Hello Nikita,

To get into any of the top IIMs, such as IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, Kozhikode, or Indore, a good percentile in CAT is required, although academics play a vital role too. Let's break it down below:

CAT Score: 98+ percentile is an excellent score and makes one competitive.

Academic Scores:

Your 10th score at 84% is quite good.

A 12th score of 65% is on the lower side, which might hamper your chances at some of the top IIMs since they give weightage to past academic performance.

IIM Selection Criteria:

Every IIM has its own weightage for the scores of academics, CAT percentile, work experience, if any, and diversity.

For example, IIM Ahmedabad requires consistent academic records, while IIM Bangalore puts the strongest focus on work experience and diversified profiles.

Graduation: You are currently pursuing graduation, and your performance during that will also be considered in the shortlisting process.

While your CAT score is going to be the major pointer, your academic record-doing in class 12-is going to affect your prospects a bit at IIMs that place significant emphasis on your past performance. Still, you will have a healthy shot, at least at institutes like Lucknow, Kozhikode, and Indore, where a good score in CAT may offset lower marks in academics.

If you have diverse profiled extracurricular activities, leadership roles etc, or work experience, then it can build up your application further.