Admission Weightage Components for IIMs
- Quantifiers
- 8th March 2025
The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) are among the most prestigious business schools in India. Admission to these institutions is highly competitive, with many factors contributing to the final selection. Each IIM follows a different selection process, prioritizing different criteria based on their academic philosophy and institutional goals. This blog explores the weightage components of various IIMs, highlighting key differences and similarities in their evaluation criteria.
Key Components of Selection
While each IIM has its unique selection process, common components include:
1. CAT Score
The Common Admission Test (CAT) score remains one of the most crucial factors in shortlisting candidates for the next stage of the selection process. However, its weightage differs significantly among IIMs.
Given these variations, candidates should aim for a high CAT score and focus on other aspects of their application to strengthen their chances.
2. Personal Interview (PI)
The PI round is a major determinant of selection, as it evaluates a candidate’s personality, communication skills, leadership potential, and overall fit for management studies.
3. Academics & Work Experience
Apart from CAT and PI, academic records and work experience play a crucial role in selection, especially in IIMs that value holistic evaluation.
4. Gender and Academic Diversity
In an effort to promote inclusivity and diversity, several IIMs offer additional weightage to gender and academic backgrounds.
5. Written Ability Test (WAT) and Resume Score
Some IIMs include additional components such as WAT and resume evaluation.
OLD IIMs:
The older IIMs follow a structured yet varied selection process, incorporating factors like CAT scores, Personal Interviews (PI), academics, diversity, and additional components such as WAT and resume scores. Gender and academic diversity play a role in some selections, such as IIM Lucknow and IIM Bangalore, while WAT is considered in IIM Calcutta, Lucknow, and Kozhikode. Some institutes, like IIM Kozhikode, also factor in resume scores. Overall, the old IIMs focus on a combination of academic excellence, interview performance, and diversity to select well-rounded candidates.
IIM Ahmedabad: Weightage Criteria
IIM Indore: Weightage Criteria
NEW IIMs:
The new IIMs follow a diverse selection process, considering multiple factors beyond just CAT scores. While CAT remains a crucial component, its weight varies across institutes, ranging from around 33% to 60%. Personal Interviews (PI) also hold significant importance, typically contributing between 15% and 30% to the final selection. Academics, work experience, and diversity (both gender and academic) are also factored in, though their weights differ.
BABY IIMs:
The new IIMs, including IIM Trichy, IIM Udaipur, IIM Kashipur, IIM Ranchi, IIM Nagpur, IIM Amritsar, and others, follow a structured yet evolving selection process. Some new IIMs place a high emphasis on CAT, with around 50-60% weightage in the final selection while others balance CAT with other parameters such as academic performance and diversity.
The selection process across IIMs is a balanced mix of academic performance, test scores, interviews, and diversity factors. While some institutes rely heavily on the CAT score, others emphasize PI, work experience, and written ability tests.
To maximize their chances, applicants must research the specific selection criteria of their target IIMs and strategize their preparation accordingly. Whether through strengthening academic records, improving interview skills, or gaining relevant work experience, every effort counts in securing a seat at these esteemed institutions.
Make your profile stronger with the right guidance from Quantifiers!
Good luck with your CAT preparation!
Are you preparing for CAT 2025?
Kickstart your CAT Journey with Quantifiers. Click here to register for a FREE DEMO.
To connect with us, for mentorship and daily test practice
DM us on Instagram or WhatsApp. We reply back 24/7. Get your CAT prep started
