What is the eligibility criteria for MBA by IIM?

To be eligible for admission to IIMs' MBA programs, a candidate must be a graduate and have scored at least 95 percentile on the CAT exam (General category). In the top six IIMs, the cutoffs for the General category might reach 99-100 percentile.

If I do not meet CAT cutoff, will I still be considered for WAT-PI?

To be eligible for the WAT-PI phase of IIM admission, applicants must meet the minimum CAT cutoff. The CAT cut-off varies by institute and category. Top IIMs have higher cutoffs, whilst new and infant IIMs have lower cutoffs. Candidates must therefore apply to the maximum number of IIMs.

Is the weightage of CAT higher than WAT-PI?

In most of the major IIMs, WAT-PI is more important than CAT, it is vice versa for the final selection of candidates for MBA/PGP programs. That is because the WAT-PI round is a personality assessment test in which a candidate is evaluated based on his or her knowledge, problem-solving abilities, experience, and other characteristics required to be an effective manager.

How many candidates apply for CAT every year?

Every year, over two lakh students apply for the CAT, and the number of applications has increased significantly in the last two years. The number of applications received for CAT 2024 is 2.29 lakh, compared to 3.3 lakh for CAT 2023, a record high. Previously, over 2.55 lakh people applied for the CAT 2022, and 2.22 lakh candidates took the exam. In 2021, 2.31 lakh people applied for the CAT, of whom 1.92 appeared. There were 2.44 lakh candidates in 2019, and 2.30 lakh in 2020.

IIM Selection Criteria 2025 - Check Campus Wise Eligibility and Expected CAT Cutoff

IIM selection criteria 2025 includes CAT score, academic performance, WAT, GD, and PI performance. Each IIM has its own selection criteria, therefore candidates should examine the requirements stated by their preferred institute.

Table of Contents

Stages of IIM Selection Process
IIM Eligibility Criteria 2025
Seat Intake and Expected Cutoff for IIMs 2025
What is CAT Composite Score?
Documents Required for WAT/GD-PI Round

IIM Selection Criteria 2025: The CAT exam is the first step towards admission to IIMs. The next steps include the Written Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI). The WAT and PI are the primary selection criteria for IIM MBA admission. They are held following the CAT result announcement. Candidates who meet the CAT cutoff are chosen for WAT and PI.

The final selection for IIM admission is based on the candidate's total profile, which includes the CAT score, academic score, work experience, category, WAT, and PI scores. IIM Calcutta, IIM Bangalore, IIM Lucknow, IIM Kozhikode, and IIM Ahmedabad have revealed their MBA admission criteria 2025. Other institutes will make announcements in the following months.

Stages of IIM Selection Process

The IIM admissions procedure is separated into three sections. The following is an outline of the three steps of IIM admission:

Stage 1: Shortlisting candidates based on their CAT Score

Once the CAT results are revealed, candidates must apply for the WAT/GD-PI round via an official announcement on each IIM's official website. Candidates who meet the shortlist cutoff must log in with their CAT IDs to submit their name and CAT score.

Stage 2: Screening candidates for WAT/GD-PI

In the second step, candidates who applied for WAT/GD-PI are screened based on their CAT score and academic record, and successful candidates are sent interview letters to participate in the WAT-GD-PI round. The WAT-GD-PI round is held in designated cities from February to April.

Stage 3: Calculation of Composite Score and Final Selection

In the third round of IIM admission, each candidate's composite score is determined based on a variety of characteristics to determine his or her selection.

Also Read: Online MBA from IIM 2024

IIM Eligibility Criteria 2025

The IIM eligibility standards for MBA programmes are the same as those for the CAT eligibility criteria, requiring a minimum of 50% aggregate marks in graduation. Those who are eligible to take the CAT can also apply for admission to the IIMs. They must, however, complete a few additional standards before being considered for selection. Look at the IIM eligibility criteria below.

The primary IIM eligibility condition is graduation with at least 50% aggregate marks or comparable CGPA (45% for SC, ST, and PWD/DA categories).
Candidates appearing for the final year of the bachelor's degree/equivalent qualification exam or awaiting their results are also eligible to apply
To be qualified for an IIM interview call, candidates must meet the IIM shortlist/qualifying cutoff.
To expect an interview call and participate in WAT/GD-PI, candidates have to meet the required IIM call cutoff.

Also Read: IIM Full Form

Seat Intake and Expected Cutoff for IIMs 2025

Candidates can check the total number of seats intake of all the IIMs in the table below.

IIM Selection Criteria	Total Number of Seats	Cutoff Percentile (Expected)
IIM Ahmedabad	385	99-100
IIM Bangalore	430	99-100
IIM Calcutta	464	99
IIM Lucknow	500	97-99
IIM Indore	451	97-99
IIM Kozhikode	375	97-98
IIM Amritsar	160	95-96
IIM Nagpur	240	95-96
IIM Sambalpur	120	95-96
IIM Trichy	240	94-95
IIM Raipur	260	94-95
IIM Ranchi	185	94-95
IIM Kashipur	240	94-95
IIM Vizag	120	92-94
IIM Udaipur	260	92-94
IIM Bodh Gaya	120	92-94
IIM Shillong	180	90-94
IIM Sirmaur	120	90-94
IIM Rohtak	240	95-97
IIM Nagpur	240	90-94
IIM Jammu	140	90-94
IIM Mumbai	550	90-94

Also Read: Total Seats in IIM 2024

What is CAT Composite Score?

The composite score is the total score (out of 100) obtained by a candidate during the final selection process, which is derived using the characteristics indicated above. The table of campus-specific IIM entrance and selection criteria at the bottom contains information on the weighting of characteristics and the computation of composite scores for each IIM campus.

Documents Required for WAT/GD-PI Round

Candidates can check the list of documents required for the WAT/GD-PI round.

Marksheets for Classes 10, 12, and Graduation (original and self-attested photocopies)
Caste/class and/or disability certificate for SC, ST, NC-OBC, and PwD applicants (original and self-attested photocopies).
Candidates appearing for the final year bachelor's degree (or equivalent) examination must show a certificate from the Principal/Registrar/Director of the university/institution certifying that he/she has obtained 50% aggregate or equivalent (45% in case of SC, ST, and PwD category candidates) in the latest available grades/marks.
The deadline for submitting the mark sheet and passing certificate is December 31, of that year. Non-submission of these documents by the deadline will immediately result in the cancellation of admission.

Also Read: IIM vs FMS