IIM Ahmedabad has released its latest selection criteria for admission to its PGP program. This year, IIM Ahmedabad has assigned 65% weight to CAT 2023 scores while shortlisting candidates for the AWT-PI round. The minimum CAT 2023 cut-off for IIM Ahmedabad has been set at the 80th percentile, while the sectional cut-offs have been set at the 70th percentile. Here is a simple breakdown of IIM Ahmedabad's latest admission policy and selection criteria for admission to the PGP batch of 2024-2026 through CAT 2023.
IIM Ahmedabad Selection Criteria for PGP 2024-2026
IIM Ahmedabad's selection criteria can be very confusing to read and process, given the appreciable depth in which the institute explains the selection process for admission to its MBA program. But let's break it down and put it in simpler terms to understand the process better.
IIM Ahmedabad Selection Criteria Step 1 - Preliminary Screening of Candidates
Each IIM sets a minimum sectional and overall CAT cut-off which, if you meet it, makes you eligible to be selected for IIM Ahmedabad's future rounds of selection. The minimum cut-off to be at least eligible for a call from IIM Ahmedabad is listed in the table below, split category-wise.
| IIM Ahmedabad CAT 2023 Minimum Cut-Offs |
| Category |
VARC |
DILR |
QA |
Overall |
| General, EWS |
70 |
70 |
70 |
80 |
| NC-OBC/Transgender |
65 |
65 |
65 |
75 |
| SC |
60 |
60 |
60 |
70 |
| ST |
50 |
50 |
50 |
60 |
| PwD (General/ EWS, NC-OBC/transgender, SC) |
60 |
60 |
60 |
70 |
| PwD (ST) |
50 |
50 |
50 |
60 |
| Please note that simply meeting the minimum cut-off isn't a guarantee of a shortlist from IIM Ahmedabad. Meeting the minimum cut-off simply means that you are eligible to be shortlisted for further rounds of selection. |
IIM Ahmedabad Selection Criteria Step 2 - Calculation of Composite Score Based On Candidates' CAT Scores + Profile
Now that IIM Ahmedabad has filtered out those who have not met the minimum cut-offs, it's time to evaluate them based on their CAT 2023 performance as well as their profiles. Based on this, a candidate's composite score is calculated which will be used to shortlist them for the Academic Writing Test and Personal Interview round.
We will refer to scores for profiles as Application Rating (AR) scores. AR scores comprise of 4 different components. We will explore each of these components in detail as we go along. The components are:
(A) - A candidate's score in 10th.
(B) - A candidate's score in 12th.
(C) - A candidate's score in graduation.
(D) - A candidate's work experience in months.
So, AR Score = A+B+C+D. This total score has a weight of 35% in calculating the composite score, while the CAT 2023 score has a weight of 65%. Please note that your AR score will be normalized, which is equal to your AR score divided by the average of the top 50 AR scores from the applicants' pool.
Now, a simple weighted composite score can be calculated using the formula:
Application Rating Score - Component A | 10th Marks
Your 10th marks are included in the latest IIM Ahmedabad selection criteria. You are given a rating score from 1 to 10 based on the percentage of maximum marks obtained in 10th. The table below comprises the percentage bracket and the corresponding score.
| % Score In 10th |
Rating Score
A |
| <= 55 |
1 |
| > 55 and <= 60 |
2 |
| > 60 and <= 70 |
3 |
| > 70 and <= 80 |
5 |
| > 80 and <= 90 |
8 |
| > 90 |
10 |
Application Rating Score - Component B | 12th Marks
Your 12th marks are included in the latest IIM Ahmedabad selection criteria. You are given a rating score from 1 to 10 based on the percentage of maximum marks obtained in 12th. However, the score you receive depends on which stream you opted for in 12th. For example, if you scored above 85% as an Arts/Humanities student, you get the maximum score but as a Science student, you need more than 90% marks to achieve a maximum score. The table below comprises the percentage bracket and the corresponding score.
