IIM Selection Criteria 2025-27: CAT Cutoffs, GD/PI/WAT, Weightage

Akansha Sirohi

Updated On: December 26, 2024 10:47 AM

IIM selection criteria 2025 include CAT score, academic record, work experience, diversity, written ability test, group discussion, and personal interview performance. The criteria are different for each IIM; thus, candidates must check the requirements set by their desired institute.

IIM Selection Criteria 2025

IIM Selection Criteria 2025-27 involves the requirements that candidates must meet to get MBA admission into the IIMs. These include CAT score, academic record, work experience, diversity, written ability test, group discussion, and personal interview performance. IIM admission criteria differ for each IIM institute depending on the CAT score and academic requirements. IIM selection criteria change based on the yearly performance of the institute and admission statistics of the previous year.

Candidates who qualify for the CAT 2024 exam and meet the qualifying cutoff set by individual IIMs are selected for the Written Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI). The IIM selection criteria also include meeting the final CAT cutoff 2024 requirements. The final admission into IIMs is based on the candidate's overall profile - CAT score, academic background, work experience, category, and WAT & PI score. If you are seeking admission into IIMs, then go through the complete details about IIM admission criteria 2025-27 provided below.

Also Read :

IIM CAT Cut off

Colleges to Apply Before CAT

CAT Reservation Policy at IIMs

Minimum Percentile in CAT 2024 to Get into IIM

Stages of IIM Admission Process 2025-27

The IIM selection criteria 2025 is divided mainly into three steps as provided below:

Stage 1: Shortlisting of Candidates Based on CAT Score

Once the CAT results are out, candidates will be selected based on their CAT scores. Each IIM will invite them to apply for the WAT/GD-PI round. Candidates need to submit their names and CAT scores while applying for the WAT/ PI round.

Stage 2: Written Ability Test and Personal Interview

To be selected for the next round, candidates must perform well in the WAT, PI, and GD rounds. These rounds will test their leadership qualities, personality, intelligence, knowledge, and communication skills.

Stage 3: Calculation of Composite Score and Final Selection

In this stage, a final selection list will be prepared after considering the candidates' performance in the WAT, PI, CAT exam, Work Experience, Diversity, and Academic Records of the candidates.

IIM Admission and Selection Process

Candidates selected for admission will be informed about their selection via mail. They will then have to confirm their admission by filling out the offer acceptance form and paying the requisite admission acceptance fee (adjustable in the first instalment of the tuition fee). Those who fail to submit the admission acceptance fee before the deadline will be considered ineligible and their seats will be passed on to the next deserving candidate. IIM also offers a facility for deferring admission through which candidates who want to earn some experience before pursuing the PGP course can postpone their admission for up to a maximum of two years.

IIM Admission Process 2025 Based on CAT

The step-wise process to get admission in IIMs based on CAT can be checked from the infographic provided below:

IIM Admission through CAT
  • Register for the CAT Exam: Registering for the CAT exam is the initial step for candidates who intend to pursue MBA courses through the CAT.
  • Appear for CAT: Every year, the CAT exam is given to applicants for management programs offered by some of the best B-schools in India that recognize CAT scores.
  • Apply to MBA Colleges Accepting CAT: The application process for MBA colleges accepting CAT starts around the same time as the CAT exam.
  • Wait for CAT Results and Admission Calls: Candidates must be patient and wait for the CAT results to be announced and the admission calls to take place based on their CAT results.
  • Appear for GD/PI/WAT Rounds: The final stage of the MBA selection process is the GD/PI/WAT rounds that are conducted for students who are selected for these phases based on their performance in the CAT exam.
  • Meet Final IIM Cutoff & Receive Offer Letter: The last stage includes meeting the final cutoff released by IIMs. Once all the stages of the CAT Selection process are complete, candidates will receive their offer letter if they are selected for admission.

Weightage for IIM Selection Criteria 2025-27

The weightage of different parameters changes during the final selection at IIMs. Have a look at the table below to know where each element falls. What's remarkable is that CAT scores weigh in at about 40%, and your academic performance from school and college account for a tremendous 50% in terms of the final choice.

