IIFT 2023 exam will be conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA) as a computer based test of 2 hour duration. The expected IIFT entrance exam date is Sunday December 11, 2022. You need to apply online at iift.nta.nic.in with the registration fee of Rs.2500/-. IIFT 2023 admission exam will be conducted in 68+ cities in India. Applicants have the option to choose 4 test cities in order of preference.
The Registration process for Indian Institute of Foreign Trade MBA (IB) admission test 2023 is expected to open in September first week. The Registration Process for the IIFT exam 2023 will be online at the NTA IIFT official website iift.nta.nic.in. Indian Institute of Foreign Trade which already has two campuses at Delhi and Kolkata, has launched its third campus at Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh) from the academic session 2022-23. The new campus presently offers 5 year IPM program.
Indian Institute of Foreign Trade Admission Test-2023 popularly known as IIFT Exam 2023, is the MBA Entrance Exam for Admission to its flagship MBA (IB) programme which will have a total intake of more than 570 seats in 2023 in its three campuses namely Delhi, Kolkata and Kakinada. MBA (IB) is presently offered at IIFT Delhi and Kolkata campuses with a total approved 500+ seats.
Every year around 60,000 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
- IIFT 2023 Exam Highlights
- IIFT 2023 Important Dates
- IIFT 2023 Exam Details: What is the IIFT MBA Admission Test?
- IIFT Exam Pattern, Sections, Question paper-Key changes
- IIFT 2023 MBA (IB) Admission Process
- How to Prepare for the IIFT Entrance Exam?
- IIFT Exam Syllabus
- MBA (IB) Admission Test Eligibility
- IIFT Application Form: Error Correction Process
- IIFT Exam Centre Change
- IIFT Exam Fees
- Programme Intake
- Free Practice Sessions for Computer Based Exam
- The IIFT Notification Dates
- IIFT 2023 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- IIFT 2023 Exam: Highlights
The IIFT 2023 admission test is one of the most important MBA entrance exams conducted at National Level. The entrance exam for admission to MBA IB 2023-25 batch at Indian Institute of Foreign Trade has following key highlights:
| Exam Conducting Body | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Number of MBA colleges/campuses under the exam | Delhi, Kolkata and Kakinada |
| Mode of Exam | Computer Based Test |
| Application Process | Online |
| Exam Application Fee | Rs.2500 |
| IIFT Full Form | Indian Institute of Foreign Trade Entrance Exam |
| Cut off Percentile for Shortlisting | 95 Percentile |
| Raw Score cut off out of 300 | 115 to 120 marks (Based on last year cut off) |
| Total Questions in the Exam | 110 (based on Last Year number) |
| Sectional Division of Exam | 4 Sections with different number of Questions in Each Section |
| Test Duration | 2 Hours (10 AM to 12 Noon) |
| IIFT Exam Details: Test sections | 4 Sections as under: Quantitative Analysis; Reading Comprehension and Verbal Ability; Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning; General Awareness |
| Exam Difficulty Level | Moderate to Difficult |
| Maximum Marks | 300 |
| Scoring Pattern | Varying Scoring pattern of 1.5 Mark to 3 Marks for each correct answer |
| Negative Marking | 1/3 of the Marks allotted for correct answer |
| Importance of Sectional Score | Candidates to qualify in each section and achieve the minimum cut offs |
IIFT 2023 Entrance for MBA admission will be the fourth computer based test conducted by National Testing Agency and not by IIFT itself. The difficulty level for the exam is high and is like CAT and XAT exams. GK section plays an important role in scoring high percentile. Experts at MBAUniverse.com, TIME, CL, IMS expect a cut off between 110-115 marks out of 300, that may fetch 93 to 96 percentile.
2. IIFT 2023 Important Dates
All the IIFT exam details are made available with the release of IIFT notification 2023. The expected IIFT 2023 Important Dates for all the exam related activities are as under:
2.1 IIFT Exam Date 2023 (All dates are tentative)
| IIFT Exam Details 2023 | IIFT 2023 Dates |
| IIFT 2023 Notification Release Date | September 2022, 2nd half |
| Application Start Date | September 2022, 2nd half |
| Last date to Apply | 1st Week of November 2022 (Till 5 PM) |
| Last date to pay IIFT Entrance exam Fee | 1st Week of November 2022 (Till 11.50 PM) |
| IIFT Application Fee | Rs.2500/- for General/OBC category Rs.1000/- for SC/ST/PwD/Transgender |
| Application error correction Window | After Close of Application Process |
| Admit Card Download Starts | 3rd Week of November 2022 |
| IIFT Entrance Exam date | Sunday, December 11, 2022 |
| IIFT 2023 Exam Result Date | Expected on or before December 27, 2022 |
| IIFT Shortlist release | Expected in January 2023 |
| IIFT Extempore-GD-PI-WAT Round Dates | February/March 2023 |
| Final Admission Offer | Last week of April/1st week of May 2023 |
2.2 Application dates and Selection Process for Foreign Nationals & NRIs
Foreign nationals and NRIs need to submit IIFT admission 2023 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, 2023
- Entrance Exam Score Accepted for Shortlisting: GMAT
- Selection Process: Personal Interview at IIFT Campus
- IIFT 2023 Exam Details: What is the IIFT MBA Admission Test?
