IIM Ahmedabad Selection Criteria 2027-2029: CAT, WAT-PI and Final Selection

IIM Ahmedabad selects students for the PGP 2027-29 in two stages. First, it shortlists you using your CAT percentile (65%) and your Application Rating (35%). Then it calls the shortlisted candidates for the Analytical Writing Test (AWT) and the Personal Interview (PI). The PI carries the highest weight in the final score at 50%.

This page explains the IIM Ahmedabad selection criteria 2027 in the order a CAT aspirant needs them. It also covers the IIM Ahmedabad selection criteria 2026 for PGP 2026-28, so you can see what stayed the same. You will find eligibility, the CAT cutoff, how the Application Rating is scored, the final composite score and the dates. The page also compares IIM Ahmedabad with IIM Bangalore and answers common questions on fees, placements, recruiters and the highest package.

IIM Ahmedabad Selection Criteria 2027 at a Glance

The IIM Ahmedabad selection criteria for PGP 2027-29 use CAT 2026 scores. CAT 2026 is scheduled for 29 November 2026. IIM Ahmedabad has published its admission policy for PGP 2027-29 on its official website. The dates in it are tentative.

Check the IIM Ahmedabad admission page and the CAT dates page for updates.

What Are the Selection Criteria for IIM Ahmedabad in the 2026-28 Academic Year?

The 2026-28 selection used the same two stages. The CAT cutoff for General and EWS was 95 overall and 85 in each section. The shortlist score was 65% CAT percentile and 35% Application Rating. IIM Ahmedabad shortlisted 1,308 candidates for the AWT and PI. The PGP 2027-29 policy keeps these cutoffs.

What Are the IIM Ahmedabad Admission Criteria Changes? New Selection Criteria Explained

The main change in the IIM Ahmedabad new selection criteria is the CAT cutoff. This is the selection criteria change most candidates ask about. It rose by 15 percentile points in every category for PGP 2026-28, and it stays at the same level for PGP 2027-29. The final weights did not change. The table shows the old and new cutoffs.

PwD candidates get a 10-point relaxation in their category. The PGP 2025-27 values are as reported earlier by news sources.

IIM Ahmedabad Eligibility for PGP 2027-29

You need a bachelor's degree of at least three years after Class 12 from a recognised university. General, EWS and NC-OBC candidates need at least 50% marks or an equivalent CGPA. SC, ST and PwD candidates need at least 45%. You must be 19 years old on 30 June 2027, which means you must be born on or before 30 June 2008. The policy does not list an upper age limit.

Can I Join IIM Without CAT?

Yes, but not for the regular PGP if you are applying from India. The domestic PGP route uses CAT. Overseas Indian candidates and foreign nationals apply through a GMAT-based route. After Class 12, you can enter some IIMs through IPMAT or JIPMAT for a five-year integrated programme. The IIM Ahmedabad courses page lists MBA, executive and doctoral programmes, not an integrated programme. Executive programmes at IIM Ahmedabad have their own admission tracks. See how to get into IIM for all routes.

IIM Ahmedabad Selection Criteria 2027: CAT Cutoff for PGP 2027-29

The first filter in the IIM Ahmedabad selection criteria is the CAT cutoff. IIM Ahmedabad needs 95 overall and 85 in each of VARC, DILR and QA for General and EWS candidates. The cutoffs for other categories are lower.

Read the full IIM Ahmedabad CAT cut-offs page for past composite scores.

What Composite Score Gets an Interview Call?

For PGP 2026-28, the minimum composite scores that received an AWT and PI call were these:

These scores are for one year. The cutoff can change in the next cycle.

Can I Get IIM With 70 Percentile?

No, a 70 percentile will not get you into IIM Ahmedabad in almost all cases. Its lowest overall CAT cutoff is 65, for ST candidates with a disability. Every other category needs 75 or more. Even above the cutoff, the interview call depends on the composite score. With 70 percentile, look at colleges that accept CAT at that level, or retake CAT.

Is 37 a Good Score in CAT?

A score of 37 is a middling score and is not enough for IIM Ahmedabad. In the CAT 2025 estimates, 29.5 marks matched the 70th percentile and 38 marks matched the 80th percentile. So 37 marks is about the 78th to 80th percentile. IIM Ahmedabad needs 95 percentile for General category. Your percentile depends on your slot and the scaled score, so do not rely on raw marks. See the CAT exam pattern for how scoring works.

IIM Ahmedabad Selection Criteria: Application Rating and Composite Score

This part of the IIM Ahmedabad selection criteria decides who gets an interview call. IIM Ahmedabad calculates a Raw Composite Score. It is 65% of your normalised CAT percentile plus 35% of your normalised Application Rating (AR). The AR comes from your application form, so it needs no extra test.

How Is the Application Rating Calculated?

The AR has five parts: Class 10 marks, Class 12 marks, bachelor's marks, work experience and gender diversity. Marks in each of the three exams earn points as shown below.

The highest raw AR a candidate can get is 38. This is 30 points from marks, 5 from work experience and 3 from gender diversity. IIM Ahmedabad then normalises the raw AR by the average of the top 50 AR scores.

