IIM Admission Criteria 2026: CAT exam 2025 is the first step for getting into IIMs, which was held on November 30, 2025. The next steps are Written Ability Test and Group Discussion/ Personal Interview. WAT and GD/ PI are one of the main steps in IIM MBA admission 2026. The IIM selection process will be conducted after the declaration of CAT result 2025. Candidates who achieve the CAT 2025 cut off will be selected for WAT and PI. The final step in the IIM admission 2026 selection process is based on the overall profile of the candidate– CAT score, academic score, work experience, category, and WAT and PI score. Read this article to learn more about the IIM admission criteria for MBA, IIM selection process, IIM shortlist criteria, etc.
IIM Kozhikode will announce the Common Admission Test (CAT 2025) results tomorrow, December 24, at 6 pm. Candidates can access the results on the official website, iimcat.ac.in.
CAT 2025 result will be announced in the third week of December 2025, tentatively. Following which, all 21 IIMs will begin with their screening process for the CAT aspirants based on their CAT score and academic performance (performance in Class 10, Class 12 and graduation), from the first week of January 2026. By then, all IIMs would have their minimum CAT cutoffs fixed, both section-wise and category-wise. Check out the table below, which mentions the key dates of all the events that will take place after the commencement of the CAT 2025 exam.
Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad has released its admission criteria for 2026-28 in an online mode on its official website. The selection of the candidates for admission to the 2026-28 batch of the MBA at IIM Ahmedabad is a two-step process. IIM Ahmedabad does the preliminary screening in stage 1 where eligible applicants with a valid CAT 2025 score will be short-listed.
The second stage is when the Analytical Writing Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI) are held. IIM Ahmedabad admissions will be offered to shortlisted candidates or each category (General/SC/ST/NC-OBC/PwD) based on their ‘Final Composite Score’s (FCS).
Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore will release IIM B admission criteria for the academic batch of 2026-28. Admission to IIM Bangalore is based on CAT score, academic profile, work experience, and communication skills among other parameters. The IIM Bangalore selection process can be divided into two stages, which is as follows:
Phase 1: Candidates who have secured a pre-determined CAT 2025 score will be shortlisted. These candidates will be called for a Writing Ability Test (WAT) and a Personal Interview.
Phase 2: The performance of the candidates will be evaluated as per the weightage given in the table below and selected candidates will be offered admissions as per their cumulative score.
IIM Bangalore Selection Process - Parameters and Weightage
Parameters
Weightage( %)
CAT score**
55
Bachelor’s Degree
10
Work Experience
10
10th and 12th
10
Gender Diversity
05
Weightage to CAT 2025 will be as follows: VARC - 19 points, DILR - 21 points, and QA - 15 points.
Category-wise Number of Candidates Shortlisted for IIM Bangalore Interview
Category
General
EWS
NC-OBC
SC
ST
PWD
No. of candidates who filled the CAT form
175565
13905
46023
21167
5622
1087
No. of Candidates Shortlisted
739
155
471
299
148
83
% of Form Filled
0.42
1.11
1.02
1.41
2.63
7.64
Category-wise CAT score for IIM Bangalore interview shortlist (composite score)
Category
General
EWS
NC-OBC
SC
ST
PWD
2024-2026
48.8695
39.2903
40.4451
34.0663
27.8257
35.1605
*Source: RTI
3. IIM Calcutta Admission Criteria
IIM Calcutta will release MBA admission criteria for the academic batch of 2026-28. Earlier, the IIM Calcutta increased the weightage to other parameters on the shortlist for the personal interview round.
The selection of the candidates for IIM Calcutta admission to the 2026-28 batch of the PGP at IIM Calcutta is a three-step process:
Step 1: Minimum CAT percentile cutoffs to be considered for PI and WAT process
Step 2: Shortlisting for PI and WAT process
Step 3: Criteria for Final Selection for the MBA Programme
CAT 2025 Percentile Predictor
Use the CAT Percentile Predictor to estimate your score, gauge your performance, and know your chances of getting shortlisted by IIMs.
Candidates must note that the actual section-wise and overall CAT cut-off may be much higher than the above-mentioned minimum percentiles as it will depend upon the number of candidates to be called for Personal Interview (PI) in each category.
IIM Calcutta Selection 2026-27 - Parameters and weightage
Parameters
Weightage
CAT 2025 Score
30
Personal Interview (PI)
48
Writing Ability Test (WAT)
08
Points awarded for Academic Diversity at Bachelor’s and Master’s level for non-engineering degrees and professional qualifications as per Table 5.