This balanced assessment emphasizes the importance of performing not only well in the CAT exam but also in academic studies throughout your education.

IIM Selection Criteria

Weightage in %

CAT exam score

40

Class 10 score

20

Class 12 score

10

Graduation score

20

Gender diversity

2

Work experience

8

Total

100

IIM Eligibility Criteria 2025-27

The IIM admission criteria 2025 will be the same as the CAT 2024 eligibility criteria i.e. 50% marks in graduation. Those who are eligible to apply for CAT are also eligible to get admission into IIM. However, there are some additional requirements that the candidates must meet to get admission into IIM. The IIM eligibility criteria are provided below.

  • Candidates need to meet the shortlisting cutoff to be eligible for an IIM interview call

  • Those who have satisfied the minimum cutoff of IIM need to satisfy the call cutoff of IIM to have higher chances of getting a call from IIM

  • Candidates who are appearing for the final year of graduation are also eligible for admission. These candidates will have to submit their passing certificate along with other documents before the date decided by the college.

IIM Selection Criteria 2025 and PGP Seats

Check the table provided below to know the selection criteria for IIMs 2025 and the total PGP seats available at the IIMs:

IIM Selection Criteria

Total Number of Seats

IIM Ahmedabad Selection Criteria

385

IIM Bangalore Selection Criteria

430

IIM Calcutta Selection Criteria

464

IIM Lucknow Selection Criteria

500

IIM Indore Selection Criteria

451

IIM Kozhikode Selection Criteria

375

IIM Mumbai Selection Criteria

550

IIM Trichy Selection Criteria

240

IIM Kashipur Selection Criteria

240

IIM Shillong Selection Criteria

180

IIM Rohtak Selection Criteria

240

IIM Raipur Selection Criteria

260

IIM Udaipur Selection Criteria

260

IIM Bodh Gaya Selection Criteria

120

IIM Sambalpur Selection Criteria

120

IIM Ranchi Selection Criteria

185

IIM Sirmaur Selection Criteria

120

IIM Amritsar Selection Criteria

160

IIM Visakhapatnam Selection Criteria

120

IIM Jammu Selection Criteria

140

IIM Nagpur Selection Criteria

240

Final CAT 2024 Cutoff for IIMs (Expected)

The minimum score required to be considered for admission to the flagship management programs offered by the Indian Institutes of Management is known as the final CAT cutoff 2024 for IIM admission. Given that there is intense competition for admission to the IIMs, it should be expected that the final CAT cutoff in 2024 will be significantly higher than the qualifying CAT cutoff. That being said, in order to prepare for the CAT exam and the selection process, candidates need to be aware of the final CAT cutoff 2024 for admission to IIM. Check out the following table to learn about the anticipated final CAT cutoff for IIM admission in 2025:

Name of the IIM

Final CAT Cutoff 2024 (Percentile)

IIM Ahmedabad

99-100

IIM Bangalore

99-100

IIM Calcutta

99

IIM Lucknow

97+

IIM Indore

97+

IIM Kozhikode

97 to 98

IIM Amritsar

95+

IIM Nagpur

95+

IIM Sambalpur

95+

IIM Trichy

94

IIM Raipur

94

IIM Ranchi

94

IIM Kashipur

94

IIM Vizag

92

IIM Udaipur

92

IIM Bodhgaya

92

IIM Shillong

90

IIM Sirmaur

95

IIM Rohtak

95

IIM Mumbai

99-100

IIM MBA Admission Status 2025-27

IIM admission status for 2025-27 will be updated below as soon as information is available on the official website of the respective colleges:

