This article attempts to describe IIM Calcutta Admission Criteria 2025, which is focused towards developing the intelligence amongst candidates that would like to perform exceptionally instead of considering the average level of performance in the MBA program. Thousands of students apply every year to IIM Calcutta considering it one of the best institutes in India.
Also, learn IIM Bangalore Admission Criteria 2025
IIM Calcutta Admission Criteria 2025: Selection and Admission Process
In order to provide equal opportunity to all the students and achieve transparency, there are admission policies that include evaluation through academics, entrance exams, personal interview etc. This blog will be focusing on the complete guide for IIM Calcutta admission Criteria 2025.
Let us see the key points to remember regarding the IIM Calcutta Admission Criteria 2025 and take the necessary precautions to avoid any mistakes.
Overview of IIM Calcutta Admission Criteria 2025
The most compatible candidates for IIM Calcutta’s official postgraduate programme in the year 2025 would be selected following the IIM Calcutta Admission Criteria for the year 2025. Among the business schools in India, IIM Calcutta is ranked as one of the best due to its structured and straightforward selection process. Look for candidates who are high achieving not only in academics.
It evaluates several parameters.
- CAT 2024 Cut-off: CAT remains the first cut-off for shortlisting.
- Academic Background: Students with high grades at class 10, class 12 and graduation level are preferred.
- Work Experience: Though not necessary, relevant work experience is considered positively.
- Diversity: Candidates from diverse academic backgrounds and genders are considered additionally.
- Interview and Written Assessments: The candidates are subjected to an Analytical Writing Test (AWT) and Personal Interview (PI) to test the candidate’s communication, reasoning ability, and personality.
Eligibility Criteria for IIM Calcutta Admission Criteria 2025
Candidates will be eligible for IIM Calcutta Admission Criteria 2025 if they satisfy the following eligibility criteria.
Academic Qualifications in IIM Calcutta Admission Criteria 2025:
- Bachelor’s Degree: Applicant must have a bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA from a recognized university. For SC, ST, and PwD candidates, the percentage marks should be 45%.
- Final Year Students: Final year undergraduate students or awaiting results students are also eligible to apply. They must provide proof of graduation by the given deadline.
CAT 2024 Scores required in IIM Calcutta Admission Criteria 2025.
CAT 2024 Scores needed in IIM Calcutta Admission Criteria 2025:
- Compulsory Attendance: All applicants must take the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2024, which is the primary basis for shortlisting.
- Minimum Percentile: A high percentile in CAT 2024 is a must. Though there is no official cutoff, a candidate needs to have a 98+ percentile to be shortlisted for further evaluation. Sectional cutoffs also apply.
Work Experience in IIM Calcutta Admission Criteria 2025:
- Eligibility for Work Experience: Work experience is not mandatory, but relevant professional experience is considered very important and may work to your advantage. IIM Calcutta accords additional weightage to work experience during the shortlisting process.
Age Limit in IIM Calcutta Admission Criteria 2025:
- IIM Calcutta does not have an age limit for its PGP program, which opens doors to candidates from different career stages.
Diversity in IIM Calcutta Admission Criteria 2025:
- IIM Calcutta ensures diversity in the student body. Candidates from diverse academic backgrounds (arts, commerce, etc.) or underrepresented genders will be given extra consideration in the shortlisting process.
Also learn: Best CAT coaching in India
IIM Calcutta Admission Criteria 2025 – Process
The IIM Calcutta Admission process has various stages, including registration and shortlisting up to final selection. Here is the step-by-step procedure:
CAT 2024 Registration
Candidate needs to give the CAT 2024 exam. The Registration of CAT 2024 starts in August month every year.
Shortlisting for Written Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI)
- Shortlist: After arriving at the scores in the CAT, IIM Calcutta shortlists the candidates and further evaluates them. There is shortlisting based on overall percentile and sectional cut-offs. While the details of the exact criteria to shortlist are not very transparent, it is indeed the candidates with higher percentiles are shortlisted to call for further rounds.