06
Work Experience (as per the formula provided in the section on Work Experience)
08
Total
100
Amity University-Noida MBA Admissions 2026
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Category-wise Number of Candidates Shortlisted for IIM Calcutta Interview
Category
General
EWS
NC-OBC
SC
ST
PWD
No. of candidates who filled the CAT form
177009
14108
46567
21447
5727
-
No. of Candidates Shortlisted
931
62
417
430
230
-
% of Form Filled
0.53
0.44
0.9
2
4.02
-
Category-wise CAT score for IIM Calcutta interview shortlist (composite score)
Category
General
EWS
NC-OBC
SC
ST
PWD
2024-2026
51.3
46.95
44.775
38.714
33.915
-
*Source: RTI
4. IIM Lucknow Admission Criteria
Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Lucknow has released the admission criteria for the academic batch of 2026-28. IIM Lucknow admission process will be carried out based on CAT 2025 score, academic performance, and other criteria. Candidates should keep a check on the basic criteria for IIM Lucknow admission.
The composite score is calculated for shortlisting for the WAT-PI stage after which candidates have to fill the WAT-PI online form before the due deadline.
CAT Cutoff for IIM Lucknow 2025
Minimum Sectional and Total Cutoff Percentile for Shortlisting for WAT-PI Stage
Category
MBA
MBA-ABM
MBA-SM
VARC
DILR
QA
Total
VARC
DILR
QA
Total
VARC
DILR
General
85
85
85
90
80
80
80
85
80
80
EWS
77
77
77
82
72
72
72
77
72
72
NC-OBC
77
77
77
82
72
72
72
77
72
72
SC
55
55
55
65
55
55
55
65
55
55
ST
50
50
50
60
50
50
50
55
50
50
PwD
50
50
50
60
50
50
50
55
50
50
VARC= Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension; DILR= Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning; QA= Quantitative Ability
Stage 2: The second stage is the final selection stage in which the final score for selection in the PGP program for batch 2026-28 will be calculated on the basis of assigned weightage as follows:
Weights for Final Score calculation after WAT-PI stage
Component
Weight
MBA & MBA-SM
MBA-ABM
Common Admission Test (CAT)
30
35
Academic Performance (12M + GM)
5+5
5+5
Diversity Factor (DFa +DFb)
5
5
Work Experience
5
NA
Writing Ability Test (WAT)*
10
10
Personal Interview (PI)
40
40
Final Score
100
100
The minimum requirement for getting a pass in P1 is 12 out of 40 marks. All names of the candidates who do not pass in P1 will not be included in the final merit list.
Final discretion on the academic category will rest with the IIM Lucknow Admissions Committee.
Reservation policy as prescribed by the Government of India for admission to Central Educational Institutions (CEIs) will be followed for admissions.
Any dispute concerning Admissions for the batch 2026-28 would be subject to the jurisdiction of the competent Courts within the territorial jurisdiction of the city of Lucknow only
IIM Lucknow Call Cut Off
Category-wise Number of Candidates Shortlisted for IIM Lucknow Interview
Category
General
EWS
NC-OBC
SC
ST
PwD
No. of candidates who filled the CAT form
176969
14153
46590
21444
5608
1085
No. of Candidates Shortlisted
1268
312
910
792
396
236
% of Form Filled
0.72
2.2
1.95
3.69
7.06
21.75
Category-wise CAT score for IIM Lucknow interview shortlist (composite score)
Category
General
EWS
NC-OBC
SC
ST
PwD
2024-2026
48.80616
35.4395
38.28033
27.14991
19.40983
8.736601
*Source: RTI
5. IIM Indore Admission Criteria
IIM Indore will release the admission criteria in online mode. Candidates will be shortlisted on the basis of CAT 2025 score, academic performance, and other criteria. Candidates will be able to check their provisional IIM shortlist for Indore by entering their CAT 2025 registration number, email id/ date of birth.
IIM Indore results will contain the list of shortlisted candidates based on performance in CAT, past academic records, and gender diversity. Candidates will be able to check their status if they have been shortlisted for PI rounds. IIM Indore admission criteria are conducted in three-phase i.e. eligibility criteria, shortlisting the candidates for PI and the final merit list is prepared on the basis of academic diversity, gender diversity, work experience and so forth. IIM Indore will also be conducting a Personal Interview (PI).