Name of IIM

Admissions Status

IIM Ahmedabad

To be Announced in April 2025

IIM Bangalore

To be Announced in April 2025

IIM Calcutta

To be Announced in April 2025

IIM Lucknow

To be Announced in April 2025

IIM Indore

To be Announced in April 2025

IIM Kozhikode

To be Announced in April 2025

IIM Mumbai

To be Announced in April 2025

IIM Trichy

To be Announced in May 2025

IIM Kashipur

To be Announced in May 2025

IIM Shillong

To be Announced in May 2025

IIM Rohtak

To be Announced in May 2025

IIM Raipur

To be Announced in May 2025

IIM Udaipur

To be Announced in May 2025

IIM Bodh Gaya

To be Announced in May 2025

IIM Sambalpur

To be Announced in May 2025

IIM Ranchi

To be Announced in May 2025

IIM Sirmaur

To be Announced in May 2025

IIM Amritsar

To be Announced in May 2025

IIM Visakhapatnam

To be Announced in May 2025

IIM Jammu

To be Announced in May 2025

IIM Admission Criteria 2025: Important Points to Remember

Some of the important points related to the IIM admission criteria 2025 that the candidates must keep in mind during the selection process are listed below

  • Candidates who get selected for the WAT/ PI round will be informed via mail after the result declaration

  • Candidates need to apply for the interview call. After this, the college will inform the candidates about their selection

  • Candidates need to participate in WAT/GD-PI to get selected for the final phase of admission

List of MBA Colleges Accepting CAT 2024 Scores

Check out the list of all MBA colleges that accept the CAT percentile within the given range. It will give you an estimate of your chances of getting admission into the college of your choice.

Changes in the IIM Selection Criteria 2025-27 for IIM Kozhikode

The IIM Kozhikode has revised the admission process for the year 2025-27. Here is a nutshell summary of the changes in the criteria and requirements:

  • Weightage Criteria for Selection:
    • CAT Scores: This will hold the highest value at 45% and influence the shortlisting for the WAT and PI rounds.
  • Academic Performance:
    • Class 10 Marks: carry 25 % of the overall weightage
    • Class 12 Marks carry 15% of weightage
  • Diversity Factor:
    • Academic Diversity: Adds a 10% value to the overall evaluation.
    • Gender Diversity: Receives a 5% weightage.
  • Work Experience: Allocated 5% weightage.
  • Key Changes Compared to Last Year: The combined weightage for academic and gender diversity has increased from 10% to 15%.
  • Selection Process Overview: The admission process consists of three stages, with specific benchmarks for each stage:
    • Stage 1: Eligibility Criteria
      • Minimum CAT Percentile:
        • Overall: 85%
        • Sectional: 75%
      • Academic Qualifications: At least 60% marks in Class 10 and Class 12.
    • Stage 2: Shortlisting for WAT and PI
      • The candidates have to qualify on the defined parameters of CAT scores, academic diversity, and gender diversity to qualify for this stage.
      • The shortlist is determined by an Aggregate Index Score (AIS) that is based on the following factors:
        • CAT performance
        • Class 10 and Class 12 scores
        • Work experience
        • Diversity factors (academic and gender).
        • Final Selection

The final list of selected candidates will be based on their overall performance in all components, which includes WAT, PI, and AIS

If you are targeting IIMs, it is important to realize that scoring a high CAT percentile is not enough. You will also require an impressive profile to get a call from either of the IIMs. This means that you must have a good academic background as well as quality work experience. Performance in the personal interview (PI), group discussion (GD), and writing ability test (WAT) also play an essential role in the selection procedure. Candidates must also note that IIMs give points for gender diversity to maintain a balance on campus.

Once the CAT 2024 exam is over, you can check the CAT 2024 exam analysis and CAT 2024 cutoff to calculate your chances of getting selected at any IIM. You can also predict your CAT 2024 percentile through our CAT Percentile Predictor 2024 or use our CAT College Predictor 2024 to find out the best colleges according to their CAT scores 2024.

Related Articles:


If you have any doubts regarding the admission process of IIM, you can ask questions in our Q&A zone . Besides this, those who are interested in admission into any top MBA colleges in India can fill out our Common Application Form . Stay tuned with us for more articles related to IIMs and MBA admission in India!

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FAQs

Does CAT score have a greater weightage than WAT-PI?

WAT-PI is typically given more weightage than CAT scores in the top IIMs for the final selection of candidates for admission to MBA/PGP programmes. However, the newer/baby IIMs give more weightage to CAT scores as compared to the candidates’ performance in the WAT/PI rounds.

If candidates do not meet the CAT cut off, will they still be considered for WAT-PI?

