What is IIFT?
The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade is India's premier
institute for a course in Foreign Trade based in Delhi.
When will IIFT be conducted?
IIFT is usually conducted on fourth Sunday of November
every year.
What is the process of admission to IIFT?
For
General / SC / ST / PH Candidates
On the basis of Written Test, Group Discussion, Interview
Based on marks obtained in the Written Test, candidates
are called for second phase of selection process comprising
of Group Discussion and Interview and Essay Writing
to be held at Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad,
Kolkata, Lucknow and Mumbai.
For
Foreign / NRI candidates/ Children of NRI
On the basis of General Management Aptitude Test (GMAT).
Overview of IIFT.
Developments in the international marketing on the
one hand and the consequential impact of the same
on India's domestic market on the other, call for
a professional approach and sensitivity to international
business environment. The MBA (International Business)
is a foundational course for developing a competent
cadre of business executives to meet the country's
growing requirements for training personnel in the
field of international business management.
The MBA (IB) is a six trimester general management
programme with a focus on international business.
The Programme aims at providing a comprehensive coverage
incorporating all the important areas and disciplines
relevant to international business activities.
This year’s statistics show that a total of
42,000 students have applied for this exam conducted
by the Delhi and Kolkata based Indian Institute of
Foreign Trade. A total of 180 seats have been set
aside for this MBA program.
The MBA season started on an optimistic note with
the IRMA and the CAT not showing any unusual trends.
The IIFT followed raising hopes of all the students
as the paper was similar to that of last year’s
paper. The IIFT paper is an industry specific paper
as it is exclusive to foreign trade. With an MBA in
international business, the student undergoes a foundational
course for developing a competent cadre of business
executives to meet the country’s growing requirements
for training personnel. The paper shows a leaning
towards English usage, and Grammar. Many international
business organizations have shown a keen interest
in selecting students with an IIFT degree.
What was the structure
of November 2008 IIFT paper?
Salient features of IIFT 2008:
Number of sections: 6
Number of options per question: 4
Number of questions: 150
In all, 150 questions with differential marking, negative
marks 1/4th for each wrong answer.
Total marks in the paper: 100.
This year again the IIFT test takers were allowed
to retain the question paper.
Detailed analysis of IIFT – 23rd November
2008
The optimal time allotment strategy, number of attempts
in each section and the projected scores are as follows:
| Section |
|
No of Qns |
Relative
Weigh-
tage |
Total marks |
Diffi-culty
level |
Time
allot-ment |
Probable
Attem-pts |
Expected
Scores |
Reading
Comprehension |
|
12 |
0.8 |
9.6 |
Tough |
15 min |
6 |
3+ |
| Verbal Ability |
|
23 |
0.7 |
16.10 |
Average |
25 min |
15 |
8+ |
| General Knowledge |
|
30 |
0.3 |
9 |
Tough |
10-12 min |
11 |
3 |
Reasoning
Ability |
AR |
18 |
0.8 |
25.6 |
Average |
30 min |
17 |
11+ |
MR |
8 |
0.8 |
Mis. |
4 |
0.8 |
LR |
2 |
0.8 |
| Quantitative Ability |
QA |
27 |
0.7 |
18.9 |
Average |
20-25 min |
13 |
8+ |
| Data Interpretation |
DI |
26 |
0.8 |
20.8 |
Tough |
15 min |
8 |
4+ |
| Total |
|
150 |
|
100 |
|
2 Hours |
70 |
37 |
How was the Verbal
Ability section in IIFT 2008?
This paper was similar to that of last year. The English
section was divided into two different sections: Reading
Comprehension and Verbal Ability. As in the last year,
two new questions types were introduced: Sentence
Correction and Vocabulary based questions, this year;
antonyms were given importance in the paper.
One section was devoted entirely to Reading Comprehensions.
There were three long passages. The length of the
passages ranged from about 1200 to 1500 words. To
be able to answer all the three RC’s was a pretty
tall order but attempting two out of the three was
not too much to ask for. The questions were formulated
in the ‘True & False’ mode so, a quick
glance at the answer options and the correct one could
be easily found from the concerned passage.
An attempt of six questions would have fetched a good
enough score.
The second passage was lengthy and tough hence leaving
it and going forward would have been the best choice.
The other English section comprised of questions to
test Vocabulary and Grammar.
Vocabulary comprised of ‘fill in the blanks’
and ‘correct usage of words’. These questions
were quite easy to comprehend and answer. The ‘analogies’
along with ‘antonyms’ tightened this section,
raising its level of difficulty. Identifying ‘the
sentence which is syntactically and semantically correct’
would not have taken much effort and time as they
were straightforward.
In this section an attempt of 15-16 questions could
have fetch a good score.