The IIFT full form is Indian Institute of Foreign Trade Admission Test. IIFT 2023 is the mandatory MBA entrance test for admission to MBA IB in all the three campuses of IIFT. IIFT MBA (IB) 2023 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 4th 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 three campuses located at Delhi, Kolkata and Kakinada (AP). The IIFT exam 2023 will lead to MBA admission 2023.
- IIFT 2023 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) 2023-25 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 2023 is expected in September 2022 second or third week. Earlier IIFT notification used to be released in July. After declaration of entrance exam result, the institute will immediately release the shortlist in January 2023 and will complete the final selection process by March/April 2023. The final admission offer is expected to be made in April/May 2023.
4.5 Registration & Application: Starts from September 2022 3rd week
The Registration and application process for IIFT admission 2023 will start from September 2022 3rd week. The Registration process is online and has to be completed at NTA official website. Last date to apply is November 2022 first week.
4.6 IIFT Result Date: Expect on December 27, 2022
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 2023.
4.7 IIFT Kakinada (AP) Campus: Commences Operation
According to the Director, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), Dr Manoj Pant, the Kakinada campus of IIFT in Andhra Pradesh is commencing operations from 2022 with an intake of 40 students. The campus was supposed to take off in 2021 but the date of its launch was delayed to 2022.
- 8. Changes in 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 Dar-es-Salaam campus started
Indian Institute of Foreign Trade has r
e-opened its Dar-es-Salaam campus in Tanzania from the academic session 2021-22. The Agreement with IMF Tanzania has now been renewed and therefore it has offered admission opportunity to the Dar-es-Salaam campus
4.10 IIFT 2022 or 2023: Clear the Confusion
The IIFT 2023 is the exam for MBA admission 2023-25 batch and is scheduled on December 11, 2022. Similarly, the IIFT 2022 exam for admission to MBA (IB) 2022-24 batch was conducted on December 5, 2021.
- 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 2023 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.
| Section | Total questions | Mark awarded for each correct answer | Max marks out of 300 |
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension | 35 | 3 | 105 |
| Quantitative Analysis | 25 | 3 | 75 |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning | 30 | 3 | 90 |
| General Awareness (GK) | 20 | 1.5 | 30 |
| Total | 110 | — | 300 |
6. IIFT 2023 MBA (IB) Admission Process
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
7. How to Prepare for the IIFT Entrance Exam?
The 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
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 the admission test will have questions split in more 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.
9. MBA (IB) Admission Test Eligibility
The candidates with following qualifications are eligible to apply for the IIFT 2023 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, 2023
- 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.
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 will open the Application Details Edit facility for the submitted application in October 2022 after the last date to apply is 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 2023 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
| IIFT Campus | No. of Selected Candidates |
| IIFT Delhi Campus | 367 |
| IIFT Kolkata Campus | 358 |
| Total | 725 |
The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade 2023 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 NTA.
More than 60,000 candidates are expected to register and apply for the MBA entrance exam 2023 as happens every year. With the growing popularity, unique learning process and high placement prospects of MBA (IB) programme, it is expected that the Admission Test will have more than 60,000 registrations.
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
After launching its one more campus at Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade will offer MBA (International Business) at its 3 campuses in India namely New Delhi, Kolkata and Kakinada campuses. 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.
- The IIFT Notification Dates
Following has been the trend of notification release:
| Exam year | Notification date |
| 2022-23 | Expected in September 2022 second half |
| 2021-22 | August 16, 2021 |
| 2020-21 | Nov 6, 2020 |
| 2019-20 | August 21, 2019 |
| 2018-19 | August 6, 2018 |
| 2017-18 | July 25, 2017 |
| 2016-17 | July 15, 2016 |
| 2015-16 | July 15, 2015 |
| 2014-15 | July 15, 2014 |
While the registration and application process for largest MBA entrance exam CAT 2022 closes in September, other top MBA entrance exams leading to admission 2023 remain open till November/December 2022. XAT 2023 for admission to XLRI, XIMB, IMT and 150 other top B-schools is open till Nov 30, 2022
