IIM Admission & Selection Process 2026 | How to Get Admission in IIM?

IIM Admission Process 2026

The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) share important details about how they choose candidates for admission. This includes information on the cut-off scores for the CAT 2025 exam, as well as the evaluation criteria used to assess candidates based on several factors. Besides the CAT scores, the selection process also considers performance in Written Ability Test (WAT/AWT) and Personal Interview (PI). Additional factors include the candidate's academic background, gender diversity, and work experience.

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IIM Admission & Selection Process Stages

For an MBA aspirant, the path to gain admission to their dream college is a long journey involving various stages. It requires a great deal of dedication and hard work to successfully secure a place at these prestigious IIMs. While it is the dream of many CAT aspirants, it is fulfilled by those fortunate individuals who have devoted all their energy and effort to their preparation.

Below are the different stages involved in the IIM admission process for MBA/PGP courses. Gain an in-depth understanding of each stage and give your MBA journey a head start.

Stage 1: Common Admission Test or CAT

If you are a candidate searching for how to get into an IIM, the CAT exam is the first step on this journey. Common Aptitude Test, commonly called CAT is an entrance exam conducted by IIMs for admission into their management programs. CAT is a highly competitive exam written by around 2-3 lakh candidates competing for approximately 5000+ seats in the IIMs. Candidates should focus on getting a good overall and sectional score to meet the IIM cutoffs.

Stage 2: GD-PI-WAT

Candidates who meet the cutoffs receive a call for further WAT and PI rounds. Personal Interviews (PI) at IIMs are usually conducted by IIM faculty members, and in some cases by ex-faculty or alumni. This round evaluates a candidate’s communication skills, clarity of thought, academic understanding, and overall personality. Questions may range from personal background to academics, work experience, and current affairs.

Along with the PI, most IIMs conduct a Written Ability Test (WAT) or Analytical Writing Test (AWT) to assess writing skills and the ability to structure arguments on a given topic. Group Discussions (GD) are no longer conducted by most IIMs, with IIM Shillong being a notable exception, where GD may still be part of the second stage of the selection process.

Stage 3: Final Selection in an IIM

The final selections are based on certain parameters that may be different for each IIM. Different marks are assigned based on your composite CAT score, past academic performance, work experience, and WAT/AWT and PI performance. Based on these final scores, final selections are made.

It is now easy for you to know which IIM is likely to shortlist your WAT/AWT and PI rounds and at what CAT percentile. Visit IIM Profilizer and get your own IIM shortlist ready.

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IIM Eligibility Criteria 2026

The eligibility for IIMs MBA/PGP courses is the same as the CAT 2025 eligibility requirements. However, here are a few added points to be kept in mind.

• The minimum requirement is a graduate degree, with 50% for general, EWS, and NC-OBC categories and 45% for SC, ST, and PwD categories.
• Candidates in their final year of graduation are also eligible to appear for the CAT exam; however, in case they fail to provide the necessary documents at the time of admission, their candidature will be terminated.
• Candidates in their final year of graduation are also eligible
• Candidates must meet the minimum CAT cutoff to be shortlisted for the WAT/AWT and PI rounds and receive interview calls.

Also Check: CAT Exam Eligibility

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IIM Admission Process - Composite Scores & Weightages

IIMs hold their individual interviews and admission processes after the CAT results are released. Thus, the details of the admission process can change from one IIM to another. However, the IIM admission process is not limited to the CAT scores and WAT/AWT and PI rounds.

IIM selection processes are based on a Composite Score for shortlisting candidates to the WAT/AWT and PI stage and a Final Composite Score that a candidate secures during the final admission process. The weightage of parameters for these scores varies as the process is not centralised. Thus, each IIM offers weightage to parameters such as work experience, 10th marks, 12th marks, WAT/PI score, CAT score, etc.

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IIM Qualifying & Final CAT Cutoffs 2025

It is very important to note that candidates who are selected for admission receive an email notification. Actually, one of the most important steps of the IIM admission process is called "confirmation of admission." The short-listed candidates must confirm their seats by filling out the offer acceptance form and paying the mandatory admission acceptance fee, which will be adjusted in the first installment of their tuition fees. The seat, therefore, will be offered to the next best candidate in case a candidate does not submit the offer acceptance form along with the payment within the respective time frame.