How Is Work Experience Scored?

Work experience below 12 months earns 0 points. From 12 to 36 months, you get 0.20 points for each month above 11. More than 36 months earns the maximum of 5 points. For example, 24 months of experience earns 0.20 × 13 = 2.6 points.

How Many Points Does Gender Diversity Add?

All non-male candidates get 3 points. Male candidates get 0 points.

Do IIMs Prefer IITians?

No, the published IIM Ahmedabad formula gives no points for the institute where you studied. It scores your marks, work experience and gender diversity. An IITian and a non-IITian with the same marks, CAT percentile and interview score get the same result. IIM Ahmedabad does list 20 disciplines in its policy for classifying applicants, but the AR formula has no extra points for any discipline.

IIM Ahmedabad Final Selection Criteria: AWT, Personal Interview and Final Composite Score

For the final round, the IIM Ahmedabad selection criteria use the Final Composite Score (FCS). The PI carries the most weight.

🎤Personal Interview: 50%The interview carries half of the final score. It tests your communication, reasoning and clarity about your goals.📊Stage-1 composite score: 40%This is the score from your CAT percentile (65%) and Application Rating (35%).✍️Analytical Writing Test: 10%The AWT tests how clearly you write on a given topic.

The formula is FCS = 0.50 × normalised PI score + 0.10 × normalised AWT score + 0.40 × normalised composite score. So your CAT percentile adds up to 26% of the final result (65% of 40%). Your Application Rating adds 14% (35% of 40%). IIM Ahmedabad makes the final selection separately for each category, using the FCS.

Is Getting Into IIM Very Tough?

Yes, it is very tough. About 2.58 lakh candidates appeared in CAT 2025. IIM Ahmedabad shortlisted 1,308 candidates for PGP 2026-28. The final batch is smaller than the shortlist. Prepare for the interview as seriously as for CAT, because it carries 50% of the final score.

Is IIM Tougher Than CA?

Neither is tougher in every way. CAT is one competitive test where you are ranked by percentile. CA is a multi-stage qualification with fixed pass marks. In May 2026, 14.07% of candidates cleared both groups of CA Final. CAT has no pass percentage. Compare the career you want before you choose. Read more in toughest exams in India.

Is IIM Harder Than IIT?

They are different exams, so one is not simply harder. JEE Advanced tests Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics concepts. CAT tests reading, data and quantitative skills under time pressure. In 2026, 1,87,389 candidates registered for JEE Advanced. About 2.95 lakh registered for CAT 2025. IITians can also apply to IIMs, so the two are not separate groups.

IIM Ahmedabad Seats and Reservation

IIM Ahmedabad follows the central reservation rules for PGP admission. The policy does not state the total number of seats.

IIM Ahmedabad Selection Criteria for PGP-FABM, PGPX and Overseas Candidates

IIM Ahmedabad runs more than one programme, and each has its own selection route. Check the programme you want.

What Is the IIM Ahmedabad PGP-FABM Selection Criteria?

PGP-FABM is a separate two-year, full-time degree in food and agri-business management. It is not a PGP elective. It uses CAT, with the same eligibility as PGP. IIM Ahmedabad publishes the selection details for PGP-FABM separately, so read its latest notice before you apply. See the IIM Ahmedabad courses page for all programmes.

What Is the Selection Process for PGPX?

PGPX is a one-year, full-time executive MBA. It is a separate admission track and needs no CAT. IIM Ahmedabad asks for at least four years of work experience after graduation. The fee for the 2026-27 batch is about ₹35 lakh to ₹37.1 lakh.

How Do Overseas Indians and Foreign Nationals Apply?

Overseas Indian candidates apply with a valid GMAT score. The application window is 1 October to 15 December 2026, and the non-refundable fee is US$200. Foreign nationals apply under a separate quota, and the deadline is 31 December 2026.

IIM Ahmedabad vs IIM Bangalore Selection Criteria

IIM Bangalore selection criteria 2026 are the latest published for PGP 2026-28, and IIM Bangalore selection criteria 2027 will follow when it releases its PGP 2027-29 document. IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Bangalore use different formulas. IIM Ahmedabad needs a higher CAT percentile and gives CAT 65% of the shortlist score. IIM Bangalore gives CAT 55 points out of 100 and gives work experience 10 points. The table compares the latest published policies: IIM Ahmedabad for PGP 2027-29 and IIM Bangalore for PGP 2026-28. IIM Bangalore's PGP 2027-29 document may change these values, so check it when it is published.

Is IIM Bangalore Better or IIM Ahmedabad?

Neither is better for everyone. IIM Ahmedabad was ranked 1st in NIRF 2025 and IIM Bangalore 2nd. In the QS Global MBA Rankings 2026, IIM Bangalore is 52nd and IIM Ahmedabad 58th. In the Financial Times Global MBA Rankings 2026, IIM Ahmedabad is 27th and IIM Bangalore 34th. IIM Ahmedabad's PGP fee is ₹27.5 lakh for 2025-27, and IIM Bangalore's is about ₹26 lakh for 2026-28. Choose by your profile. A lower CAT percentile with strong work experience can fit IIM Bangalore's formula better.