| Science |
Commerce |
Humanities |
Rating Score |
| <= 55 |
<= 50 |
<= 45 |
1 |
| > 55 and <= 60 |
> 50 and <= 55 |
> 45 and <= 50 |
2 |
| > 60 and <= 70 |
> 55 and <= 65 |
> 50 and <= 60 |
3 |
| > 70 and <= 80 |
> 65 and <= 75 |
> 60 and <= 70 |
5 |
| > 80 and <= 90 |
> 75 and <= 90 |
> 70 and <= 85 |
8 |
| > 90 |
> 90 |
> 85 |
10 |
Application Rating Score - Component C | Graduation Marks
Now, here's where things get a little complicated, but we'll simplify it for you! IIM Ahmedabad has a unique way of promoting academic diversity. In the selection criteria of many other IIMs, assigning marks for academic diversity is simple - if you're an engineer, you get no marks, but if you're a non-engineer, you get a particular score added to your overall application score. IIM Ahmedabad takes this to another level.
IIM Ahmedabad has created a total of 6 academic categories which are based on the bachelor's degree obtained by a candidate. To put it simply, those with Engineering and related degrees are clubbed together, those with a Medicine degree are clubbed together, those with Arts/Humanities/Design, etc. degrees are clubbed together, and so on. The 6 academic categories are listed at the end of this article.
Given below are the academic category-wise percentage brackets and their corresponding scores.
| AC-1 |
AC-2 |
| Percent score in Bachelor's Degree |
Rating Score |
Percent score in Professional courses |
Rating Score |
| <= 55 |
1 |
<= 50 |
1 |
| > 55 and <= 60 |
2 |
> 50 and <= 53 |
2 |
| > 60 and <= 62 |
3 |
> 53 and <= 55 |
3 |
| > 62 and <= 65 |
5 |
> 55 and <= 57 |
5 |
| > 65 and <= 70 |
8 |
> 57 and <= 63 |
8 |
| > 70 |
10 |
> 63 |
10 |
| AC-3 |
AC-4 |
| Percent score in Bachelor's Degree |
Rating Score |
Percent score in Bachelor's Degree |
Rating Score |
| <= 55 |
1 |
<= 60 |
1 |
| > 55 and <= 60 |
2 |
> 60 and <= 65 |
2 |
| > 60 and <= 65 |
3 |
> 65 and <= 70 |
3 |
| > 65 and <= 70 |
5 |
> 70 and <= 75 |
5 |
| > 70 and <= 80 |
8 |
> 75 and <= 85 |
8 |
| > 80 |
10 |
> 85 |
10 |
Application Rating Score - Component D | Work Experience
The following table captures the marks assigned for work experience up to July 31, 2023.
| Work Experience in Month (as filled in the CAT Application Form) |
Rating Score D |
| < 12 months |
0 |
| >= 12 and <= 36 months |
MF * (number of months of work experience – 11) |
| > 36 months |
5 |
| Work-experience Multiplication Factor (MF) = 0.20 |
IIM Ahmedabad Selection Criteria Step 3 - Shortlisting of Candidates For The Academic Writing Test + Personal Interview (AWT-PI) Round
Now that composite scores have been calculated, IIM Ahmedabad will shortlist candidates for the AWT-PI round. IIM A conducts two rounds of shortlisting for the AWT-PI round. This step can be a little confusing and can be explored further in-depth on the institute's official website.
Round 1
From each of the academic categories (AC), the top 5% in the respective (AC) are shortlisted based on their composite scores. To be eligible to be a part of the top 5%, you need to meet a certain set of criteria:
- Criterion 1. Depending on your category, you should meet the minimum CAT 2023 cut-offs set by IIM Ahmedabad.
- Criterion 2. P greater than or equal to the minimum cut-offs mentioned in the table below, where P is the average of the percentages of marks scored in 10th and 12th std. examinations.