Section I : Reading Comprehension
| Topic |
Number of questions |
weightage |
Remarks |
Reading
Comprehension |
3 passages |
4+4+4 |
0.8 |
8 Average,
4 Easy
|
| Total questions |
12 |
9.6 |
Tough |
Section II : Verbal Ability
| Topic |
Number of questions |
weightage |
Remarks |
Verbal
Ability |
Jumbled Sentences |
3 |
0.7 |
Easy |
Vocabulary based questions |
3 |
0.7 |
Easy |
| Analogies |
4 |
0.7 |
Tough |
| Correct usage of the word |
3 |
0.7 |
Average |
| Antonyms |
3 |
0.7 |
Average |
| Fill in The Blanks |
4 |
0.7 |
Easy |
Based on Grammar
In sentences
|
3 |
0.7 |
Easy |
| Total questions |
23 |
16.10 |
Average |
How was the Quantitative
Aptitude & Data Interpretation section in IIFT 2008?
Section III : Quantitative Ability
| Topic |
Number of questions |
weightage |
Remarks |
Quantitative
Ability |
Permutation and Combination |
2 |
0.7 |
Average |
Maxima Minima |
1 |
0.7 |
Tough |
Equation |
1 |
0.7 |
Tough |
Standard Deviation |
1 |
0.7 |
Tough |
Trigonometry |
1 |
0.7 |
Average |
Geometry |
3 |
0.7 |
Average |
Average |
1 |
0.7 |
Average |
Mensuration |
1 |
0.7 |
Tough |
Progression |
5 |
0.7 |
Tough |
Series |
1 |
0.7 |
Easy |
Polygon |
1 |
0.7 |
Easy |
Heights and Distances |
1 |
0.7 |
Easy |
Simplification |
1 |
0.7 |
Tough |
Boats and Streams |
1 |
0.7 |
Average |
Profit & Loss |
3 |
0.7 |
Average |
Probability |
2 |
0.7 |
Tough |
Quadratic Equation |
1 |
0.7 |
Easy |
Total questions |
27 |
18.9 |
Average |
Overall this section was average in difficulty. This
time round there was a slight increase in the number
of questions. The sums based on "Permutation
and Combination" were similar to the ones in
CF CAT Technique Sheet. This time the numbers of question
in Arithmetic were more than in Geometry and Algebra
together. Progression played a dominant part in this
section. Sums on Algebra took up very little space.
For those of you whose fundamentals in Mathematics
were sound, this section would have been very easy
to solve.
An attempt of 13+ with maximum accuracy would fetch
good marks in this section.
Section IV : Data Interpretation
| Topic |
Number of questions |
weightage |
Remarks |
Data
Interpretation |
Tabular Form
(Railway Wagons & Average Capacity)
|
6 |
0.8 |
Tough |
Line Graph (Revenue Total
Profit)
|
5 |
0.8 |
Average |
| Tabular Form (FDI Inflow) |
5 |
0.8 |
Tough |
Tabular Form
(World Merchandise Export)
|
5 |
0.8 |
Tough |
Bar Graph (Production)
|
5 |
0.8 |
Average |
| Total questions |
26 |
20.8 |
Tough |
There were 5 caselets in all. 3 caselets were in tabular
form, 1 was in line graph and 1 was in bar graph.
The 3 caselets on tabular form were tough as more
time was required for interpretating them. Also, they
were comparatively lengthy and time-consuming.
An attempt of 8+ with maximum accuracy would fetch
good marks in this section.
How was the Reasoning
& Decision Making section in IIFT 2008?
Section V : Reasoning and Decision Making
| Topic |
Number of questions |
weightage |
Remarks |
Reasoning
Ability |
Family tree |
1+1 |
0.8 |
1 Tough, 1 Average |
Matching |
3 |
0.8 |
Average |
Input-Output |
3+4 |
0.8 |
3 Average, 4 Easy |
Logical Reasoning |
2 |
0.8 |
Average |
Mathematical Reasoning (Bribe)
|
1 |
0.8 |
Average |
Data Verification |
3+2 |
0.8 |
3 Average, 2 Easy |
Arrangment Based
(Based on CAT 2003 DI)
|
1+3+4 |
0.8 |
Average |
Maximizing Profit
(Based on CAT 2002)
|
1 |
0.8 |
Easy |
Caselet on Speed, Time &
Distance (Motor Race) |
3 |
0.8 |
Average |
Total questions |
32 |
25.6 |
Average |
The white elephant of this paper was the Reasoning
section. Last year this section was tough and expecting
the same this year, the student was mildly surprised
to find it otherwise. Two caselets on "Arrangement"
and maximizing profit were CAT specific questions.
The former was a CAT 2003 and the later was a CAT
2002 questions. Reasoning with the "Family Tree"
was a little tough. Sums based on Mathematical Reasoning,
Data Verification, Logical Reasoning, Input-Output
were easy. The caselet based on speed, time and distance
was a little tough. Overall this section was of average
difficulty level.
An attempt of 17+ with maximum accuracy would fetch
good marks in this section.
How was the General
Knowledge section in IIFT 2008?
Section VI: (General Knowledge)
In the paper, the General Knowledge questions had
a good combination of Business Awareness and Current
Affairs. The method of framing these questions was
more or less similar to last year’s. The GK
section took up a little more time than was expected
because of a few ‘Match The Following’
type questions. Reading the data and matching them
appropriately costed the students precious time. The
General Knowledge section requires the IIFT test taker
to be ‘a master of the game’.
An attempt of 11+ with maximum accuracy would fetch
good marks in this section.
Overall this exam was average with a slight veering
towards an above average in the GK section. But your
performance is an indicator of whether you are truly
cut out to an MBA in Foreign Trade.
Eligibility
Criteria and Marks related:
What
is the eligibility for IIFT?
 No
age limit

