IIFT 2024: Exam Date, Registration, Eligibility Criteria, Exam Pattern

IIFT MBA (IB) 2024 Exam: Expected on Dec 10, 2023; Registrations to begin in Sep

IIFT MBA (IB) Entrance exam 2024 is likely to be held in the second week of December 2023 by National Testing Agency in a single session. Indian Institute of Foreign Trade Admission Test-2024 popularly known as IIFT Exam 2024, is the MBA Entrance Exam for Admission to IIFT flagship MBA (IB) program.

Around 35,000 candidates are expected to apply for the exam this year. Last year 30,622 candidates applied for IIFT entrance exam and out of them 26070 test takers appeared in the exam. The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade has an intake of more than 700 students at its Delhi & Kolkata campuses. IIFT  has launched its third campus at Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh). The new campus presently offers 5 year IPM program.

Every year students from all disciplines including Engineering, Commerce, Humanities, Law and others take the IIFT admission test to get MBA admission in Indian Institute of Foreign Trade.  The admission test paper of Indian Institute of Foreign Trade has changed from paper based to computer based. To get a high 95+ percentile in the NTA-IIFT admission test, 5-6 months of serious preparation is required. In this article, you will read all key points to plan your IIFT MBA Admission exam journey, including important dates, syllabus & pattern, how to prepare, expected cut offs, past toppers interviews and much more. You will also find important links to Free previous questions papers. So, read through till the end.  

Table of Contents

1. IIFT 2024 Exam: What is the IIFT MBA Admission Test?
2. IIFT 2024 Exam Highlights
3. IIFT 2024 Important Dates
4. IIFT 2024 Exam: Important Changes
5. IIFT Exam Pattern, Sections, Question paper-Key changes
6. IIFT 2024 MBA (IB) Registration & Application Process
7. How to Prepare for the IIFT Entrance Exam? 
8. IIFT Exam Syllabus
9. MBA (IB) Admission Test Eligibility
10. IIFT Application Form: Error Correction Process
11. IIFT Exam Centre Change
12. IIFT Exam Fees
13. Programme Intake
14. Free Practice Sessions for Computer Based Exam 
15. The IIFT Notification Dates
16. IIFT 2024 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Before we read in detail the IIFT exam pattern, syllabus, preparation, registration process, let us first know about IIFT exam – What is IIFT exam, what are its key highlights and more

1. What is the IIFT MBA Admission Test 2024? An Important MBA Entrance Test
The IIFT full form is Indian Institute of Foreign Trade Admission Test. IIFT 2024 is the mandatory MBA entrance test for admission to MBA IB 2024-26 batch, in both the campuses of IIFT. IIFT MBA (IB) 2024 entrance exam will be held in a single session as a computer based test. The exam will be of 2 hours duration with a maximum marks of 300 and will be conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA) for the 5^th consecutive year and not by IIFT as was conducted earlier. 

Indian Institute of Foreign Trade MBA Admission Test is conducted annually for admission to its flagship MBA (IB) program offered at its campuses located at Delhi and Kolkata. The IIFT exam 2024 will lead to MBA admission 2023. IIFT 2024 MBA (IB) Entrance for MBA admission 2024 will be a high difficulty level exam like CAT and XAT exams. GK section plays an important role in scoring high percentile in IIFT entrance test. Experts at MBAUniverse.com, TIME, CL, IMS expect a cut off between 110-115 marks out of 300, that may give you 93 to 96 percentile. 

