How to prepare for IIFT
Last Updated: Jan 8, 2026
IIFT, conducted by the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, serves as a premier MBA entrance exam that goes beyond mere subject knowledge to rigorously test time management, analytical prowess, and pressure-handling abilities crucial for international business careers. Aspirants often mistakenly focus solely on mastering topics like quant, verbal, data interpretation, and GK, overlooking the exam’s emphasis on speed and decision-making under timed constraints. Excelling requires balanced prep through mocks, sectional timing drills, and stress simulations alongside conceptual clarity for top scores and admission to IIFT’s elite programs.
Since, this exam is different than any other MBA entrance exams, therefore the strategy for its preparation should also be different. This exam has our phases: Written exam, Essay Writing, Group Discussion and Personal interview. Let us go through some more details about this exam.
Exam Pattern
IIFT, conducted by the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, typically takes place in November as an objective-type MBA entrance exam where candidates select correct answers from four options across key sections like logical reasoning, quantitative ability, reading comprehension, general awareness, verbal ability, and data interpretation. This format tests comprehensive skills under timed pressure, rewarding quick decision-making alongside conceptual depth for aspirants targeting international business management seats.
The total number of questions is not predictable. However, by bservation of last few papers, we can assume that the exam may have 128-150 questions.
Time allotted
The duration of exam is 2 hours. It has been same from last five years. However, number of questions keeps on changing. This is a real management test. So, no matter how much you have studied, it is very important to be good at instantly planning the strategy.
Preparation strategy
It is really very important to plan a strategy for this exam as it aims at judging time management skills and ability to handle pressure. So, if you are good at planning a strategy, half the battle is won. So, you should remember following tips while planning the strategy:
All the questions from different sections can be categorized in three categories:
Concept based
Environment sensitive
Practice oriented
For example, questions in quantitative ability and verbal ability are mostly concept based. If you know the concept you quickly solve them, else there is no point in spending time on such questions. So, you need to conceptually strong in topics like Geometry, Algebra, Arithmetic and Modern Math.
Questions based on reading comprehension are completely practice based. It has questions like fill in the blanks, analogy, etc. So if you have been practicing such questions, you will be able to answer these quickly and accurately. Another practice-intensive sections are logical reasoning and data interpretation.
General awareness, on the other hand, is environment sensitive part. One should be good at both static and current G.K. to crack this section.
Good Books
There are several books, for IIFT preparation, available in market. However, not all of them are equally effective in making the students ready for such a competitive exam. So, you should be really careful while selecting the books for IIFT entrance exam.
Sample papers for practice (with solutions)
For G.K. you can go for various books such as “Handa Ka Funda’s” GK course, Manorama year book, GK Today, etc.
For logical reasoning, you can go for “Koncept of Logical reasoning”, “The Pearson guide to Verbal ability and Logical reasoning” (Nishiit Sinha), etc.
“Quantum CAT” by Sarvesh Kumar is good for quantitative aptitude.
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