IBSAT exam-day guide

The admit card is normally released on the official IBS admissions portal after you book your slot. Log in with your application credentials, download the PDF and take at least two printed copies. Check that your name, photo, signature, test date, time and venue are correct; if anything is wrong, contact the admissions office immediately rather than correcting it yourself. Carry the printed copy - a soft copy on a phone may not be accepted.

Typically a passport, Aadhaar, PAN, driving licence or college ID. The ID must match the details on your admit card. Carry the original, not a photocopy or a photo on your phone. If your ID type is not clearly listed on the admit card, confirm with the provider which originals are accepted at your specific test centre.

Keep two or three recent colour photographs in the same specification as the one pasted on your application. They are sometimes needed for the attendance sheet or verification. Confirm with the provider whether photographs are mandatory at your centre.

Reporting time is printed on the admit card and is earlier than the test start. Plan to arrive at least 30–45 minutes before reporting time to absorb traffic, security checks and document verification. Late entry is commonly refused once the gate closes, so treat the reporting time as a hard deadline.

Look up the centre address on a map, check the nearest metro or bus stop, and estimate travel time at the same hour as your reporting time. Many centres are in campuses or business parks with more than one gate; note the gate named on the admit card. Do a dry run or at least a street-level map check if the venue is unfamiliar.

The pattern, section order, on-screen calculator availability, rough-sheet policy and dress rules can change between cycles. Download the latest instruction sheet from the official IBS admissions site and read it end to end. Where the sheet is silent, confirm with the provider rather than relying on what a previous candidate told you.

Electronic devices, smart watches, Bluetooth earbuds, calculators, study material and often metal jewellery or watches are not allowed inside the test hall. There is usually no secure storage, so leave valuables at home. Confirm with the provider which items are permitted at your centre and whether a locker facility exists.

Centres can be cold from air conditioning or warm if the hall is large. Wear simple clothes without heavy metal accessories to speed up the security check. Closed shoes are safer than footwear you have to remove and re-tie.

A light, familiar meal before the test is better than a heavy one. Carry a clear water bottle only if the instruction sheet allows it; otherwise hydrate before entering the hall. Avoid experimenting with energy drinks or new food on test day.

Decide in advance how many minutes you will give a question before guessing and moving on, and which section you will attempt first if the interface allows navigation. Write this plan down and rehearse it in your last mock. A fixed rule prevents panic spending on a single hard question.

Save the admit card PDF on your phone and email it to yourself as a backup even though you carry a printout. Note the admissions helpline number in case of a venue or document problem. If you are travelling from another city, book accommodation near the centre rather than across town.

Some computer-based tests provide a short on-screen tutorial before the timer starts. Read every screen of it, especially the section-navigation and review-marking controls. Confirm with the provider whether such a tutorial is part of your slot.