IGNOU OPENMAT exam pattern: paper structure, marking scheme, dates & more

  • By Sneha Dasgupta
  • 8 October 2021
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According to the IGNOU OPENMAT exam pattern the exam consists of 200 questions to be completed in 3 hours.  However, the IGNOU paper pattern remains unchanged year after year. In other words, the NTA or IGNOU has not released an official syllabus but we have studied and compiled the exam pattern based on previous years' papers.

The OPENMAT IGNOU exam takes place twice every year. The IGNOU MBA exam pattern consists of four sections, General Awareness, Quantitative Ability, Reasoning, and Verbal Ability. So for sections like General Awareness, don’t spend a lot of time thinking of an answer. If you are unable to answer a question in the first reading, simply leave the question and move to the next question.

National Testing Agency (NTA), is all set to conduct the IGNOU MBA entrance exam on 11th November 2021. The IGNOU OPENMAT XLVIII application form releases on the official website and can be filled until 28th October 2021.

The IGNOU OPENMAT 2021 can be given by any candidate with an aggregate of 50% marks in their graduation. In conclusion, the exam will facilitate your admission into the PG & MBA programs given by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and other top MBA colleges around the country.

IGNOU OPENMAT Exam Pattern

The first step to prepare for the exam is to study the IGNOU OPENMAT exam syllabus carefully. Firstly, the exam consists of 200 questions of one mark each. Moreover, the best part of the IGNOU OPENMAT exam pattern is that this exam has no negative marking for incorrect answers. Above all, the thing to keep in mind even while preparing is that the OPENMAT exam is 180 minutes or three hours long.

Look at the MBA IGNOU entrance test exam pattern at a glance below:

IGNOU OPENMAT 2020 exam date 11th November 2020
Number of Questions 200 questions
Total marks 200, 1 mark each
Negative marking No negative marking
Total time 180 minutes or 3 hours

IGNOU OPENMAT Question Paper Structure

The MBA IGNOU exam pattern generally stays the same throughout the year. In addition, it is quite similar to other MBA entrance exams pattern. The questions of the OPENMAT XLVIII exam are divided into four sections:

  • General awareness
  • Quantitative Aptitude
  • Reasoning
  • English or Verbal Ability

As the candidates’ have to solve many questions in 3 hours, therefore, it is advisable to not waste a lot of time thinking. Moreover, and most importantly, the OPENMAT exam pattern is such that it requires time management, identification of the type of question and difficulty level.

The total 200 questions are divided in the following manner across all the sections:

Section Number of Questions
General Awareness 30 questions
Quantitative Aptitude 50 questions
Reasoning 70 questions
English or Verbal Ability 50 questions

IGNOU OPENMAT Sectional Simings

The OPENMAT exam pattern is not segregated according to the time limit for each section like it is for other exams such as CAT. ​​The overall goal is to solve 200 questions in 180 minutes with no separate time limits.

IGNOU OPENMAT Marking Scheme

The marking scheme for the IGNOU OPENMAT Exam is not very complicated. All questions are multiple-choice type and the marking scheme for the same is as follows:

  • The IGNOU OPENMAT consists of 200 questions, so a total of 200 marks
  • +1 mark is awarded for every correct answer
  • No negative marking

Note: It is important to attempt all the questions, even the ones you are not so sure about.

Important Topics for IGNOU OPENMAT

IGNOU OPENMAT Exam Syllabus is designed in a way to judge a candidate in various different areas. The major sections of the exam are general knowledge, English language, quantitative aptitude and reasoning. The section-wise distribution of important topics for the IGNOU MBA OPENMAT syllabus is as follows: 

General Knowledge- Indian business environment, Global environment, Indian political events, Indian economy, historical events, current events and sports, important places, people and awards.

English Langauge- Reading comprehension, fill in the blanks, pairing of words, sentences, synonyms, antonyms, idioms and phrases, sentence improvement and general grammar.

Quantitative Aptitude- Number systems, LCM and HCF, Decimal and fractions, algebraic equations, geometry, profit and loss, time and work problems, area and perimeter, discount and averages, probability, permutations and combinations, simple and compound interest, volume and surface area. 

Reasoning- Logical reasoning, analytical reasoning, statements, direction and distance, number analogy test, blood relations, number series test, letter series test, diagrams and figures, complete word analogy

FAQs related to IGNOU OPENMAT Exam Pattern

Is IGNOU OPENMAT tough? 

IGNOU OPENMAT is not a tough exam if a candidate follows the right approach to prepare for it. It is recommended to make a timetable and prepare for different sections accordingly. The aim is to solve as many questions as you can in the given time. Following a systematic approach for the preparation of each section is necessary.

Is there any negative marking in OPENMAT?

There is no negative marking in IGNOU OPENMAT. For wrong answers or unattempted questions, no marks will be deducted. 

Is there a sectional cutoff in OPENMAT?

There are no sectional cutoffs for the IGNOU OPENMAT exam. There is only a total cutoff which is released soon after the declaration of results.

What is the exam pattern of IGNOU?

IGNOU OPENMAT exam consists of 200 MCQ-type questions to be solved in 180 minutes. There are four major sections- general knowledge, English language, quantitative aptitude, and reasoning. 

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