Selection of the candidates for admission to the 2026-28 batch at IIM Indore a three-phase selection process
Phase 1 - Eligibility Criteria
Phase 2 - Shortlist for Personal Interview (PI)
Phase 3 - Final selection
IIM Indore Admission Criteria - Final Composite Score Computation
Parameters
Weightage
10th Standard/ SSC Score
12.5
CAT
VARC: 18.75 DILR: 9.375 QA: 9.375
PI Score
50
Final Composite Score
Sum of the above
IIM Indore PI Call Percentile
Category-wise Number of Candidates Shortlisted for IIM Indore Interview
Category
General
EWS
NC-OBC
SC
ST
PwD
No. of candidates who filled the CAT form
105470
9910
31173
14332
3719
845
2024-2026
1827
216
1377
863
491
335
% of Form Filled
1.08
1.56
3.07
4.22
9.2
32.21
% of Eligible
18.76
41.14
44.62
40.27
51.36
100
Category-wise CAT score for IIM Indore interview shortlist (composite score)
Category
General
EWS
NC-OBC
SC
ST
PwD
2024-26
60.0112
53.6639
51.504
46.9869
40.9503
11.7512
*Source: RTI
6. IIM Rohtak Selection Process
Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Rohtak will announce IIM Rohtak PGP admission criteria in online mode. Candidates will get their IIM Rohtak PGP result by entering their application number and date of birth. Candidates who will get shortlisted as per their CAT 2025 score, will have to attend the selection process of IIM Rohtak. IIM Rohtak admission process will consist of a five-stage process to offer admission into the PGP programme. Check the detailed stages of IIM Rohtak PGP admission.
Stage 1- Online registration for IIM Rohtak PGP programme 2026-28
Stage 2- Appear for online Personal Interview (PI)
Stage 3- Release of final selection list on the basis of CAT, PI and diversity score
Stage 4- Provisional admission offer for PGP programme 2026-28 batch
Stage 5- Reporting for joining the Post Graduate Programme (PGP)
What CAT Score Secures an IIM Rohtak Interview Call
Category-wise no. of candidates shortlisted for Interview Round
Category
General
EWS
NC-OBC
SC
ST
PWD
No. of candidates who filled the CAT form
2790
398
1934
1421
319
53
Shortlisted
2354
384
1873
1382
306
39
% of Form Filled
84.37
96.48
96.85
97.26
95.92
73.58
Category-wise minimum percentile for shortlisting to interview round
Category
General
EWS
NC-OBC
SC
ST
PWD
2024-2026
96
92
82
60
50
40
*Source: RTI
7. IIM Kozhikode Admission Criteria
Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Kozhikode will announce PGP admission policy and procedure for the academic batch for 2026-28. IIM Kozhikode admission criteria adopts a three-staged selection process for its admissions to the PGP 2026-2028.
Phase 1 - Registration of candidates meeting the minimum IIM Kozhikode eligibility criteria Phase 2 - Shortlisting Criteria for WAT & PI Phase 3 - Final selection
Category-wise Number of Candidates Shortlisted for IIM Kozhikode Interview
Category
General
EWS
NC-OBC
SC
ST
PwD
No. of candidates who filled the CAT form
161564
13489
43743
19525
5074
999
Shortlisted
1850
400
1200
750
360
140
% of Form Filled
1.15
2.97
2.74
3.84
7.09
14.01
Category-wise CAT score for IIM Kozhikode interview shortlist (composite score)
Category
General
EWS
NC-OBC
SC
ST
PwD
2024-2026
62.42054
55.09648
54.34841
48.20149
42.65777
45.69608
*Source: RTI
8. IIM Ranchi Admission Criteria
Admission to the Indian Institute of Management, IIM Ranchi is based on the performance of candidates in the CAT 2025 and Personal Interview (PI) and also based on their profile. The PI process is common for all the IIMs participating in the CAP 2026 process. Candidates for PI of CAP are shortlisted based on CAP criteria. IIM Ranchi admission process is done based on the overall and sectional CAT percentile.
In the next stage, WAT/PI processes is conducted either online or at five different centres, namely Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai and New Delhi. After the completion of the WAT and PI process, admission offers for IIM Ranchi would be made based on a merit list. This Consolidated Merit List (CML) would be prepared on the basis of CAT score, gender diversity, WAT-PI, and profile score.
