Should You Take Drop For IPMAT 2025?

Overview: Considering whether you should take a drop for IPMAT? Imagine a year dedicated solely to enhancing your skills and securing that dream IPM seat. We'll guide you through the pros and cons to help determine if this focused approach is the best path for you.

If you are considering whether you should drop out of the Integrated Programme in Management Aptitude Test (IPMAT), begin by examining what went wrong in your first attempt at IPMAT.

In this article, you will get to know all the advantages and disadvantages of dropping out of the IPMAT entrance examination.

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Possible Reasons of Failure in First Attempt

Irregular Study Habits:

• Juggling board exams with IPMAT prep.
• Underestimating the difficulty of the exam.

Lack of Awareness:

• Discovering the exam too late.
• Using inadequate study materials.
• Unfamiliarity with the exam format.

Going Solo:

• Feeling lost without guidance from a coaching institute.
• Struggling to develop a structured study plan on your own.

Competing Priorities:

• Dividing focus between IPMAT and other exams (JEE, boards).

Distractions and Procrastination:

• Wasting time on social media, streaming services, or excessive socialising.
• Realising post-exam that these activities hampered performance.

External Challenges:

• Dealing with family issues during preparation.
• Facing health problems, especially during the pandemic.

After listing your factors, you think you can and are willing to correct these issues in your second attempt; you can consider taking a drop.

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Partial Drop and Full Drop

Partial Drop

What is a Partial Drop?

• A partial drop involves enrolling in an alternate program after your first attempt at IPMAT.
• While attending classes, you dedicate time to prepare for a second attempt at IPMAT.

Benefits of a Partial Drop

• Safety Net: Provides a back-up plan in case you don't secure admission to your desired IPM program.
• Continued Education: Ensures you don't lose a year by progressing in another academic program.

Considerations for a Partial Drop

• Workload Management: Balancing studies for your current program and IPMAT preparation requires strong time management skills.
• Focus and Motivation: Maintaining focus on both programs simultaneously can be challenging.

Ultimately, a partial drop can be a viable option for students who are determined to secure admission to their dream IPM program but want a safety net.

Full Drop

What is a Full Drop?

• A full drop involves dedicating an entire year solely to preparing for your second attempt at IPMAT.
• You don't enrol in any other academic program during this dedicated preparation period.

Benefits of a Full Drop

• Focused Preparation: Allows for complete focus on IPMAT studies without distractions from other academic commitments.
• Strategic Planning: Provides an opportunity to create a comprehensive study plan and maximise study time.
• Enhanced Performance: Enables potential for significant improvement in your test scores due to dedicated preparation.

Considerations for a Full Drop

• Gap Year Impact: Taking a year off can raise questions during college applications. Be prepared to address this gap effectively.
• Financial Implications: Requires careful financial planning as you won't have income from student jobs or scholarships during this time.

A full drop can be a strategic choice for highly motivated students who want to maximise their chances of acing the IPMAT.

However, it's crucial to weigh the potential drawbacks and ensure you have a solid plan for your dedicated study year.

Partial Drop Vs Full Drop – What Is Better For IPMAT?

Between the Partial drop and full drop, the partial drop is better. Below mentioned reasons will help you to understand why the partial drop is better than the full drop.

Feature	Partial Drop	Full Drop
Security	Backup option if you don't get into an IIM	No backup option
Time	Saves a year	Loses a year compared to classmates
Mental Stress	Less pressure as you have a backup plan	More pressure as your entire focus is on IPMAT
Uncertainty about IPM	Good option if unsure about IPM program	Not ideal if unsure
Financial Consideration	Choose an affordable backup institute	No need to worry about institute fees
Risk	Lower risk	Higher risk

Taking a full drop is fine if your situation doesn't permit a partial drop. It all depends on your capabilities and risk appetite.

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How Common Is It to Drop For IPMAT?

A good percentage of the batch of the IPM program comprises droppers, both partial droppers and full droppers. They may not be in bulk but certainly in serious percentages.

