How to Prepare for MBA Entrance Mock Tests: Strategy and Mistakes to Avoid
Updated: 18 February 2026, 3:19 pm IST
Introduction
As the demand for MBA (Master of Business Administration) graduates witnesses a rise from 47% (2021) to a massive 78% (2025) in just four years, there is every reason to take this exam with seriousness. This involves taking mock tests to analyse your performance, progress, and errors.
However, the time pressure of exams often leaves you more prone to making mistakes. Hence, to prevent those common mistakes in your MBA mock test and the actual exam, explore the best tips here.
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MBA Mock Test Preparation Strategy
With several MBA entrance exams around the corner, you must be practising a large number of mock tests. However, without the right strategy, succeeding in the exam can be challenging.
To help you out, the following are some of the key MBA entrance mock test tips and preparation strategies:
Follow a Balanced Study Plan
Consistency is key. Studying regularly while taking necessary breaks helps you concentrate better. In other words, there should be a balance between study and leisure.
Learn Shortcuts to Solve Questions
As MBA entrance exams are time-bound, it is essential to learn some shortcuts and formulas for solving the questions fast. For this, you may take help from guidebooks, YouTube videos, or your teachers.
Maintain a Positive Approach
Approaching entrance exams can give rise to anxiety and stress. To avoid this, always practice developing a positive approach, irrespective of mock test results. This will help you have a calm mind for focused studying.
Analyse the Previous Years’ Papers
Referring to the question papers of previous years will help you understand which topics have a higher weightage. This understanding can guide how study time is allocated, allowing more focus on areas that matter most in the exam.
Choose Your Prep Style
Some students prefer attending coaching classes for preparation, while others choose self-study. Make sure you choose your preparation style wisely based on what helps you understand concepts and retain them better.
Read Newspapers Regularly
To stay updated on current affairs for the GK and general awareness sections, make sure to read newspapers daily. Along with this, you can also watch the news to supplement your current affairs knowledge further.
Also Read: MAT 2026 Vs CMAT 2026: Which Exam is Better for MBA Admissions?
Common Mock Test Mistakes and Quick Tips to Fix Them
While the nature of mistakes in mock tests varies from candidate to candidate, there are some common ones which they mainly tend to make. These include:
Not Reading the Question Carefully
The rush to complete your exam on time may unknowingly lead you to read the questions in a hurry. This may result in misinterpretation of questions.
Quick Tip: Focus on the keywords of the question to quickly grasp its gist.
Improper Time Management
Dedicating too much time to the difficult questions, while keeping the easier ones for last, is another common mistake. This leads to an uneven distribution of time.
Quick Tip: Use reading time to identify easy and difficult sections, and plan accordingly.
Neglecting Balanced Preparation
Many candidates either skip weak areas or spend too much time on strong ones, creating an imbalance that affects overall performance.
Quick Tip: Identify both strengths and weaknesses early on, and build a plan that improves weak areas while reinforcing strong ones.
Rough Calculation Mistakes
While performing rough calculations, any carelessness in noting down the numbers from the question paper or solving them can lead to incorrect calculations.
Quick Tip: Before starting calculations, always ensure you have correctly noted the numbers.
Overlooking Self-Care
Preparation for mock tests or exams is often done without prioritising self-care. Initially, it appears to be a sincere dedication to studies, but it eventually hampers your well-being.
Quick Tip: Get adequate sleep, eat healthy, and take breaks in between for better focus.
Also Read: MBA Eligibility - Admission Criteria, Fees, Syllabus
How to Analyse MBA Mocks?
Along with preparing for MBA mock tests, analysing your performance in them is equally important to improve MBA mock scores. The different helpful ways to analyse your MBA mocks are as follows:
Review Unattempted and Incorrect Responses
Check the incorrect responses as well as skipped questions to understand why you left them unanswered or unattempted, whether it was due to unpreparedness or time constraints.
Revisit the Correct Responses Too
Reviewing your correct responses is equally important. It helps you recollect whether you were aware of the right answer or if it was mere guesswork. If it was the latter, you can check out the logic behind it.
Check Section-Wise Scores
When you take note of your section-wise performance, it helps you assess which sections are your core strengths and which ones need improvement. Thus, you can re-plan your strategy based on these outcomes.
Understand the ‘Why’ Behind Correct Answers
Avoid accepting a correct response just for the sake of it. Try to understand the logic behind that particular answer, be it theoretical or numerical. This will ensure you retain the topics studied.
Evaluate Your Response Time
Keep track of the time you take to answer or solve questions from different sections. This will help you figure out which sections are taking longer to complete. Thereafter, you can practise time management regularly with more mock tests.
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Conclusion
The entrance exam for the MBA course is a crucial step towards securing a seat in your preferred business school. While consistent and strategised preparation is essential, reviewing common mistakes and learning from them is also important. With the mentioned quick tips and MBA mock exam strategy, you can plan your way of attempting mock tests better.
For an entrance exam-free MBA admission in a premier institution, you can have a look at the online general MBA, an MBA with dual specialisation, and an MBA with a single specialisation at Amity University Online’s website.
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