CAT 2026 Cutoff for IIM BLACKI: Sectional & Overall Percentile for Interview Calls

IIM Bangalore Admission Criteria 2027-29

According to NIRF 2025, IIM Bangalore was ranked 2 out of 125 institutions in the management category. While the final cut-off list includes the higher cut-off percentile, candidates also need to understand the admission criteria under the IIM Bangalore Selection Process

As mentioned earlier, IIM Bangalore has an extensive selection process conducted in several phases. Here is the admission criteria for IIM Bangalore

• First, a short list is prepared based on a pre-determined minimum score in all sections of CAT 2026. Those candidates who have secured the minimum marks will be considered for the first shortlist. All the subsequent processing, standardization, and selection are limited to candidates in the first shortlist alone.

• Then, for the candidates selected in the first list, a ‘Pre-PI score’ is created. This ‘PRE-PI’ score takes into account several factors, including the CAT score (55), marks of Class 10 (10), marks of Class 12 (10), marks obtained in the bachelor’s degree courses (10), Work experience /professional courses (10), and gender diversity (5).

• Out of the 55 marks allotted to CAT, VARC, DILR, and QA have 19, 21, and 15 marks respectively.

• The scores for Class 10, Class 12, and the bachelor's degree courses are normalized.

• Candidates with Chartered Accountancy (CA), Cost Accounting (ICWA), or Company Secretary (CS) certifications are eligible for weightage under the category of professional course. The scores obtained in these professional courses (Final year completed only) are normalized, and weightage is calculated.

• The pre-PI score for work experience is (10x/36) if 0<x<36.
  10 if x>= 36.
  (x is the duration of the work experience in months)

• For candidates in the first shortlist, the top 10 candidates in each of the following categories automatically qualify for the PI stage: total score in CAT, adjusted bachelor’s degree score (commerce, arts, and science disciplines), and professional (CA / ICWA / CS) score. Post PI, all such candidates are evaluated in the same way as any other candidate.

• Based on the pre-PI score, a certain number of candidates from each category are selected for the next stage in the admission process.

• The second stage of the admissions process at IIMB consists of a personal interview (PI) and a Written Ability Test (WAT), where candidates will be required to write a note.

• The PI and the WAT will happen on the same day and in the same location. The duration of the WAT is approximately 30 minutes. The WAT will be evaluated based on the content and style of the note.

• For all candidates called for interviews, the weights for the parameters at the post-PI stage are as follows: Personal interview = 40, WAT = 10, CAT = 25, 10th board score = 5, 12th board score = 5, Bachelor’s score = 5, Work Experience / Professional Course = 10. The 25 points for CAT are derived from the performance in each of the three sections as follows: Verbal and Reading Comprehension (VARC) - 8.75 points, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) - 10 points, and Quantitative Aptitude (QA) – 6.25 points.

• Final offers of admission to candidates from each category will be made strictly based on the post-PI scores

Latest: How Many Marks Required for IIM Bangalore Admission Through CAT 2026?

Read More: CAT 2026: How Many Marks are Required for IIM Calcutta?

IIM Calcutta Selection Process 2027-29

IIM Calcutta has an elaborate selection process, conducted in several phases. Students who have received their CAT results and are willing to apply for the IIM Calcutta also need to understand how the IIM Calcutta selection process unfolds, as part of the admission criteria. It is going to be crucial to get a much clearer picture of the admission scenario. In IIM Calcutta, candidates will be shortlisted based on CAT 2026 score and other parameters like academic performance and gender diversity -

• In the first stage, the candidates need to match the minimum requirements on both section-wise and overall percentile in the CAT 2026. However, it would be worth noting that these are the minimum qualifying marks to apply for the IIM Calcutta, while the cut-offs for the final selection might go higher than this.

• Shortlisted candidates will be called for a Personal Interview (PI) and Writing Ability Test (WAT). This shortlisting will be based on the composite score derived using the parameters and the corresponding weights as specified-

Points for the marks secured in Class 10 and Class 12, respectively, will be allotted as per the table below -

• For the candidates who might be wondering about how many marks are required in CAT for IIM Calcutta and have also been selected for the PI and WAT must note that some of the candidates will be selected based on the composite score, using parameters and corresponding weights listed in the table below.

Academic Diversity Score

Here is the formula to calculate the marks awarded for the work experience of the candidates, which forms an integral part of knowing how many marks are required in CAT for IIM Calcutta.

Read More: How Many Marks Required in CAT for IIM Ahmedabad

IIM Ahmedabad Admission Criteria 2027-29

The admissions process at IIM Ahmedabad, the top IIM according to the NIRF Ranking 2025, consists of rigorous multiple stages. Students who have received their CAT results and are willing to apply for the IIM Ahmedabad must know the IIM Ahmedabad selection process, as part of the admission criteria. It is going to be crucial to get a much clearer picture of the admission scenario.

• Preliminary Screening: Only the candidates who have the minimum cutoff percentile in the CAT 2026 exams and sections and have a positive RAW score will be considered for the next stages.