IIMs also allow candidates to defer their admissions in certain cases. Candidates who wish to gain some work experience before pursuing an MBA may be allowed to postpone their joining by up to one or two years, depending on the institute’s policy. This option is not uniformly available across all IIMs and is subject to approval by the respective institute after the admission offer is accepted. The availability, duration, and conditions of admission deferment vary from one IIM to another and are governed by individual admission policies.

IIM Admission Process - Key Points To Note

• For the second phase of the IIM admission process, candidates will be selected based on their CAT 2025 scores and academic history. 
• IIM shortlisting involves an online process, candidates must often apply separately to specific IIMs (or opt-in via portals like CAP) after CAT results, and shortlisted candidates receive interview calls via email
• To be eligible for the final phase of admission, candidates need to go through the Written Ability Test (WAT/AWT) and Personal Interview (PI), which are necessary for calculating their composite score, which will determine their final selection.

Documents To Keep Handy for WAT/AWT and PI Rounds

Candidates appearing for an IIM interview process must carry the following documents with them:

• Original marksheets and self-attested photocopies for Class 10, Class 12, and Graduation.
• A caste/class and/or disability certificate, if applicable, for SC, ST, NC-OBC, and PwD candidates (both original and self-attested photocopies).
• Candidates who are in their final year of a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) must provide a certificate from the Principal, Registrar, or Director of their university/institution. This certificate should confirm that they have achieved an aggregate of 50% or equivalent in their latest grades/marks (or 45% for candidates from SC, ST, and PwD categories).

The deadline to submit the final marksheets and passing certificates is as specified by the respective IIMs. Failure to submit the required documents within the stipulated timeline may lead to cancellation of the admission offer.

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How To Get Into A New/Baby IIM?- Common Admission Process

All the older IIMs have separate admission processes that are followed after the CAT results are announced. However, several new and baby IIMs follow a Common Admission Process (CAP) that standardises the selection process.

While the Personal Interview (PI) process is common for all participating IIMs under CAP, the final admission results are released separately by each IIM on their official websites. This process makes the application journey easier for candidates by allowing them to apply to multiple IIMs through a single CAP process.

The final selection or offer letter is based on multiple parameters, including CAT scores, Personal Interview (PI), and Written Ability Test (WAT/AWT), wherever applicable, along with the candidate’s academic background, work experience, and diversity factors.

Common Admission Process 2026 - Key Points To Remember

Here are some key points to keep in mind-

• The IIMs participating in CAP may include institutes such as IIM Udaipur, IIM Kashipur, IIM Trichy, IIM Bodh Gaya, IIM Jammu, IIM Ranchi, and IIM Sirmaur, subject to changes each year.
• Some IIMs such as IIM Raipur and IIM Sambalpur have opted out of the Common Admission Process in recent admission cycles.
• Each year, one of the participating IIMs is appointed as the CAP conducting authority (CAP convener), which may vary across admission cycles.
• IIM Rohtak, which was earlier a part of CAP, opted out of the process in 2020 and continues to follow its own admission process.

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How to Get Admission in IIM? - Preparation Strategy 2026

It is very important to crack the CAT first in order to proceed with the IIM admission process for MBA/PGP courses. Only if you score the eligible percentile in CAT 2024 will you be eligible to receive a call from the respective IIMs. Therefore, take your CAT preparation seriously and follow the tips given below to enhance your chances of getting into your dream B-schools.

• Revise your class 8 to class 10 concepts of Maths and English, along with practice exercises involving the application of these concepts.
• Invest in good study material from a reputed institute, or you could even look into taking classes at an institute.
• You can opt for offline or online coaching classes depending on your schedule and time constraints. Candidates can opt for programs based on their requirements as fresh graduates or working professionals in the final year of graduation.
• Master-selected topics that carry higher weightage in CAT exam such as, Arithmetic, Algebra, Arrangements, Games & Tournaments and Reading Comprehension and more. Ensure that you practice them right from the beginning.
• Attempt a sectional test every week to solidify your preparation for each section, as there are also sectional cut-offs.
• Attempting mocks is a must-do! – Test your preparation and understanding of the paper from the first day. Invest in good-quality mocks or test series. Write a mock every 10-12 days and analyze these mocks qualitatively for at least 5-6 hours.