Careers360 Logo
ask-icon
share
    Which IIM Can You Get With Low Academics? Selection Criteria, Weightage & Admission Tips

    Which IIM Can You Get With Low Academics? Selection Criteria, Weightage & Admission Tips

    Team Careers360Updated on 20 Nov 2025, 01:03 PM IST

    Candidates with lower academic scores can also get into the prestigious IIMs in India. The IIMs across the country have their IIM selection criteria, which also include academic performance. The role of academics in the selection process may vary from one IIM to another. However, the candidates must have enough academic scores that meet the eligibility criteria for different IIMs as well as the CAT 2025 exam. IIM with low academic eligibility requires a bachelor's degree in any field from a recognised university.

    This Story also Contains

    1. How to Get into IIM with Low Academics
    2. Which IIM Can I Get with Low Academics?
    3. Which IIM Does Not Consider Past Academics?
    Which IIM Can You Get With Low Academics? Selection Criteria, Weightage & Admission Tips
    IIM With Low Academics

    Candidates with low academic scores can make it up by scoring exceptionally well in the CAT exam. A great candidate profile is what an IIM demands. Candidates with low academic performance should focus on building a great individual profile. Read the article to get an answer to the question, Which IIM can I get with low academics?

    How to Get into IIM with Low Academics

    Candidates with low academics can use the tips given below to strengthen their overall profile and improve their chances of getting into an IIM.

    1. Get certificates for leadership, team building, and public speaking by participating in relevant activities at various levels.

    2. Submit a cover letter stating the purpose of joining along with the application form to the particular IIM.

    3. Try getting a decent amount of work experience in a relevant field.

    4. If possible, elaborate on the diversity factor that comes with your application.

    5. Try performing as well as possible in the CAT exam, that too in the first attempt only.

    Amity University-Noida MBA Admissions 2026

    Ranked among top 10 B-Schools in India by multiple publications | Top Recruiters-Google, MicKinsey, Amazon, BCG & many more.

    ITM Business School MBA Admissions 2026

    400+ Company Visits | Highest CTC Offered: 21 LPA | Average CTC Offered: 8.65 LPA | 100% Placement Assurance

    Which IIM Can I Get with Low Academics?

    Certain IIMs give a lesser weightage to the academic performance of the candidate. Some of the IIMs, like IIM Calcutta, IIM Lucknow, IIM Kozhikode, and IIM Indore, have low weightage for academics. Weightage for academics is listed in the table below.

    IIM

    Academics Weightage

    IIM Calcutta

    • No weight to scores in Graduation.

    • Class 10th and 12th percentages are assigned a score of 10 and 15 points, respectively.

    IIM Lucknow

    • No weight to scores in Graduation.

    • Class 10th percentage is not considered.

    • Class 12th percentage is assigned a score of 10 points.

    IIM Kozhikode

    • No weight to scores in Graduation.

    • Class 10th and 12th percentages are assigned a score of 25 and 15 points, respectively, for shortlisting in the PI round only.

    • For the final selection, no weightage is given to the 10th and 12th percentages.

    IIM Indore

    • No weight to scores in Graduation.

    • Class 12th percentage is not considered.

    • Class 10th percentage is assigned a score of 12.5 points.

    Confused between CGPA and Percentage?

    Get your results instantly with our calculator!

    💡 Conversion Formula used is: Percentage = CGPA × 9.5

    Which IIM Does Not Consider Past Academics?

    It is difficult to list any IIM that does not consider past academics. IIMs more or less do consider the past academic performance of a candidate at some stage of the selection process. But, if a candidate has an exceptional CAT percentile, then institutes like IIM Calcutta can consider the CAT score alone at least to shortlist the candidate for the Personal Interview round.

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    Q: Can I get into IIM with poor academics?
    A:

    Getting into IIM with bad academics is possible. Candidates with low academic scores can make it up by scoring exceptionally well in the CAT exam. A great candidate profile is what an IIM demands. Candidates with low academic performance should focus on building a great individual profile.