No, if candidates do not meet the CAT cutoff, they will not be considered for WAT-PI. Meeting the minimum CAT cut off is a requirement to qualify for the WAT-PI phase of IIM admission. The CAT cut off varies depending on the institute and the category. Candidates must therefore submit applications to a maximum of IIMs.

How many marks are awarded to female applicants as part of the diversity factor in IIM selection criteria?

Up to 5 marks may be awarded to female applicants as part of the diversity factor in IIM selection criteria. For each IIM, the points for gender diversity are different (between one to five). Extra marks are awarded to female candidates to promote equal representation of each gender. The diversity factor can be advantageous for applicants in the female and transgender categories.

What are the parameters taken into consideration in the IIM selection process?

The parameters taken into consideration in the IIM selection process are CAT score, Class 10 Score, Class 12 Score, Graduation Score, WAT/GD-PI, Academic Diversity, Gender Diversity, Work Experience. To guarantee that students from other streams are fairly represented, extra points are awarded to candidates with non-engineering backgrounds. To promote equal representation of each gender, the IIMs award additional points to female and transgender applicants. Candidates with past work experience are awarded extra points (ranging from 1 to 5). A range is established from lowest to highest for this. 

What are the CAT qualifying cutoffs at the top IIMs?

The CAT qualifying cutoffs at IIM Bangalore, IIM Kozhikode, IIM Nagpur, and IIM Calcutta stand at 85 percentile. IIM Rohtak and IIM Bodhgaya do not accept CAT scores below 95 and 93 percentiles, respectively. The qualifying cutoffs at top IIMs like IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Trichy, and IIM Lucknow are 80 percentile, 93 percentile, and 90 percentile, respectively. 

Do 10 and 12 marks matter in IIM admission criteria?

Yes, 10 and 12 marks do matter in the IIM admission criteria. The 10th, 12th, and graduation percentages, as well as work experience, and other factors, are all taken into account as part of the shortlisting process at all IIMs and other top B-schools.

How much percentile is required in CAT for IIMs?

The minimum CAT cutoff for IIMs is expected to be 85 percentile. Candidates securing 99+ percentile become eligible to apply to top IIMs like IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, and IIM Calcutta. IIM Lucknow, IIM Indore, and IIM Kozhikode require a minimum CAT percentile of 97-98. The CAT percentiles at IIM Sambalpur, IIM Trichy, and IIM Ranchi stand at 94-95. IIM Vizag, IIM Rohtak, IIM Udaipur, and IIM Bodhgaya provide admission to candidates securing 92-94 percentile in CAT, while IIM Shillong, IIM Jammu, and IIM Sirmaur accept a CAT score of 90 percentile. 

How can I get selected for an IIM?

To get selected for an IIM MBA, one has to appear for the CAT exam and obtain the minimum qualifying percentile specified by the IIM. Candidates who are able to secure the qualifying CAT percentile must then clear the selection rounds such as Written Ability Test (WAT) or Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI).

What is the IIM selection criteria 2025?

The IIM selection criteria 2025 include a bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA (45% in case of SC, ST, PwD) and at least 80 percentile in CAT. The final shortlisting of candidates will be carried out based on CAT 2024 scores, academic performance, and performance in the WAT/GD/PI rounds.

What is the IIM admission process?

As per the IIm admission process, candidates will first have to perform well in the CAT exam. After that, the college will shortlist the candidates based on CAT performance. Selected candidates will be called for WAT and GD/ PI rounds. Those who perform well in all the rounds will be selected for admission.

I have scored 98 percentile marks in CAT. Will I get admission in IIM?

It totally depends on your performance in GD/ PI and WAT rounds. The college will also consider your work experience and academic performance during the selection process. Only if you perform well in all the rounds, you will be selected for admission.

When does the selection process of IIMs start?

The selection process of IIMs usually starts in the second week of January every year after the declaration of the CAT result. Candidates can check the official website of IIMs to check notifications regarding the selection process.

What are the important parameters for IIM selection criteria?

IIM selection criteria involve seven important parameters namely CAT scores, work experience, academic scores, gender diversity, academic diversity, WAT/ PI and graduation scores. However, it should be noted that each IIM has different selection criteria and the weightage of each parameter vary.

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