The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) ranks among the premier management institutes in the country, specializing in an MBA in International Business (IB), which prepares students for leadership roles in a global environment. The IIFT entrance exam acts as a major way into building careers or paths in international trade, logistics, finance, and global business strategy.
This blog covers all details related to the IIFT Registration 2025. Important exam dates, criteria for eligibility, syllabus, and some tips on preparation will be dealt with to guide you toward success. Whether a novice or trying to broaden the disposition on the process, this article will help you take that step toward admission for this elite program.
What is the IIFT Exam?
The IIFT Exam is a competitive MBA entrance exam for admission into the IIFT MBA (IB) programme at Kolkata, Kakinada, and Delhi. The candidates who take the exams have a unique blend of skills. They have strong analytical abilities, logical reasoning, and excel in language comprehension. They also show a high level of general awareness. This combination makes it one of the toughest management entrance exams in India.
Whereas CAT, XAT, or NMAT are gaining popularity, the IIFT exam is uniquely evident in the International Business slant that focuses on prospective students interested in international markets and international trade scenarios.
IIFT 2025 Exam Dates & Schedule (Tentative)
The IIFT 2025 registration Dates are yet to be released, however, as per the previous year's exam dates. Here is the list of last year's IIFT Exam Registration Dates for your reference:
|
Event |
Tentative Date |
|
IIFT 2025 Registration Begins |
September 1, 2024 |
|
Last Date for Application |
November 15, 2024 |
|
Application Correction Window |
Mid-November 2024 |
|
IIFT Admit Card Release |
Early December 2024 |
|
IIFT 2025 Exam Date |
December 15, 2024 (Expected) |
|
IIFT Result Declaration |
January 2025 |
|
GD-PI-WAT Process |
February–March 2025 |
|
Final Selection List |
April–May 2025 |
Tip: If you have any queries, then it is advisable to always check the official website regularly for the latest updates – www.iift.edu
IIFT Exam Highlights 2025
If you are looking for the IIFT Exam Highlights and want to know better about the entrance exam, then here's a quick overview of what you can expect from the IIFT 2025 entrance exam:
|
IIFT Exam Features |
IIFT Exam Details |
|
Exam Name |
IIFT Exam |
|
Conducting Body |
National Testing Agency (NTA) |
|
Exam Level |
National |
|
Exam Frequency |
Once a year |
|
Exam Mode |
Online |
|
Exam Duration |
2 hours (10:00 AM to 12:00 PM) |
|
Exam Syllabus |
|
|
Exam Pattern |
110 questions in MCQ format |
|
Language |
English |
|
Exam Fees |
INR 3,000 (General category)INR 2,500 (Reserved category) |
|
Exam Purpose |
Admission into IIFT Delhi, IIFT Kolkata, and IIFT Kakinada |
|
Course Offered |
MBA - International Business |
|
No. of Test Cities |
63 |
|
Number of Applicants |
30,622 (as per 2023 data) |
|
Number of Seats |
400 (approx.) |
|
Exam Helpdesk No. |
0120-6895200 |
|
Exam Website |
https://iift.nta.nic.in |
|
Contact Details |
|
IIFT Eligibility Criteria 2025
If you want to enroll for the IIIFT Exam registration, then you are required to meet their basic eligibility criteria. And to know about the eligibility criteria, you need to see the below mentioned list below:
- Students must have a recognized Bachelor’s degree of a minimum of 3 years’ duration in any discipline.
- Students must have a minimum of 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD candidates) in graduation.
- The final-year students are eligible to apply, provided they submit proof of graduation by the required date.
- No age limit.
- Foreign Nationals/NRIs can apply under a separate process using valid GMAT scores (taken between January 1, 2024, and Dec 31, 2024).
Note: Eligibility criteria can vary slightly based on notifications. Always verify from the official prospectus.
IIFT Application Process 2025
To apply for the registration form then students are required to follow the sequence of steps so that they don’t miss any steps and complete their registration properly. Here is the list of the step-by-step guide for better understanding:
- Visit the official website: www.iift.edu
- Click on ‘IIFT MBA (IB) Admission 2025
- Register with basic details – name, date of birth, email ID, phone number
- Fill in your academic, personal, and communication details
- Upload a passport-size photo and signature (as per specifications)
- Pay the application fee using Net Banking/Credit/Debit Card
- Submit and download the confirmation page for future reference
Application Fees (Expected):
Here is the list of the application fees of various categories for the IIFT Exams for better understanding:
|
Category |
Fee (INR) |
|
General/OBC/EWS |
₹2,500 |
|
SC/ST/PwD/Transgender |
₹1,250 |
|
Foreign Nationals/NRIs |
US $200 |
Note: No application is complete until the payment is made and acknowledgment received.
