Two IIMs. One five-year degree. Two very different exams. Both let you bypass CAT entirely — once you complete the first three years, you do not need to appear in CAT or any other MBA entrance exam to roll into the MBA phase at the same IIM. For a Class 12 student, this means locking in an IIM MBA seat before most people have even started college. But the two exams that get you there are structured very differently, select you very differently, and open different doors. Here’s what the official admission documents of both institutes actually say.
Table of Contents
The Exam Is Structured Differently
IPMAT Indore has three sections: Quantitative Ability (MCQ), Quantitative Ability (Short Answer), and Verbal Ability (MCQ). Each section gets 40 minutes and must be answered in a pre-specified order. Each question carries 4 marks, with –1 for a wrong answer — except in the Short Answer section, which carries no negative marking.
IPMAT Rohtak also has three sections — Quantitative Ability, Logical Reasoning, and Verbal Ability — all in MCQ format. Each question is worth 4 marks, with –1 for a wrong answer.
The number of questions matters too, because it directly affects your pacing. Indore has 100 questions across 120 minutes. Rohtak has 120 questions — 40 per section — in the same 120-minute window. That’s a faster pace per question at Rohtak, even though the exam feels more straightforward in format.
What this means practically:
- IPMAT Indore tests maths twice — once with options, once without. If you struggle without answer choices to eliminate, the short-answer section will be the hardest part of your exam.
- IPMAT Rohtak adds Logical Reasoning, which Indore doesn’t test. Extra area to prepare, but all questions stay objective.
- The no-negative-marking rule on IPMAT Indore’s short-answer section is a genuine advantage — you can attempt without any penalty.
How You Get Selected
IIM Indore’s final selection is based on two components only: Aptitude Test Score weighted at 65 and Personal Interview weighted at 35. Past academics play no role in the final merit list. IIM Indore
IIM Rohtak shortlists candidates for a Personal Interview based on IPMAT score, and the final merit list is generated based on a composite score of the entrance examination, past academics, and personal interview.
If your board scores are strong, Rohtak’s process directly rewards that. If boards weren’t your best showing, but you perform well under interview pressure, Indore gives you a clean slate — your Class 10 and 12 marks are irrelevant to where you land on the merit list.
One Score, Many Doors — The IPMAT Indore Advantage
Even if you don’t make IIM Indore’s cut, your IPMAT score can still get you into other strong institutions. The IIM Indore admissions page officially lists the following institutions that will use the IPM AT 2026 score for their own admissions: IIM Sirmaur, IIM Sambalpur, IIM Ranchi, IIM Amritsar, IIM Shillong, Alliance University (Bengaluru), Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (New Delhi), GLS University (Ahmedabad), and Institute of Management, Nirma University (Ahmedabad).
IPMAT Rohtak’s score is used only for admission to IIM Rohtak’s own IPM programme. There is no equivalent list of participating institutions on IIM Rohtak’s official admissions page.
One exam, nine additional institutions as fallback options versus one exam, one destination. This single difference significantly changes the risk calculus, especially if you’re not certain of clearing Indore’s cutoff.
What Happens After Year 3
Both programmes offer an exit option at the end of Year 3, but the conditions are different.
IIM Indore offers an exit option after successful completion of the third year of the programme.
At IIM Rohtak, students must maintain a minimum CGPA of 5.0 at the end of Year 3 to be eligible for the last two years. Students who fall below 5.0 but not below 4.0 CGPA will be awarded a BBA degree and exit the programme. Students can also voluntarily exit after completing Year 3 requirements and receive a BBA degree.
Rohtak has an academic performance gate between Year 3 and Year 4. If you don’t clear it, the exit isn’t a choice — it’s a requirement. Indore’s official documents don’t specify a similar continuation threshold. Worth factoring in if programme security matters to you.
The Degree You Actually Walk Away With
This is a detail most students miss entirely.
Students completing IIM Indore’s IPM are awarded a Bachelor of Arts (Foundations of Management) and a Master of Business Administration under a Dual Degree Programme. That’s a BA, not a BBA.
IIM Rohtak awards a dual degree of Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) on successful completion. Scribd
Whether a BA versus a BBA matters in your target career or industry is worth thinking about before you apply, not after.
What Years 1–3 Actually Look Like
Both are five-year residential programmes, but the experience differs.
IIM Indore’s programme includes a social internship at the end of Year 2, a business internship between Years 4 and 5, a student exchange programme in Year 3 or 5, an optional sabbatical of up to two years between Years 3 and 4, a rural engagement programme in Year 4, and a Himalaya outbound programme in Year 5.
IIM Rohtak’s programme spans 15 terms over 5 years. Years 1–3 build foundations in Mathematics, Economics, Statistics, Humanities, Business Communication, Accounting, Programming, and Business Organisation. Years 4–5 transition into the advanced PGP management curriculum.
IIM Indore’s structure has more international and experiential components built in. IIM Rohtak is a more structured academic-to-management progression. Neither is better in the abstract — it depends on what kind of student you are.
Seats, Fees, and Application
IIM Indore’s sanctioned intake for the 2026-31 batch is 150 seats. The application fee is ₹4,130 for General/NC-OBC candidates and ₹2,065 for SC/ST/PwD candidates.
IIM Rohtak’s total seats for the 2026-31 batch are 198. The application fee as per IIM Rohtak’s official prospectus is ₹4,937.
IIM Indore’s course fee for domestic applicants for the first three years is ₹5,00,000 per annum, subject to revision. The fee includes lodging, access to lectures, internet facilities, and the library. Course fee for Years 4 and 5 is as per the prevailing PGP fees. For IIM Rohtak’s current fee structure, check iimrohtak.ac.in directly, as it is revised annually.
Exam Dates (2026)
IPMAT Indore is scheduled for May 4, 2026 (afternoon shift). IIM Indore IPMAT Rohtak is tentatively scheduled for May 10, 2026. The dates don’t clash — there is no reason not to register for both.
The Full Comparison
| IPMAT Indore | IPMAT Rohtak | |
| Sections | QA (MCQ) + QA (SA) + VA | QA + LR + VA |
| Format | MCQ + Short Answer | MCQ only |
| Total questions | 100 | 120 |
| Logical Reasoning | No | Yes |
| Negative marking | Yes (not on SA section) | Yes (all sections) |
| Final selection based on | AT Score (65) + PI (35) | AT Score + Academics + PI |
| Score accepted by | IIM Indore + 9 other institutions | IIM Rohtak only |
| Undergraduate degree | BA (Foundations of Management) | BBA |
| Year 3 exit | Voluntary | Voluntary or academic (CGPA gate) |
| Seats (2026 batch) | 150 (IIM Indore) | 198 (IIM Rohtak) |
| Application fee (General) | ₹4,130 | ₹4,937 |
| Programme fee (Yr 1–3) | ₹5,00,000 per annum | Check iimrohtak.ac.in |
| Exam date 2026 | May 4 | May 10 |
The Bottom Line
If your boards are strong and you prefer an objective-only format, Rohtak’s selection process works in your favour. If you’d rather be judged purely on aptitude and interview — with your marks wiped from the equation — and want your score to open multiple doors, Indore gives you significantly more options and a wider safety net. Both let you bypass CAT. Both lead to an IIM MBA. Since the exams don’t overlap, the smartest move is to prepare for both and let the results decide.
