In the IBA MBA/BBA Admission Test, English remains one of the most pivotal components. Its impact goes far beyond the 25–30 marks allocated to the English section itself.
A strong command of English helps you understand other parts of the exam—especially Math (25–30 marks) and Analytical Reasoning—more swiftly and accurately. When you read and interpret questions efficiently, you can save valuable time that will allow you to tackle challenging math like lengthy word problems with greater ease.
Besides, for the Writing component (two write-ups in 30 minutes), a solid grounding in English is needed to avoid spelling and grammatical errors that can cost you valuable marks.
To add more to this, your English proficiency also plays a pivotal role in the viva voce (interview) stage. Good communication in English projects confidence, formality, and clarity to the IBA teachers. It makes your responses sound more convincing and brings a positive impression on the teachers.
Since each section of the IBA exam demands English proficiency, it is safe to conclude that an investment in improving your reading, writing, and comprehension skills is well worth the effort.
So, consider English as your friend and make it your strong weapon!
The Competitive Edge of English in IBA Admission
Imagine walking into the exam hall and seeing 25 Math questions. Even very strong candidates in Math often struggle to complete all of them under time constraints. They might solve 15–20 questions accurately, while average scorers may only manage 10–15.
Recent exams (post-2020) have seen Math questions grow tougher compared to the pre-pandemic era, so sometimes even scoring below 10 on Math does not preclude selection if other sections are strong enough.
The difference often comes down to English, which carries a substantial 30 marks. Many candidates struggle just to meet the 40% cutoff, while others achieve 60–80% in English, propelling their overall score past the cutoff.
Beyond scoring, English questions typically require less time than Math and Analytical sections. If you have a good command of English, you can quickly read and comprehend passages, locate errors in grammar-based questions, and respond with precision.
This efficiency frees up more time for the challenging Math or Analytical parts.
In short, English can be the competitive edge that elevates your total score!
IBA Admission Success Formula: Passion, Dedication, Resilience & Consistency!
Why Some Candidates Struggle with English?
Despite dedicating hours to learning vocabulary and grammar rules, many candidates fail to reach the necessary cutoff in English.
What goes wrong?
Often, the underlying issue lies in an ineffective study strategy or an approach that focuses narrowly on rote memorization rather than developing genuine language skills.
If everyone studies more or less the same materials, why do some stand out while others do not?
And how do certain people, with seemingly less preparation, excel?
The key factor is the level of consistent English exposure and practice over time.
Those who frequently read high-quality English publications, watch TV shows or movies in English, and engage with challenging content develop a natural intuition for the language.
This intuition is what the IBA test—and other standardized exams like the GRE—tends to measure.
They are testing not just memorized rules but your ability to apply language skills in real-time and formal contexts.
Building Natural Intuition Through Regular Exposure
One of the core elements in improving your English is cultivating a habit of reading.
This reading should not be limited to typical exam-preparation books. Instead, you should regularly engage with high-quality newspapers, magazines, blogs, and books that use formal language.
Recommended Publications:
✔ The New York Times
✔ The Guardian
✔ The Business Standard
✔ The Daily Star
These sources introduce you to advanced vocabulary and more complex sentence structures.
While reading, you are likely to encounter unfamiliar words or grammar constructions. Pause whenever something is unclear, and invest time in learning it.
Over time, your language sense and comprehension skills will sharpen naturally.
This habit doesn’t just build your vocabulary; it strengthens your grasp of grammar rules in an organic and context-based way.
As a result, you gradually internalize both standard and advanced usage, and you will be well-prepared for the skills IBA expects from you.
Practicing Past Admission Test Papers
After developing a consistent reading habit, the next step is to work through past admission test papers for IBA MBA and BBA.
Studying past papers provides invaluable insights into:
📌 Question patterns
📌 Frequently tested grammar rules
📌 Common vocabulary usage
While solving these papers, pay close attention to each question’s underlying logic:
✔ What grammar rule or concept is being tested?
✔ Why might the provided options be confusing?
✔ How is the question structured?
IBA tends to recycle certain question types or even specific vocabulary across different years.
You can identify these patterns to develop your speed and confidence.
At the same time, be prepared for new question formats. Exams evolve, and it is important to keep your skills flexible rather than relying solely on rote repetition.
Strategic English Study Approach
With a vast array of English resources available—books, online courses, grammar guides—it is easy to become overwhelmed or waste time on unfocused study.
To excel, choose a limited set of high-quality materials and study them in depth.
The core goal should be skill development, not merely finishing a large volume of books.
For example, if you want to improve in Reading Comprehension:
✔ Pick practice sets that challenge you with diverse topics.
✔ Time yourself so you can answer five-mark passages in 5–7 minutes without losing accuracy.
For Sentence Completion:
✔ Train yourself to find contextual clues and fill in the blanks in under a minute.
For grammar-based questions:
✔ Master the fundamental rules and practice applying them under time pressure.
Smart Question Selection in English
The English section includes risky question types like:
✔ Suffix/Prefix
✔ Idioms/Phrases
✔ Rearranging sentences
If your language foundation is weak, these questions can be error-prone.
A vital part of doing well in the English section, and in the exam overall, is knowing which questions to attempt and which to leave.
✔ Confident in English? Secure extra marks.
✔ Still building your foundation? Skip high-risk questions.
Each section of the IBA MBA Admission Test is interconnected, and English lies at the heart of it all.
If you dedicate yourself to reading high-quality English materials, diligently practice past papers, and choose your study resources wisely, you will improve your natural intuition for the language.
And that is exactly the skill that IBA and similar competitive exams assess.
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