How Rafiya Cracked IIM Bodh Gaya IPM 2026 with PW’s IPMAT Crash Course

Rafiya Saifi’s journey to IIM Bodh Gaya’s IPM 2026 is a story of changing direction, adapting quickly, and making the most of limited time. A Science student preparing primarily for NEET, Rafiya discovered IPM only around November–December and initially had little idea about its syllabus or exam pattern.

After researching the exam, she decided to give it a serious attempt without taking a gap year. She balanced her Class 12 studies with IPM preparation and later joined PW’s IPMAT crash course to strengthen her preparation after her board exams.

With focused preparation, PYQ practice, mock-test analysis, short notes and disciplined resource selection, Rafiya successfully secured admission to IIM Bodh Gaya’s IPM 2026.

From a Science Background to IIM Bodh Gaya: Rafiya’s Unexpected IPM Journey

Rafiya spent her school years at Jamia Millia Islamia and came from a Science background. She scored 95% in Class 10 and 91.8% in Class 12, with her subjects being PCM and Biology.

Her initial academic focus was NEET, and she had not planned for IPM from the beginning.

“My 10th percentage was 95%, and my 12th percentage was 91.8. So actually my subjects were PCMB, and I'm from a Science background.”

Rafiya first heard about IPM around November–December through her brother-in-law. After learning that the programme could lead to an IIM and offered an integrated management education, she became interested.

“But when I saw the syllabus, the curriculum and of course, where it leads to, at least to an IIM… I was fascinated by this course. So I started research and everything.”

That research eventually convinced her to give IPM a serious attempt alongside her other exams.

PW’s IPM Crash Course Helped Rafiya Build Focused Preparation

Rafiya was already using PW for her NEET preparation, but initially did not know that PW also offered IPM preparation. She discovered the IPM offering when the crash course appeared to her and eventually joined it.

“Mujhe pata hai main PW se NEET ki preparation kar rahi thi, but I did not know ki PW ye bhi karate hain… jab crash course mujhe show hua, then hi mujhe pata chala tha.”

The PW IPMAT crash course became particularly useful after her board examinations. With the boards completed, Rafiya was able to dedicate significantly more time to IPM preparation and focus on deeper concepts, question-solving approaches and exam-specific strategies.

She found that teacher guidance helped her identify shortcuts and approaches that were difficult to discover simply by reading a book.

“Ek hai ki aap khud se padh ke just points pe pahunch gaye ho. Wo aap nahi kar paoge utna achhe se, until a teacher teaches you, tells you some tricks and everything.”

This helped her transition from simply understanding the syllabus to preparing specifically for the entrance examination.

Her Strong DILR Foundation Came From Earlier Practice

Although Rafiya was preparing from a Science background, some areas of the IPM syllabus were familiar because of her previous exposure to mental ability and Olympiad preparation.

Her father had encouraged her to participate in Olympiads and work on mental ability during her earlier school years. That experience helped her with topics such as blood relations and cube-and-dice-based questions.

“DILR wagaira mere father bohot mujhe Olympiads karwate the, mental ability ke, like in my previous school.”

As a result, certain DILR topics did not feel completely unfamiliar to her when she started preparing for IPM.

“Blood relations, cube and dice thoda sa wo main khud se kar paa rahi thi”

Quantitative Ability was comparatively different. Although she had studied Mathematics in Class 11, some concepts such as percentages had not remained fresh.

VARC was another area where she had English proficiency but needed guidance on the specific techniques and approach required for entrance-exam RCs. Structured preparation and teacher guidance helped strengthen her approach in these areas.

Rafiya Used PYQs and Mock Tests as Her Main Exam-Analysis Tools

Mock tests became an important part of Rafiya’s preparation, particularly because she needed to understand time management and section-wise allocation.

She realised that knowing how to solve a question was not enough. She also needed to know whether she was spending too much time on it.

“Time ka pata nahi tha ki how much time am I giving ya phir kitna question ko dena chahiye, wo aapko mock se hi pata chalega.”

Instead of relying only on conventional mocks, she also used previous-year papers extensively. She solved PYQs from multiple years and treated them almost like mock examinations.

She used a timer while solving them and analysed how much time she was spending in each section.

Through this process, she realised that she needed to finish the LR-DI and VARC sections within a limited time so that she could leave more time for Quantitative Ability.

“By the end I realised that I have to wrap up both other sections like LRDI and VARC in 40–44 minutes, so that I have a better time for Quant, which I need.”

This analysis helped her convert PYQ practice into an actual exam strategy.

Rafiya’s Three Golden Tips for IPM Aspirants

Looking back at her preparation, Rafiya identified three strategies that she believes can make a significant difference for future IPM aspirants.

1. Identify Your Strongest and Weakest Sections

Her first advice is to understand where you stand before the examination.

Knowing which section takes the most time and which section you are most comfortable with allows you to plan your preparation and eventually your exam attempt more effectively.

“Firstly apna strongest aur weakest section pata lagaiye, because aapke upar hota hai that what you want to do first in exam.”

According to Rafiya, this analysis should ideally happen before the actual examination so that the student does not waste valuable exam time deciding which section to attempt first.

2. Use Your More Enjoyable Section as a Productive Break

Rafiya had a unique way of dealing with study fatigue. When she became tired of studying one subject, she would switch to another section instead of wasting her break time completely.

VARC, for example, felt comparatively entertaining to her.

“Instead of wasting my time… I used to switch to another subject, another section.”

Her advice is to identify the section you genuinely enjoy and use it during periods when your concentration is lower. This way, even your relaxation time can contribute to preparation.

3. Limit Your Resources and Complete Them Properly

Rafiya strongly believes that having too many resources can become counterproductive.

She had limited time, so she deliberately limited the number of books and resources she used and focused on completing them.

“It all happened because I had limited resources. Although I had less time, but yes, I limited my resources.”

Her approach was to complete one resource properly before moving to another rather than collecting multiple books and leaving each one partially completed.

This helped her cover the syllabus without becoming overwhelmed.

From NEET Preparation to IIM Bodh Gaya

Rafiya’s journey shows how a student can make a significant academic shift even when the decision comes relatively late in the preparation cycle. From discovering IPM only a few months before the exam to balancing it with her board preparation, she focused on making every stage of her preparation count.

Her experience also highlights the importance of knowing your strengths, understanding your weaknesses, and building a strategy around them rather than trying to follow a one-size-fits-all preparation plan.

With focused preparation, consistent PYQ and mock-test practice, and the support of the PW IPMAT crash course, Rafiya turned a late introduction to IPM into a successful conversion.

For students who are still figuring out their path, her story is a reminder: you don’t need to start early to achieve your goal; you need to start with the right mindset and make every day count.