2. IIFT 2024 Exam: Highlights
The IIFT 2024 admission test is one of the most important MBA entrance exams conducted at National Level. The entrance exam for admission to MBA IB 2024-26 batch at Indian Institute of Foreign Trade has following key highlights:

3. IIFT 2024 Important Dates
All the IIFT exam details will be made available with the release of IIFT notification 2024. The expected IIFT 2024 Important Dates for all the exam related activities are as under:

3.1 IIFT Exam Date 2024                                                 

Note: All dates are Tentative

3.2 Application dates and Selection Process for Foreign Nationals & NRIs
Foreign nationals and NRIs need to submit IIFT admission 2024 application direct to the institute and do not need to register and apply for IIFT entrance exam. They need to apply with the GMAT exam scores. Key dates and selection process is given below:

• Application Dates: January 15 to March 15, 2024
• IIFT Application fees: US$ 200 (Rs.15000)
• Entrance Exam Score Accepted for Shortlisting:  GMAT
• Selection Process: Personal Interview at IIFT Campus

  4. IIFT 2024 Exam: Important Changes
Many changes have been effected in the conduct of Indian Institute of Foreign Trade MBA Entrance exam. Some of the key changes are:

4.1 Now Conducted by NTA
NTA has been assigned the responsibility to conduct IIFT Admission Test with effect from 2019. It announces the complete schedule of the entrance test, conducts the exam and declares the answer key and final result. 

4.2 Exam Time and Test Format Changed
The IIFT entrance exam timing is changed to 10AM – 12 Noon. The Admission Entrance Test for MBA (IB) 2024-26 is a computer based test. Earlier it was a paper based exam. The exam will be conducted at national level in 68 cities by NTA.

4.3 Total Sections, No. of Questions & Scoring Pattern Changed
Instead of 6 sections, the admission test now has 4 sections with 110 questions and maximum 300 marks with varying sectional scoring pattern. But there is no individual sectional time limit for any section.

4.4 IIFT Notification Release
IIFT Notification release 2024 date is expected on September 15, 2023 and on the same date IIFT entrance exam registration process is likely to begin. Earlier IIFT notification used to be released in July. After declaration of entrance exam result, the institute will release the shortlist in February 2024 and will complete the final selection process by March/April 2024. The final admission offer is expected to be made in April/May 2024.

4.5 Registration & Application: Starts in September 2023

The Registration and application process for IIFT admission 2024 is expected to start from September 2023 third week. The Registration process is online and has to be completed at NTA official website.  

4.6 IIFT Result Date: Expect on December 2023 last week
Moving faster in declaration of exam result, NTA is likely to declare the exam result within 15 days from the conduct of the exam for admission 2024.

4.7 IIFT Kakinada (AP) Campus: Commences Operation
The Kakinada campus of IIFT in Andhra Pradesh has commenced operations from 2022 with an intake of 40 students. At present IIFT offers 5 year Integrated Program in Management (IPM) at its Kakinada campus.

4. 8. Changes in IIFT Exam Pattern
Not only the Exam is computer based, you will find changes in its number of sections, scoring pattern, maximum marks among others which will also change the cut off score in the revamped format of IIFT Admission test.

4.9 IIFT 2023 or 2024: Clear the Confusion
The IIFT 2024 is the exam for MBA admission 2024-26 batch and is scheduled in December 2023. Similarly, the IIFT 2023 exam for admission to MBA (IB) 2023-25 batch was conducted on December 18, 2022.

5. IIFT Exam Pattern, Sections, Question Paper-Key changes
In 2017, IIFT changed its exam pattern by increasing the number of sections in the exam. The format of the exam for admission 2024 has changed to computer based test from earlier paper based test. The entrance exam is now reduced to 4 sections with questions on VARC; DILR, Quant and GK sections. The exam remains a multiple choice objective type written test (in English) of 120 minutes.  

Read More

6. IIFT 2024 MBA (IB) Registration & Application Process
The complete process of IIFT Admission 2024 Registration and Application is as below:

6.1 How to Apply?
NTA will release the detailed notification for MBA (IB) application process. You can register for online on the official NTA website and can pay the exam fee of Rs.2500/- online. The exam registration fee includes the exam application form fee.  

