IIFT Exam Details: The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) was established in 1963 by the Government of India as an autonomous organization. It aims to professionalize the country’s foreign trade management and increase exports by developing human resources, analyzing and disseminating data, and conducting research. IIFT is Grade A licensed by NAAC.
There are 3 campuses of IIFT:
- IIFT New Delhi Campus
- IIFT Kolkata Campus
- IIFT Kakinada Campus
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IIFT Exam Details: Introduction
It is the mandatory MBA Entrance Exam for admission in all the three campuses of IIFT i.e. Delhi, Kolkata, and Kakinada. This exam is conducted by The National Testing Agency (NTA) on behalf of IIFT.
| IIFT Full Form | Indian Institute of Foreign Trade |
| Exam conducting body | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Course Offered | MBA (International Business) |
| Mode of Application | Online |
| Mode of Exam | Computer Based Test (CBT) |
| Exam Application Fee | Rs. 2000 (general category) , Non- Refundable Paid via credit card/debit card. |
| Exam Frequency | Once a year |
| Exam Level | National |
| Exam Centers | Ahmedabad, Allahabad, Bangalore, Delhi, Lucknow, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Coimbatore, Dehradun, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Jamshedpur, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Nagpur, and Visakhapatnam. |
IIFT Exam Eligibility
| Criteria | Details |
|---|---|
| Educational Qualification | Bachelor’s degree of minimum 3 years duration in any discipline from a recognized university |
| Minimum Marks | No minimum percentage officially required, but a good academic record strengthens your profile |
| Final Year Students | Eligible to apply (must submit proof of qualification by a specified deadline, usually by October of the admission year) |
| Age Limit | No age limit to appear for the exam |
| Nationality | Indian Nationals (for General Admission); Foreign Nationals/NRI/PIO/OCI can apply through GMAT |
| Entrance Mode | Indian candidates must appear for the IIFT entrance exam (or as per the latest notification—since 2023, IIFT joined CAT for admissions; always confirm current mode on the official site) |
For NRI Candidates:
- A candidate should be the resident outside India for not less than 18 months.
- Applicants who are working, studying, living abroad should produce a certificate from the Indian Embassy/High Commission/Consulate of the country where he/she is currently living which should clearly state that the applicant has been a resident of that particular country for more than 18 months.
- The applicant should have a valid passport and valid documents from any country other than India.
- They should also have a valid GMAT score.
IIFT Exam Important Dates
The tentative schedule of IIFT 2021 Entrance Exam is given below:
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Application Window | October 17 – November 22, 2024 |
| CAT 2024 Exam | November 24, 2024 |
| Shortlist Published | Last week of January 2025 |
| GD‑PI & WAT | February to March 2025 |
| Program Start | June – July 2025 |
Important Notes:
- No separate IIFT entrance exam for 2025 admissions: shortlisting is entirely based on the CAT 2024 score.
- Application fees: ₹3,000 for General/EWS/OBC‑NCL; ₹1,500 for SC/ST/PwD; US $200 (~₹15,000) for foreign nationals IMS India+2MBAUniverse+2.
- IIFT IPM and integrated programme dates differ; above schedule applies only to the postgraduate MBA programmes, not the Five‑Year IPM
IIFT Exam Pattern
| No. of questions | 110 questions |
| Format | MCQ type |
| Duration | 2 hours |
| Medium | English |
| No. of sections | 4 (with sectional score) Candidates need to qualify in each section and achieve the minimum cut-offs. |
| Marking scheme | 1.5 to 3 marks given per question for the right answer. 1/3 marks deducted for each wrong answer |
| Exam Syllabus | Verbal ability & Reading comprehensionGeneral Knowledge Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation Quantitative Analysis |
| Difficulty Level | Moderate to High |
| Documents required at the time of exam | IIFT admit cardPhoto identity proof Passport size photograph |
IIFT Exam Registration Process
- Go to the NTA website. Register as a new user and Fill in personal details.
- Login again with your registered ID and Password. Complete your application form and upload the required documents such as a scanned copy of signature (not more than 20 KB), recent passport size photograph (not more than 50 KB), caste/PwD certificate (if any). These documents should be in the “.jpg” or “.jpeg” format.
- Make the payment online.
| Step | Description | Link / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | Register for CAT 2024 | https://iimcat.ac.in |
| Fill personal & academic details | Required for IIFT application | |
| Upload photo & signature | JPG/JPEG format | |
| Pay CAT fee | ₹2,400 (Gen), ₹1,200 (SC/ST/PwD) | |
| Step 2 | Apply to IIFT separately | https://iift.ac.in |
| Use CAT registration number | Mandatory | |
| Fill in personal, academic, category & work details | Select campus preferences (Delhi/Kolkata) | |
| Upload documents | Photo, signature, certificates | |
| Pay IIFT application fee | ₹3,000 (Gen/OBC/EWS), ₹1,500 (SC/ST/PwD), $200 (NRI/Foreign) | |
| Documents Required | – Photo & Signature (scanned) – 10th, 12th, Graduation Marksheets – Category certificate (if any) – Passport (for foreign/NRI) | Keep soft copies ready before applying |
| Deadline | Last date to apply: November 22, 2024 | Both CAT & IIFT portals |
- After payment and submission of the application form, it is advised to take a printout of application for further reference.
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IIFT Exam Selection Process
Candidates who clear the exam cut off are further called for Essay Writing, Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI) rounds.
- For essay writing, candidates are given a topic related to general or Business affairs. The average time allotted to write an essay of 300 words is 20 minutes.
IIFT exam details regarding the topics which have been previously asked in the essay writing round are:
- Promoting tourism in India
- Concept of smart city
- Sustainable development in India
- Making the Indian banking system more Inclusive
- Developing an entrepreneurial ecosystem in India
- In Group Discussion round the candidates are divided into groups and given a topic. They are evaluated based on efficient communication, the ability to take initiative, and presentation of ideas.
IIFT exam details regarding the possible GD topics are:
- Banking scams
- Alcohol and youth
- Bitcoin and The Virtual Currency
- Impact of technology on Jobs
- Is India ready for a cashless economy
- The final round is PI round in which the candidates are asked questions by the panellists. The questions are designed to know more about the candidate and can revolve around the candidate’s performance in the GD and Essay Writing, Statement of Purpose, hobbies, etc.
The candidates are judged based on their communication skills and how well they can handle the stress. A PI on an average goes on for around 25-30 minutes.
Some of the basic questions asked and should be prepared for well in advance are ‘Introduce yourself’, ‘Why MBA?’, and ‘Why IIFT?’
IIFT Exam Details: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What kinds of jobs are offered to IIFT graduates? Who are some of the top recruiters?
- Equity Analysis
- International Marketing
- Investment Banking
- Derivatives Training
- Sales and Marketing etc.
Some of the top recruiters are:
- Olam International
- Phoenix Commodities
- Indus Valley Partners
- Mahindra and Mahindra
- Axis Bank etc.
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- Is the syllabus for CAT and IIFT the same?
Yes, the IIFT syllabus is somehow similar to the CAT syllabus for logical reasoning, English, and Quantitative Aptitude. However, IIFT aspirants have to additionally study General Awareness topics as it is one of the four sections in the IIFT Exam syllabus.
- What is the salary offered after the MBA-IB program?
The average salary ranges from 18-20 lacs per annum.