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

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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.

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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.

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: 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.

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.

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Hello,

Since the CAT application form correction window is closed, you must contact the CAT help desk immediately to explain the situation, as you can't edit a wrong date of birth after submission. If it's a major error like date of birth, you may need to go to the exam center with proof and the correct admit card, although getting it corrected before the exam date is the most important first step.

I hope it will clear your query!!

Hi there,

You have to apply separately for each symbiosis college, like SIBM Pune, as they as not automatically included. The CAT form automatically includes many IIMs, but the SNAP exam is a separate test that is given for admission to Symbiosis Institute, which requires its own separate application and fee.

Hope it helps!!!

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To get admitted to the Institute of Management Studies (IMS), BHU, for an MBA in 2026, you must clear the CAT entrance exam. For that you need to fill out the application form of the CAT in August 2026, which you can get on the Official CAT website

I hope it will clear your query!!