IPMAT Syllabus 2026 & 2027 — Section-by-Section Breakdown
QA-SA, QA-MCQ and VARC — every topic IIM Indore tests, mapped to NCERT chapters, with weightage notes and a clean comparison to JIPMAT for aspirants weighing both.
Table of Contents
IPMAT syllabus overview
The IPMAT 2026 syllabus is officially defined by IIM Indore on the admissions portal at iimidr.ac.in/admissions/integrated-programme-in-management. The paper covers two broad areas — quantitative ability and verbal ability with reading comprehension — tested through three sections inside a single 120-minute computer-based test.
| Section | Skill tested | Questions | Marks | Time | Negative marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QA-SA | Quantitative Ability — short answer | 15 | 60 | 40 min | No |
| QA-MCQ | Quantitative Ability — multiple choice | 30 | 120 | 40 min | −1 per wrong |
| VARC | Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension | 45 | 180 | 40 min | −1 per wrong |
Key rule: sectional time limits are strict. Once a section ends, you cannot return to it. Plan your section order in advance and stick to it on test day.
Quantitative Ability — complete topic list
The QA syllabus draws from Class 9, Class 10 and selected Class 11 NCERT topics. The level of conceptual depth is higher than school exams, but the topic universe is bounded. Here is the working list IIM Indore has consistently tested:
Number system and arithmetic
- HCF, LCM, divisibility, remainders
- Percentages and applications
- Profit, loss and discount
- Simple and compound interest
- Ratio, proportion and variation
- Averages, mixtures and alligation
- Time and work; pipes and cisterns
- Time, speed and distance; trains, boats and streams
Algebra
- Linear and quadratic equations
- Polynomials, remainder and factor theorem
- Inequalities, including modulus inequalities
- Logarithms and their properties
- Sequences and series — AP, GP, HP, special series
- Functions and basic graph behaviour
Modern mathematics
- Permutations and combinations
- Probability — classical and conditional
- Set theory and Venn diagrams
- Binomial theorem (selected sub-topics)
Geometry and mensuration
- Lines, angles, triangles, similarity and congruence
- Polygons, circles, tangents and chords
- Coordinate geometry — lines and basic conics
- Mensuration of 2D and 3D figures
Data interpretation (light)
- Tables, bar graphs, line charts, pie charts
- Basic caselets requiring arithmetic computation
QA-SA vs QA-MCQ — what changes
The topic list is the same; the test format is not. The way you should prepare differs sharply.
- QA-SA (short answer): 15 questions, no options visible. You type the numerical answer. There is no negative marking, which means you should attempt every question where you have a defensible answer. Accuracy and clean arithmetic matter more than speed.
- QA-MCQ (multiple choice): 30 questions with four options each. Negative marking of −1 per wrong answer means option elimination and back-solving become legitimate tools. Skip questions where you cannot eliminate at least two options.
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension
VARC carries 45 questions in 40 minutes — the largest section by question count, and the most time-pressured. The breakdown typically looks like this:
Reading Comprehension
- Three to four passages on economics, philosophy, governance, science and culture
- Question types: main idea, inference, tone, vocabulary in context, author's view
- Roughly 20-25 of the 45 questions are RC-based
Verbal Ability
- Para-jumbles and para-completion
- Sentence correction and grammatical errors
- Vocabulary — synonyms, antonyms, word usage
- Fill in the blanks — vocabulary and grammar based
- Analogies and odd-one-out
- Sentence rearrangement and idiom usage
Reading practice is non-negotiable: VARC at IPMAT pace (under a minute per question) cannot be cracked by last-minute vocabulary lists. Daily editorial reading from The Hindu or Indian Express, over six to twelve months, is the only sustainable preparation route.