The students who are applying and dropping out for the IIMs should remember one thing: they shouldn’t drop out multiple times, as the IIMs have certain age criteria to be fulfilled to be eligible to apply for the IPM program.

This particular criterion can be acquired at the individual websites.

Are Droppers at a Disadvantage?

The Answer: No Disadvantage

• Dropping a year for IPMAT preparation does not inherently put you at a disadvantage.

Why There's No Disadvantage

• Focused Preparation: Drop year students can dedicate their full attention to IPMAT studies, potentially leading to stronger test scores.
• Time Advantage: Compared to students juggling boards and IPMAT prep, drop year students have more focused study time.

Making the Most of Your Drop Year

• Build a Strong Portfolio: Engage in activities that showcase relevant skills and interests, making your application more competitive.
• Refine Communication Skills: Practice interview skills to effectively communicate your knowledge and experiences gained during your drop year.

By utilising your drop year effectively, you can overcome any perceived disadvantage and potentially gain an edge over other applicants. If you decide to drop out, the following points will help you make the most of it.

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How To Make the Most of Your Drop Year?

Certifications

• Pursue Relevant Certifications: Choose online certifications that enhance your skill set in your chosen field.
• Focus on Credibility: Ensure the certifications come from reputable sources to hold value.
• Genuine Learning: Prioritise genuine learning over solely accumulating certifications for your portfolio.

Internship Opportunities

• Target Strategic Internships: Seek internships that align with your existing and desired skill sets.
• Explore Online Platforms: Utilise online platforms to find work-from-home and remote internship opportunities.
• Focus on Value: Prioritise internships offering valuable learning experiences over generic roles like Campus Ambassador positions.

Volunteering

• Passionate Engagement: Only volunteer with registered NGOs if social work genuinely interests you.
• Diverse Opportunities: Explore volunteering options in areas like teaching, COVID relief, marketing, or content writing.

Competition Participation

• Strategic Selection: Utilise platforms like D2C (Dare 2 Compete) to find relevant competitions.
• Focus on Achievement: Prioritise competitions offering certificates of merit over mere participation certificates.
• Align with Skills: Participate in competitions that match your interests and skill sets to maximise your learning and profile development.

Make sure that you examine the opportunity cost before getting into any of the above. Examine whether the output/value provided by the above is a fortune or the time dedication, or you are better off using that time for your IPMAT preparation.

IPM Exam Preparation: Things To Keep In Mind As A Dropper

1. Handling Criticism 

After the failure of your first attempt at the IPMAT entrance examination, you might have to face criticism from people around you. To deal with this, you should be self-confident and positive and ensure that their negativity doesn’t get to you.

2. Pressure

The pressure is relatively more in the drop year as the stakes are higher. The pressure to crack the IPMAT entrance examination is high as one has completely devoted a year to preparing for the IPMAT entrance examination. Make sure that you are not being too ruthless with yourself.

3. Time Management

As you drop out for the IPMAT preparation, you will have more time compared to other students; make sure you are using your time in the best possible manner. Avoid distractions that do not add value to your preparation.

Solving IPMAT Mock Tests will help enhance your time management skills and problem-solving skills.

The students have to think for themselves because taking a drop for the preparation is a student's personal decision. The students should not think that dropping out is a disadvantage for them.

But make sure that you are confident about your decision. It’s all about what you make of your time, as this decision has the prospective to change your entire life direction and approach.

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Key Takeaways:

• Assessing First Attempt Failures: Identify and address the reasons for your first attempt's failure to improve your preparation strategy.
• Types of Drop: Partial vs. Full: A partial drop involves enrolling in another program while preparing for IPMAT, providing a safety net.
• Comparing Partial and Full Drop: A full drop dedicates a year solely to IPMAT preparation, offering focused study but higher risk.
• Advantages of Dropping a Year: Dropping a year can enhance test scores through focused preparation and relevant skill-building activities.
• Maximizing the Drop Year: Manage time effectively, handle criticism, and stay focused to make the most of your drop year.