IIM Bangalore Admission Process 2026-2028: PI Shortlist OUT and check CAT Cut Off 2025

The answer to this question of whether an average student can get into IIM can be both yes and no depending on the definition of an average student.

• Based on Academics (Class 10/ Class 12/ Graduation): While a student with average scores in Class 10, Class 12 and graduation with a good CAT score certainly has good chances of getting a call from IIM-A, chances are less for someone with an average CAT score.
• Based on student category (General or Reserved): While it is tough for a General category average student to grab a seat at IIM due to high score requirements, a reserved category student can get admission being at average scores as well.
• Based on past work experience, diversity and other factors: Gender and academic diversity is also a factor on which students are shortlisted at IIM. IIMs judge the past academic category based on the degree obtained by the students before MBA and then a weightage is allotted based on that. For Engineers, the percentage for scoring the highest marks is higher as compared with other streams
• Performance in selection rounds: Once you make it to the final selection rounds, i.e., AWT/PI process, it can be considered a fresh start. At this stage, students can forget their past average-ness but definitely require good grasp over the past subjects as academics-related questions are asked in the interview.

Based on the above factors, it can be considered that while getting into top Management institutes, such as IIM is extremely tough, the past performance, CAT performance, student category and a lot of factors can be the reasons for a student to receive that final call.

The CAT cut offs for IIM Bangalore hovers between 97-100 percentile. The qualifying CAT cut off required for being eligible for IIM Bangalore's Written Ability test (What) and Personal Interview PI is 85 percentile for General category students, whereas for SC candidates, it is 70 percentile. For ST candidates, it is 65 percentile and for PwD candidates it is 60 percentile. Given below are the sectional and overall qualifying CAT cut offs for IIM Bangalore.

• General category: 80 VARC 75 DILR 75 Quantitative Aptitude 85 (Overall)
• NC-OBC category: 75 VARC 65 DILR 65 Quantitative Aptitude 75 (Overall)
• EWS category: 70 VARC 65 DILR 65 Quantitative Aptitude 75 (Overall)
• SC category: 65 VARC 60 DILR 60 Quantitative Aptitude 70 (Overall)
• ST category: 55 VARC 55 DILR 55 Quantitative Aptitude 65 (Overall)
• PwD category: 50 VARC 50 DILR 50 Quantitative Aptitude 60 (Overall)

IIM Bangalore considers two kinds of CAT scores for MBA admission - Qualifying and Final score. Qualifying CAT score is the minimum sectional and overall CAT score used to shortlist students for the Analytical Writing Test (AWT) and Personal Interview (PI) rounds. Candidates above minimum cutoffs in the sectional percentile ranks, the overall percentile rank and having a positive (greater than zero) raw score in all sections of CAT are considered for the next stage. The final CAT score is cutoffs are the basis of which the candidates are called for final selection after the AWT and PI rounds are over. 

It is not possible to join IIM Bangalore directly after Class 12 since the institute mostly offers postgraduate and doctoral level programmes in the field of Management. However, a student who has completed his/ her Class 12 can complete the final graduation and then look out for admission to IIM-B. 

The institute offers MBA, Executive MBA, and other courses at PG, doctoral and certificate level courses in the field of Management. Interested applicants are required to go through the national-level entrances and then appear for the institute-level selection rounds for final admission. Admission to the flagship course, i.e. MBA of IIM Bangalore is based on a valid score in the CAT exam, followed by a Personal Interview (PI) and Written Ability Test (WAT) round. IIM Bangalore offers admission to Indian students via CAT and international students via GMAT/ GRE. IIM Bangalore conducts IIM-B tests for admission to Executive MBA (EPGP) and PhD courses. 

Qualifying CAT cut off percentiles of an IIM is the minimum percentile (sectional as well as overall) required by candidates to be eligible for the Written Ability Test (What) and Personal Interview PI round. These are only eligibility score and not the score for selection. The final CAT cut off percentiles are the scores on the basis of which a candidate is actually selected for the What-PI round. The qualifying CAT cut offs are released publically before the CAT exam and result as a part of selection criteria for the MBA/PGP batch of that year. The qualifying cut offs for CAT are release category wise - General, NC/OBC. General-EWS, SC/ST, PwD. The qualifying cut offs percentiles of General category candidate is higher than then rest. The final CAT cut offs are not released publically. The cut offs are estimate on the basis of candidate's selection for What-PI. The final CAT cut offs for General category candidate is also higher than then rest.

Yes, IIM Bangalore is one of the toughest business schools to get admission to, and every year, even CAT 99+ percentilers miss out on a call from the institute. IIM Bangalore uses multiple parameters, namely academic performance as well as candidates' scores in CAT/GMAT to select candidates for the PGP programme. IIMB adopts a two-phase selection process and accordingly, these selection criteria are applied in two phases. The first phase of the process is applied to all eligible candidates who appear for CAT to determine candidates to be called for a personal interview (PI). Candidates selected for the PI process will be additionally required to take a Writing Ability Test (WAT).

CAT is a highly competitive exam which is a must-have for admission to IIMs and other top Management colleges. A well-planned strategy along with a correct approach is essential for admission to MBA courses in India, especially in the top MBA colleges in India. A prep strategy that will help you ace the CAT exam for admission to IIM Bangalore is as follows:

• Check the CAT syllabus and exam pattern
• Read books, editorials, newspapers, and journals to improve your vocabulary and reading skills. Check VARC questions with answers.
• Choose the right reference book
• Solve as many CAT Mock Tests as possible. Download for FREE!
• Solve previous year's CAT question papers for thorough revision to reduce the scope of mistakes

Read more about the CAT preparation strategy.

No, the CUET-UG is not a mandatory entrance exam for BBA admissions at IIM Bangalore. Aside from the CUET-UG, candidates can also apply through the scores obtained in the JEE Mains. If the candidate has failed to appear for either of the aforementioned exam, they can still apply through the IIMB DBE Entrance Test.

Students have to meet the IIM Bangalore BSc eligibility to get admission in the institute. The institute accepts students on an entrance basis for the BSc programme. The admission requirements are as below:

• Eligibility - Class 12 + Mathematics in Class 10 with a minimum aggregate of 60% from a recognised board
• Selection process - Entrance + PI conducted by IIMB

 

Candidates seeking admission to IIM Bangalore MBA course must appear for CAT. It is mandatory for candidates to meet the sectional and overall CAT cutoff to be eligible for the Writing Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI) rounds for final admission to IIM Bangalore. For IIM Bangalore MBA admission, students need to meet both the overall CAT cut off percentile and the sectional cut offs. Candidates seeking admission to IIM Bangalore must score above the 90 percentile in CAT exam. IIM Bangalore does not release CAT cutoffs in the public domain and are exclusively accessible only via account login to candidates who have appeared for the exam. Therefore, the students must aim to score above 90 percentile.

IIM Bangalore takes MBA admissions through CAT exam. After clearing the exam, students have to appear for GD and PI rounds. The total tuition fee for the MBA course is INR 26,50,000 Lacs at IIM Bangalore. Hostel and accomodation charges are separate.

Talking about the fee concession, the institute offers financial aid and scholarships to eligible candidates.

No, the admissions to BSc (Hons) courses at IIM Bangalore are not open for 2026 at this point. The admissions to the BSc (Hons) course are directly inline of the IIM Bangalore Entrance Test. Usually, the registrations for this test are started in the month of April. The exam itself is conducted in the month of May.