CAT 2015: Score not so important for IIM Calcutta in PI round

If you score reasonably good and exceeding the threshold limit, your slightly low CAT 2015 score may not be a hurdle in getting shortlisted for PI round at IIM Calcutta for PGP 2016-18 batch. Indian Institute of Management Calcutta has decided not to award 100% weightage to CAT 2015 scores. Only 67% weightage would be awarded to CAT 2015 scores and the rest 33% wightage will be awarded to you, if you possess other qualities prescribed by the IIM Calcutta.

Making way for the candidates who are not able to score a very high percentile in Common Admission Test (CAT) but have excellent academic back ground, IIM Caclutta will now award higher weightage to academics from 20 to 30 percent while reducing it for CAT 2015 score from 77 to 67 in its shortlisting process for PI round in admission to PGP 2016-18 batch.

The shortlisting process for PGP-2016-18 batch at IIM Calcutta will now focus more on academic profile prior to graduation only. No weightage to academic diversity or high percentage in graduation marks will be awarded in the shortlisting process by IIM Calcutta. According to IIM Calcutta Candidates will be short listed on the basis of CAT 2015 score, past academic performance, and other criteria

Lowest minimum sectional percentile in CAT 2015 While few other IIMs have kept the minimum required percentile in each section at varying and higher standard, IIM Calcutta has kept the minimum sectional percentile to the low level of 80 in each of the 3 sections. Since there were non-MCQs without negative marking penalty in CAT 2015 and most of the candidates were able to solve it apart from a little easier MCQs also, scoring of 80 percentile in each section may not be very difficult job.

According to the admission policy announced by IIM Calcutta a candidate seeking admission to PGP 2016-18 batch will need minimum 80 as sectional and 90 as overall percentile in CAT 2015, although the cut-off, sectional as well overall may go much higher in the shortlisting process at IIM Calcutta.

An important fact is that even a 100 percentiler will get only a weightage of 67% and if he/she does not have very strong academic profile, even the 96 percentiler with strong academics may move ahead of him.

The conversion formula to place you at the correct merit position on CAT 2015 scores will be based on your total CAT 2015 scores. On considering the candidates minimum required sectional percentile scored in CAT 2015, IIM Calcutta will calculate the weightage after dividing the candidates total CAT 2015 score by maximum CAT 2015 score and will then multiply it by 67.

If a candidate has scored 98 percentile while the maximum percentile is 100, IIM Calcutta will divide 98 by 100=.98 x 67 =65.66. The weightage will be on a scale of 100

But the Composite Score to arrive at the final shortlist for PI round will be calculated on the basis of CAT 2015 score, Class X and Class XII aggregate percentages, and gender diversity factor.

30% Weight to academic profile Academic profile before graduation will have a total maximum weightage of 30 percent during shortlisting process at IIM Caclutta for admission 2016. Earlier this weightage was 20 percent on a scale of 100.

If you have obtained 80+ percentage of marks in Class X and Class XII, you are entitled to get 10 points for each of the two exams, making it a total of 20. These points will be further converted to weightage points with the application of simple formula-dividing the points awarded for aggregate percentage of marks by 10 and then multiplying it by 15. There will be a zero weightage if the candidate has scored less than 60 percent marks.

A candidate with 90 percent marks in class 10 will get the weightage: 10/10=1x15=15. Since both Class 10 and class 12 marks qualify for this weightage, you can be awarded a weightage of 30 points on a scale of 100, if you have scored 80+ marks in each of these 2 exams.

Another important point is that for computing the percentage of marks obtained in Class X and Class XII, the aggregate marks of all subjects that appear in the mark sheet/grade sheet would be considered irrespective of whether the Board considers them for calculation of percentage.

Graduation marks excluded You might have score 95% marks in graduation but these marks will not be awarded any weightage in the shortlisting criteria at IIM Calcutta for admission to PGP batch 2016-18.

Gender Diversity gets 3% weightage A female candidate will be awarded a weightage of 3 points by IIM Calcutta during the shortlisting criteria for admission to PGP 2016-18 batch.

Shortlisting weight points: Summary

Component
Weights

CAT 2015 overall score
67

Class X marks
15

Class XII marks
15

Gender Diversity (For girl candidates & transgenders)
3

Total
100

Final admission offers will be generated by IIM Calcutta on the basis of CAT 2015 scores, performance in WAT & PI; Academic diversity and Work experience.