MICAT Exam Pattern 2025 (Released): Syllabus & Section-Wise Tips

MICA, known as "The School of Ideas," is a dream college for many marketing aspirants. The first step to getting into this prestigious institution is clearing the MICAT; this article will give you a fair idea about the MICAT exam pattern 2025 and how to tackle it effectively. Cracking the MICAT exam requires a thorough understanding of its pattern and strategically focusing on the most critical sections. Here’s a breakdown of the exam and tips on tackling each part effectively.

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MICAT 2025: Detailed Breakdown of Exam Pattern

Section 1: Psychometric Test

• Number of Questions: 150
• Time Allotted: 30 minutes
• Scoring: Not counted in the final score, but must be cleared to proceed

Tips:

• Maintain consistency in your responses. It's acceptable to acknowledge traits like laziness, as long as your answers are consistent. The aim is not to find the perfect candidate but to identify someone who stays true to their opinions.

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Section 2: Descriptive Test

• Time Allotted: 25 minutes
• Total Marks: 70

This section can be decisive for many students, as significant differences in scores are often seen based on performance here. Even if you score lower in other sections, a strong performance in the Descriptive Test can significantly boost your overall score. Due to the limited time, prioritizing tasks and practicing with previous mocks is crucial.

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Components:

1. Argumentative Writing
   • Format:
     • Write for the statement: 3 points (10 marks)
     • Write against the statement: 3 points (10 marks)
     • Overall opinion on the topic: 3 points (20 marks)
   • Example Statement: "Negotiations require compromises, so perfectionists avoid it."

Tips:

• Please focus on the third part (overall opinion) for 20 marks, as it provides better value for your time. Ensure you complete 3 points in each subsection. Start by jotting down basic ideas and, if time permits, expand on them later.

1. Creative Story Writing
   • Marks: 30
   • Task: Connect four given images and write a story around them.

Tips:

• Practice beforehand is essential. Take a minute to plan your story before writing to avoid losing track. Attempt 3-4 story writing exercises within a limited time frame and seek mentor feedback.

 Section 3: Aptitude Test Time Allocated: 80 minutes Total Marks: 70 The next part of the section is more similar to other exams which include 70 questions with a time limit of 80 minutes. The marking scheme is +1 mark for correct -0.25 marks for incorrect and no deduction for unattempted.

Topic	No of Questions
Verbal Ability (VA)	20
Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation (QA & DA)	20
General Awareness (GA)	10
Divergent-Convergent Reasoning (DCR)	20

Verbal Ability (VA)

• Verbal Ability has topics like Tenses, Articles, Pronouns, and Vocabulary which have short questions.
• The VA section also has 2- 3 sets of reading comprehension.
• The RC contains 8 options per question and that makes the RC part tricky. Aspirants can try to maximize their marks in the verbal part of the section.

Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation (QA & DA)

• Covers topics from CAT and XAT, such as arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and modern math.
• You may find the level of questions a bit higher than CAT or XAT. So, picking questions and selecting them becomes very important.
• In some years, solving just 3-5 questions correctly has been enough to pass the section, despite MICA not releasing any official cutoffs or marks.

General Awareness (GA)

• The general awareness section revolves around brands, brand ambassadors, and taglines.
• Consistent effort and starting your General Awareness preparation a few months before the exam can make this section more manageable.
• Current awareness sites and platforms like GK mojo would be helpful to prepare for this section.

Divergent-Convergent Reasoning (DCR)

• This section combines critical reasoning and logical reasoning, without LR sets.
• Topics include word association, analogies, statement assumption, data sufficiency, puzzles, numerical series, circular arrangement, and visual reasoning.
• Aspirants also preparing for OMETS will have most of the section covered and preparation would be optimum for the DCR section.
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Example These alternatives are associated with either one or more than one clue in some manner. Amongst all these five alternatives, only one alternative is associated with all of the four clues in some manner. This alternative is the right answer. Your task is to mark the right answer from among the alternatives given. Question Clues: (i) Cart                           A) Round (ii) Cider                        B) Juice (iii) Eye                          C) Orchard (iv) Orange                   D) Apple Correct answer – D) Apple as it relates to all the words in the left-hand column. (Example from official MICA website.) By understanding the exam pattern and focusing on these key sections, you can significantly enhance your chances of success in MICAT. Both the authors of the article were able to crack the MICAT exam and went through the whole GEPI process. Article written by Karan Chotrani (SPJIMR) and Tanmay Bhardwaj (XIMB) Do check out the following:

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