IIFT Exam Syllabus 2025: Section-Wise Breakdown
The IIFT Exam Syllabus 2025 is a detailed set of topics and ideas that the applicants would be required to cover during the entrance examination. Understanding the division of such sections is a crucial part of the examination preparation process as it enables the candidates to schedule and prioritize their time effectively. All these sections are subdivided into significant areas such as Quantitative Aptitude, Logical Reasoning, Verbal Ability, and GK. For this reason, the candidates should know a couple of things regarding the syllabus since it will tell them how to plan the strategy for preparing and ultimately move closer towards the road of success. The Table below provides the Section-wise List of work for the IIFT Exam 2025:
|
IIFT Sections |
IIFT Syllabus (Topics Covered) |
|
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning |
Line Graph, Bar Graph, Tables, Pie Chart, Circular & Linear Arrangements, Tournaments, Scheduling, Coding, Puzzles |
|
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension |
Reading Passages, Synonyms, Sentence Correction, One Word Substitution, Para Jumbles, Grammar-Based Questions |
|
Quantitative Analysis |
Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Mensuration, and Modern Mathematics topics |
|
General Awareness |
Current Affairs and Static General Knowledge |
IIFT Exam Pattern 2025
The IIFT Exam Pattern 2025 assesses the aptitude and knowledge of candidates in various sections considered essential in management studies, so it is an important one. It shows the structure of the exam and tells how many questions there are, the marking scheme, and the time allotted to complete a particular section. Gone is the time when aspirants didn't have even the sketch of the exam pattern, for it aids in the preparation, and gives directions for time management and question attempt strategy.
Understanding the subtle characteristics of an exam will transcend one's preparation, and they might just wish to have that plus point. Unlike CAT, the IIFT, however, is without sectional time limits but has differential marking schemes for each section. The Table for Exam Pattern of IIFT Exam 2025 is:
|
IIFT Section |
Number of Questions |
Marks Allotted per Question |
|
VARC |
35 |
3 |
|
GK |
20 |
1.5 |
|
LRDI |
30 |
3 |
|
QA |
25 |
3 |
Can I Register for the IIFT Exam and Join the Same Academic Year?
The registration and joining for the IIFT Exam typically happen within the same academic year. For the IIFT Exam 2025, you would generally register in the latter part of 2024, with the exam conducted in December. If you qualify, the admission process for MBA programs usually takes place in early 2025, aligning with the academic year. Always check the official IIFT website for the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding registration dates and procedures. Here is the last year IIFT Exam registration to joining classes dates for your better understanding:
|
Events |
Dates 2025 |
|
Availability of registration form |
17th October 2024 |
|
Last date to register |
5th December 2024 |
|
Last Date of Payment for Registered Candidates only |
5th December 2024 |
|
CAT exam date |
24th November 2024 |
|
Release of merit list/ List of shortlisted candidates for 2nd round admission |
8th February 2025 |
|
Group Discussion/Extempore, Writing Skills Assessment, and Interview |
3rd March 2025 onwards |
|
Classes commencement |
June 2025 |
IIFT Exam Preparation 2025
Students who are preparing for the IIFT entrance Exams to ease their preparation the some preparation tips that help them in strategically planning their schedules:
- Build a customized study timetable
- Start with NCERTs for basics, then move to MBA prep books like Arun Sharma, Word Power Made Easy, etc.
- Attempt weekly mock tests (especially full-length IIFT mocks with sectional analysis)
- Practice from previous years’ IIFT papers
- Read The Hindu, Business Line, or Economic Times daily for current affairs and RC vocabulary.
IIFT Result 2025
The IIFT Result is a step in the admission procedure of illustrious MBA programs. Usually, the result is announced a few weeks after the exam, and candidates will be able to check their score on the official IIFT website. The result will carry not just the marks secured by the candidate but also the overall rank, which becomes extremely significant in the final selection. Candidates should thoroughly go through the results and should be very much aware of what to do next: personal interview (PI), group discussion (GD), and selection to finally allocate them to their desired program.
- IIFT results will be announced on https://iift.nta.nic.in or the IIFT website.
- Scorecards can be accessed using the Application Number and Date of Birth.
- Results will display sectional and overall scores, along with percentiles.
