Every student who dreams of an MBA in India wants to join an IIM. To get into an IIM, you first have to give the CAT exam. But getting a good CAT score is just the first step. After the CAT result, IIMs make a list of students who will go for the next round – WAT (Written Ability Test) and PI (Personal Interview).
So, how do IIMs decide who gets the call? Do they only look at CAT marks? The answer is no. They look at many other things too.
What is Shortlisting?
Shortlisting means selecting students for the next step after the CAT exam. IIMs do not call everyone who gives CAT. They make a list based on many factors like:
- Your CAT Percentile (overall and in each section)
- Your school and college marks
- Your work experience
- Extra points for girls and students from non-engineering backgrounds
- Your category (General, OBC, SC/ST, etc.)
So even if two students have the same CAT marks, the one with better marks in school or work experience may get a higher chance.
What do IIMs look at?
1. CAT Score
This is the most important thing. Every IIM has a minimum cut-off. For example:
- IIM Ahmedabad needs at least 80 percentile overall and 70 percentile in each section (for general category).
- Some new IIMs have lower cut-offs.
2. School and College Marks
Your marks in 10th, 12th, and graduation matter. If you have good marks, it helps you.
3. Work Experience
You receive bonus points if you have worked for one to three years. Your experience should be as relevant as possible.
4. Diversity
To make the class mix better, IIMs give extra marks to:
- Girls
- Students from non-engineering streams
How Top IIMs Select Students
IIM Ahmedabad
- CAT Cut-off:
- Overall: 80
- Each section: 70
- Weightage for shortlisting:
- CAT: 65%
- School/College Marks: 35%
- Extra marks for girls and non-engineers.
- Final selection:
- PI: 50%
- CAT: 25%
- Writing Test: 10%
- Academics: 15%
IIM Calcutta
- Needs 50% marks in graduation (45% for reserved categories).
- Final selection weightage:
- CAT: 30%
- PI: 48%
- Writing Test: 8%
- Work Experience: 8%
- Academic Diversity: 6%
IIM Mumbai
- Cut-off for General category:
- VARC & DILR: 80
- QA: 75
- Overall: 85
- Final weightage:
- CAT: 60%
- PI: 20%
- Academics + Work Experience: 20%
IIM Lucknow
- CAT Cut-off:
- Overall: 90
- Each section: 85
- Weightage:
- CAT: 60%
- Class 12: 10%
- Graduation: 10%
- Work Experience: 10%
- Diversity: 10%
IIM Indore
- CAT Cut-off (General):
- Overall: 90
- Each section: 80
- Final selection also checks your academics and diversity points.
IIM Kashipur
- Needs 94 percentile for general category.
- Process: CAT → PI → Final Merit List.
Quick Summary Table
| IIM | Overall Cut-off | Main Factors |
| IIM Ahmedabad | Mar-00 | CAT 65%, Academics 35% |
| IIM Lucknow | Mar-00 | CAT 60%, Academics 20%, Others 20% |
| IIM Indore | 90 | CAT + PI + Diversity |
| IIM Kashipur | 94 | CAT + PI |
Important Things to Remember
- High CAT score is not enough: Good school and college marks also matter.
- Work experience helps: If you have 2–3 years of experience, you get extra points.
- Girls and non-engineers have an advantage: Because of diversity marks.
- Every IIM has different rules: Always check the official IIM website for details.
Final Tip
Start preparing for PI and WAT early. Getting shortlisted is just the first step. Doing well in the interview is the real key to an IIM seat.
