IPMAT vs JIPMAT 2026: What You Really Need to Know Before You Start Preparing

If you’re aiming for an Integrated MBA right after Class 12, chances are you’ve already heard about IPMAT and JIPMAT. On paper, both exams may look similar—but in reality, they test very different things.

And that difference is exactly where most students get confused.

This blog breaks it all down in a clear, honest, and practical way, based on how these exams are actually evolving in 2026.

First Things First: What Are IPMAT and JIPMAT?

IPMAT is the entrance exam conducted by IIM Indore and IIM Rohtak for their 5-year Integrated MBA programs.

JIPMAT, on the other hand, is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission into IIM Bodh Gaya and IIM Jammu.

Both lead to IIMs-but the journey and expectations are very different.

The Real Difference (Not the Marketing Version)

Here’s the simplest way to understand it:

• JIPMAT checks whether your basics are strong
• IPMAT checks whether your thinking is sharp

That one line explains almost everything.

Exam Pattern Snapshot (2026)

IPMAT 2026

• Sections: Quantitative Ability + Verbal Ability
• Question Types:
• Short Answer Questions (Indore)
• MCQs
• Level: Moderate to High
• Calculator: Not allowed

JIPMAT 2026

• Sections:
• Quantitative Aptitude
• Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension
• Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation
• Question Type: MCQs only
• Level: Moderate (Class 10 standard)
• Calculator: Not allowed

Quantitative Aptitude: Where the Gap Starts

Topics Common to Both Exams

• Percentages, Profit & Loss
• Ratio & Proportion
• Time & Work, Time-Speed-Distance
• Averages
• Number System
• Basic Data Interpretation

These topics form the foundation—and you can’t skip them for either exam.

What Makes IPMAT Harder

IPMAT goes beyond formulas. It expects you to think, connect, and solve under pressure.

Additional IPMAT-heavy areas include:

• Quadratic equations and inequalities
• Sequences and series (AP/GP)
• Permutations and combinations
• Probability
• Geometry and mensuration
• Occasional questions from functions or set theory

In short: IPMAT rewards clarity + application, not memorization.

Verbal Ability: Not Just About Vocabulary

JIPMAT Verbal Section

• Short reading passages
• Grammar-based questions
• Vocabulary (synonyms, antonyms)
• Para jumbles and basic reasoning

If your school-level English is strong, this section is very manageable.

IPMAT Verbal Section

This is where many students underestimate the exam.

• Longer reading passages
• Inference-based questions
• Para summaries and logical continuation
• Vocabulary tested through usage, not direct meanings

You’re not asked what a word means—you’re asked whether you understand context and intent.

Logical Reasoning: A Key Clarification for 2026

This is important.

• JIPMAT has a separate Logical Reasoning & DI section
• IPMAT does NOT have a standalone LR section

In IPMAT, logical thinking appears inside math and verbal questions, not as a separate section. This means:

• You won’t “see” LR
• But you’ll definitely need it

IPMAT vs JIPMAT: A Simple Comparison

How Should You Prepare (Realistic Advice)?

If You’re Targeting JIPMAT

• Strengthen basics first
• Focus on speed and accuracy
• Practice mixed question sets daily
• Avoid overcomplicating concepts

If You’re Targeting IPMAT

• Master arithmetic before moving to algebra
• Practice thinking-based math daily
• Read editorials and long articles regularly
• Take sectional mocks seriously

Most importantly—don’t rush advanced topics without fundamentals.

Final Thoughts

IPMAT and JIPMAT are not just exams. They are filters for future managers at the age of 17–18.

The students who crack them are not necessarily the ones who study the longest—but the ones who:

• Understand the exam deeply
• Prepare with structure
• Think instead of memorizing

If you align your preparation with the actual demand of the exam, success becomes far more predictable.