6.2 Step by Step IIFT Registration Process
The exam Registration and Application form can be filled up in four steps:

• Step-1: Apply for Online Registration using unique Email ID and Mobile No
• Step-2: Fill in the Online Application Form and note down the system generated Application Number
• Step-3: Upload scanned images of Candidate’s Photograph (file size: 10 kb - 200 kb), Candidate’s Signature (file size: 4kb - 30kb) and Copy of Certificate indicating Category and/or Subcategory, as applicable. (PwD) (file size: 50kb -300kb). All documents uploaded should be in JPG/JPEG format.
• Step-4: Pay fee using ICICI/PAYTM Payment Gateway through Debit Card/Credit Card/Net Banking/UPI/PAYTM and keep proof of fee paid.

Please note that in case the Confirmation Page is not generated after payment of fee then the transaction will be cancelled, and amount will be refunded to the candidate’s account. However, the candidate has to make another transaction, in case the Confirmation Page is not generated.

You should download, save and print copies of Confirmation Page after successful remittance of fee and keep copies safely for future reference. All the 4 Steps of application submission can be done together or at separate times.

6.3 No Offline Application Submission allowed
The earlier practice of application in offline mode has been discontinued and candidates should apply online only at NTA website. To apply for entrance exam, you must visit NTA website to fill in the online registration and application form as per details given on website. Read more...

7. How to Prepare for the IIFT Entrance Exam?
The IIFT Admission test preparation guide how to start preparation at home as per the revised exam pattern, is focused on following points:

• Exam Pattern: You must be aware about the Changed exam pattern
• Syllabus: Read through Important topics & Changes
• Choose the best Books for preparation
• Plan your Preparation Time - How to start preparation at home?
• Check the time left and learn How to prepare for the exam in 6 months, 3 months or 2 months?
• Make a choice whether to prepare without coaching or with coaching?
• Weigh the pros & cons on benefits of Preparation with or without coaching
• Solve Previous test papers & Mocks: How to attempt and analyse? 
• Strategy to score 95+ percentile in the exam – Tips from Toppers
• GK Preparation for the Entrance Exam Read More

8. IIFT Exam Syllabus
The Syllabus & exam pattern comprises the questions on English Verbal Ability, Reading Comprehension, General Knowledge & Awareness, Logical Reasoning, Data Interpretation and Quantitative Analysis.

In a major shift introduced in the Syllabus, now the admission test will have questions split in fewer number of sections. Not only this, the entrance exam syllabus for the different sections has also changed. The total questions in each section have also changed in the revamped exam pattern. Read More

9. MBA (IB) Admission Test Eligibility
The candidates with following qualifications are eligible to apply for the IIFT 2024 exam for admission to MBA (IB) 

• Recognized Bachelor’s degree of minimum 3 years’ duration in any discipline with 50% marks.
• Candidates appearing for a qualifying examination can also apply subject to submission of proof of requisite qualification by October, 2024
• No age limit to appear in the entrance exam.
• Work experience not necessary

The admission of a candidate who joins the programme on provisional basis but fails to qualify in the Bachelor’s degree examination with requisite percentage of marks is liable to be cancelled. Read More

10. IIFT Application Form: Error Correction Process
You can edit application details till you finally submit it. After the form submission, no change is permitted. However, National Testing Agency opens the Application Details Edit facility for the submitted application after the last date of IIFT exam registration gets over. NTA allows the candidates to amend and modify the details in their registration and application form. Error correction in application form is a one-time option to modify the data. Modification option is available for those who have completed all four stages of application form - Primary registration, Academic and Personal details, Payment and Photo/Sign upload. No change in Resident status, Mobile No., E-mail, Category, Written Test & GD Centre can be done. 

You can edit limited details in your application form by entering your registration number and password. Please note that Resident, Mobile No., E-mail, Category and Written Test & GD Centre cannot be modified by the candidate.

11. IIFT Exam Centre Change: One Time Facility
For once, NTA may permit the facility to submit request for admission entrance test Centre Change. The Application fee for test centre change is Rs.1000/-.  The Request can be submitted online only. No requests in this regard can be entertained offline.  