    Q: Does a gap year look bad for IIM?
    A:

    Gap year is not an issue for getting into IIM. As long as the candidate has all the requisites for the particular IIM, having a gap year is not a big deal.

    Q: Which IIM has the lowest academic weightage?
    A:

    IIM Indore has the lowest academic weightage for its selection process. IIM Indore does not consider the graduation scores in the entire selection process. Class 12th percentage is not considered. Class 10th percentage is assigned a score of 12.5 points.

    Q: Can I get into IIM with low 12th marks?
    A:

    It is possible to get into IIM with low 12th marks. Some IIMs do not give much weightage to the 12th marks, while some IIMs do not consider 12th marks in the final selection process.

    Articles
    |
    Upcoming Bschool Exams
    Ongoing Dates
    GMET Application Date

    8 May'26 - 11 Jul'26 (Online)

    Ongoing Dates
    TANCET Score Card Date

    27 May'26 - 26 Jun'26 (Online)

    Certifications By Top Providers
    Strategic Management
    Via Indian Institute of Management Bangalore
    Online MBA Business Analytics
    Via Centre for Distance and Online Education, Anna University, Chennai
    Digital Marketing
    Via Panjab University, Chandigarh
    Corporate Tax Planning
    Via Netaji Subhash Open University, Kolkata
    Online MBA
    Via Galgotias University, Greater Noida
    Executive Programme in Digital Marketing
    Via Indian Institute of Management Jammu
    Explore Top Universities Across Globe
    University of Essex, Colchester
    Wivenhoe Park Colchester CO4 3SQ
    Oxford Brookes University, Oxford
    Headington Campus Oxford OX3 0BP UK
    Northumbria University, Newcastle City Campus
    Sutherland Building, Northumberland Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 8ST
    Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff
    Llandaff Campus, Western Avenue, Cardiff, CF5 2YB
    University of Reading, Reading
    Whiteknights PO Box 217 Reading Berkshire RG6 6AH
    Bristol Baptist College, Bristol
    The Promenade, Clifton Down, Bristol BS8 3NJ
    Which country is best for MBBS Abroad?
    11 minMay 15, 2026 07:05 AM IST
    What are the disadvantages of MBBS abroad?
    6 minMay 15, 2026 06:05 AM IST

    Questions related to CAT

    On Question asked by student community

    Have a question related to CAT ?

    Hello Dear Student,

    Low-Tier IIIT CSE vs Jadavpur University B.Arch (for MBA Aspirants)

    If your primary goal is to pursue an MBA later, switching from CSE at a lower-tier IIIT to B.Arch at Jadavpur University solely for academic diversity is generally not the best strategy.

    B.Arch and MBA Preparation

    • B.Arch

    Hello Dear Student,

    EWS eligibility for CAT 2025-26 hinges on current financial records, but a renewed certificate is required for final IIM admissions. If future income exceeds the 8 lakh threshold, candidates will likely lose EWS status and be reclassified to the General category rather than facing seat cancellation.

    Hope

    Hello Dear Student,

    With a KCET rank of 37,000 in the SC category , you are in a fairly good position for CSE-related branches in a number of Karnataka engineering colleges. Category-wise cutoffs for SC candidates are often significantly higher than General Merit cutoffs, especially for AI/ML, AI & DS,

    Hello Student,

    With a Rank of 1697, you have a fairly good chance of getting a BVSc & AH seat. Your chances also depend on state domicile as well.

    Admission is done based on two systems, one is the state quota, which is 85 per cent, and the other is

    Hello Riddhi,

    With your profile, target CAT-centric IIMs like Nagpur, Amritsar, Bodh Gaya, Jammu, Sirmaur, Trichy, and Kashipur, while keeping Calcutta and Lucknow as stretch options if you score in the 98+ percentile.