Quick Answer
There is no official fixed passing mark for the IBA DU admission test. While many believe 60% is the magic number, the reality is more nuanced. The cutoff depends on question difficulty and overall candidate performance. Here’s what you need to know—and how to strategize effectively.
What is IBA’s Passing Bar?
IBA doesn’t officially declare a “passing mark.” However, most aspirants and mentors treat 60% in each section as a safe target.
For example:
If English has 25 questions, aim for at least 15 correct.
If Math has 25 questions, aim for 15 correct.
If Analytical has 20 questions, aim for 12 correct.
But is this truly required? Not always.
Is There a Fixed Passing Mark for IBA DU?
No, there isn’t. The real cutoff changes every year, based on:
Difficulty of the questions
Performance of other test-takers
This means you don’t necessarily need to hit 60% in every subject to get admitted.
My Personal Experience: Breaking the 60% Myth
When I appeared for the IBA DU BBA Admission Test in 2021, I thought I needed 60% in every subject.
Here’s what happened. I answered:
English: 20 out of 25 questions
Math: 12 out of 25 questions
Analytical: 15 out of 20 questions
That means I answered:
~80% in English
~75% in Analytical
Less than 50% in Math
And yet—I ranked 94th and got into IBA.
So much for the “60% in every section” rule!
How Much Do You Actually Need? (Data Insights)
Here’s a snapshot of real scores from my batch (IBA BBA 29th):
Rank | Total Score (out of 115) |
|---|---|
1st | 82.35 |
2nd | 81.8 |
3rd | 80.8 |
13th | 76.65 |
47th | 67.8 |
71st | 65 |
94th | 62.65 (My Score) |
125th | 58 (Cutoff) |
Observation:
The cutoff for admission was ~58/115.
Top scores were above 80, but the gap between 47th and 94th was small.
Patterns You Should Know
Pattern #1: Big Gap Between Top and Cutoff
The gap between the highest score (82.35) and the cutoff (58) was ~24 marks.
Pattern #2: Narrow Gaps in Mid-Ranks
Between Rank 47 and Rank 94, the difference was just ~5 points.
Example: The person ranked 95th scored 62, only 0.65 points less than me.
Takeaway: You don’t need to top the exam. You just need to clear the admission threshold.
Why Chasing the Top Rank Can Backfire
Many candidates try to over-attempt to boost their rank.
But here’s the risk:
Guessing leads to negative marking.
Rushing through hard questions hurts your accuracy.
Smart strategy beats blind ambition.
What About Individual Section Passing Bars?
Here’s where it gets tricky:
IBA doesn’t publish subject-wise cutoffs.
Based on my experience and peer cases:
Scoring 50% in each section is a safe goal.
If a section is very tough, the bar adjusts downwards.
Pro Tip
If a section feels hard, it’s likely hard for everyone.
This means the passing bar will lower automatically for that section.
Practical Strategy to Clear the Passing Bar
Aim for at least 50% accuracy overall.
Don’t guess blindly—negative marking hurts.
Focus on your strengths:
If Math feels hard, score high in English & Analytical.
Compensate wisely:
Struggling in one section? Offset it by excelling in another.
Stay calm—over-pushing can lead to mistakes.
FAQs
Q1: What is the passing mark for IBA DU admission test?
There is no fixed passing mark. Historically, scoring 50–60% overall is safe.
Q2: Is 60% mandatory in each subject?
No. Many admitted candidates scored less in one subject but compensated in others.
Q3: What is a safe overall score?
Aim for 65+ out of 115, based on previous years.
Q4: How does difficulty affect the passing bar?
Harder questions = lower bar. If a section feels tough for you, it’s likely tough for everyone.
Final Takeaways
Don’t obsess over 60% in every section—focus on a balanced score.
Your goal: Get admitted, not rank 1st.
Play smart. Stay calm. Avoid negative marking.