Is IPMAT tougher than JEE is a common concern of candidates aiming for engineering and management programs. Get detailed information concerning “Is IPMAT tougher than JEE”.
Sheetal Gaur11 Sept, 2025
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Is IPMAT Tougher than JEE? Most students who have completed class 12 and those who are studying in class 12 aim to attempt the JEE and IPMAT exams to secure admission in either IITs or IIMs. When preparing for these exams, candidates often search “is IPMAT tougher than JEE”. To effectively compare the IPMAT and JEE exams, it is essential to understand the unique challenges each exam presents.
Subject Wise Comparison of IPMAT vs. JEE Exam
While both are competitive and demanding, they cater to different fields of study—management, and engineering—and test distinct skill sets. JEE primarily focuses on assessing candidates’ knowledge across subjects like Maths, Physics, and Chemistry; IPMAT evaluates candidates' quantitative aptitude, verbal ability, reasoning skills, and time management ability. IMAT and JEE comprise different subjects. Provided below is the subject-wise comparison of JEE and IPMAT:
Subject-Wise Comparison of IPMAT vs JEE
Aspect
IPMAT
JEE
Subjects Tested
Quantitative Ability, Verbal Ability
Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics
Mathematics
High school-level math with challenging concept applications
Advanced math topics including calculus, trigonometry, and algebra
Exam Format
Objective (MCQs and short answers)
Primarily objective (MCQs)
Additional Focus
English language proficiency
Physics and Chemistry concepts
Time Management
Balancing math and English sections
Solving lengthy numerical problems
What Makes IPMAT Challenging?
In the IPMAT exam, candidates need to complete 100 questions within 120 minutes. The questions are presented as both MCQs and Short answer types. The following factors make the IPMAt exam challenging for candidates:
Quantitative Ability Beyond Basics: IPMAT’s Quantitative Ability section goes beyond the Class 12 syllabus, testing advanced concepts like probability, logarithms, and matrices. The questions are often presented in tricky formats that require analytical thinking.
English Language Proficiency: The Verbal Ability section evaluates candidates’ reading comprehension, vocabulary, and critical reasoning. Candidates must gain a thorough command of grammar rules, inferential skills, and advanced reading techniques to excel.
Time Management and Negative Marking: With limited time and negative marking for incorrect answers, candidates must balance speed and accuracy. For this, it is essential to strategically select questions for which candidates are confident and avoid spending too much time on tricky questions.
Balancing Skills Across Sections: IPMAT demands proficiency in both Math and English. Students from science backgrounds often find the Verbal Ability section challenging, while humanities students struggle with advanced math concepts. Thus, IPMAT can be challenging for students from different streams.
What Makes JEE Challenging?
JEE is one of the most challenging entrance exams in India. Here are the key factors that make JEE challenging:
Extensive Syllabus: JEE covers an expansive syllabus across Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. Each subject requires an in-depth understanding and application of theoretical and numerical concepts.
Complexity of Questions: The questions in JEE are highly technical and often involve multi-step problem-solving. This is particularly relevant for mathematics and physics subjects.
Time Constraints: The JEE exam requires solving a large number of complex problems within a limited time, making time management critical.
Negative Marking: In JEE, candidates need to balance speed and accuracy, as each incorrect answer results in a negative marking.
Competitive Intensity: Every year, lakhs of JEE aspirants compete for a limited number of seats in top engineering colleges. Thus, the competition for JEE is unparalleled, requiring extensive preparation and practice.
Who Finds IPMAT Tough?
The following candidates find IPMAT challenging:
Humanities or Commerce Students: Most students belonging to the Humanities stream don’t study Maths in class 12. Without a strong background in advanced math, these students struggle with concepts like matrices, trigonometry, and logarithms.
Students Weak in Time Management: IPMAT’s diverse sections require quick transitions between math and English, which can be challenging without proper time management. Therefore, it is essential to have a strong command of time management skills.
Students with Math Anxiety: Students with the psychological stress of solving advanced math under time constraints also find IPMAT challenging.
Who Finds JEE Tough?
Most JEE aspirants find this exam tough. However, the following student's friend JEE extremely challenging:
Students Without Strong Analytical Skills: JEE’s questions often require the application of multiple concepts simultaneously. Thus, these questions demand strong analytical reasoning. Those with weak analytical skills may find JEE difficult.
Aspirants Weak in Physics or Chemistry: Proficiency in all three subjects of JEE is essential, and lagging in any one can significantly impact candidates’ scores.
Students with Weak Speed and Accuracy: To ace the JEE exam, candidates need strong problem-solving and time-management skills. Students who struggle in managing lengthy calculations and theoretical derivations within the given time can find JEE challenging.
Can Both Exams Be Prepared for Simultaneously?
The contrasting demands of the JEE and IPMAt exams make it extremely challenging to prepare for both exams simultaneously. However, with a strategic study plan, candidates can effectively prepare for both exams. Here are some tips to simultaneously prepare for JEE and IPMAT:
Identify Common Ground: Focus on overlapping topics in mathematics to save time and streamline preparation.
Allocate Dedicated Time Slots: Candidates should divide their daily schedule to allocate specific hours for JEE subjects (Physics, Chemistry, and advanced math) and IPMAT preparation (Quantitative and Verbal Ability).
Strengthen Verbal Ability: Candidates must build English proficiency by reading newspapers, practising comprehension passages, and enhancing vocabulary. These skills are crucial for IPMAT and can be developed alongside JEE preparation.
Practice Mock Tests for Both Exams: To understand the paper pattern of JEE and IPMAT, candidates should regularly attempt mock tests and analyse their performance for targeted improvement.
Is IPMAT Tougher Than JEE FAQs
Is IPM better than IIT?
The suitability of IPM and IIT depends on the candidates’ career goals. While IPM is recommended for candidates who want to excel in the management sector, IIT is primarily for the technical stream.
Is the IPMAT exam very tough?
IPMAT is a moderately challenging exam.
Can JEE students crack IPMAT?
With effective preparation and a strategic approach during the exam, JEE students can crack the IPMAT with a good score.
Who earns more IIT or IIM?
Candidates who graduate from IITs may earn a similar package as IIM graduates.
Which is more tough, JEE or IPMAT?
The QA section of IPMAT presents challenging questions. However, JEE has extensive and technical questions which are more challenging.
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