- Criterion 3. Finally, your percentage of marks in the bachelor's examination should be greater than or equal to the minimum cut-off percentage, to be set at the 80th percentile of the percentage of marks of the respective academic category (AC) to which you belong.
Round 2
After candidates from Round 1 have been shortlisted, the additional number of candidates to be shortlisted for AWT & PI will be selected on the basis of the composite score. Additionally, and this is important, you also need to meet the minimum criteria 1 and 2 as listed under 'Round 1', i.e., you need to meet the minimum CAT 2023 cut-off set by IIM Ahmedabad + you also need to meet the minimum cut-off set by IIM Ahmedabad for the average of your 10th and 12th marks.
And with this, we're done with the shortlisting process for the AWT-PI round! Now, candidates will be invited to interview for admission to the MBA program, where they will be asked to participate in the Academic Writing Test as well as a personal interview with a panel of professors + institute alumni.
IIM Ahmedabad Selection Criteria Step 4 - Final Selection For The MBA Batch of 2026.
Now that your AWT-PI round is complete, IIM Ahmedabad will generate a new composite score based on your performance. The components of the composite score and their corresponding weights can be found in the table below.
The normalised PI and AWT scores of a candidate are their scores in the respective field divided by the average of the top 1% scores in the same field respectively. Candidates, who appear in AWT & PI will be able to view whether they have been offered admission by IIMA tentatively during the second week of April 2024.
CAT Related Links
Information about the various ACs
AC-1 (Medicine and Surgery-based subjects):
- Part I: MBBS, MD (USA)
- Part II: BAMS, BDS, BHMS
AC-2 (Selected Professional Degrees):
- Chartered Accountancy (CA), Cost and Works Accountancy (ICWA), Company Secretaryship (CS), Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of India (FIAI)
AC-3 (All Commerce, Economics, Finance and Management Related Degrees):
- Includes various degrees in Commerce, Economics, Finance, and Management, as well as related vocational degrees.
AC-4 (Engineering, Technology, and Architecture-related Areas):
- Part I: Engineering, Technology, and Architecture degrees, excluding specific design-related fields.
- Part II: Science and Agriculture-related areas, excluding Medicine and Surgery. This includes degrees in Agriculture, Biosciences, Computer Applications, Geological Sciences, Natural Sciences, Paramedical, Veterinary degrees, and more.
AC-5 (Arts/Humanities Related Degrees, Design, Education, Fashion Design/Technology, Law, and Rural Studies):
- Includes a wide range of Arts and Humanities degrees, Design, Education, Fashion Design/Technology, Law, and Rural Studies.
AC-6:
- Any other discipline not mentioned in AC-1 to AC-5.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Question: What percentage of weightage does the CAT 2023 score hold in the selection criteria for IIM Ahmedabad's PGP program?
CAT 2023 score holds 65% weightage in IIM Ahmedabad's selection criteria for the PGP program.
- Question: How are Application Rating (AR) scores calculated, and what is their significance in the admission process?
AR scores are calculated based on 10th, 12th, graduation, and work experience. They contribute 35% to the composite score, which is used for shortlisting candidates.
- Question: Can you explain the two rounds of shortlisting for the Academic Writing Test and Personal Interview (AWT-PI) round at IIM Ahmedabad?
In Round 1, the top 5% of candidates in each academic category qualify based on composite scores. In Round 2, additional candidates are selected based on composite scores, but they must also meet specific CAT 2023 and 10th/12th marks criteria.
- Question: What is the purpose of normalizing AR scores, and how is it done?
Normalizing AR scores ensures fairness by dividing a candidate's AR score by the average of the top 50 AR scores in the applicant pool. This accounts for variations in score distribution.
- Question: When will candidates be informed about their admission to IIM Ahmedabad's MBA program for the batch of 2024-2026, and how is the final selection determined?
Candidates can tentatively expect admission results in the second week of April 2024. The final selection is based on a composite score that includes normalized PI and AWT scores, with the top 1% scores used for normalization.