• At the time of screening, class 10, class 12, graduation scores, and work experience, along with the CAT 2026 exam scores, are used to calculate the Application Rating Score (AR). This AR score is then considered for Shortlisting candidates for WAT and PI.

• Written Ability Test (WAT): Shortlisted candidates are required to write an essay on a given topic to assess their writing skills and ability to articulate thoughts coherently.

• Personal Interview (PI): Candidates who perform well in WAT are invited for personal interviews where their interpersonal skills, leadership potential, and overall fit for the program are evaluated.

IIM Kozhikode Selection 2027-29 (Expected)

IIM Kozhikode has an extensive selection process conducted in several phases. The candidates need to follow the IIM Kozhikode admission criteria.

• Candidates who have opted for the IIM Kozhikode in their CAT 2026 application and are meeting the IIM Kozhikode eligibility criteria will receive an email for online registration. Candidates who complete online registration will be considered for the next stage.

• The Stage 2 process applies to the eligible candidates who completed the registration process in Stage 1 for admission to IIM Kozhikode, and it is for the determination of the candidates to be called for a personal interview (PI). A shortlist of candidates in each category will be prepared based on an Aggregate Index Score (AIS). The AIS is computed based on the performance in CAT 2026, Class X, Class XII, Gender/Academic diversity criterion, and work experience. Each component of the AIS is given a different weightage.

• The short-listed candidates must appear for a Written Ability Test (WAT) followed by a Personal Interview (PI).

• The entire process will last for a half-day (morning or afternoon). In this process, the candidates will write an essay, followed by a PI. The essay topic will be announced at the venue just before the start of the WAT session.

• During the PI process, the panel will evaluate each candidate's academic efforts and disposition, general awareness and social disposition, attitude, personality and communication, and quality of work experience. The resume score will be calculated based on academic and professional qualifications and certifications.

• After the WAT and PI process concludes, the final scores will be computed based on the performances in CAT 2026, PI, WAT, and resume scores.

• A category-wise merit list will be prepared based on the final scores.

• Admission offers will be made to candidates following the merit list as per the Government of India reservation norms.

IIM Lucknow Admission Criteria 2027-29

IIM Lucknow, which has set the minimum cut-off to 90 to be applicable for interview calls, has a complex selection process. The students who have applied for the IIM Lucknow also need to learn about the IIM Lucknow admission criteria as a part of the selection process.

• IIM Lucknow will create the list based on the composite score for the candidates who qualify in Stage 1, and the shortlist for the WAT-PI process shall be available on our official website, www.iiml.ac.in.

• Such candidates shall be required to fill in and submit the WAT-PI form online within the stipulated deadline.

• The candidates who fail to submit their WAT-PI form online by the prescribed time limit shall not be allowed for the WAT-PI process.

• Candidates are advised to check the official website of IIM Lucknow (www.iiml.ac.in) regularly after the declaration of CAT 2026 results for updates/ notifications related to the admission process.

It would be important to note that the minimum requirement for getting a pass in PI is 12 out of 40. The applicants who have appeared for the PI round but don't clear the PI cut-off won’t be included in the final merit list.

IIM Indore Selection Process 2027-29 (Expected)

IIM Indore selection process is conducted in several phases. IIM Indore has adopted a three-stage selection process (I) Eligibility criteria (II) Shortlist for Personal Interview (PI) (III) Final Selection. The candidates who want to know about the IIM Indore selection process must know the following steps.

Stage I: Eligibility Criteria

• All applicants who apply for the two-year PGP of IIM Indore must satisfy the eligibility criteria mentioned in the CAT 2026 advertisement, and also the minimum sectional percentile and overall percentile scores in the CAT 2026 exam.

• Only those applicants meeting the specified criteria will be considered for Stage 2 of the selection process.

• The minimum cut-off for the general candidates is set at 90 percentile.

Stage II: Shortlist for Personal Interview (PI)

• Only those candidates satisfying the requirements mentioned in Stage I will be considered for the Personal Interview (PI).

• A sufficient number of candidates for PI for each category (General, EWS, NC-OBC, SC, ST, and PwD) will be shortlisted using the merit list generated based on the Composite Score (CS) as mentioned in Table 2.

• Candidates short-listed for PI are expected to be informed in January 2027.

• IIM Indore will conduct the admission interviews offline (in Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Indore, Kolkata, and Mumbai)/ online mode depending on the situation.

• Candidates shortlisted for Personal Interview (PI) at Stage II will have to attend PI, failing which they will not be considered for the next stage of the selection process, i.e., Stage III.

• It is expected from the candidates to score a minimum of marks in the PI round decided by IIM Indore.

• Candidates not meeting the minimum performance in any of the PI parameters will not be considered for the next stage of the IIM Indore selection process, i.e., Stage-III.

Stage III: Final selection

• The candidates satisfying the requirements mentioned in Stage II will only be considered for the final selection.

• Category-wise merit list will be generated based on the Final Composite Score (FCS) as mentioned in Table 3, and provisional admission offers will be made accordingly, adhering to the reservation norms.