IIFT Exam 2026: Exam Dates, Eligibility, Application Form, Exam Pattern, Admit Card, Syllabus, Result, Counselling

Latest Updates

• From the session 2026-27 onwards, IIFT will accept the CAT score for admission

Overview

The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) conducts its entrance exam for admission to MBA (International Business) and MBA (Business Analytics) a its campuses. Starting from the 2026-27 session, IIFT will accept the CAT entrance exam for admissions. Candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree of at least 3 years from a recognised institute to apply. General and OBC (NCL) students need a minimum of 50% marks, while SC/ST/PwD candidates require 45%. Final year students can also apply if they submit their graduation certificate before the deadline.

The registration process is fully online, and candidates need to pay an application fee of ₹2,500 for general/OBC (NCL), ₹1,250 for SC/ST/PwD/transgender candidates, and USD 200, approximately ₹16,500 for foreign nationals/NRIs. The selection process includes Group discussion, writing skills assessment, and personal interview rounds. Foreign and NRI candidates can also apply using valid GMAT scores.

IIFT Exam :Quick Highlights 

Here is the basic information about the IIFT exam. 

What is the IIFT Exam?

The IIFT exam is a national-level aptitude test conducted for admission to MBA IB and MBA BA  programs offered by IIFT at its Delhi, Kolkata, and Kakinada campuses. Until recently, this exam was conducted by the NTA on behalf of IIFT. The IIFT question paper includes a section on Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, Quantitative Ability, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, and General Awareness, with a total duration of two hours. Foreign, NRI, and PIO candidates could also apply for IIFT admission based on their GMAT scores. However, from the 2026-27 academic session onwards, IIFT will conduct its admission test again instead of using the CAT exam.

IIFT Application/Registration Process 2026

The IIFT 2026 registration process will be conducted online through the official website of IIFT Delhi. Candidates have to register by filling out the application form with valid details and paying the application fees using the payment methods. After successful registration, candidates received a system-generated application number, which will be used for further login and form completion. Once the process was completed, candidates could download their admit card before the exam. 

Application Fees

The IIFT 2026 admission fee had to be paid through debit/credit card, net banking, or e-wallet. The fee amount varied for different categories as mentioned in the official notification.

IIFT Admit Card 2026

The IIFT 2026 admit card will be released online on the official IIFT-NTA website. It is an important document required for entry into the examination hall. All candidates must download and print their admit cards well before the exam date. Here are the steps you need to follow to download the admit card.

• Visit the official website of IIGFT-NTA.
• Click on the link “Admit card for IIFT (MBA)2026-28”.
• You will be redirected to the login page where you have to enter your application number, date of birth, and the security pin shown on the screen.
• Click on Submit to proceed.
• Your IIFT 2026 admit card will be displayed.
• Download the admit card and save a copy for future use.
• Take a clear printout of the admit card and carry it with you on the exam day along with a valid ID proof

The IIFT syllabus 2026 includes subjects like English, Quantitative Analysis, Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, and General Awareness. The topics are almost the same as other MBA entrance exams. Below are the main topics you need to study for the IIFT exam.

IIFT Eligibility Criteria 2026

To be eligible for the IIFT 2026, candidates must have a 3-year bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognised university. General category students need at least 50% marks, while SC/ST/PwD candidates need 45%. Final-year students and those with equivalent professional degrees can also apply.

IIFT Exam Pattern 2026

IIFT exam Pattern 2026 for the course MBA IB consists of a certain exam pattern. The exam includes four sections with varying marks and numbers of questions. Below are shown the different topics, the number of questions from each topic, and the marks for each section.

IIFT Previous Year Papers

The IIFT previous years' question papers help students prepare better for the upcoming IIFT 2026 exam. These papers give a clear idea of the exam pattern, types of questions, and important topics to focus on. Solving previous year papers also improves time management and boosts confidence.

