CAT 2024 Selection Process: CAT exam is a gateway for admission to MBA in IIMs & other prestigious B-Schools. The selection process for CAT 2024 includes an aptitude test followed by group discussion and personal interview. IIMs will begin the selection process as soon as the CAT 2024 results are released.
Based on the performance in the CAT exam, candidates will be shortlisted for the next round of selection. The list of selected candidates will be made available on the websites of the respective IIM’s. Candidates that are shortlisted will also be notified through an email.
What is the CAT Selection Process 2024?
Every IIM has their own selection criteria for MBA admission. The CAT 2024 selection processes of IIMs vary from one another. The selection criteria of IIM 2024 have a two-stage process-
- Written exam (CAT)
- GWPI (Group Discussion/Written Ability Test/Personal Interview).
Shortlisted applicants are required to appear for the second stage of the admission process, wherein they would go through a personal interview, a written ability test, and a group discussion.
Most IIMs have now shifted to the Written Ability Test from Group Discussion as a part of the selection process. Things such as work experience and academic achievements are also taken into consideration.
CAT 2024 Selection Process for IIM MBA
The IIMs will shortlist candidates on the basis of the CAT 2024 and the selection process that they have mentioned on their website. In this article, we have given weightage to different selection processes of IIM’s, non-IIM’s, and other B-schools accepting CAT 2024 scores. The CAT 2024 process consists of three rounds, such as:
- Round 1: CAT 2024 Result and IIM Shortlist
- Round 2: Personal Interview
- Round 3: Final Selection and Eligibility Verification
Round 1: CAT 2024 Result and IIM Shortlist
The first step consists of the announcement of CAT 2024 results by the exam conducting body that will conduct the MBA entrance examination in 2024. They will probably declare the result in the first week of January.
After the declaration of results, IIM’s will begin with the selection process of CAT 2024 and will release their individual cut-off lists. The list of the shortlisted candidates for the next stages of selection will be made available on the respective websites of the concerned IIM’s. IIMs will also send CAT interview letters directly to all the candidates.
MBA Admission Process 2024 through CAT – IIM Interview Call Letter
Candidates selected for the first round of the CAT selection process 2024 will receive invitation letters in their registered email id. The invitation letter will contain the following information:
- CAT 2024 Registration link
- Last date to complete the CAP registration (for 9 IIMs)
- Date, time, and venue of WAT/GD and PI
Round 2: WAT, PI, and GD Rounds
All the candidates who can qualify for the CAT 2024 cut off of an IIM can go forward with the next step of the selection process for CAT 2024 MBA, i.e., Written Ability Test (WAT), Personal Interviews (PI), and Group Discussion (GD).
In Personal Interviews (PI), and Group Discussion (GD), candidates are tested on the basis of their general knowledge, presence of mind, performance in various rounds and ability to communicate.
Round 3: Final Selection and Eligibility Verification
Candidates that are selected for the Personal Interview at IIMs must comply with the eligibility and verification for the CAT final selection process. Here are a few parameters on which IIMs finalise their scores. Candidates must note that the weightage varies from year to year.
| Parameters | Weightage |
|---|---|
| CAT exam | 25 |
| PI | 30 |
| WAT | 10 |
| Class 10 | 10 |
| Class 12 | 5 |
| Graduation | 10 |
| Weighted Work Experience | 10 |
| Total | 100 |
Various Components of the Selection Process and its Weightage
The CAT 2024 Selection Process consists of three aspects, such as: Written Ability, Group Discussion, and Personal Interview. The weightage of the IIM selection process 2024 varies from one aspect to another.
In all, we can say that IIMs tend to give weightage to the three aspects of the selection process rather than focusing on work experience and academics. In the CAT 2024 selection process, It is of utmost importance to score well in CAT as it plays a huge role in candidates’ admission to some of the best B-schools.
Weightage of Written Ability Test (WAT) in CAT 2024
Some students tend to have the misconception that even if they score well in CAT 2024, they may not get a call from an IIM, as IIMs give a lot of importance to academic achievements, work experience, extracurricular activities etc. Let’s take a look at the weightage given by the IIMs to the Written Ability Test.
Weightage of WAT
| Weight of CAT Score | List of IIMs |
|---|---|
| 100.00% | 11 (Rohtak,Trichy,Udaipur,Kashipur, Raipur, Ranchi, Shillong, Bodhgaya, Sambalpur, Jammu,sirmaur) |
| 60 to 80% | 2 (IIM Ahmedabad, Lucknow ) |
| 40 to 60% | 5 (IIM Bangalore, Calcutta, Kozhikode,Vizag,Amritsar) |
| Less than 40% | 2 (IIM Indore,Nagpur) |
As it can be observed from the given table it is evident that IIMs give 60 percent of importance to CAT 2024 scores while shortlisting candidates.