CAT Score Needed To Get IIM Ranchi Interview Call
Category-wise no. of candidates shortlisted for Interview Round
Category
General
EWS
NC-OBC
SC
ST
-
No. of candidates who filled the CAT form
161873
13771
44302
19786
5184
-
No. of Candidates Shortlisted
9191
2285
6272
3459
1725
-
% of Form Filled
5.68
16.59
14.16
17.48
33.28
-
Category-wise minimum percentile for shortlisting to interview round
Category
General
EWS
NC-OBC
SC
ST
DAP
2024-2026
94
77
77
60
40
40
*Source: RTI
9. IIM Udaipur Admission Criteria
IIM Udaipur will use the CAP 2026 to shortlist candidates for PGP admission batch 2026-28. When it comes to IIM Udaipur admission, the CAT score/ percentile holds the maximum weightage. Those who meet the minimum IIM Udaipur eligibility criteria i.e. CAT percentile overall and sectional are shortlisted for the Personal Appearance process of IIM Udaipur which consists of a Personal Interview (PI) round. The final merit list is made based on CAT score, performance in PI and profile (past academic performance, work experience, and gender diversity).
IIM Visakhapatnam will announce the admission policy for the academic batch of 2026-28. Candidates will be shortlisted for IIM Visakhapatnam PGP admission on the basis of past academic qualifications, CAT score, gender diversity, and work experience. Selection of the candidates for admission to the 2026-28 batch at IIM Vizag a three-step selection process
Step 1 - Pre-shortlisting criteria based of CAT 2025 score
The admission process at IIM Nagpur for the batch of 2026-28 will be carried out in 3 stages and will consider the candidate’s performance in Common Admission Test (CAT) 2025, Past Academic Performance (PAP), Work Experience (WE), Diversity (DI), and performance in Personal Interview (PI).
DAP (Differently Abled Persons) (Horizontal Reservation across categories)
25
32
32.5
40
Stage 1: Candidates who will indicate their interest in IIM Nagpur at the time of filling out CAT application forms are first screened for eligibility as per the CAT cut-offs mentioned in Stage 1 of the IIM Nagpur admission process. A first shortlist (List 1) is released for the candidates who clear the CAT eligibility criteria of IIM Nagpur.
Stage 2: Candidates who are eligible based on the criteria in Stage 1 will move to Stage 2. All such candidates will be invited to fill out a detailed application form within a stipulated date (tentatively by the third week of March). Only those candidates who complete the application form will be considered for the preparation of the second shortlist. The second shortlist (List 2) for Personal Interview (PI) will be based on a Comprehensive Score (CS) and will be released around the first week of April. All the candidates who are shortlisted in Stage 2 will be asked to confirm their interest in attending the PI of IIM Nagpur in the first/second week of April. Only those candidates who send confirmation at this stage will be scheduled for PI.
Stage 3: Candidates who appear for the PI will be considered for this stage of IIM Nagpur selection procedure, where the Final Score (FS) will be calculated. Admission offers will be sent to the candidates based on their FS
13. IIM Jammu Admission Criteria
IIM Jammu admission process consists of a three-step process which includes the CAT 2025 score and shortlisting of candidates and preparation of final merit list. The total batch strength will be around 180. For the final selection, IIM Jammu takes a few components into consideration such as academic profile, work experience, diversity, etc. Candidates will be expected to check their IIM Jammu admission status to the MBA programme by entering their CAT exam registration number, date of birth, and email ID.
IIM Jammu admission process for the academic year 2026-28 will be conducted in three stages.
Shortlisting based on CAT percentile
Expression of Interest, Candidates will be asked to fill an (EOI) to be a further admission process
Preparation of merit list for final selection
14. IIM Sirmaur Selection Process
Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Sirmaur admission criteria is a two-step process. Candidates can check their admission status to the MBA (T&HM) programme by entering their CAT registration number and email id. Candidates who meet the IIM admission criteria for MBA as per the stages will be eligible for an admission offer to IIM Sirmaur. The admission policy of IIM Sirmaur will consider the valid score of CAT 2025, the personal presence process, the scoring of each component, and so forth. The admission status for the MBA (T&HM) programme has been released by IIM Sirmaur.
IIM Sirmaur admission process to the academic year 2026-28 will be conducted in two phases.
Phase 1 - Shortlisting Candidates for Personal Presence Process Phase 2 - Preparation of final merit list
15. IIM Trichy Admission Criteria
The three components in the IIM Trichy selection process include shortlisting for Personal Appearance (PA), the conduct of the PI round, and the final admission offer. The result will be declared by IIM Trichy in online mode. The total batch strength is to be around 240 students at IIM Trichy. A 50% weightage to CAT score is awarded in the final selection and other parameters also play a major role in the final selection in IIM Trichy. In Gender diversity, 5% weightage is given to female candidates.