IIFT  Preparation Strategy 2026

To score well in the IIFT exam, you need smart planning and regular practice. Focus on your weak areas while also strengthening your overall test-taking skills.

Revise Daily

Set aside at least one hour every day to revise formulas, theorems, and key concepts for better retention.

Practice After Learning

Try a few sample questions after finishing a topic to strengthen your understanding.

Improve Logical Thinking

Use your free time to solve puzzles and riddles to sharpen your logical reasoning skills.

Take Mock Tests Regularly

Don’t stress about scores; each mock test will help you understand the exam pattern and improve gradually.

Focus on High-weightage Topics

If you have limited time, check past papers and focus more on topics that carry higher marks.

IIFT Answer Key 2026

The IIFT 2026 answer key and response sheet will be released on the official IIFT-NTA website after the exam. Candidates can check and download the answer key to match their responses and estimate their scores. The answer key is usually released first in provisional form, followed by a final version after the objection window. Here are the steps to download the IIFT 2026 answer key and response sheet:

• Visit the official website of IIFT-NTA: https://iift.nta.nic.in
• Click on the link for ‘Display Question Paper and Answer Key Challenge’
• Log in using your application number and date of birth.
• The answer key and question paper will be displayed on the screen
• Click on the ‘Download’ button to save the PDF for future use

IIFT 2026 Result

The IIFT 2026 result can be downloaded using the application number, date of birth, and password. After the result is announced, selected candidates will be called for the group discussion, writing skills assessment, and personal interview rounds.

• Visit the official website, and click on the “results” or admission” link.
• Find and click the link to the IIFT 2026 result.
• Enter your application number, date of birth, and password to log in.
• Click submit to view your result, which will show your overall ann section-wise scores.
• Download the result and save it as a PDF for future use.
• Take a printout of the result for the admission process.

IIFT Accepting Colleges

The IIFT exam score is only valid for admission to MBA programs offered by the institute itself. No other MBA or PGDM colleges accept IIFT scores for admission. For the batch 2024-26, IIFT didn’t conduct its entrance exam and considered CAT for shortlisting candidates, but from the next year, i.e, for the session 2026-28 onwards, the institute only accepts IIFT scores for admission.

Institute accepting IIFT scores:

• IIFT Delhi
• IIFT Kolkata
• IIFT Kanikada

The IIFT 2026 application process is expected to begin in the last quarter of 2025, as per the past trends. The official notification with important dates will be released on the institution’s website. Candidates are advised to check the official IIFT website regularly for the latest updates. Refer to the table below for an overview of the IIFT admission schedule.

The IIFT 2025 cut-off has been released along with the final admission list. Candidates can now check the category-wise cut-offs for the MBA (International Business) and MBA (Business Analytics) programs below.

IFT Cut Off 2025 for Admission (MBA IB)

IIFT Cut Off 2025 for Admission (MBA, BA)

IIFT Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the eligibility criteria for the IIFT 2026 exam?

Candidates must hold a 3-year bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks for the General/OBC category and 45% for SC/ST/PwD. Final-year students can also apply if they submit their graduation results by the deadline.

2. How can I apply for the IIFT 2026 exam?

You can apply online through the official IIFT website by filling out the application form and paying the registration fee. After successful registration, you’ll receive a system-generated application number for further login and updates.

3. What is the exam pattern of IIFT?

The IIFT exam contains 110 multiple-choice questions divided into sections like Quantitative Aptitude, Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, and General Awareness. The exam is conducted online for 2 hours with negative marking.

4. Does IIFT accept scores from other exams?

For admission to MBA (IB) and MBA (BA), IIFT only accepts the CAT entrance exam score starting from the 2026–27 session. 

5. What is the admission process after the IIFT exam?

Shortlisted candidates will be called for further rounds like Group Discussion, Writing Skills Assessment, and Personal Interview. Final admission will be based on performance in all these rounds, along with the exam score.