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Getting into an IIM is the ultimate dream for every management aspirant. To get into an IIM, the first thing to do is to take the CAT exam. There are approx. 5500 seats in all of the IIMs across the country. All these seats are filled in through the CAT examination only. IIM does not undertake candidates through any other process. IIM Calcutta will conduct the CAT 2024 exam.
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The IIM has a series of rounds to evaluate the candidates on different parameters like communication, public speaking, creativity, idea presentation, etc. The IIMs also have reservation criteria for the candidates from the reserved categories.
First of all, to become eligible for applying to an IIM, a candidate must satisfy the following eligibility criteria.
A candidate must have a 3 year Bachelor’s degree in any stream
The candidate must have at least 50% marks or an equivalent CGPA (45% for the reserved category candidates) from a UGC-recognised institute.
A valid CAT scorecard.
A CAT percentile at par with the CAT cutoff
Next, the selection criteria for IIM comprises the CAT score which is used to shortlist candidates for the PI rounds. The shortlisted candidates are invited for a Personal Interview with a panel of experts. At some IIMs WAT (Writing Aptitude Test) is also conducted. The performance of the candidates is evaluated by the committee. After that, IIMs release a final merit list of candidates who are selected for the MBA/PGDM academic batch.
The CAT cutoff for IIM depends on certain factors like the difficulty level of the CAT exam, the number of qualifying candidates, normalization of scores, seat matrix, reservation criteria, etc. Clearing the CAT cutoff is a must. In addition to that, the candidate must also clear the section cutoff for each CAT exam section. The 2024 expected CAT cutoff for different IIMs is provided in the table below.
Name of the IIM | CAT Cutoff 2024 (Expected) | CAT Cutoff 2023 |
99-100 | 99.68 | |
99-100 | 99.89 | |
99 | 99.71 | |
97+ | 98 | |
97+ | 98 | |
97-98 | 98 | |
95+ | 96 | |
95+ | 96 | |
95+ | 96 | |
94 | 95 | |
94 | 95 | |
94 | 95 | |
94 | 95 | |
92 | 93 | |
92 | 93 | |
92 | 93 | |
90 | 92 | |
95 | 96 | |
95 | 96 |
To get into the IIM a candidate must take the CAT exam and score at par with the CAT cutoff specified by the IIM that is aimed for. The candidate then needs to perform well in the PI round to get into IIM by getting shortlisted in the final merit list.
Candidates can not join the MBA at IIM after the 12th. However, they can join certain IIMs that have a 5 year integrated program in management (IPMAT). IPMAT program is provided by IIM Jammu, IIM Rohtak, IIM Bodh Gaya, IIM Indore, and IIM Ranchi
The CAT cutoff for the top IIMs is between the 99 to 100 percentile. This is the percentile at which the final selection happens. The qualifying CAT percentile for IIM ranges from 70 to 80 depending on the particular IIM. At this percentile, a candidate becomes eligible to apply to the particular IIM to participate in its selection process.
There is no prescribed age limit for IIM as per the latest updates. The CAT exam too does not have any age limit applicable to the candidates.
The student cannot join the postgraduate MA program directly in the second year of the MA after completing the MBA.
Universities generally expect students to begin the first year of a masters' program even though they had qualifications at the level of a bachelor's degree. The university's curriculum along with the courses are planned to give an in-depth knowledge of the subjects.
But you could opt for:
Postgraduate Studies:
Research Career: In case research interests you, then you can pursue a Ph.D. in your specific interest.
Specialized Master's Programs: Find any specific master's course that supports the career goal.
Professional Certifications:
Make a professional certification in CFA, CA, or FRM to enhance the professional skills and better opportunities in the career field.
Job Entry via MBA
After gaining an MBA from a renowned institution, it's possible to get entry into the corporate world where the diversity in the career field is assured.
In the end, it would depend on what you would like and what you are particularly interested in. It will be better if you take a suggestion from your academic advisor or career counselor.
Hello Pratik,
If your family income exceeds 8 LPA, it will affect your eligibility for the NC-OBC category under the CAT reservation rules. The NC-OBC category requires that the family income should be below 8 LPA to qualify. If you anticipate that your income will exceed this threshold, you should update your status and notify the CAT authorities .
Here's what you can do:
Email the CAT authorities
: Inform them about the potential change in your income status and request to be considered under the
General
category, if applicable. You should do this before the examination or any further processing, as your eligibility for the OBC category depends on the income criteria.
Documents and Proof
: Make sure you have a valid
OBC certificate
and any relevant documentation regarding your family income, in case they require verification. Also, be aware that if your income exceeds 8 LPA, you might need to apply under the
General
category, as the OBC-NC reservation is no longer applicable.
General Category Consideration : If your application is accepted as General, you will be evaluated based on the General category criteria, including cutoffs and ranking.
To summarize, notifying the CAT authorities is the correct approach to avoid discrepancies later, and if your income is above the threshold, you will be treated as a General candidate for the admissions process.
For more details about CAT exam you can check out an article by Careers360 whose link is given below:
Link: https://bschool.careers360.com/exams/cat
I hope this answer helps you. If you have more queries then feel free to share your questions with us we will be happy to assist you.
Thank you and wishing you all the best for your bright future.
Hi Shreya ,
Having a tattoo on your wrist should not create a problem during the CAT exam as long as it does not contain any content that violates exam rules , such as communication-related symbols , unauthorised messages or any text resembling formulas or answers .
For a safe side , it is recommended :
1. Inform the Invigilators : Let them know about your tattoo during the identification check , so there are no misunderstandings .
2. Follow the Guidelines : Ensure you follow all instructions regarding permissible items and dress code on the exam day .
Hope this helps you .
ALL THE BEST .
To know about this please prefer our college predictor
Hello,
Yes, you can also join IIMs two years after graduation, depending upon the justification in interviews and your performance in entrance exams. If you are not sure about CAT, try those other management exams less hard:
Common Management Admission Test: Easier than CAT; 4-5 months of continuous preparation will suffice.
MAT : Much easier and takes place thrice a year.
SNAP (Symbiosis National Aptitude Test): A bit easier than CAT, apt for Symbiosis Institutes.
Xavier Aptitude Test or XAT : Hence, easier than CAT but the unique decision-making section.
Use exams like CMAT and MAT as a challenge to be competitively prepared. This can be given about 4-5 months, along with a few rounds of mock tests and smart studying.
A career as Marketing Director is also known as a marketing expert who is responsible for the overall marketing aspect of the company. He or she oversees plans and develops the company's budget. The marketing Director collaborates with the business team to plan and develop the marketing and branding strategies for the company's products or services.
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Content Marketing Specialists are also known as Content Specialists. They are responsible for crafting content, editing and developing it to meet the requirements of digital marketing campaigns. To ensure that the material created is consistent with the overall aims of a digital marketing campaign, content marketing specialists work closely with SEO and digital marketing professionals.
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A Marketing manager plans and executes marketing initiatives to create demand for goods and services and increase consumer awareness of them. A marketing manager prevents unauthorised statements and informs the public that the business is doing everything to investigate and fix the line of products. Students can pursue an MBA in Marketing Management courses to become marketing managers.
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Digital marketing is growing, diverse, and is covering a wide variety of career paths. Each job function aids in the development of effective digital marketing strategies and techniques. The aims and objectives of the individuals who opt for a career as a digital marketing executive are similar to those of a marketing professional: to build brand awareness, promote company services or products, and increase conversions. Individuals who opt for a career as Digital Marketing Executives, unlike traditional marketing companies, communicate effectively through suitable technology platforms.
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