Is Studying in IIM Expensive?

Yes, studying at IIM Ahmedabad is expensive. The PGP 2025-27 fee is ₹27.5 lakh in total. Of this, ₹20.1 lakh is tuition and ₹7.4 lakh is the non-tuition component. IIM Ahmedabad does not itemise the non-tuition amount. The fee does not cover personal expenses such as laptop, travel and laundry. See the IIM Ahmedabad fee structure for details.

Scholarships can reduce the cost. The P H Shah Merit cum Means Scholarship goes up to ₹25 lakh for two women students each year, linked to family income. In a recent cycle, 72 PGP students received between ₹75,000 and ₹2.45 lakh, with a family income below ₹15 lakh.

Which IIM Is the Cheapest?

IIM Rohtak, IIM Bodh Gaya and IIM Guwahati are the cheapest IIMs, at about ₹18 lakh for 2026-28. IIM Amritsar is about ₹19.5 lakh. IIM Ahmedabad is the most expensive at ₹27.5 lakh. A lower fee does not mean a better return, so compare the fee with the average package of each IIM.

IIM Ahmedabad Placements 2026: Average Package, Highest Package and Recruiters

IIM Ahmedabad placed all 392 students who sought placement in the Class of 2026. The average guaranteed cash component was ₹31.84 lakh. See the full IIM Ahmedabad placement report for the complete data.

What Is the IIM Ahmedabad Placement Rate?

The IIM Ahmedabad placement rate for the Class of 2026 is 100% of the students who sought placement. Ten students did not sit for placement because they chose entrepreneurship, higher studies or an off-campus offer. IIM Ahmedabad reported 97.3% (395 of 406) for the PGP 2025 batch.

What Companies Recruit From IIMA? IIM Ahmedabad Placement Companies List

Consulting firms, financial firms and large business groups recruit most from IIM Ahmedabad. The official Class of 2026 release names these recruiters in its placement companies list:

Aditya Birla Group, Godrej Industries Group and Mahindra made 4 offers each. Private equity and venture capital firms such as Blackstone, General Atlantic and Temasek also hired. New recruiters included Analysys Mason, Indegene and NTT Data. In the PGP 2025 batch, Accenture Strategy made 31 offers. That year, consulting led with 156 offers, followed by BFSI with 99, FMCG with 31 and IT with 30.

What Is the IIM Ahmedabad Top Recruiters Salary and Placement Package?

IIM Ahmedabad does not publish a salary for each recruiter. It reports the placement package as an average, median and highest pay for the whole batch. The average guaranteed cash component for the Class of 2026 was ₹31.84 lakh, and the median was ₹32.50 lakh. Pay differs by role and sector, so check the offer details before you compare recruiters.

Does JP Morgan Hire From IIM?

JP Morgan is not named in IIM Ahmedabad's official Class of 2026 placement release. The financial firms it names are Goldman Sachs with 6 offers and Citibank with 4 offers. Recruiter lists change every year. Check the latest placement report of the IIM you are targeting.

Who Got the Highest Package in IIM Ahmedabad?

The highest package in the Class of 2026 was ₹81.60 lakh, the top of the guaranteed cash component range. The highest international offer was US$243,000 in Dubai. IIM Ahmedabad does not publish names of students. For the PGP 2025 batch, the highest reported package was about ₹1.1 crore. Highest packages differ by year and by how the pay is counted, so compare the average and median as well.

Which IIM Has the Best Package?

Among the IIMs with recent data, IIM Calcutta reported the highest average package at about ₹36 lakh, and IIM Bangalore about ₹35.35 lakh. IIM Ahmedabad reported ₹31.84 lakh on the guaranteed-cash basis and ₹36.98 lakh on the MEP basis. These figures are not like-for-like, because IIMs report pay in different ways. Compare the same basis and the same batch year.

Which IIM Has 100% Placement?

Many IIMs report 100% placement, but the base differs. IIM Ahmedabad reported 100% for the 392 students who sought placement in the Class of 2026. Check whether an IIM counts all students, eligible students or only those who sought placement.

Is IIM Ahmedabad Tier 1?

"Tier 1" is an informal term. IIM Ahmedabad is usually counted in the top tier of Indian B-schools. It was ranked 1st in NIRF Management 2025, for the sixth year in a row. It is 58th in the QS Global MBA Rankings 2026 and 27th in the Financial Times Global MBA Rankings 2026.

Who Is the Richest IIM Alumni?

There is no official list of the richest IIM alumni. One well-known billionaire IIM Ahmedabad alumna is Falguni Nayar, who founded Nykaa in 2012. Media reports describe her as India's richest self-made woman. Net worth figures change often, so check a current wealth list.

Final Takeaway

The IIM Ahmedabad selection criteria 2027 reward a high CAT percentile, but the interview decides the final result. Aim for 95 percentile or above with 85 in each section. Your Class 10, Class 12 and graduation marks also earn points, so check which band you fall in. Prepare for the AWT and PI early. Compare the fee of ₹27.5 lakh with the placement outcome before you apply.

FAQs: IIM Ahmedabad Selection Criteria