IBSAT 2026 slot booking opens: choose from 8 December test dates

By TUF News Desk · Published 30 October 2026 · 3 min read

Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy

MBA aspirants aiming for ICFAI Business School can now pick their own exam day. IBS opened the slot booking portal for IBSAT 2026 on October 30, and applicants for the two-year MBA and PGPM batches starting in 2027 can choose both the date and the time slot for their test.

The exam runs across eight dates in December, spread over four weekends: December 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26 and 27. Each day has two slots, at 11 am and 3 pm. IBS says seats for each date and time slot are limited, so candidates who wait may have to settle for whatever is left.

The test itself

IBSAT 2026 is an online test taken from home under remote proctoring. It has 140 questions to be answered in two hours, split across four sections: Verbal Ability, Reading Comprehension, Quantitative Aptitude, and Data Adequacy and Data Interpretation. IBS describes the syllabus as similar to CAT and other national management entrance exams.

How to book a slot

Booking happens only on the official IBSAT portal. Log in with the application number and password sent by email from ibsat@ibsindia.org, open the Schedule IBSAT option in the left menu, and click the book slot link. Then choose a test date and a time slot from what is still available.

Results, weekend by weekend

Results and scholarship allotments come out after each test weekend, on December 7, 14, 21 and 28. That gives candidates who test early their outcome weeks before the last batch sits the exam. After that, the centralised selection process is scheduled for February 2027 at IBS Hyderabad, and IBS will hold selection briefings in major cities in January 2027. Candidates planning to submit CAT, XAT, NMAT or GMAT scores are advised to apply early, so their profile registration is complete and briefing invitations reach them before scorecards are released.

Free mock tests, with prize money

Two national mock test windows remain open, on November 21 and December 9, free on the IBSAT portal. IBS says more than 5,000 aspirants took part in earlier sessions. The top 100 rankers in the mock tests get cash prizes: Rs 2 lakh for first place, Rs 1 lakh for second, Rs 50,000 for third, and Rs 5,000 each for ranks 4 to 100.

What the test leads to

IBSAT is the entrance test for the two-year full-time MBA and PGPM programmes at nine IBS campuses for the 2027-29 batch. IBS Hyderabad, the flagship campus, is a constituent of the ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education, and its MBA programme carries AACSB accreditation. IBS reports its Hyderabad school ranked 21st in Business Today 2026, 46th in NIRF 2025, and 3rd globally in the Case Impact Index 2025. Candidates still weighing which campus to aim for can read the guide on how to choose a university in India before locking in a slot.

Frequently asked questions

When is IBSAT 2026 held?

The exam runs on December 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26 and 27, 2026, with a morning slot at 11 am and an afternoon slot at 3 pm each day.

How do I book my IBSAT 2026 slot?

Log in at ibsat.org with the application number and password emailed to you, open the Schedule IBSAT option, click the book slot link, and pick your date and time.

When will IBSAT 2026 results be declared?

Results and scholarship allotments are announced after each test weekend, on December 7, 14, 21 and 28, 2026.

Can I apply to IBS with a CAT, XAT, NMAT or GMAT score?

IBS advises candidates submitting CAT, XAT, NMAT or GMAT scores to apply early, so their profile registration is complete and selection briefing invitations reach them before scorecards are released.

Frequently asked questions

Sources: The Tribune, Business Standard