ATMA Exam Pattern 2024 – Find Out the Latest ATMA Paper Pattern
The ATMA exam pattern for 2024 has remained the same as the previous year. It’s a computer-based test with 6 sections – Analytical reasoning 1 and 2, quantitative skills 1 and 2, and verbal skills 1 and 2. Each section has 30 questions worth 1 mark each. With 30 minutes for each section, there is a sectional time limit. Moreover, students cannot skip between sections and have to mandatorily follow the sequence in which the exam appears. There is a negative marking of -0.25 marks for every wrong answer and 0 marks for unattempted questions. Overall, the ATMA paper has 180 questions to be answered in 180 minutes, giving students a minute to answer each question.
The AIMS test for Management Admissions, or ATMA, is a leading entrance test for admissions to the country’s leading management institutions. Top colleges such as MDI Gurgaon, Welingkar, PUMBA, and JIMS Delhi consider ATMA scores for admission to their MBA and PGDM programs. But the cutoffs for the top programs are above 90%ile, leaving little room for error. If you’re targeting Welingkar or PUMBA, you’ll need to give your best shot. But that is only possible if your preparation is moving in the right direction. You need to be well acquainted with the ATMA exam pattern, the time limits, the marking scheme, and the most important topics in each section. With the right information, you’ll be able to draw up a better strategy to tackle the nuances of the test.
In this blog, we’ve covered everything you need to know about the ATMA exam pattern and its most important topics.
ATMA exam pattern – At a glance
| Exam Structure | Details |
| Number of sections | 6 (Analytical Reasoning Skills – I, Verbal Skills – I, Quantitative Skills – I, Analytical Reasoning Skills – II, Verbal Skills –II, Quantitative Skills – II) |
| Duration | 180 minutes or 3 hours |
| Number of questions | 180 |
| Total marks | 180 |
| Language | English |
| Number of answer choices | 4 |
| Mode of examination | Centre-Based Online Test |
| ATMA marking scheme | +1 mark for each correct answer -0.25 for every wrong answer |
ATMA exam pattern – Detailed overview
The ATMA test is administered by the Association of Indian Management Schools or AIMS. The test has been designed to assess the critical thinking, communication, and basic computational skills of students. Keeping in mind this objective, the ATMA paper pattern has been divided into 3 broader sections; each section is broken down further into two subsections each. Each subsection has 30 questions and a time limit of 30 minutes.
Section | Number of Questions | Allotted Time |
| Analytical Reasoning Skills Part 1 | 30 | 30 minutes |
| Analytical Reasoning Skills Part 2 | 30 | 30 minutes |
| Quantitative Skills Part 1 | 30 | 30 minutes |
| Quantitative Skills Part 2 | 30 | 30 minutes |
| Verbal Skills Part 1 | 30 | 30 minutes |
| Verbal Skills Part 2 | 30 | 30 minutes |
| Total | 180 | 180 minutes |
ATMA is a 3-hour long test worth a total of 180 marks. Keep in mind that skipping between sections is not allowed, and there is a strict sectional time limit of 30 minutes. This puts a lot of onus on your speed and accuracy.
ATMA marking scheme
The ATMA exam follows a straightforward marking scheme:
- +1 is awarded for every correct answer.
- -0.25 is deducted for every incorrect answer.
- 0 marks are given for each unattempted question.
ATMA timing – Sectional time limits
Unlike many other similar management tests, ATMA has sectional time limits of 30 minutes. With barely a minute to answer each question in each section, you’ll have to be quick in your calculations. Your reasoning, too, has to be done confidently. For verbal, learn how to peruse through the passages faster to save time. Try and save at least a few minutes at the end of each section to revisit flagged questions and revise the answers.
ATMA most important topics – Section-wise
The ATMA exam is considered by most to have a low difficulty level; it is significantly easier than the likes of CAT and XAT. This spells a great opportunity for those who could not prepare for CAT. ATMA preparation requires much less effort and can easily be cracked with the right strategy.
We’ve shortlisted the most commonly asked topics, collated from previous years’ ATMA papers. Cover these topics well with the right resources, such as the IMS Self-Learning Program for ATMA. It comes with 3300+ practice questions, 80+ conceptual videos, 20+ full-length mocks with detailed analytics, and extensive courseware.
Analytical reasoning
- Number Series
- Statement-Conclusion
- Analogy
- Verbal Logic
- Coding-Decoding
- Syllogism
- Visual Reasoning
- Blood Relations
- Strike the odd one out
- Data Sufficiency
- Arrangements of letters
Verbal ability
- Jumbled Sentences
- Reading Comprehension
- Work meaning
- Synonyms & Antonyms
- Sentence completion
- Grammar
Quantitative skills
- Profit, Loss and Discount
- Inequalities
- Averages
- Problems on Ages
- Surds and Indices
- Averages
- Geometry
- Coordinate Geometry
- Set Theory
- Binomial Theorem
- Complex Numbers
- Simple/ Compound Interest
- Reading Comprehension
- Trigonometry
- Percentages
- Functions
- Mensuration
Studying these topics, understanding the ATMA exam pattern, and giving tons of mock tests will adequately prepare you for the ATMA 2024 exam. For any more questions, fill out the form here to schedule a free counselling session, and one of our mentors will get back to you soon.