Complete Guide to MBA Admission in Indian Institutes of Management Through CAT

Getting an MBA from the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) is a dream for many students in India due to their top-quality education and excellent career opportunities. Every year, nearly 3 to 3.5 lakhs of students appear for the CAT exam to compete for a limited number of seats, which makes the process highly competitive. The CAT exam is expected to take place on the last Sunday of November, and the tentative date for the exam 2026 is November 29, 2026. The admission process to the IIMs is simple. All candidates need to do is just register and appear in the CAT exam, then each IIM checks the entrance scores, and shortlists candidates. If a student meets the cutoff, they are invited to the next stage, which includes a written test and a personal interview. After that, the institutes prepare a merit list based on the CAT score, interview performance, academic record, and work experience. Students who score well overall receive admission offers. 

MBA Admission in IIMs Through CAT

MBA Admission through CAT is a step-by-step process that candidates must follow carefully. The process includes registration, shortlisting, interview rounds, and final selection. Each stage is important because institutions check both exam scores and overall performance before offering admission. Given below is a detailed process for MBA admission to the esteemed IIMs through CAT scores.

Stage 1: CAT Registration and Application Process

The first thing candidates must do for MBA Admission in IIMs is register for the CAT exam through the CAT official website. They must fill out the online application form with their personal information, academic records, and work experience details (if any). After filling in all the details, candidates must upload the necessary documents and pay the required application fee. Students should check all the details before the final submission. Only successfully registered candidates can download the admit card and appear for the exam. 

Stage 2: Appearing for the CAT Exam

After registration, candidates must appear for the exam on the scheduled date. The exam checks aptitude and problem-solving ability. The test usually includes three sections that evaluate reading skills, logical thinking, and basic maths ability. Each section has a time limit, so time management is very important. Students should try to score well and perform equally well in each section. The main exam sections included in the CAT exam are tabulated below:

Stage 3: Meeting the Cutoff Requirement 

After the exam is concluded, candidates wait for the results. Once the results are announced, each institute sets its own cutoff percentile. The Exam Cutoff is the minimum score required to be considered for the next stage. Cutoffs differ every year depending on the exam difficulty, number of applicants, and available seats. Some institutes also set section-wise cutoffs, which means students are required to perform well in every section. Only candidates who meet these cutoff scores are considered for shortlisting. 

Stage 4: Shortlisting of Candidates

Shortlisting is the process by which institutions select candidates for the interview stage. CAT is one of the factors considered for the shortlisted candidates. Along with this, the institutes look at the overall performance of the students. The common shortlisting factors include CAT percentile, academic marks, work experience, category rules, and other factors.  

Stage 5: Written Ability Test and Personal Interview

Shortlisted students must attend the final selection rounds. These rounds allow institutes to understand how students think, communicate, and how to respond. In the written ability test, candidates are required to write short essays on given topics. 

The next stage is the personal interview. The panel asks questions about academics, work experience, general awareness, and career goals. 

Stage 6: Final Merit List Preparation

After all interviews are completed, the institutes prepare a final merit list for MBA Admission. This list is based on combined performance across all stages. Each factor carries different weightage and among all, the interview and CAT score usually carry the highest weightage. Candidates with high overall performance scores receive admission offers. 

Stage 7: Admission Offer and Seat Confirmation

Candidates who receive their admission offers must confirm their seats within the given deadline. This process includes paying the admission fee and submitting the required documents for verification purposes. Students must ensure to complete all the formalities within the given time period, otherwise the seats may be given to other candidates. After the successful completion of document submission and fee payment, admission becomes final. 

Top 10 IIMs Accepting CAT Score

All the Indian Institutes of Management accept CAT scores for admission into their MBA and other programs. As per the NIRF rankings 2025, IIM Ahmedabad (IIM A) secured the no.1 ranking followed by IIM Bangalore, and IIM Kozhikode. Given below is a complete list of top 10 IIMs accepting CAT score:

MBA admission through CAT into the IIMs is a structured process which ranges from registration, exam preparation, shortlisting, interview and final selections, and finally admission. Students should remember that admission to IIMs not only depends on the CAT score, but overall performance in each stage, including the academic records. The process may be competitive but with the right approach, determined candidates can ace it easily. 

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