12. IIFT Exam Fees
The Exam Fee to appear in the IIFT entrance test is Rs.2500. The exam fee includes the Registration Fee and Application Fee. The fee also includes the participation and registration fee for GD-PI-WAT process, after the result declaration of the IIFT 2024 entrance exam.

13. Programme Intake
During the past few years, IIFT has gradually increased its batch size at its Delhi and Kolkata campuses taken together. For the MBA (IB) 2022-24 batch, IIFT selected a total of 725 candidates in the main list for admission at Delhi and Kolkata campuses with following details

The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade 2024 MBA (IB) admission test score will be accepted only for admission to its campuses and no other MBA college accepts its exam score. The entrance exam is now conducted by NTA.

More than 35000 candidates are expected to register and apply for the MBA entrance exam 2024 as happens every year. With the growing popularity, unique learning process and high placement prospects of MBA (IB) programme, IIFT Admission Test gives a tough competition among the test takers.

14. Free Practice Sessions for Computer Based Exam 
4000 Schools/ engineering colleges with computer centres are available on every Saturday/Sunday after release of IIFT exam date. More Schools/ engineering colleges with computer centres will be added in due course of time for Mock Test Practice. NTA has established a countrywide network of Test Practice Centres (TPCs) to familiarise aspiring students.

All students have an opportunity to practice and have experience of taking “Computer Based Test (CBT)” before the exam. The candidates can choose the nearest TPC. This facility is available free of cost as a support measure, especially for candidates hailing from remote and rural areas. The experienced, qualified and professional Nodal Officer and staff available at the TPC will help the candidates so that they become familiar with the CBT mode of examinations.

The TPCs will have a downloaded “Computer Based Test (CBT)” which will be similar to the actual test to be conducted on the exam day. The TPCs will help the candidates to familiarise themselves with login into the systems, going through the detailed instructions regarding the test, using mouse or numeric keyboard on screen (virtual) for attempting calculation based questions, scrolling down or scrolling up for the next questions, navigating between questions, review and editing their options and submitting them

MBA (IB) is considered as one of the best 2 years MBA programmes in International Business. The institute offers great learning experience with high placement to its students.

15. The IIFT Notification Dates
Following has been the trend of notification release:

While the registration and application process for largest MBA entrance exam CAT 2023 closes in September, other top MBA entrance exams leading to admission 2024 remain open till November/December 2023. XAT 2024 for admission to XLRI, XIMB, IMT and 150 other top B-schools is open till Nov 30, 2023 MBA Entrance Exam

16. IIFT 2024 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. When will IIFT Exam 2024 registration start?
A. IIFT online registration process is expected to start from September 15, 2023 at NTA-IIFT website

Q. What is the IIFT Exam 2024 date?
A.  The IIFT exam 2024 date is expected on December 10, 2023. The IIFT 2024 entrance exam will be held as computer based test

Q. From where I can purchase Entrance exam registration and application form?
A. You cannot purchase IIFT entrance exam application form any more. Now the exam Registration process is available online only.

Q. What is the Exam registration fee? Can I pay it by Demand Draft?
A. IIFT MBA entrance exam registration fee is Rs. 2500/-. You cannot pay the fee by DD. The Fee can be paid only by Debit/Credit Card/Net Banking/PAYTM/UPI Service

Q. Is there any concession in entrance exam registration Fee for reserved category candidates?
A. Yes, the SC/ST/PwD/Transgender category candidates need to pay Rs.1250/- online towards exam registration fee. No concession in IIFT Registration fee is applicable for EWS/ OBC(NCL) category candidates.

Q. If I am unable to appear in MBA (IB) entrance exam due to severe illness, will NTA refund the application fee paid for the exam?
A. No, even if you submit the Medical Certificate and reports from top medical institutes of India, NTA will neither refund the fee nor it will be adjusted for future exams.   

Q. What is the last date for IIFT Registration?
A. IIFT Registration likely last date is November 15, 2023

Q. What is the time at which IIFT Registration closes?
A. IIFT registration process closes at 5 PM at NTA-IIFT exam website