The Pattern of the IIFT 2015 paper was a little different from IIFT 2014 as the total number of questions was 124. The IIFT 2014 paper had 118 questions with differential marking scheme which was continued this year also. One major change was that the DI section was clubbed with Analytical Reasoning and there was a separate section on Quantitative Aptitude. The overall feel of the paper was Easy to Moderate.
As in IIFT sectional cut-offs are taken into consideration, so it was tight rope walk to manage the sectional cut-off in different sections.
There were 124 questions (4 Sections) and the time allotted was 2hrs. The four sections were as follow:
Following is an overview of the IIFT 2015 paper format:
| Section | Sections | No. of Questions | Marks per Questions | Total-Marks |
| (A) | (B) | (C) | (D) | (E)=(C)*(D) |
| Section -1 | Quantitative Ability | 22 | 1.00 | 22 |
| Section -2 | (Part-1) Analytical & Logical Reasoning | 20 | 0.75 | 15 |
| (Part -2) Data Interpretation | 18 | 1.00 | 18 | |
| Section -3 | (Part -1) Reading Comprehension | 16 | 1.00 | 16 |
| (Part -2) Verbal Ability | 20 | 0.75 | 15 | |
| Section -4 | General Awareness | 28 | 0.50 | 14 |
| Total | 124 | 100.00 |
| Time Allotted | 2Hrs. |
| Total no. of questions | 124 (100 Marks) |
| Marking Scheme | Different for different sections |
| Sections | 4 |
| Number of choices | 4 |
| Negative Marking | 1/3 |
The expected overall score at which one can expect a call from IIFT will be around 46. However one has to clear the sectional cut offs in each sections individually.
Another approach to understand the IIFT test is to take a look at the previous year papers, and the areas from which questions were asked. While it is not at all necessary that IIFT examiners will repeat the pattern, however, it will give you an idea of their preferred topics.
Now let us see the areas tested in the exam and the overall marks allocated to each of them, in last year's IIFT Exam.
Quantitative Ability
Analytical&Logical Reasoning
Data Interpretation
Reading Comprehension
Verbal Ability
General Awareness| Sr. No. | Description | No. of Question | Mark Allotted |
| 1 | Algebra & Equations | 5 | 5x1 |
| 2 | P&C Probability | 4 | 4x1 |
| 3 | Time & Work | 2 | 2x1 |
| 4 | Geometry | 3 | 3x1 |
| 5 | Logs | 1 | 1x1 |
| 6 | Profit & Loss | 1 | 1x1 |
| 7 | Sets | 1 | 1x1 |
| 8 | Percentage | 3 | 3x1 |
| 9 | Progression | 1 | 1x1 |
| 10 | Alligation & Mixture | 1 | 1x1 |
| Total | 22 | 22 |
The Quantitative Ability was Easy to Moderate. Some of the questions were calculation intensive. Overall the feel of the section was easy.
Comfortable Attempt: 10-12 questions.
Achievable Score: Around 9.5 marks.
| Sr. No. | Description | No. of Question | Mark Allotted |
| 1 | Alphabetic Series | 1 | 1x1 |
| 2 | Syllogism | 1 | 1x1 |
| 3 | Directions | 1 | 1x1 |
| 4 | Cause and Effect | 1 | 1x1 |
| 5 | Blood Relations | 1 | 1x1 |
| 6 | Analytical Reasoning | 15 | 15x1 |
| Total | 20 | 20 |
Evaluation: This section was of Easy to Moderate difficulty level. There were four AR blocks. One AR block on (six daughters) was moderate while ot her three AR blocks (Six engineer, Export cargo, Three countries) were easy. Rest of the section was of moderate difficulty level.
Comfortable Attempt: 10-12 questions.
Achievable Score: Around 9 marks.
| Area Tested | Description | No. of Question | Mark Allotted |
| Multiple Graph | 9 | 9x1 | |
| Tables | 5 | 5x1 | |
| Bar | 4 | 4x1 | |
| Total | 18 | 18 |
Evaluation:There were four blocks in this section. Except one block(Ellen Inc), others were easy to understand but calculative in nature. One could have increased the attempt with approximation and proper usage of choices.
Comfortable Attempt: 6-8 questions.
Achievable Score: Around 5 marks.
| Area Tested | Description | No. of Question | Mark Allotted |
| Reading Comprehension | Importance of steel in economic development | 4 | 4x1 |
| Role of internet/technology | 4 | 4x1 | |
| Policy regarding lending/borrowing | 4 | 4x1 | |
| Media people in politics | 4 | 4x1 | |
| Total | 16 | 16 |
Evaluation: There were 4 long RCs but one of them was a little longer than the other three. In the starting they might have looked intimidating but a close look at the questions before reading the Reading Comprehensions could have given a hint towards solving the RCs. Though lengthy, the RCs were of easy to moderate in terms of difficulty level.
Comfortable Attempt: 10-12 questions.
Achievable Score: Around 6 marks.
| Area Tested | Description | No. of Question | Mark Allotted |
| Verbal Ability | Sentence Completion | 6 | 6x0.75 |
| Analogics | 1 | 1x0.75 | |
| Sentence Rearrangement | 2 | 2x0.75 | |
| Sentence Correction & Grammar | 3 | 3x0.75 | |
| Figures of speech | 2 | 2x0.75 | |
| Vocabulary Base | 6 | 6x0.75 | |
| Total | 20 | 15 |
Evaluation: Verbal Ability Section was dominated by sentence completion and vocabulary based questions. There was only one analogy based question and it was moderate The Sentence Correction and grammar questions were easy to moderate. Sentence rearrangement questions were again easy to moderate. Overall this section was of easy to moderate.
Comfortable Attempt: 10-12 questions.
Achievable Score: Around 8 marks.
Evaluation: This year GK section was dominated by questions on Current and Static GK. This section was very exhaustive and required routine reading of newspaper and Current Affairs Magazines.
Comfortable Attempt: 8-10 questions.
Achievable Score: Around 2.5 marks.