Tip: Download the result immediately and keep multiple copies for GD/PI rounds.
IIFT Exam Admission Process 2025
The IIFT Exam Admission Process 2025 begins the registration process for candidates appearing for the IIFT entrance examination to assess their verbal and analytical skills. After the results are announced, the shortlisted candidates will proceed to personal interviews and group discussions. They will be assessed on their communication skills and overall personality, and the chosen candidate will be issued an offer letter to join the MBA program. So, it is necessary for the applicant to keep all timelines and requirements up-to-date since the process has already commenced. After the IIFT Exam is cleared, the shortlisted students must wait for the selection Rounds:
Selection Rounds:
- Group Discussion (GD): Business topics, policy analysis
- Written Ability Test (WAT): Essay writing on abstract or business topics
- Personal Interview (PI): Profile-based evaluation
Here are a few Factors to be considered:
- IIFT Score
- Academic Profile
- Work Experience
- Extra-curricular Achievements
IIFT Cut Offs for MBA Admission 2025
The IIFT Cut Offs for MBA Admission 2025 are going to be competitive due to the tough selection process. Candidates are required to score higher than the cut-off marks to increase their chances of acceptance. The cut-offs are released after the entrance exam and are subject to change based on categories and overall performance. Below are the indicative cut-offs for MBA Admission 2025:
|
Category |
MBA-IB Cut Off |
MBA-BA Cut Off |
|
General |
57.5 |
62 |
|
General/EWS/OBC-NCL |
52.5 |
57 |
|
SC/ST/PwD |
47.5 |
52 |
|
PwD/Kashmiri Migrants/Non-Migrants |
56.4 |
56.4 |
Has the IIFT Exam Been Discontinued?
Yes, the IIFT examination will be discontinued from 2024. The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) has eliminated its entrance exam and instead takes admission of the students based on their CAT or GMAT scores. Read below for a quick overview of their renewed admission process:
Admission Criteria:
- CAT or GMAT scores
- Writing Skills Assessment (WAT)
- Extempore
- Group Discussion (GD)
- Personal Interview (PI)
Important Dates for IIFT 2026:
- Online registration starts: 3rd week of October 2025
- Deadline for online registration: 1st week of December 2025
- CAT exam date: 4th week of November 2025
- Merit list/shortlisted candidates list release: 2nd week of February 2026
- GD/Extempore, WAT, and PI rounds: 1st week of March 2026
It's recommended to check the IIFT website (iift.ac.in) for the latest updates and detailed information on the admission process.
IIFT 2024 Contact Information
NTA Office Address
- Location: Block C-20/1A/8, Sector 62, Gautam Budh Nagar, Noida – 201309 (Uttar Pradesh)
- Helpdesk Contact: 0120- 6895200 (Available from 09:30 AM to 06:00 PM on working days)
Payment Assistance Details
Here are the contact details for the payment assistance.
For ICICI Bank Payments:
|
Name |
Email ID |
Contact Number |
|
Aiysha Khatun |
support.nta@ingenico.com |
0120-4728426 |
|
Karan Sinha |
karan.sinha@icicibank.com |
8826107923 |
|
Jai Sethi |
jai.sethi@icicibank.com |
9013799596 |
For Paytm Payments:
|
Contact Person |
Email ID |
Contact Number |
|
Education Support |
education.support@paytm.com |
0120-4789521 |
|
Manasvi Haseeja |
education.support@paytm.com |
0120-4789522 |
|
Ambreen Fatma |
education.support@paytm.com |
— |
- IIFT New Delhi Campus Address: IIFT Bhawan B-21, Qutab Institutional Area,New Delhi – 110016
- Official Website: https://iift.nta.nic.in
- Admission Queries: admissions@iift.ac.in011-26857908 (Direct), 011-26965051 / 26965124 (Ext. 806)
What if I skip the IIFT and CAT Exams?
If you want to skip the IIFT and CAT exams or have already skipped the entrance Exams and still want to do an MBA degree. There are still good pathways to study an MBA. An option could be an Online MBA course, and there are many good institutions that offer Online MBA courses that have no entrance exams like the CAT or the IIFT. Many recognised institutions will offer flexible online MBA courses in which you can gain skills and knowledge, without going through the stress of an entrance exam. This is an excellent option if you want a flexible and easy way to continue your education without the hassles of taking a formal exam.
Here is a listing of the online universities that offer online MBA courses:
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Top Online MBA Universities |
Online MBA (Specialization) |
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