI Manipal, Alliance University, Nirma University, NALSAR Hyderabad, Krea University (IFMR), NICMAR, and LM Thapar School of Management all accept IPMAT Indore scores for their IPM or BBA programmes.
Have Any Doubts?
Conclusion
Students often overlook IPMAT, making it one of the most strategically underused entrance exams in India’s management education ecosystem.
One strong performance in May, right after Class 12, can unlock IIM Indore, IIM Ranchi, IIM Shillong, IIFT, and twelve other credible institutions. The five-year IPM gives a dual degree, an IIM MBA credential, and a head start of several years over the traditional management pathway. At IIM Indore, 40,000 aspirants compete for 150 seats. The competition is real. But the reward, an IIM MBA by age 22 or 23, is structurally unavailable through any other route.
The two exams have different patterns. IIM Indore requires balanced sectional performance with no room for sectional underperformance. IIM Rohtak tests an additional LR section and uses an overall score without sectional hard filters.
Prepare for both. Register for both. And use the IPMAT Indore score to apply to every college on the acceptance list. One score. Multiple doors.