Recognized Bachelor's Degree of minimum 3 years duration
in any discipline
 Candidates
appearing for a qualifying examination can also apply
subject to submission of proof of requisite
qualification by pre-specified date.
Do I have to be a graduate from a premier college?
No. It is not necessary that students need to be from premier colleges. You get into a B-school on the basis of your performance in the entrance exams conducted by the B-schools themselves.
I have done my diploma. Can I apply for an MBA?
MBA, being a master's degree, requires the aspirant to be a graduate. That means, you must have a Bachelor's Degree from any university incorporated by an act of the Central or State government of India, any other educational institution established by an act of Parliament or any institution deemed as such under section 3 of the UGC Act 1956. This also includes any equivalent qualification recognized by the Ministry of HRD, Government of India. Your Bachelor's Degree or equivalent qualification must have covered a minimum of three years of education after completing higher secondary schooling, which is a total of 10+2+3 years.
Preparation Related:
How does one develop aptitude for Math and English?
In simple terms, IIFT tests managerial abilities in a candidate through Mathematics, English and Reasoning. This means that you will be required to interlink concepts in order to solve a particular problem. Your ability to apply concepts to practical situations is what will be tested.
Once you start taking section tests and comprehensive
tests, it becomes important to analyze each of the
tests that you take. This will help identify the areas/topics
that you are weak at and still need brushing up before
you take the next test.
How does one analyze performance?
1.
Analyze your area-wise/topic-wise performance to identify
potential areas for improvement.
2. Work on the identified areas, through determined practice using