Topic-wise weightage from previous papers
Based on a review of IPMAT papers over recent cycles, here is the approximate distribution within QA. Treat this as a planning aid, not a guarantee — IIM Indore does shift emphasis year to year.
| Topic cluster | Approximate share of QA section |
|---|---|
| Arithmetic (percentages, averages, ratios, TSD, work) | 30-35% |
| Algebra (equations, inequalities, logarithms) | 20-25% |
| Modern math (P&C, probability, sets) | 15-20% |
| Sequences & series, functions | 10-15% |
| Geometry, coordinate geometry, mensuration | 10-15% |
| Data interpretation / caselets | 5-10% |
NCERT chapter mapping
If you treat NCERT as the spine of your preparation, the topic universe collapses into a manageable list. Class 9 and Class 10 mathematics cover most of arithmetic and geometry. Class 11 mathematics covers the bulk of algebra, modern math and sequences.
- Class 9 NCERT: number systems, polynomials, linear equations, lines and angles, triangles, quadrilaterals, areas, circles, surface areas and volumes, statistics, probability.
- Class 10 NCERT: real numbers, polynomials, pair of linear equations, quadratic equations, arithmetic progressions, triangles, coordinate geometry, trigonometry basics, areas related to circles, surface areas and volumes.
- Class 11 NCERT: sets, relations and functions, principle of mathematical induction, complex numbers (basics), linear inequalities, permutations and combinations, binomial theorem, sequences and series, straight lines, conic sections (basics), introduction to three-dimensional geometry, limits (basics), mathematical reasoning, statistics, probability.
IPMAT vs JIPMAT syllabus — clean comparison
If you are considering both IIM Indore and the IIM Jammu / IIM Bodh Gaya integrated programme, treat the two syllabi as overlapping but distinct.
| Dimension | IPMAT (IIM Indore) | JIPMAT (IIM Jammu & IIM Bodh Gaya) |
|---|---|---|
| Sections | QA-SA, QA-MCQ, VARC | QA, DI-LR, VARC |
| Total questions | 90 (15 + 30 + 45) | 100 (33 + 33 + 34) |
| Duration | 120 min with sectional time limits | 150 min, no sectional time limits |
| QA syllabus | Arithmetic, algebra, modern math, geometry | Arithmetic, algebra, modern math (similar coverage) |
| Reasoning | Not a separate section | DI-LR is a full section |
| VARC | RC + verbal ability | RC + verbal ability (lighter load per question) |
| QA-SA section | Yes — type-in answers, no negative marking | No — all questions are MCQ |
Frequently asked questions
Q1. Where is the official IPMAT syllabus published?
The official syllabus and information bulletin are published on iimidr.ac.in/admissions/integrated-programme-in-management. Always cross-check with the latest bulletin for any cycle-specific changes.
Q2. Does IPMAT include logical reasoning?
There is no separate logical reasoning section in IPMAT. Reasoning shows up inside QA through sets, Venn diagrams, P&C and basic DI — but not as a standalone section. JIPMAT has a dedicated DI-LR section; IPMAT does not.
Q3. Is NCERT enough for IPMAT QA?
NCERT is the right starting point, but it is not sufficient on its own for IPMAT difficulty. After NCERT, move to IPMAT-specific practice books and previous year papers to build the level of speed and trickiness IIM Indore actually tests.
Q4. What is the difference between QA-SA and QA-MCQ?
QA-SA has 15 short-answer questions where you type the numerical answer with no options and no negative marking. QA-MCQ has 30 multiple-choice questions with +4 / −1 marking. Topic syllabus is identical; format and risk management differ.
Q5. How important is reading comprehension in VARC?
Roughly half of the 45 VARC questions are RC-based. Performance in RC dictates VARC performance overall, which in turn dictates your section cut-off. Daily reading is the single highest-leverage habit for IPMAT.
Q6. Does IPMAT test calculus or trigonometry?
Heavy calculus is not part of the IPMAT QA syllabus. Basic limits at Class 11 level can appear occasionally. Trigonometry beyond Class 10 basics is also not regularly tested.
Q7. Are there any optional subjects in IPMAT?
No. IPMAT is a fixed three-section paper with the same syllabus for every candidate. There is no choice of subject or optional papers.
Q8. How much does the syllabus change year to year?
The IPMAT syllabus has been stable for several cycles. Topic emphasis shifts slightly — for example, a year heavy on geometry may be followed by a year heavy on modern math — but the broad topic universe does not change.