IIM Sambalpur admission criteria comprises three stages. The first stage of IIM Sambhalpur admission process is the shortlisting of candidates on the basis of CAT score. Check IIM Sambalpur admission process in a detailed way.
CAT Exam (CAT 2025 score)
Shortlisting of candidates for Personal Appearance (PA) process
After completion of above mentioned rounds, IIM Sambalpur will prepare the Final Selection List (FSL) on the basis of CAT score, PA and profile score which includes Work Experience (WE) as assessed during the PA process, Authorities will also consider Past Academic Performance (PAP) and any other criterion.
IIM Amritsar admission process consists of two stages, pre-personal interview and personal interview rounds. The candidates must fulfill the minimum IIM Amritsar eligibility criteria to get shortlisted for IIM Amritsar admission for batch 2026-28. The IIM Amritsar selection criteria is based on parameters like marks in 10th and 12th Board exams, marks of Graduation Program, quality of Work Experience, Gender and Academic Diversity, and candidate's section-wise scores in CAT exam 2025. Check the IIM Amritsar admission process in detail given below:
CAT 2025 scores
The pre-personal interview process will consist of shortlisting candidates on the basis of their CAT exam score.
In the personal interview round, candidates are shortlisted for decision regarding admission to the MBA Programme.
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (Percentile)
Verbal & Reading Comprehension (Percentile)
Total (Overall Percentile)
Section-1
Section-2
Section-3
General
80
75
75
90
EWS
80
75
75
90
Non Creamy Other Backward Classes (NC-OBC)
65
60
60
80
Scheduled Castes (SC)
55
50
50
55
Scheduled Tribes (ST)
35
35
35
40
Persons with Disabilities (PwD)
35
35
35
40
18. IIM Kashipur Selection Process
IIM Kashipur admission process consists of three stages. The IIM Kashipur selection process will be based on criteria like CAT 2025 scores, class 10th and 12th marks, professional qualifications, work experience, etc. Given below are the stages of IIM Kashipur selection procedure:
CAT scores 2025
Shortlisting candidates for IIM PI round: On the basis of the CAT 2025 scores specified by IIM Kashipur, candidates will be selected for the further selection rounds.
Generation of Merit List: The final IIM Kashipur merit list will be prepared listing students who clear the IIM Kashipur personal interview round.
Weights assigned to various components for generating the Merit List
S. No.
Components
Weights
1
CAT Score (CS)
33
2
Class- X Marks (XM)
5
3
Class –XII Marks (12M)
5
4
Graduation Marks (GM)
5
5
(PQ) Professional qualifications (CA/CS/ICWA)
5
6
Work Experience (WE)
12
7
Diversity Factor: Academic Discipline
4
8
Diversity Factor: Female or Transgender
6
Shortlist Total
75
19. IIM Shillong Admission Criteria
Authorities will conduct the IIM Shillong admissions in two phases- shortlisting candidates for the PI round and preparation of the final merit list to offer admission. For admission to IIM Shillong PGP 2026-28 candidates must appear for CAT 2025 as it will be the first step for shortlisting candidates in the IIM Shillong admission process. Class 10th and 12th scores, gender diversity, work experience, etc., will also be considered during the IIM Shillong admission procedure. Below are the stages of the IIM Shillong selection process:
IIM Mumbai admission criteria released on its official website. For admission to MBA programmes at IIM Mumbai, candidates must have a valid CAT 2025 score. Class 10th and 12th marks, qualifications, work experience, etc., will be considered in the IIM Mumbai selection process. Three stages of IIM Mumbai admission process are given below:
Section – I Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
Section – II Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
Section – III Quantitative Ability (QA)
Overall Percentile
OPEN
≥80
≥80
≥75
≥85
NC-OBC
≥70
≥65
≥65
≥75
EWS
≥70
≥65
≥65
≥75
SC
≥65
≥60
≥60
≥70
ST
≥55
≥55
≥55
≥65
PwD
≥45
≥45
≥45
≥55
Parameters And Weights For Calculation Of Composite Score For Final Selection Of The MBA Programmes
Parameters
Weights
CAT 2025 Score
55
Personal Interview (PI)
20
Academic Performance & Work Experience Score
20
Weightage for Gender Diversity
05
Total
100
21. IIM Bodh Gaya Selection Process
IIM Bodh Gaya will release its MBA admission process. The IIM Bodh Gaya selection criteria consisted of a valid CAT 2025 score, Class 10th and 12th, work experience, etc. These will be the basis of shortlisting candidates for IIM Bodh Gaya admission process. Given below are the stages in which IIM Bodh Gaya admission process will be conducted:
CAT exam 2025
Shortlisting candidates for Personal Interview (PI) process.
