CAT 2026 Selection Process for IIMs: Admission Criteria, Shortlist, WAT-PI & Final Selection

CAT Selection Process 2027

The IIM admission process will be based on the composite scores of candidates in all rounds, including academic scores and work experience. Additionally, academic performance will be taken into consideration during the CAT admission process. The criteria for shortlisting candidates will vary across IIMs, with each IIM having its own separate admission policy. For details of the CAT selection process, candidates can visit the official website of the respective IIM.

Most of the IIMs will release their admission criteria on their websites. Non-IIMs will also release the admission criteria. Candidates interested in taking admission at B-schools other than IIMs will have to check the admission criteria on their websites.

Indian Institute of Management (IIMs) shortlists candidates for the interview round based on their admission criteria. However, the CAT score is a common and most important component in the CAT selection process for MBA at IIMs as well as CAT score-accepting institutes. Other selection factors include candidates' past academic records, gender, diversity of qualifications, etc.

IIM Admission Criteria for MBA

In this complete Careers360 article, we discuss the weightage given to various aspects, the CAT selection process, the different selection processes of IIMs, non-IIMs, and other B-schools accepting CAT scores. The CAT admission process for IIMs consists of three rounds:

• Round 1: CAT 2026 Result and IIM Shortlist
• Round 2: Personal Interview
• Round 3: Final Selection and Eligibility Verification

Round 1: CAT 2026 Result and IIM Shortlist

The first step is the announcement of the CAT 2026 results by the exam conducting body. The test conducting body for the CAT exam will declare the CAT 2026 result. IIM Indore will announce the CAT result 2026 in the first week of January 2027k. Candidates can check their CAT results by visiting the official website- iimcat.ac.in and by using the required CAT login credentials, such as CAT ID and password.

Consequently, IIMs will start releasing shortlist dates and then begin their shortlisting process. IIMs will release their individual CAT cutoff for different categories. The list of shortlisted candidates for the next stages of selection will be made available on the respective websites of the concerned IIMs. IIMs will send interview letters directly to all shortlisted candidates.

• How to crack GD-PI & WAT rounds of top B-schools
• Top B-schools Accepting CAT Scores and Cutoffs

IIM Admission Process After CAT - IIM Interview Call Letter

Candidates selected for the first round of the IIM admission process after CAT will receive invitation letters for personal interviews on their registered email ID. The invitation letter will contain the following information:

• Registration link
• Last date to complete the CAP/JAP/individual IIMs registration
• Date, time, and venue of WAT/GD and PI

Round 2: WAT, PI, and GD Rounds

All candidates who meet the CAT cutoff can move on to the next stage of the IIM selection process 2027-29 for MBA, i.e., Written Ability Tests (WAT), Personal Interviews (PI), and Group discussions (GD). Candidates are evaluated based on general knowledge, communication ability, performance in previous rounds, and presence of mind.

Round 3: Final Selection and Eligibility Verification

Any candidate listed for a personal interview at IIMs must comply with the eligibility and verification for the CAT final selection process.

At this point, candidates get marks based on their academic performance. Here is a breakdown of the tentative parameters on which candidates are selected.

NOTE: The table above contains the parameters and weightage of the respective IIMs for the CAT exam. The weightage of each parameter will vary from year to year for each IIM.

Also Check: MBA Colleges Accepting 60 Percentile in CAT

Candidates are listed for WAT/ GD-PI processes based on the CAT percentile. The aggregate score calculation process for the shortlist for WAT/ GD-PI provided by IIM Lucknow is as follows:

What are the Documents to be Taken at WAT/GD and PI Time?

Check out the list of documents required while appearing for WAT/ GD and PI.

Degree Certificates & Mark Sheet Verification:

Candidates are required to produce original and attested copies of certificates and mark sheets during the IIM selection round, i.e., the personal interview. If selected, the original degree mark sheets for all semesters and attested copies must be submitted at the time of joining.

Required Documents at the Time of WAT/GD and PI:

• IIM Interview call letter
• CAT 2026 scorecard
• Class 10 mark sheet and certificate
• Class 12 mark sheet and certificate
• The graduation mark sheet and certificate
• Reservation category proof of certificate (if applicable)
• Work experience certificate (if any)

Reserved Category

Candidates are required to produce an attested copy as well as the original ST/SC/NC-OBC/DA certificates during the personal interview. If selected, original certificates and attested copies of the reservation category must be submitted upon joining.

Final Year Undergraduate Students

The selected candidates are required to submit an original as well as an attested copy of the certificate that the student has obtained with 50% marks (45% for reserved categories) from the Registrar/ Principal/ Director of the institute or university.

Their admission will be temporary until the original mark sheet and the qualifying degree at the undergraduate level are submitted before December 31, 2027. If a candidate fails to submit the requisite documents on or before the stipulated time, his / her admission will be automatically cancelled.

Final CAT Selection Process

Other additional factors considered by most IIMs for CAT counselling are:

• The previous academic performance of the candidates
• Relevant work experience
• Gender and academic diversity

CAT 2026 Admission Process: Parameters for Final Selection Process

NOTE: It should be noted that these parameters vary from institute to institute each year.

Common Admission Process (CAP): CAT Admission Process for New IIMs

The IIMs, such as IIM Jammu, IIM Bodh Gaya, and IIM Sirmaur, will conduct a common counselling process called Common Admission Process (CAP). A shortlist of candidates will be made, and they will be required to appear for the common written ability test and personal interview rounds. Each of these IIMs will publish a candidate’s performance based on a separate merit list.

The Following New IIMs will follow the CAP-Based CAT result 2026

List of Top MBA Colleges Accepting CAT Scores in India

IIM Shortlist Status 2027-29 Based On CAT 2026 Score

After the CAT 2026 results, IIMs will release the list of shortlisted candidates to join their 2027-29 batches. Candidates can check the table below for the previous year shortlist details. This will help them have an idea about tentative shortlist dates of IIMs and the number of seats for MBA and PGP programmes.

MBA Admission through CAT 2026 in Non-IIMs

Many institutes do not fall under the IIM category but are registered with CAT 2026. These institutes conduct their own CAT exam procedure for MBA. The CAT 2026 counselling includes the same set of rounds as WAT and GD/ PI. However, not all of these rounds are mandatory for final admission. Some institutes like IMT Ghaziabad conduct group activities or group training instead of group discussions.

Also Read: Top MBA Colleges in India accepting CAT score