CAT Counselling 2025: IIM Selection Criteria & Latest Dates

CAT Counselling 2025: CAT Counselling 2025 admission process enables candidates to enter MBA and PGDM programs through its established procedure. The process starts after the CAT 2025 results are published on December 24, 2025. The 21 IIMs present a unique system because they do not use a centralized counseling method to handle their national admissions process. The selection methods of the institutes require them to choose between their own admission criteria or their participation in shared admission methods such as the Common Admission Process (CAP). The candidates need to achieve both sectional and overall cutoffs to become eligible for interview invitations.

There are three rounds in the counselling process: shortlisting, WAT/PI and final admission. Candidates will be selected for WAT/PI round based on their CAT exam score.

CAT counselling 2025 process consists of multiple assessment stages which evaluate whether candidates are fit for management positions. Candidates can know complete details about the written exam and counselling process here:

IIM Kozhikode is expected to release the CAT 2025 counselling dates soon on the official website. The candidates can know more about the important dates in the table below:

IIMs select candidates who meet the cut-off set for that year. Those who clear the cut-off must appear for the PI and WAT rounds. The admission process of all 21 IIMs usually takes three to four months, and classes begin around June or July. Non-IIM colleges also finish their admissions at the same time.

IIM admission 2026 will depend on three things, the CAT 2025 result, the WAT/PI round, and the candidate’s academic record. Know more about the different phases of the CAT counselling process 2025 below. 

First Phase: Shortlisting Through CAT 2025

Each candidate is shortlisted based on their CAT score and the cut-off fixed by each IIM. For General category students, the minimum cut-off is usually above the 90th percentile. Newer IIMs may keep their cut-offs between 70 and 80 percentiles. Scoring above the cut-off makes a candidate eligible for the interview, but the final call depends on their actual CAT score and academic record.

Second Phase: WAT/GD/PI Round

IIMs conduct WAT and PI in the second phase of the counselling round. This is the most important round because the panel takes the final decision based on the candidate’s performance here. Earlier, GD was common, but now most IIMs use WAT and PI. Some conduct only PI.

Third Phase: Final Selection

Here, the IIMs prepare the final score by looking at the candidate’s academics and work experience along with their performance in CAT and WAT/PI.

Below is the weightage for IIM admission 2026:

IIM CAT counselling will require candidates to support some documents on the dashboard. The authorities will cross verify these documents to check their eligibility. 

• Class 10 marksheet and certificate

• Class 12 marksheet and certificate

• Graduation marksheet and certificate

• Reservation category certificates (if applicable)

• IIM interview call letter

• CAT 2025 scorecard

IIM Written Ability Test is an essay writing round in the CAT selection process. In this round, the candidates receive a topic and must write about it within 15 to 30 minutes. Candidates must stay updated with the current affairs section as it can be asked from any topic. The purpose of WAT is to judge how clearly a candidate thinks, how well they express ideas, and how aware they are of the world around them.

The Personal Interview (PI) is the most important part of the IIM admission process. It carries about 30–40% weight. In this round, candidates face a panel of two to four interviewers. They check confidence, communication skills, clarity of thought, leadership qualities, and basic managerial understanding. Most questions are related to the candidate’s studies, work, or interests. 

The newer IIMs uses the Common Admission Process (CAP). These include IIM Bodh Gaya, IIM Kashipur, IIM Sambalpur, IIM Sirmaur, IIM Jammu, IIM Ranchi, IIM Trichy, and IIM Udaipur. The admission process of these nine IIMs is similar to the older IIMs. They conduct a Written Ability Test (WAT) or Group Discussion (GD), followed by a Personal Interview (PI). 

The CAT cut-off and the weightage given to each selection parameter are also common across these institutes. However, the cut-offs are usually much lower than those of the older IIMs. It is generally easier to get into these newer or “Baby IIMs” because their selection criteria are not as strict as the top IIMs. 

The participating IIMs will release the cut off marks list soon. The colleges will release the cut off marks for all the categories separately. Candidates whose marks are more than or equal to the CAT cut off marks 2025 will be called for the interview round. As of now, there is no announcement regarding the minimum cut off marks for IIM CAT 2025. Candidates can know about the expected cut off marks below.