Conducting the PI process and preparing the Merit List based on performance in CAT 2025, PI score and Profile score
Basis of Preparing Final Merit List (Weightage Criteria)
S.No.
Components
Weightage
1
CAT Score
50%
2
Personal Interview (PI)
20%
3
Profile
30%
Q: What is the minimum CAT percentile for top IIMs?
A: To get MBA/PGP/PGDM admission at one of the top IIMs, candidates must have scored a CAT percentile ranging from 96 to 100.
IIM Admission Criteria 2026
The result for CAT 2025 will be announced tentatively in the third week of December 2025. The IIM admission process for 2026-28 MBA/PGP batch will be started with the release of PI shortlists for several IIMs. Personal Interviews will be held between February and April 2026. After the CAT 2025 result is declared, the 21 IIM campuses start screening candidates based on their respective CAT scores and academic record (performance in 10th, 12th, and graduation). CAT cut off percentile is fixed for each IIM, category-wise and section-wise. IIMs will release the IIM selection criteria 2026 on their official website. CAT (Common Admission Test) is the only entrance exam for MBA accepted for IIM MBA admission.
The entrance exam for MBA, CAT cutoff of top IIMs like IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Kozhikode and Calcutta ranges between 95 to 100 percentile for candidates belonging to the general category and for new IIMs like IIM Kashipur, IIM Ranchi, IIM Trichy CAT cutoff is around 85 to 95 percentile. Apart from CAT exam score, As per IIM requirements, they also give weightage to other factors of shortlisted candidates, such as graduation degree- 10 marks, work experience- 10 marks, 10th and 12th certificate- 10 marks, and gender diversity- 5 marks.
IIM Admission 2026 Eligibility Criteria
To get a call from the desired IIM, candidates must satisfy the required IIM eligibility criteria. CAT eligibility criteria for admission to the IIMs have been mentioned below: Check out the IIM MBA eligibility here;
Candidates should score a minimum of 50% aggregate marks in graduation for general category candidates.
Minimum 45% aggregate marks in graduation for reserved category candidates.
Candidates appearing for the final year of UG are also eligible.
CAT cut-off varies from institute to institute and should be checked by candidates before applying.
The IIM MBA admission criteria 2026 for all 21 IIMs specifies using CAT score 2025 to shortlist candidates for the admission process, which may vary from IIM to IIM. A total of 8 new IIM selection processes will take place through the Common Admission Process (CAP 2026) conducted by IIM Bodh Gaya.
IIM Admission Criteria and Selection Process 2026-28
Selection of candidates based on their CAT percentile followed by consideration of WAT/GD and PI performance along with academic history, gender diversity, and work experience are the stages of the selection process of IIMs. Some details of importance are
Some IIMs have also scrapped WAT and GD.
PI round this year will mostly be offline.
Admissions will soon commence after the declaration of the CAT result 2025.
Best IIM in India
MBA aspirants who wish to do an MBA from IIMs always think about the best IIMs for admission. The best IIMs in India are considered based on their placements, quality of education and infrastructure. IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore and IIM Kozhikode are chosen as the best IIMs in India as per the NIRF management ranking report. Each of these Best IIMs in India has been accredited and ranked by various national and international agencies.
IIM Shortlist Criteria 2026-28: Parameters Considered
The basic admission criteria of IIM 2026-28 have been mentioned below:
CAT score
Overall percentile score obtained in the CAT exam
Class 10 Score
The aggregate percentage scored in class 10 or equivalent.
Class 12 Score
The aggregate percentage scored in class 12 or equivalent.
Graduation Score
The aggregate percentage obtained in a three-year/four-year degree course or equivalent.
Personal Interview (PI)
Each candidate's performance in Personal Interview is assessed and marks are allotted accordingly.
Academic Diversity
Candidates from non-engineering backgrounds are given extra points to ensure fair representation of students from other streams. The points for academic diversity vary for each campus.
Gender Diversity
The IIMs give extra points to female/transgender candidates to encourage fair representation of each gender. The points for Gender diversity vary for each campus.
Work Experience
Extra points (from 1–5) are given to candidates with work experience. For this, a range is defined from lowest to highest. The points for IIM work experience vary for each campus.
Q: How much does work experience matter in IIM shortlisting?