Concept Books

Section Tests and Comprehensive Tests
After you take each test, do analyze it well. Analysis
would take a lot of time, do not take this as a waste
of time, and instead convert this into a learning
process. For all correct answers, compare your method
with the Explanatory Answers, check if you can attempt
it faster and practice the new method, if any. For
all incorrect answers, reattempt the questions with
no time limits. You need to understand as to why did
you make the mistake was it conceptual/silly mistake/incorrect
interpretation. Learn from your mistakes and ensure
that you do not commit them in future.
How does one increase reading speed and verbal ability?
The areas that are tested in English are verbal ability, reading comprehension and composition skills. This means that you need to build an overall aptitude in English. Good command over English language is a must in order to succeed in IIFT. In fact, you will observe that you need good English even to attempt the quantitative and data interpretation sections.
Reading a newspaper like The Times of India / The Hindu, a business daily like The Economic Times/Business Standard and political and business magazines should become a daily habit for all IIFT applicants. Further,

Read any section in the newspaper, especially the
editorial one.

Timing yourself while reading is important. You should
be able to read 200 to 250 words a minute.

Write a summary (about 100 to 150 words) every day
on the topic you have read. It will help in building
your thought process which is crucial
in IIFT.

Make a note of the difficult words and look up their
meanings from the Oxford English dictionary. Try and
maintain a notebook/prepare flash cards
that you can go through in your free time.
Reading would also help you keep updated on the events
going around thus building on your general awareness
that would be helpful during the group discussion
and personal interview rounds.
B-School
Admissions Related:
How important are my application forms?
It is very important to be honest in your application
forms. Do not fill any information that is untrue.
Certain questions in the forms ask you about Career
Goals, Strengths, Weaknesses, etc. They are deliberately
there to help the B-school know a little bit more
about you and are often referred to during the interview.
It is highly recommended to keep a photocopy of every
form that you fill so that you can revise what you
have written before the interview.
What do you mean by percentile and percentage?
Percentile: Percentile indicates
student's relative performance position among the
total students who took the exam.
Percentage: The % score represents
normalized percentage of scores secured by the candidate.
It is a relative method of representing the score.
This is not the actual % score.
For example - A 99 percentile means that the student is among the top 1 percent of the population who took the exam.
Does a candidate get calls only on the basis of cutoffs?
No. One needs to keep in mind that cut-offs are only
one of the many evaluation tools that the B-Schools
use to shortlist candidates. The other prominent factors
are past academic performance, work experience if
any, extra curricular activities and achievements
etc.
Does work experience increase chances of making it to a reputed school?
Work experience is not mandatory criteria for making
it to any B-School. However, having work experience
does add to your profile. None the less, you need
to prove your worth at the time of the GD/PI rounds.
This implies that the panel needs to be convinced
about what you have learnt at the job and contributed
positively to the organization. The way you present
yourself and your approach towards the questions plays
a vital role in the outcome of your interview. Remember,
you will be pitched against the best minds during
the GD/PI rounds. So you need to be at your best to
make sure you get the final call.
What is the
duration of the test?
The allotted time for the test is usually 120 minutes.
Which were the
cut-offs for IIFT?
| The Probable Cut-offs for institutes
which accept IIFT scores |
Institute |
Cut off |
IIFT Delhi / Calcutta |
33+ |
GIFT, Vishakhapattanum |
27+ |
K.J. Somaiya * |
24+ |
* K.J. Somaiya
MAY CONSIDER IIFT SCORE FOR INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
PROGRAMME
|