Common Mistakes in IPM Preparation: What Every Aspirant Must Avoid

Every year, thousands of students aspire to land in prestigious IIMs through IPMAT. They spend long hours studying, do not attend any social gatherings, and are totally committed to preparing themselves for the entrance exam.

Yet, despite this, many struggle to achieve their goal.

Why? Not because they aren’t brainy, but because they made some Common Mistakes in IPM Preparation that prevented their potential from becoming performance.

In this blog, we will discuss 7 Common Mistakes in IPM Preparation, and we will show you how to fix them with smart strategies, mock test planning, previous years’ questions, and effective revision plans.

1. Skipping Fundamentals: The First Common Mistake in IPM Preparation

One of the most commonly made Common Mistakes in IPM Preparation is skipping fundamentals

• Many students jump into solving complex questions without strengthening their fundamentals first. IPMAT is a test of fundamental concepts, not brilliance. 
• All questions are based on your understanding of the fundamentals of Class 9–10 Maths, Grammar, and Logical Reasoning.
• If your base isn’t strong, you’ll lose marks on the easy questions.

How to Fix This Common Mistake in IPM Preparation:

• Revisit your NCERT Class 9–10 Maths chapters, focusing specifically on Algebra, Arithmetic, Geometry, and Statistics.
• Practice elementary reasoning patterns repeatedly, daily. 
• Increase your grammar and comprehension skills in the Verbal Ability section. 
• Make use of your IPMAT Previous Year Papers (PYQs) to get an idea of how commonly the basics are repeated.

PYQs for IPMAT Preparation!

Pro Tip: The more you get a grasp on basic concepts, the faster and more accurately you will perform under pressure.

2. Not Focusing on Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning While IPM Preparation)

Common Mistake in IPM Preparation is spending 80% of your time on Quantitative Aptitude and ignoring Verbal Ability (VA) and Logical Reasoning (LR).

• Students think Quant is the “serious” section, but that is only partially true..
• VA and LR will add great value to your score, too.
• VA questions take the least amount of time to solve, 30-60 seconds on average.
• Strong performance in VA + LR will contribute to not only distinction in those areas, but for surely increase your overall percentile, even if you didn’t do great with Quant.
• By working towards a level of balance in your preparation, it also helps to diffuse nerves and increase your confidence on test day.

How to Avoid This Common Mistake in IPM Preparation:

• Read one editorial a day to increase comprehension and speed.
• Consistently practice Critical Reasoning, Para Jumbles, and Sentence Completion.
• For LR, focus on Puzzles, Seating Arrangements, and Coding-Decoding.
• Take sectional mocks to track your progress.

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3. Not Taking Mocks and Mock Analysis: The Single Most Costly Common Mistake in IPM Preparation

• One of the biggest Common Mistakes in IPM Preparation is the lack of emphasis on mocks.
• Most students take mocks, look at their score, and close the tab, and thus miss the actual benefit of taking mocks: mock analysis.
• Mocks simulate the exam experience and show your brain’s performance under stress, but mock analysis shows your brain grows.

How to Avoid this Common Mistake in IPM Preparation:

• For every 1 hour spent taking a mock, spend 2 hours analyzing it.
• Note the topics you were weak on, question types, and time spent by section.
• Get a “Mock Journal” to note all improvements or issues.
• You should gradually go from topic-wise -> sectional -> full mocks.

Attempt Free Mock!

Pro Tip:

Mock Tests are the best teachers: They help you see where and why you are making mistakes, and how to fix them.

4. Finishing the Syllabus Too Quickly

• Many students treat the syllabus as a race, checking off topic after topic without giving it another thought at all. 
• This leads to the fourth Common Mistake in IPM Preparation, which is the omission of revision.
• Our brain forgets 50–70% of the information if we do not revise within a week. That’s why it is said that toppers spend more time revising than finishing.

How Can You Avoid This Common Mistake in IPM Preparation? 

• Above all, choose one day each week to specifically be a day of revision.
• For every topic, whether you should take class notes or not, try to set aside some time or create short notes, mind maps, or flashcards.
• Consider your revision over a cycle, i.e,. 3 days = memory, 1 week = revision, 1 month = consolidation. 
• Also include the questions on previous years (PYQs) and/or be doing mixed topic mocks to boost the learning process. 

Pro Tip:

In simple terms, revision is proven to not only boost memory but also provide confidence on the day of the exam. 

IPMAT Syllabus PDF Download

5. Studying Inconsistently – A Hazardous, Common Mistake in Preparation for the IPM 

• The fifth Common Mistake in IPM Preparation is inconsistency.
• Many hopeful students will study 8 hours per week and then work and take long breaks, which breaks the momentum and creates anxiousness.
• Achieving success in IPMAT is not about cramming for one day, it’s a process of daily incremental gains.

How to Prevent This Common Mistake in IPM Preparation:

• Create a realistic timetable, get out of bed, and 2-3 hours a day is all you need.
• Be sure to stay focused on your plan even on days when your motivation levels are low.
• Balance your study time between Quant, VA, and LR.
• Track your progress weekly and then revise your goals if you are making progress.

Pro Tip:

Consistency establishes rhythm, and rhythm produces results.

Use our [6-Month IPMAT Study Plan] with daily consistency!

6. Not Doing the Previous Year Papers (PYQs) – a Silent Common Mistake in IPM Preparation.

• Another Common Mistake in IPM Preparation is simply not doing Previous Year Papers (PYQs).
• PYQs are the closest you will come to the actual exam. PYQs actually let you know the nature of repeated questions and topic weightage, and even difficulty.

How to Avoid This Common Mistake in IPM Preparation:

• Attempt through IIM Indore and IIM Rohtak at least 5-7 years of PYQs.
• Complete PYQs under timed conditions.
• Identify topic repetition in the PYQs and whether it is high-priority content.
• Incorporate PYQs in your revision pomodoros.

Pro Tip:

PYQs are a form of diagnostic; they shape your studies to work smarter, not harder.

7. Not Understanding the Syllabus and Pattern: The Foundational Common Mistake in IPM Preparation

• Starting IPMAT preparation without knowing the exam pattern and syllabus is like driving blindfolded.
• This is a foundational Common Mistake in IPM Preparation that wastes time and energy.
• IPMAT Indore and IPMAT Rohtak have similar but slightly different structures. Knowing these nuances helps you plan precisely.

How to Avoid This Common Mistake in IPM Preparation:

• Go through the official IPMAT syllabus before starting.
• Prioritise high-weightage topics.
• Understand the marking scheme and sectional time limits.
• Build your mock test schedule based on the actual pattern.

Learn Smart, Avoid the Common Mistakes in IPM Preparation

Remember, failure isn’t final, it’s feedback.

Every Common Mistake in IPM Preparation you identify today saves you from disappointment tomorrow.

Avoid these mistakes, ignoring basics, neglecting VA/LR, skipping mock analysis, rushing the syllabus, inconsistency, ignoring PYQs, and misunderstanding the exam pattern,  and your preparation will transform from scattered to structured.

Every topper once made these same mistakes, but they learned and adapted.

Now it’s your turn to study smarter, revise regularly, and turn your IPM journey into a success story.