A: The weightage of marks taken to shortlist the applicants to further rounds of the IIM selection process ranges from 5 to 20 marks. However, work experience is not a mandatory parameter considered to shortlist the candidates. However, applicants with work experience of 3 to 5 years will boost their chances of getting IIM MBA admission compared to others.
IIM Shortlist Status 2025: Campus-Wise
The IIM shortlist will be released by the respective institutes on their official website after the declaration of CAT results based on the IIM CAT cut off marks. Refer to the table below to know the campus-wise IIM shortlist status to participate in the further rounds of the IIM selection process.
How do IIMs verify work experience for eligibility for IIM Admissions?
To get shortlisted for the IIM MBA admission, work experience of 1 to 5 years is required based on the IIM programmes candidates choose. Applicants with significant professional experience in any sector will be awarded the points as per the IIM work experience criteria. Candidates will receive marks based on their total years of experience. The majority of the IIMs offer executive programmes for working professionals. The weightage of marks given for the work experience varies from one IIM to another.
IIM Cut off
To get a call from IIMs, candidates are required to satisfy the required IIM CAT cutoff. Here we have provided section wise expected IIM CAT cut off.
Percentile
Score VARC
Score DILR
Score QA
Overall Score
99.5
42
30
30
86
99
36
25
25
74
95
30
20
22
52
90
24
14
13
42
80
20
11
9
35
70
18
9
7
30
How to Get Into IIM
IIM is one of the top MBA institutes available in India. It is a dream for every MBA aspirant to do their MBA/PGP/PGDM courses from any of the old or new IIMs. So, there will be a bit of confusion about how to get into IIM. To get into the IIMs, candidates must meet the IIM eligibility criteria and secure a good score in the CAT 2025 exam. Candidates who meet the IIM cutoff will be shortlisted for the written test, GD or PI rounds based on the selection process followed by the IIMs. Candidates who obtained the 95+ percentile in the CAT 2025 can expect the MBA/PGP/PGDM admissions at any of the 21 IIMs.
How to Calculate Composite Score for IIM
The IIM admission offer letter is provided based only on the composite score achieved by the candidates in various selection rounds. The weightage of marks for each of the parameters results in the final composite score. The marks are calculated for parameters like CAT score, gender diversity, educational qualifications, professional experience, and performance of the candidates in the GD/PI rounds. The final composite score helps the admission authority to release the offer letter to the selected candidates. Calculation of the composite score by IIMs varies. Also, the composite score is calculated based on the reservation policy.
How To Get into IIM Without CAT
CAT exam score is mandatory for the IIM MBA admissions. Without CAT percentile applicants will not shortlisted for the next rounds. But there is a chance for the candidates to get into the IIM without CAT. Working professionals or interested individuals can do a diploma or any certificate programme from the IIMs. IIMs offer various certifications for working professionals to enhance their skills and knowledge in their respective sectors. By utilising this opportunity candidates can get into the IIM without the CAT exam.
Can you get into IIM without Maths
The MBA aspirants can't get into the IIM without Maths. As per the IIM selection criteria, candidates must meet both the overall and sectional-wise CAT cutoff marks. So, to qualify for the QA section, it is necessary to score 70-80% of the total marks allocated to the math section.
How Many Students Get Selected in IIM?
Around 2 lakh to 2.5 lakh students appear for the CAT exam every year. The total number of seats available at IIMs is around 5500 only. These IIM seats are allotted to the candidates based on their category as per the reservation policy of the Government of India. How many students get selected for IIMs varies from year to year. Candidates who qualify in the selection rounds will only receive the IIM seats.
How to get admission in IIM after 12?
Inorder to pursue MBA after 12th, some of the IIMs offers 5 year's integrated BBA+MBA course based on the integrated MBA entrance exams like JIPMAT or IPMAT scores. Candidates who passed class 12 examination from any board can appear for the test and obtain a valid score to join the IIMs like IIM Jammu, IIM Bodh Gaya, IIM Ranchi, IIM Indore and IIM Rohtak for 5 year's MBA programme.
Candidates must check the IIM Cutoff before deciding on applying. The IIM selection process for MBA given in this article can be used to get an idea of the admission process followed by the various IIMs for their MBA/ PGDM programmes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Which IIM gives more weightage to CAT score?
A:
IIM Kozhikode gives more weightage to CAT score than other components. The weightage is 75%.
Q: Does Class 10th and Class 12th marks matter in IIM?
A:
Yes, Class 10 and Class 12 marks play a crucial role in the IIM selection process as the institute looks for candidates who have been good performers in academics throughout, and not only in CAT.
Q: What are the parameters taken into consideration in the IIM selection process?
