IIM Bangalore 2021 Admission Policy - IIM B To Give 40 Percent Weight To CAT Score

IIM Bangalore's process of eliminating and selecting candidates can be broken down into three simple steps -

1. Filtering out candidates based on minimum CAT 2021 percentile cut-offs.
2. Shortlisting candidates based on weighted composite score that takes into account a candidate's profile as well as their CAT 2021 performance. IIM Bangalore also assigns extra points for gender diversity.
3. Shortlisting candidates for admission based on their performance in the Writing Ability Test + Personal Interview round + Academic Profile + CAT 2021 scores + Work Experience.

Step 1 - Eliminating Candidates Based On Minimum Overall And Sectional CAT Percentile Cut-Offs

The table below captures the minimum overall and sectional CAT percentile cut-offs set by IIM Bangalore in 2021. Candidates must meet both the overall and sectional cut-offs to stand a chance of being shortlisted for further rounds of selection. Please note that simply meeting the minimum cut-offs set by any IIM is not a guarantee of a shortlist from said IIM.

Step 2 - Shortlisting Candidates For The WAT-PI Round, Based On Weighted Composite Score

Only those candidates who meet the criteria in Step-1 will be eligible for Step-2 of the selection process. In this step, IIM Bangalore will calculate a weighted composite score for each eligible candidate based on their academic performance as well as their CAT 2021 scores. Please note that:

• For all candidates in the first shortlist as stated in Step 1, the candidates percentage scores in the 10th and 12th board exams are initially adjusted by dividing each such score by the 90th percentile score obtained in that board. The database of 10th and 12th scores of all CAT applicants of the past two years is used for identifying the 90th percentile score for each 10th and 12th board for this purpose.
• For all candidates in the first shortlist as stated in Step 1, an adjusted score is calculated for each of the candidates based on the final scores obtained by the candidate in his/her bachelors’ degree and/or professional degrees, as the case may be.
• The gender diversity component is applicable only for the computing the pre-PI score for deciding on interview calls, and will not be applicable for phase 2 of the admissions process leading up to the final offers of admission.

The table below captures the various components evaluated by IIM Bangalore and their respective weights while creating the WAT-PI shortlist:

• The 40 points for CAT are derived from the performance in each of the three sections as follows: Verbal & Reading Comprehension (VARC) - 14 points, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) - 16 points, and Quantitative Aptitude (QA) - 10 points.

• Pre-PI Score for work experience is equal to:

• 8x/36 if 0<x<36
• 8 if x >= 36.

Where x is the months of work experience up to July 2021, as captured in CAT application form (and substantiated in the application to IIM B). This implies that the score will peak at 36 months work experience and will remain at that level for candidates with work experience exceeding 36 months.

• For all candidates in the first shortlist as stated in Step 1, the top 10 candidates in each of the following : total score in CAT, adjusted Bachelors’ score (Commerce, Arts, & Science disciplines), and Professional (CA/ICWA/CS), from the first shortlist, as created using the criteria in Step 1 automatically qualify for PI. These candidates are given a chance to appear for PI due to their exceptional performance in these categories. However, at the end of Step 3, all such candidates must merit selection based on the composite aggregate score, like any other candidate.

Step 3 - Shortlisting Candidates Based On Writing Ability Test + Personal Interview Performance 

After candidates have been shortlisted in Step 2 of the selection process, IIM Bangalore will conduct the WAT-PI round. The institute will then create a weighted composite score based on a candidate's WAT-PI performance, their CAT 2020 scores, their academic profile, as well as their work experience. Each component will be assigned a different weight, as illustrated in the table below. This is the final stage of the selection process before admission offers are extended to selected candidates.

• The performance of each candidate on the Written Ability Test (WAT) will be scored in terms of the content and style of the note. Each interviewer will use the Personal Interview to comprehensively evaluate the candidate's motivation and ability to fit in to and benefit from the PGP. The average of the scores given by the interviewers in the personal interview will be used in calculating the multi factor score based on which offers of admission will be finally made, while for the WAT, the scores given by an independent evaluator will be considered.

• The work experience score will be multiplied by the quality of experience score, as evaluated by the interviewing panel as an assessment of the relevance of the work experience to the programme. The quality of work experience score will be evaluated on a 5 point scale (0.25 - 0.5 - 1 - 1.5 - 2) by each member of the panel during the interviews. The average quality of work experience score will be multiplied by the pre-PI work experience score and accordingly the work/professional experience component score used in Step 2 will be revised to arrive at a weighted work experience score.