IIM Selection process for MBA begins with the CAT exam conducted by IIMs for MBA admission in IIMs. If you clear the CAT score cut offs, IIMs will shortlist you for their final selection process which include Personal Interview and Writing Ability Test. Some of the IIMs also conduct Group Discussion in their final selection process. While CAT exam measures your Reading, Reasoning, Calculation and Data Interpretation skills, the PI and WAT measure your communication and writing skills as well as your leadership skills. In their final selection process, all the IIMs consider your Academic score from class 10 onwards and if you are a Non Engineer, you will get additional weightage in final admission process of IIMs. Quality of your Work Experience, Extra curricular Achievement and if you are a female candidate, these will be an added advantage in getting admission in IIMs.
Read below the Table of Contents to know the key components in IIM Selection process, stage wise Selection process and other details:
All the 21 IIMs, including IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta release their selection process separately for the MBA admission. IIM selection process for MBA admission 2025 will depend upon your performance in three major areas:
1. Your CAT 2024 exam score
2. Your Profile
3. Your Performance in IIMs’ Final Selection PI-WAT Round
Your final admission offer depends upon your performance in all the above three stages of IIM selection process. All the IIMs release key components, parameters and weightages for final selection process for MBA admission. Now Let us understand in detail IIM Admission process as below:
Only the CAT exam takers who clear the required CAT percentile score cut off can qualify for IIM Shortlist Criteria and go through IIM Selection process. After declaration of CAT result, IIMs will shortlist the suitable candidates for final admission round as per their respective admission policy and weightages. Apart from weightage awarded to CAT exam score, IIMs also award weightages in shortlisting process to other parameters like Academics, Work Experience and Gender Diversity. The shortlisting process is based on your past record and as such, you are not able to improve on any parameter to get support at this stage. IIM Admission Process with weightages awarded by IIMs to different components in shortlisting process are as below:
IIMs | Weight % for CAT 2024 Score in Shortlisting | Weight % for Academics, Diversity, Work Experience, Others in Shortlisting |
65 | 35 | |
55 | 45 | |
56 | 44 | |
60 | 40 | |
100 | - | |
37.5 | 62.5 | |
45 | 55 | |
100 | -- | |
NA | -- | |
100 | -- | |
100 | -- | |
100 | -- | |
100 | -- | |
100 | -- | |
60 | 40 | |
100 | -- | |
100 | -- | |
100 | -- | |
100 | -- | |
40 | 60 | |
100 | -- |
IIMs final selection process evaluates candidates on following key parameters:
In some of the IIMs like IIM Shillong, Group Discussion round is also conducted. Weightages are awarded to each of the above components. Each of the key parameters in IIM selection criteria for MBA admission with its importance and weightage is shared below:
After considering the CAT exam score cut off in shortlisting process, IIMs again consider CAT exam score in final selection process as below:
All the IIMs will conduct Personal Interview in different cities for final selection of the candidates. Key highlights and weightages awarded to Personal Interview (PI) in IIM Final Selection are:
Apart from Personal Interview, IIMs conduct Writing Ability Test (WAT) in Final Selection Process. Key features and weightage to WAT round are:
In their selection process, IIMs will also consider your academic performance from class 10 onwards. Key features of how IIMs consider academics in selection process and what is the weightage awarded to it are as below:
Candidates with work experience are also awarded weightage in IIM Final Selection Process as below:
IIMs consider Academic and Gender Diversity in final selection process. To improve Diversity in their class rooms and to get rid of their image of Engineering students driven institutes and male dominated institutes, IIMs award weightage to the Academic and Gender Diversity in their shortlisting or in final selection process. Key features of consideration on Academic and Gender Diversity and weightage awarded to it are:
IIM Final selection process gives an opportunity to the IIM aspirants to improve their overall score through the performance in PI-WAT round. Even if you have not scored very high in CAT, IIM selection process offers the last chance for MBA admission. While older IIMs will conduct their individual selection process, ten new IIMs will conduct their selection process through Common Admission Process IIM CAP
Top IIMs Selection Parameters: Weightages
Selection Parameter | CAT 2024 Score | Personal Interview | Writing Ability Test | Diversity | Work Experience |
IIM Ahmedabad | 25% | 50% | 10% | 5% | 10% |
IIM Bangalore | 25% | 40% | 10% | 5% | 10% |
IIM Lucknow | 30% | 40% | 10% | 5% | 5% |