A:
In the IIM selection process, the factors taken into consideration for admission are:
Performance in CAT exam
Performance in Class 10th, 12th and Graduation
Performance in WAT/GD-PI
Academic diversity
Gender diversity
Work experience
Q: What is the criteria for IIM eligibility?
A:
To be eligible for admission into the MBA programme offered by the IIMs, the candidate must be a graduate and clear the CAT exam with at least 95+ percentile (General category).
Q: How do I get admission in IIM for MBA?
A:
In order to get selected in IIM, candidates are required to appear for CAT exam and clear the selection round such as Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI).
Q: Is CAT score mandatory for IIM admission?
A:
Yes, CAT score is mandatory for IIM admission. Those who are going to apply for Executive MBA will have to produce GMAT score.
Q: Is IIM registration fee refundable?
A:
No, the registration fee is not refundable.
Q: How to get admission in IIM after 12?
A:
Candidates who wish to do integrated MBA programmes from IIMs can apply for the dual degree MBA based on their IPMAT or JIPMAT scores. Some of the IIMs offering 5 years integrated MBA are IIM Jammu, IIM Rohtak, IIM Indore, IIM Ranchi, and IIM Bodh Gaya.
Q: Can I study in IIM for free?
A:
Studying for free may not be possible but there are scholarships available. so students can check them out.
Q: Can I get admission in IIM without CAT? How to join IIM after 12th?
A:
No, clearing CAT is must in order to apply at any IIM. Those who want to join IIM right after 12th, they will have to appear for Integrated MBA entrance exam and qualify the same.
CAT does not restrict eligibility based on stream. Candidates from commerce, arts, science, engineering or any other background can appear for CAT and apply to MBA programmes offered by IIMs and other top B-schools.
The basic eligibility criteria for CAT are:
You must hold a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognised university with at least 50 percent marks (45 percent for SC, ST and PwD categories). Final-year graduation students are also eligible to apply.
Being a commerce graduate can actually be an advantage in areas such as accounting, finance, economics and business studies, especially during MBA coursework in finance, marketing and operations.
After qualifying CAT, admission depends on multiple factors including CAT percentile, academic background, work experience (if any), performance in GD, WAT and personal interview rounds. Many IIMs and B-schools follow a diverse academic background policy, which means non-engineering candidates, including commerce graduates, often receive additional weightage.
Apart from IIMs, several reputed institutes such as FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, MDI Gurgaon, IMT Ghaziabad, and many state and private universities also accept CAT scores for MBA admissions.
So, as a commerce graduate, you are fully eligible to appear for CAT and pursue an MBA, provided you meet the minimum academic requirements and perform well in the selection process.
If you want, I can also help you with realistic CAT percentile targets based on your academic profile or suggest suitable MBA colleges.
With a CAT 2025 raw score of 84 and strong sectionals, your expected percentile may fail in the high 98 range , depending on scaling. Your excellent academics and 2 years of work experience strengthen your profile .IIM Lucknow calls are possible but competitive for EWS engineers , while FMS Delhi looks mainly at CAT score and VARC , so you have a reasonable chance there . Final calls depend on cutoffs and composite score.
For MANAGE Hyderabad MBA , the OBC cutoff in CAT 2024 was generally around 85-90 percentile for shortlist consideration , tough exact figures vary by section and profile . For CAT 2025, if fewer candidates appeared , the cutoff might slightly adjust , but percentile based cutoffs dont change drastically year to year. A minor decrease is possible , but you should still aim for 90+ percentile to be competitive. Factors like VARC, QA-LRDI and overall profile influence the final shortlist.
For a raw score of 56 in CAT 2025 Slot 3, your expected overall percentile is likely to be in the range of the 90th-95th percentile. The exact percentile can vary slightly on the final normalization process and the process and performance of all test-takers. In this
article
you'll find more about the CAT result.
Hello,
With a projected CAT percentile of 87% but not clearing sectional cutoffs, your chances at top IIMs are limited because they require both overall percentile and sectional minimums. However, you still have a good shot at other reputed management institutes and non-IIM B-schools. Consider colleges like NMIMS, SPJIMR, IMT, TAPMI, Great Lakes, and other well-ranked private or state-level B-schools that accept CAT scores and weigh your profile holistically. Your academic record, BSc in Animation with 80%, and 5 years of work experience at Ubisoft India are strong points and may help in institutes that value work experience in their selection process. Also, explore institutes that accept XAT, MAT, or CMAT, where your profile can be competitive.
Hope this helps you.
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