In this article, we will be analyzing the actual competition in the IPMAT entrances and understand what can be the target score and IPMAT Cutoffs for different exams.
Analyzing the Competition
If we take a look at the competition, around 30,000 students apply to sit for IPMAT Indore each year.
The seat availability in various IIMs is as follows:
- IIM Indore: 150
- IIM Rohtak: 180
- IIM Ranchi: 120
- IIM Jammu: 60
- IIM Bodhgaya: 60
So, there are about 570 seats for 30,000 applicants. (Assuming that every IPM Indore applicant sits for the other two entrances- which is not the case). Hence, in reality, there are about 570 seats for a comparatively lesser number of applicants.
Even after this, there is significant waitlist movement. Some students do not take admission into the IPM programme because they get into IIT/NIT, or they secure a top DU college like St. Stephens, SRCC, LSR, Hindu, SSCBS etc. Some leave because they are not certain if they wish to pursue MBA in the future, and a few others might let go off their seat due to financial constraints.
The actual competition
The official data released by IIM Indore shows that in the year 2019 – 20,000 students applied to appear for the exam, out of which 17500 students actually attempted the paper, and 13,000 of these applicants had a positive raw score. (a score greater than or equal to 1 in all three sections)
In the year 2020- the institute did not release the exact data and hence the following numbers are estimates: about 29,500 students applied to sit for the exam, 13,000 students actually attempted the paper (significant difference this year because of the covid pandemic and also because DUJAT and IPMAT Indore were conducted on the same day, forcing students to make a choice between the two) out of which only 8,000 students had a positive raw score.
The data for the year 2021 too wasn’t released but 10,248 students had a positive raw score but only 847 students were shortlisted for the interview.
This makes it evident that even though about 30,000 students apply to the institute, the actual competition is among the top 5000 candidates who actually prepared for the exam and then eventually the top 800-900 who get shortlisted for the interview.
IPMAT cutoffs – Indore past year’s
The above are the IPMAT Indore’s sectional cutoffs from the past 3 years. In the year 2019, the exam’s duration was 120 minutes and the paper had 100 questions. This is the standard exam pattern that has continued for years, but the pattern changed in the year 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic.
The past two years, the exam duration was 90 minutes and the paper had 60 questions.
Note: The cutoff difference between the year 2019 and 2020 is not that significant (despite missive difference in maximum marks) because the level of difficulty in 2019 was higher and hence lower IPMAT cutoffs, whereas difficulty level was lower the following year, and hence almost similar cutoffs.
Good score in IPMAT Indore
One thing to remember is that getting past the sectional IPMAT cutoff will only guarantee an interview call, but sectional score significantly higher than the cutoff is required to convert the final call. Usually, the aptitude test score is given about 65% to 75% weightage in the final decision, and hence it becomes extremely crucial to score as high as possible in the aptitude test.
To give a basic idea, a score of 200/400 (when level of difficulty is similar to 2019 paper) and above can be considered a good score to convert the final call. But it is also important to ensure that this score of 200 is balanced across the three sections because the following weightage is followed while determining the final AT score:
Weightage -> QA MCQ (25%) + SA (25%) +VA (50%)
Good score in IPMAT Rohtak
In the case of IPMAT Rohtak, a good enough score to convert the call cannot be certainly determined as the weightage given to different criteria for selection keeps varying each year.
In 2019 and 2020, weightage assigned to the Aptitude test score was 50% and in 2021, it was 45%.
Similarly, in 2019 and 2020, weightage assigned to past academics ( 10th and 12th marks) was only 10% whereas it shot up to 40% in the year 2021( maybe because WAT was not conducted in light of the pandemic)
IPMAT Rohtak is comparatively an easy paper and hence, high-scoring. The minimum IPMAT cutoff was 256/480 in 2019 and 265/480 in 2021; but scores in this range can only guarantee an interview call.
A score of 300+ coupled with excellent past academics (93%+) with a decent PI and WAT should be enough to convert the final call.
If you believe your past academics aren’t high enough, you will have to compensate for it by maximising your score in the Aptitude test.
Good score in JIPMAT
JIPMAT was conducted for the first time in 2021. The selection process comprised of the AT score and past academics. The exam duration was 150 minutes and had 100 questions. The time per question is more than IPMAT Rohtak, providing enough scope to maximise the attempts.
Considering the limited seats in IIM Jammu and IIM Bodhgaya (60) ,the heavy weightage assigned to the AT score, and time per question ratio, a score of 300+ is definitely a safe one. A score slightly lower than that may work too if past academics and gender diversity work to one’s advantage.
For JIPMAT, the exact percentage is taken to calculate the composite score (unlike IPM IIM Ranchi where past academics of 90+ are awarded full marks). Hence, the higher the past academics, the better. But if you feel your past academics are not high enough, try to compensate for it by maximising your AT score.
