A lot of people preparing for the IBA admission test are genuinely capable. They put in the effort, practice regularly, and sit for mocks, basically do all the “right” things. Yet, many of them fall short, not because they lack ability, but because of a few small yet critical mistakes that often go unnoticed.

Many students focus only on studying and practicing questions, but they don’t simulate the real exam enough. That’s a problem, because walking into the exam hall feels very different. And no, mocks don’t necessarily have to be at a coaching center. They can be done on your own with just a timer on your phone. In fact, that’s what I mostly did myself.

That being said, another mistake is people assuming that their mock performance can accurately predict their performance in the actual admission test. Mocks do give you a sense of where you stand and how you compare to others, but letting that get to your head can be harmful. Because the real exam comes with pressure, uncertainty, and time anxiety. And that changes everything. 

Another mistake I see a lot: Jumping from one resource to another without consistency. It feels like you’re doing a lot, but in reality, you’re not sticking to anything long enough to actually master it. So your preparation ends up being all over the place instead of solid and consistent.

Many students learn one problem at a time instead of one concept at a time. They memorize methods, rather than understanding patterns. The moment a question is slightly different, they struggle to figure out the solution. Fully understanding concepts and being able to identify the patterns is the way to go. 

I think half of my prep came from solving questions I got wrong in mock tests. For example, if in a 30 mark exam I solved 10 correctly, got 10 wrong, and couldn’t even solve 10, I would always learn the latter 20 after getting the results. If you’re sitting for exams over and over without reviewing your mistakes, the exams become pointless.

Another mistake is diving into preparation without a plan. It is a mistake that many students don’t even realize they’re making. If you’re doing a thousand things but not coordinating them strategically, they will not end up being fruitful. No, you do not have to follow a strict routine or plan; it can very well be flexible. But not having one at all can get very messy, and we do not want that.

Each step you take should come from being aware of yourself. A lack of self-awareness is one of the most limiting factors in preparation. If you don’t clearly understand your strengths, weaknesses, and patterns of mistakes, you cannot adjust your strategy effectively. Preparation then becomes generic rather than personalized, which makes improvement slower and less efficient.

Not figuring out a strategy for yourself will cost you a lot in the long run. Everyone has a different way of performing best. Some people should start with their strongest section, some need to switch around. But if you never experiment and figure out what works for you, you’re basically going in blind.

Some tend to heavily rely on past papers. While past papers can help you understand the structure and common patterns, over-relying on them can create a false sense of security. Exams like IBA often include unexpected variations, and if your preparation is too dependent on repetition of past questions, you may struggle when faced with something unfamiliar.

Now comes a mistake that I myself still make to this very day: not practicing enough. Understanding something once doesn’t mean you can solve it under pressure. You need repetition. A lot of it. Without enough practice, even familiar concepts can feel difficult when you’re short on time. 

Another big mistake is not knowing what to skip and when to do so. In the admission test, you’re not supposed to solve everything. If you spend too much time on one question, you’re losing time you could’ve used elsewhere. Knowing when to move on is a skill you have to build.

Taking advice from a lot of people and believing everything you see in the Facebook groups is another very common mistake. It’s easy to get overwhelmed because everyone has an opinion — friends, seniors, teachers, coaching centers. But if you try to follow everything, you end up confused and inconsistent. Not all advice is meant for you, so you have to filter what actually fits your style and ignore the rest.

Neglecting writing can cost you a lot. A lot of students treat writing as if it’ll somehow take care of itself. But it doesn’t. It doesn't matter how high you score in the MCQ section if you don’t perform well in the writing section. So you should fit writing into your study routine too. 

Overestimating and underestimating yourself are two equally harmful mistakes. Overestimating yourself can make you careless, and underestimating yourself can make you panic. You need a realistic understanding of where you stand so you can prepare and perform properly.

Now, last but most certainly not the least:  Not having a backup plan. Placing all expectations on a single exam increases pressure significantly. This heightened pressure can negatively affect performance. Having alternative options does not indicate a lack of commitment; rather, it helps maintain a calmer and more balanced mindset. 

These are the most common mistakes I’ve seen people make, some of which I’ve even made myself. You probably won’t get everything right from the get-go, and that’s fine. Mistakes are inevitable; they’re part of how you improve. What matters most is acknowledging them. And once you do acknowledge them and work accordingly, things will fall into place. Trust.

Bushra Adiba Bani
IBA BBA 33rd Batch.