How to Get Admission in IIM Colleges in India: Eligibility and Stages of Admission

The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) colleges are among the best management colleges in India. Every business aspirant has a dream of securing admission into the top IIMs. But the path to the IIM college is not as easy as it seems. The greatest challenge that you have to face is the CAT entrance exam. Apart from the CAT exam, an interview round is also followed. Students often google the answer to their question of how to get admission in IIM colleges. In this blog post, we will uncover the steps for getting into the IIMs.

The IIM colleges have been a revolution in business and management studies. They offer world-class education and modern infrastructure. Even the student exchange program is a major point of attraction. They focus on grooming future business leaders. Currently, there are 21 IIM colleges in India, with IIM Ahmedabad being the best one. So, if you have a dream of studying into the IIM colleges, we are here are the guide. We will take you through the admission process. You will find the answer to the question of how to get admission in IIM colleges in India by the end.

IIM Admission Process

Getting into top management institutes, like the IIM is a dream for many aspirants. But before that, they need to understand the admission process for the IIMs. Here’s a concise overview of the IIM admission process for the 2024-26 academic year:

Eligibility Criteria

The first step for the IIM admission process is to check your eligibility. You need to stand on certain parameters in order to be eligible for the admission process. The general admission requirements are mentioned below:

• Candidates must appear for the Common Admission Test (CAT).
• The calling cutoff for top IIMs (such as IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Calcutta) usually ranges between 95 to 100 percentile for general category candidates.
• Other factors like graduation degree, work experience, 10th and 12th certificates, and gender diversity are also considered.

Don’t know about the CAT exam yet? Check our blog on the CAT Exam for detailed information.

Shortlisting Process

The second important thing that you need to take care of while looking for the answer to the question of how to get admission to IIM is the shortlisting process. IIMs have a dedicated way of shortlisting the candidates for admission. They are:

• IIMs shortlist candidates based on CAT scores.
• Shortlisted candidates proceed to the next stages.

Selection Process

After you are done with the shortlisting process, you need to take care of the selection process at the IIMs. The main aspects of IIM selection criteria include:

• Written Ability Test (WAT): Candidates write essays on assigned topics.
• Group Discussion (GD): Group discussions on relevant subjects.
• Personal Interview (PI): Interviews to assess communication skills, personality, and suitability for the program. 

Composite scores are calculated based on performance in WAT, GD, PI, CAT scores, diversity factors, and past academic records. Some IIMs may have revised their selection process.

Pro Tip: MBA Courses in India

Application and Selection

Candidates apply online and register on the admission portal. The selection process involves leadership profiling, aptitude tests, and personal interviews. Remember, the IIM admission process is rigorous, and each stage plays an important role in determining your eligibility for these prestigious institutions.

Students also search for: How to Crack CAT Exam in the First Attempt?

Stages of Admission into IIM Colleges

The second step in how to get admission in IIM colleges is to understand the stages of admission. The IIM colleges in India generally have three stages of admission. The three stages of admission into IIMs are:

1. CAT Entrance Exam
2. WAT/GD – PI Rounds
3. Composite Score Calculation

Let’s try to understand the components of the three stages of IIM admission in detail.

You can also look for the top MBA Specializations in 2024.

Stage 1: CAT Entrance Exam

The CAT exam is the initial gateway to IIMs. It’s a computer-based exam that assesses candidates’ quantitative aptitude, verbal ability, data interpretation, and logical reasoning.

Aspirants must secure a high percentile in CAT to qualify for the next stages. CAT scores are used to shortlist candidates for further evaluation. After the CAT exam, you are asked to appear for the WAT/GD–PI round.

You can get into the IIMs without the CAT exam right after the 12^th! Know about the IPMAT Exam for more details.

Stage 2: WAT/GD – PI Rounds

After CAT, candidates face the Written Ability Test (WAT) or Group Discussion (GD) rounds. In WAT, applicants write essays on assigned topics, showcasing their analytical and communication skills. GD involves group discussions on relevant topics, where candidates express their viewpoints and engage in constructive debates.

Subsequently, shortlisted candidates proceed to the Personal Interview (PI) round. The PI round evaluates their personality, knowledge, and suitability for the program. Effective communication, confidence, and domain knowledge play a very important role.

Please note that some IIMs have revised the selection process after the CAT exam. They generally ask the students to appear for PI round instead of the GD-PI round.

Stage 3: Composite Score Calculation

IIMs consider a composite score for final selection. This score combines CAT percentile, WAT/GD performance, PI results, academic background, work experience, and diversity factors. Weightage varies across IIMs, but CAT scores usually hold significant importance.

The composite score is the last and the most important step in the answer to the question of how to get admission to IIM colleges. 

Suggested Read: List of the Top IIM Colleges in India

Now, let’s combine all the details mentioned above in a chronological manner and try to look for a consolidated answer. The same is mentioned in the next section of this blog.

How to Get Admission in IIM Colleges?

Let’s make a consolidated answer to this question now. Let’s combine the admission process, admission criteria, and the stages of admission. This will give you a general overview of the admission process. Let’s look at the steps on how to get admission to IIM colleges.

1. First of all, you need to have a bachelor’s degree in any field. Final-year students are also eligible.
2. The second step is to appear for the CAT entrance exam. The higher the percentile you score, the higher the chances of admission.
3. After you have cleared the CAT cutoff and the sectional cut-offs, you will be called for the subsequent round – WAT/GD or Personal Interview rounds.
4. After your PI round, a composite score will be released, comprising the CAT score, GD/PI score, academic records, work experience, and gender diversity.

If you are selected, you will receive the offer letter from the IIM you are selected in. If you can’t make it, don’t lose hope. You can give it a retry or look for the top MBA colleges in India.

Summing It Up!

Getting into the Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) involves a series of steps. It all starts with the CAT exam, where scoring well is crucial, especially for the top IIMs. After that, there are rounds like a Written Ability Test (WAT) or Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI) to assess your communication skills and suitability for the program. The final decision depends on a Composite Score. 

If you successfully sail through all these stages, you might receive an offer letter from the IIM you applied to. This process highlights the competitive nature of IIM admissions, requiring a mix of academic excellence, CAT performance, and effective communication skills. Hope you have got the answer related to the question of how to get admission in IIM colleges.

That’s all for today! If you still have questions, why don’t you connect with our experts? 

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