Weightage Given to Academic Profile in the Final Selection
People tend to have this misconception that in the selection process every single IIMs gives utmost importance to a candidates academic profile, but to break this misconception refer to the table given below:
| Weightage | No. of IIMs |
|---|---|
| 0% | 4 (IIM Calcutta,Kozhikode, Shillong, Rohtak ) |
| 5% to 15% | 12 (IIM Ahmedabad,Lucknow,Raipur, Ranchi, Trichy, Udaipur,Jammu,SambalpurNagpur,Bodhgaya,Sirmaur,Kashipur ) |
| 16% to 40% | 4 ( IIM Bangalore,Indore,visakhapatnam,Amritsar ) |
| More than 40% | 0 |
It is evident that only 4 of the 20 IIMs give more than 15% weightage to academic profile. For all other IIMs, this parameter is far less important than it is made out to be.
Weightage given to Controllables
Some students tend to have the misconception that even if they score well in CAT 2024, they may not get a call from an IIM, as IIMs give a lot of importance to academic achievements, work experience, and extracurricular activities, etc. Let’s take a look at the weightage given by the IIMs to the Written Ability Test.
| Weightage | No. of IIMs |
|---|---|
| 100.00% | 1 (IIM Shillong) |
| 80-99% | 7( IIM Ahmedabad, Calcutta,Lucknow, Indore,Kozhikode,Rohtak,Amritsar) |
| 60-79% | 10 ( IIMBangalore, Raipur, Ranchi, Udaipur, Kashipur, Bodhgaya, Nagpur, Jammu, Sirmaur, Trichy ) |
| Less than 60% | 2 ( IIM Sambalpur,Visakhapatnam ) |
Useful Articles
- CAT Exam Centre 2024
- CAT Form Correction date 2024
- CAT Colleges in India
- CAT Sample Paper 2024 PDF Download
- CAT 2024 Exam Solution PDF
Documents to be Taken at the Time of WAT/GD/PI
Candidates are required to produce original and verified copies of certificates and mark sheets during the IIM selection round i.e. Personal Interview. If selected, the original degree mark sheets of all semesters must be submitted at the time of joining by the candidate.
Required Documents at the time of Admission
The documents that are required during the WAT/GD/PI process are mentioned below:
- IIM Interview call letter
- CAT 2024 scorecard
- CAT Hall Ticket 2024
- Class 10 mark sheet and certificate
- Class 12 mark sheet and certificate
- The graduation mark sheet and certificate
- Reservation category proof of certificate (if applicable)
- Work experience certificate (if any)
Documents required for candidates Belonging to the Reserved Category
Candidates belonging to the reserved category are required to produce an original copy of ST /SC/ NC-OBC/ DA certificates during the personal interview. If selected, the original copies of the caste certificates must be submitted upon joining.
Documents required for Final Year Undergraduate Students
The selected candidates will have to submit an original as well as an attested copy of the certificate that the student has obtained 50% marks (45% for reserved category) from the Registrar/ Principal/ Director of the institute or university. Their admission will be temporary until the original mark sheet and the qualifying degree at the undergraduate level are submitted before December 31, 2024. If a candidate fails to submit requisite documents on or before the stipulated time, his/ her admission will be automatically cancelled.
Last stage of the Selection Process
IIM’s tend to consider various other additional factors at the time of counselling. The various factors are:
- Previous academic performance of the candidates
- Relevant work experience
- Gender and academic diversity
Common Admission Process for new IIMs (CAP)
The IIM’s that have been established recently or popularly known as new IIMs such as IIM Ranchi, Udaipur, Bodhgaya and Trichy have their own selection criterias. Candidates will be shortlisted and they will be required to sit for the WAT AND PI exam.
Each IIMs will publish a candidate’s performance based on their own merit list. The following IIM’s will follow the CAP based Result
- IIM Sambalpur
- IIM Ranchi
- IIM Jammu
- IIM Kashipur
- IIM Trichy
- IIM Bodhgaya
- IIM Udaipur
- IIM Raipur
MBA Admission 2024-25 Through CAT in Non-IIMs
There are 88 institutes that do not fall under the IIM category but are registered with CAT 2024. These institutes conduct their own CAT selection procedure 2024. Though the CAT 2024 counselling includes the same set of rounds as WAT and GD/ PI. However, not all of these rounds are mandatory for final admission. Some institutes like IMT Ghaziabad conduct group activity or group training instead of group discussion.
Also read
- Eligibility for CAT 2024 exam
- CAT Exam 2024 Date
- CAT exam time duration
- CAT exam Syllabus 2024
- IIM CAT 2024 Login
FAQs Related to CAT 2024 Selection Process
Do Non- IIMs follow the same selection process as other IIMs?
There is no compulsion for non IIMs to conduct the same selection process as IIMs, but a lot of colleges have been accepting the same selection criteria as IIMs.
Does IIM CAP consist of non- IIMs?
No, IIM CAP only consists of the newly established IIMs that have their own selection criteria.