ATMA July 2026 Analytical Reasoning Section Analysis: Difficulty Level, Memory-Based Questions and Good Attempts

The ATMA July 2026 Analytical Reasoning sections were rated Moderate to Difficult by students who appeared on July 13, 2026, with a good attempt of 20–24 questions per section considered safe for top B-school shortlists.

ATMA July 2026 was conducted by AIMS (Association of Indian Management Schools) on July 13, 2026. The exam includes two Analytical Reasoning sections — Section 1 and Section 5 — each with 30 questions, making AR the single largest component of the paper with 60 out of 180 total questions. This section analysis covers the difficulty verdict, topic-wise breakdown, memory-based questions recalled by students, and the recommended good attempt count.

• Both AR sections together carry 60 questions out of 180 in the full ATMA paper.
• Overall AR difficulty was Moderate to Difficult — Section 1 was easier than Section 5.
• Seating arrangements and puzzles dominated both sections, accounting for nearly 40% of all AR questions.
• A good attempt of 20–24 questions per section with 85%+ accuracy is considered competitive.
• Based on ATMA July 2025 trends, no negative marking was reported for the July 2026 session.

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ATMA July 2026 Analytical Reasoning Section Overview

ATMA is one of the few national management entrance exams that repeats the Analytical Reasoning section twice within the same test. Section 1 and Section 5 both test AR skills, giving students two opportunities to score in this area. The two sections may differ slightly in topic mix and difficulty, but follow the same 30-question, 30-minute format.

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ATMA July 2026 Analytical Reasoning Difficulty Level Analysis

Students who appeared for ATMA July 2026 described the AR sections as Moderate to Difficult overall. Section 1, attempted early in the exam when concentration is high, was rated Moderate. Section 5 — the second AR section — was rated Moderate to Difficult, with more complex puzzle sets and multi-step data sufficiency problems that required longer solving time.

Direction and distance problems and syllogisms were the easiest question types across both sections. Multi-variable seating arrangements and critical reasoning passages took the longest time per question and contributed most to the difficulty rating.

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Topic-wise Question Distribution in ATMA July 2026 Analytical Reasoning

Based on questions recalled by students who appeared for ATMA July 2026, the topic-wise distribution across both AR sections is as follows. These numbers are based on student memory and may vary slightly from the actual paper.

Seating arrangements and puzzles together formed 24 out of 60 AR questions — nearly 40% of the AR paper. Students who had strong practice in linear and circular arrangement sets had a clear advantage in managing time across both sections.

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Memory-Based Questions from ATMA July 2026 Analytical Reasoning Section

The following questions are based on student memory after ATMA July 2026. These are representative of the type and style of questions asked and are not verbatim reproductions of the actual paper.

Seating Arrangement (Representative Question):

Eight people — A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H — are seated in a circular arrangement facing the centre. B sits second to the right of D. C is to the immediate left of B. A is not adjacent to D. E sits directly opposite F. G sits between H and A. Who sits to the immediate right of G?

Blood Relations (Representative Question):

Pointing to a photograph, Rahul says, "She is the daughter of the only son of my grandfather." How is Rahul related to the person in the photograph?

(a) Brother (b) Uncle (c) Nephew (d) Father

Answer: (a) Brother

Direction and Distance (Representative Question):

Priya walks 8 km towards the North. She turns left and walks 6 km. She then turns left again and walks 8 km. How far is she from her starting point, and in which direction?

Answer: 6 km, West

Data Sufficiency (Representative Question):

What is the age of Suresh?
Statement I: Suresh is 12 years younger than his brother.
Statement II: Suresh’s brother was born in 1998.
Is the data in both statements together sufficient to answer the question?

Answer: Yes, both statements together are sufficient.

Critical Reasoning (Representative Question):

All managers are leaders. Some leaders are entrepreneurs. Which conclusion definitely follows?
(a) All managers are entrepreneurs
(b) Some managers are entrepreneurs
(c) No manager is an entrepreneur
(d) Some leaders are managers

Answer: (d) Some leaders are managers

Coding-Decoding (Representative Question):

If RANK is coded as SBOL, how is MARK coded in the same logic?

Answer: NBSL

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Good Attempts and Expected Score in ATMA July 2026 Analytical Reasoning

A combined good attempt of 40–46 questions across both AR sections with 85% or higher accuracy is expected to place you in the 90th–95th percentile range in the Analytical Reasoning component. These figures are based on ATMA July 2025 trends and are expected estimates for July 2026.

Accuracy matters more than raw attempt count in ATMA AR. Attempting 22 questions correctly scores higher than attempting 28 questions with 10 wrong answers, even under a no-negative-marking scheme, since wrong answers do not contribute to your score. Students targeting IBS Hyderabad, XIME, or other top ATMA-accepting institutes should aim for the Very Good band at minimum.

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Strategy for ATMA Analytical Reasoning Section

For students preparing for upcoming ATMA sessions, the ATMA July 2026 paper offers useful insight into what the AR sections demand:

• Solve blood relations and direction problems first — these are consistently the easiest question types and can be completed in under 90 seconds each, helping you secure easy marks early.
• Attempt seating arrangements after scanning the setup — multi-variable arrangements take 4–6 minutes each; skip and return if the setup feels too complex on first read.
• Reserve data sufficiency and critical reasoning for last — these require more logical processing time and should be attempted only after completing the easier topics.
• Use the two AR sections strategically — if you lose time on a topic in Section 1, recognise the pattern and manage time better in Section 5.
• Practice at least 5 full ATMA mock tests — the timed format and section order are fixed; familiarity with the sequence significantly reduces exam-day stress.
• Do not over-attempt — with no reported negative marking, accuracy remains the primary differentiator for percentile ranking.