"হাতে
মাত্র ১০ মিনিট, শালার মাত্র ২ টা এনালিটিকাল দাগালাম, কেমনে কাট-অফ তুলবো?”
Your heart races as you glance at the timer. Despite all your preparation,
you’re trapped in a battle against the clock, knowing that your only options
are to rush through the last few problems—or worse, resign accepting the fact
you are done, your IBA dream is gone!
This is an all-too-familiar scenario for IBA admission test-takers. The test
is not just a measure of your knowledge; it’s a race where every second counts.
Many
candidates, even those who are well-prepared, struggle to manage their time
efficiently. Some try to compensate by solving questions at
breakneck speed, while others focus on memorizing shortcuts or practicing
endlessly. A few even resort to conjecturing, hoping to get pass marks by
guessing, especially in the English section.
But here’s the surprising truth: Even those who have a strong grasp of
concepts, accuracy, and strategic approaches often find themselves running out
of time. Why does this happen?
More importantly, how can you prevent it?
The Time Trap: Why Do Even
Good Candidates Fail?
The IBA BBA/MBA admission test
is a two-part examination designed to assess your skills under strict time
constraints. The 90-minute MCQ section is
divided into three essential areas: English, Mathematics,
and Analytical Ability. To succeed, you must meet the required
threshold in each section ( 40%-50%
usually, but varies)—failing in just one means failing the entire test.
Many candidates fall into the time trap
because they focus too much on one section (feeling
like they can get more marks from the section), unknowingly sacrificing
their chances in another. By the time they realize their mistake, it’s too
late. The 30-minute writing section
is another hurdle. Candidates must complete two structured write-ups within
this short timeframe. The primary reason many fail here is that they lack
practice in writing under time constraints. Without proper time
allocation, their responses remain incomplete or poorly developed.
But there’s another hidden factor that many overlook—one that silently eats
up precious time without you even realizing it.
The Hidden Enemy: Why Your
First Few Questions Take Longer
Many test-takers assume that poor time management is caused by a slow
solving process. They believe that if they can just solve
faster, their timing issues will be fixed. However, the real
problem often lies elsewhere.
Have
you ever noticed that your
first few questions take longer, even when they aren’t particularly difficult? This phenomenon, known
as mental inertia, occurs when your brain needs time to
transition from a relaxed state into full problem-solving mode.
Think of it like this: A runner doesn’t start at their top speed the
moment the race begins. They need a few strides to build momentum. Similarly,
your brain needs a brief period to "warm up" before it can process
and solve problems at maximum efficiency.
This slow start has a ripple
effect:
Ø You spend
too much time on the first few questions.
Ø You realize
you’re falling behind and start to panic.
Ø You rush
through the remaining questions, and there are more errors.
Ø You
end up with an incomplete or low-quality attempt,
especially in the writing section, as you have already given up after the poor
MCQ part.
Once you address such hidden time drain, you can ensure
that you hit your peak performance from the very
first question.
Strategic Time Allocation:
The Key to Completing Every Section
The best test-takers don’t just work faster—they
divide their time wisely so that they can
confidently finish all sections. A well-balanced strategy looks like this:
1. English Section: 25-30 minutes
- Many
candidates prefer starting with English, as it allows them to quickly eliminate
incorrect answers and move through questions efficiently.
- However, spending
too much time analyzing options can be dangerous. The key here
is to strike a balance between speed and
accuracy.
- First
solve all of the easy questions that you are confident, then go for
questions with two options confusion. Do not attempt any unknown
questions. Attempt RC in the end, if you attempt.
2. Mathematics Section: 35-40 minutes
- Since
math problems require logical reasoning and precision,
some candidates opt to tackle this section first while their minds are
still fresh.
- The
biggest pitfall? Getting stuck on difficult problems
and losing track of time. If a question is taking too
long, make a quick decision—solve it, skip it, or come
back to it later. Never be obsessed with any math questions that you can’t
solve in the first attempt. Just move on! Do not hold your ego here. Most
importantly, find out the easy questions first, solve them as there will
at least 30-40%, then approach medium ones.
3. Analytical Ability Section: 20-25 minutes
- This
section consists of logic-based problems that require quick thinking.
- Leaving
enough time for this section is important as rushing
through it can lead to errors. And you can’t afford to
take risks as here you need to ensure your pass mark too.
💡 The order in which you tackle sections is entirely
up to you. The smartest approach is one that aligns with your
strengths and helps you stay in control of your time.
Cracking the Writing Section: How to Complete Two Essays in 30
Minutes
Many candidates fail the writing
section—not because they lack writing skills, but because they don’t allocate
their time properly.
A winning approach looks like this:
1️⃣ Brainstorm (2 minutes
per question)
- Before
writing, quickly outline your key points.
- Identify
your main argument, supporting ideas, and
examples.
2️⃣ Write
(12-13 minutes per essay)
- Follow
a structured format: Introduction → Body →
Conclusion.
- Keep
your writing concise and relevant.
Don’t waste time on unnecessary details or trying to make your writing too
complex so that you make blunders! Catch up with your spelling errors and
grammar errors.
Defeating Rustiness: The
Power of a Warm-Up Routine
The timer starts, and
you begin reading the first question—but something feels off. You’re slower
than usual, rereading the question multiple times, struggling to focus. Your
brain feels sluggish, and calculations that normally take seconds are dragging
on. By the time you reach the next few questions, you’ve already lost valuable
minutes, forcing yourself to speed up and take risks.
This struggle isn’t a
lack of knowledge—it’s rustiness, a natural cognitive inertia that slows
down performance at the beginning of a test. Just like a runner needs time to
build momentum or a machine takes time to reach full efficiency, your brain
also requires a warm-up period before operating at peak speed and
accuracy. Many test-takers fail not because they lack preparation but because
they waste the first crucial minutes fighting through this mental sluggishness.
The most effective
way to eliminate rustiness is consistent exposure to timed practice through
mock tests and solving hundreds of practice questions. Without this, the
brain remains untrained in quick recall and pattern recognition, making the
test feel unfamiliar. Mock tests replicate real exam conditions, training
the brain to adjust to pressure and time constraints, reducing the adjustment
period needed at the start of an actual exam.
This is exactly what Magnus
Sam is addressing in his Magnus Batch, where extensive practice is
not just encouraged—it’s ingrained into the training. His course program is
designed so that time management mastery becomes second nature to students.
Through rigorous mock tests, timed drills, and continuous exposure to
high-quality practice questions, students will condition their minds to
function at full efficiency from the very first second of the exam. The goal
is simple: eliminate rustiness, build automatic problem-solving reflexes, and
ensure that students don’t just survive in the exam hall—they thrive.
Rustiness isn’t about
intelligence—it’s about readiness. The more you train your brain through
structured practice, the faster you’ll reach peak performance. With Magnus
Sam’s guidance, Magnus Batch will shape students into candidates who walk into
the IBA exam hall with confidence, ready to tackle every question efficiently
and effectively.
Last Few Words
If you want to conquer the IBA BBA/MBA admission
test, preparation alone isn’t enough—you
need to master time management.
Think of your exam performance as a race—you
wouldn’t start at full speed without warming up first. Prepare
your brain, strategize your time, and walk into the exam hall ready to perform
at your peak from the very first question. 🚀
Tags:
IBA Admission, MBA Admission Test, BBA Admission Test, Time Management, IBA Exam Strategy, Test-Taking Skills, Analytical Ability, IBA Writing Section, Exam Pressure, Magnus Minds