- WAT & PI: Short-listed candidates are called to attend the WAT and PI process. WAT tests how lucidly a candidate can put forth his ideas. On the other hand, the PI tests personality, communication ability, and suitability of a candidate for the course.
Final Selection Criteria in IIM Calcutta Admission Criteria 2025
The final selection of candidates is based on the following factors:
- CAT 2024 Score is One of the most important criteria for IIM Calcutta Admission.
- Academic Performance: Academic performance in school and college, especially undergraduate degree, plays a very important role.
- Work Experience: Those who have work experience are preferred, but it is not mandatory.
- WAT and PI Scores: WAT and PI scores play a crucial role in the final selection.
Candidates who passed the final assessment are offered admission to the Post Graduate (PGP/MBA) Programme at IIM Calcutta.Â
IIM Calcutta Admission Criteria 2025 – Process
The admission process at IIM Calcutta is one that is comprehensive and multi-stage, ensuring candidates meet the institute’s academic as well as personal excellence standards. Some of the key stages of the process are mentioned here:
Step 1: CAT Examination
The first step to a student’s admission process is an annually conducted national-level Common Admission Test, CAT, followed by the score it secures. The candidates secured from the CAT score are considered as a shortlist and made eligible for further selection.
- Structure of the CAT Test. The CAT examination holds three sections:
- Verbal ability and reading comprehension.
- Data interpretation and Logical reasoning.
- Quantitative ability.
- The score for each section is independent, and the overall CAT score is computed based on the weighted scores of each section.
Step 2: Shortlisting for Personal Interview (PI) and Written Ability Test (WAT)
After analyzing the CAT scores, IIM Calcutta shortlists students for further rounds. These include PI and WAT. These shortlisted candidates are called for the interview process.
- IIM Calcutta shortlists candidates based on a combination of CAT score, then checks the academic profile, and work experience if there is any, and diversity factors for the PI-WAT stage.
Step 3: Written Ability Test (WAT)
Generally, topics of WAT are current affairs or business issues or abstract themes. In WAT, the allotted time is 20 minutes. Candidates are expected to write an essay of about 250-300 words.
- Evaluation: The essay is evaluated on the basis of its structure, clarity of thought, grammar, and the relevance of the content.
Step 4: Personal Interview (PI)
Here the candidate communication skills, ability to solve the problems is being checked. Basically the overall personality of the candidate. Panel basically checks the Academic background, work experience, personal traits, and the general awareness.
Step 5: Final Selection
After the PI-WAT round, IIM Calcutta employs a composite scoring system to finalize the chosen list of candidates. It is a final selection with a combination of the below factors:
- CAT Score
- WAT Score
- PI Score
- Academic record(Undergraduate and prior schooling)
- Work Experience (if applicable)
- Diversity Factors (gender, academic background, etc.)
The final merit list is declared on the IIM Calcutta website, and selected candidates are provided with admission to the MBA program.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on IIM Calcutta Admission Criteria 2025
Here are some of the frequently asked questions regarding IIM Calcutta Admission Criteria 2025:
What is the minimum CAT percentile required for IIM Calcutta admission?
The minimum CAT percentile needed for shortlisting would range between 85-90 for the general category candidate. The actual cut-off, however, is determined by the applicant pool and many other factors.
Is working experience mandatory to join IIM Calcutta?
No, working experience is not mandatory to join IIM Calcutta. But work experience can strengthen one’s overall profile; excellent academic credentials can be adequate for shortlisting as well.
Does IIM Calcutta accept GMAT scores for admission?
Yes, IIM Calcutta accepts GMAT scores for candidates applying through the GMAT route. This is generally for international candidates or for executive MBA applicants.
What is the weightage for each component in the final selection process?
The final selection at IIM Calcutta takes into account the following weightage:
CAT Score: 65-70%
WAT Performance: 10-15%
PI Performance: 20-25%
Academic Profile & Work Experience: 10-15%
How important is the academic profile for admission to IIM Calcutta?
IIM Calcutta values academic excellence and gives considerable importance to the undergraduate degree scores. However, they also look at other factors like work experience, extracurricular activities, and performance in WAT and PI.
