Admission Process for IIMB PGP 2024-26 Batch

This document details the process that will be adopted for selecting candidates for admission to the Post Graduate
Programme in Management (PGP) at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) for the batch of
2024-26.

IIMB has internally developed an admission process that seeks to identify the most promising candidates for
the PGP. This process has been progressively refined over the years, based on cumulative data on the Common
Admission Test (CAT) applicants and the academic performance of the candidates that were admitted to IIMB.
The process arrived at is based on the relationship between the academic performance of students of the PGP
in IIMB and their past academic performance, their CAT score, performance in the admission interview and
prior work experience. The selection criteria and weights given to various parameters are based on data from
previous cycles as well as on inputs from the IIMB faculty body and other relevant stakeholders. The selection
criteria are usually reviewed every year and revised as necessary. The admission committee fixes these criteria
and weights at the beginning of each admission cycle before looking at information pertaining to candidates
applying in that cycle so as to avoid any bias.

IIMB uses multiple parameters, namely academic performance in 10th & 12th grades, graduation programmes as
well as the candidate's section wise scores in CAT to judge the suitability of a candidate for the PGP. Relevant
work experience, if any, is also given weight in the selection. The CAT score, over and above being a selection
criterion, is also used to establish the minimum level of proficiency that is expected from the candidate in
respective faculties as indicated by section wise minimum scores in the CAT. The various criteria mentioned
above are used to arrive at a composite score for every candidate, which in turn is used to select candidates for
the subsequent stages. The remaining part of the document explains this process in detail.

IIMB adopts a two-phase selection. The first phase of the process is applied to all eligible candidates who
appear for CAT 2023 to determine candidates to be called for a personal interview (PI). Candidates selected
for the PI process will additionally be required to take a Writing Ability Test (WAT) on a topic to be provided
by IIMB. During the interview, the panel will evaluate each candidate's academic background, quality of
work experience and other personal traits. The WAT submission will be evaluated separately. The scores of
the WAT, interview and pre-PI scores (with appropriate weightages) will be used cumulatively in the second
and final phase to select the candidates for the programme.

The selection process, parameters and weights used are uniform for all applicants within a category. Sufficient
candidates are shortlisted at each stage from each social category to meet the reservation requirement for each
group, as applicable at that time.
Phase 1

1. A first shortlist is prepared comprising candidates who have secured a pre-determined minimum
score on all sections of CAT 2023. Candidates obtaining a positive (greater than zero) raw score,
at the minimum, in all sections of CAT-2023 will only be considered. The percentile cut-off

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 scores for admission, applied to CAT 2022, are shown in Table 1. All the subsequent processing,
standardization and selection are limited to candidates selected to the first short list alone.
Therefore, the CAT score alone is used as the basis for arriving at the first short list.

Table 1:Cut-offs for the batch of 2023-25, based on CAT 2022

Minimum Percentile requirements for the 1st shortlist*
Section 1 Section 2 Section 3
CATEGORY Aggregate
(VARC) (DILR) (QA)
General 80 80 80 85
NC-OBC 70 70 70 75
EWS 70 70 70 75
SC 60 60 60 70
ST 55 55 55 65
PWD 50 50 50 60
* These are cut-offs used for preparing the first short-list. The scores of those called for interviews
were higher.

2. a) For all candidates in the first shortlist as stated in Table (1), a candidate’s percentage scores
in the 10th and 12th board exams are initially adjusted by dividing each such score by the 90th
percentile score obtained in that board. The database of 10th and 12th scores of all CAT applicants
of the past two years is used for identifying the 90th percentile score for each 10th and 12th board
for this purpose.

b) For all candidates in the first shortlist as stated in Table (1), an adjusted score is calculated for
each of the candidates based on the final scores obtained by the candidate in his/her bachelors’
degree and/or professional degrees, as the case may be. Incomplete or intermediate graduate
scores are considered only if the candidate's final score is pending. Thus, for final year bachelor’s
degree candidates, their incomplete graduation score would be taken in lieu of final graduation
score.

c) In case of candidates who have completed their Class 12/ Bachelors during the pandemic
and do not have any score on their transcripts, no weightage shall be given to these components
(Class 12 and/or Bachelors as applicable) and the total pre-PI score of the candidate will be
scaled to 100. Please note that submission of relevant transcripts is mandatory.

Note: The form for application to IIMB’s PGP provides clear guidance on how to present
grade related information at the 10th, 12th and graduation level. For example a 10 CGPA in
the 10th grade may not be entered as 100%. Similarly candidates are required to present
information relating to their branch of study in their graduation. Candidates are advised to
follow these guidelines carefully while presenting this information. Presenting information
incorrectly is liable to be construed as a misrepresentation, resulting in the candidate’s
application not being taken to the next level in the selection process. Further, once a decision
not to proceed with processing an application is made for reasons of incorrect or inaccurate
information, no further discussion will be entertained with regard to the processing of such
application. IIMB’s decission in this regard will be final.

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3. For all candidates in the first shortlist, candidates with Chartered Accountancy, Cost Accounting,
and Company Secretary certifications are eligible for weightage under the category of professional
course. No other professional course is eligible for weightage under the said category. The
professional course score is also standardized for all candidates in the first shortlist. For the purpose
of normalisation, the average, standard deviation and adjusted score is computed by considering
the scores (final as applicable) of all applicants with Professional qualification in the first
shortlist .

The weight assigned for Professional qualification at the Pre-PI stage is 10.

4. IIMB duly recognizes the value of experience in enhancing the learning experience for a student
in the classroom. Accordingly, it assigns credit for a candidate’s work experience in the selection
process. For all candidates in the first shortlist, the score / weight for work experience is calculated
as: pre-PI score for Work Experience
= 10x/36 if 0 < x < 36
= 10 if x >= 36
where x is the months of work experience up to July 2023, as captured in CAT application form
(and substantiated in the application to IIMB). This implies that the score will peak at 36 months
work experience, and will remain at that level for candidates with work experience exceeding 36
months.

For candidates in the first shortlist who have undergone a professional course of study listed in
Para no.3 above, the maximum of the work experience score OR the professional course score is
considered.

Note: IIMB is keen to ensure that the work experience claimed by the candidate is authentic and
professionally significant enough to deserve credit. For example, no consideration is given to
any time spent as an intern, either during or after the course of study in a programme, or any
periods of apprenticeship such as articleship required as part of certain professional courses, or
any unpaid work undertaken in any organization or institution.

5. Candidates will be required to produce the following as evidence of work experience for each
instance of employment claimed by the candidate:

a. Letter from each of the employers that the candidate claims to have worked with. The
letter should state the following details: (i) the starting date of employment, (ii) ending
date of that respective employment, (iii) positions occupied during employment with that
particular employer. In case the candidate claims to have moved through different
positions / titles during the period, the application should provide the starting date of each
of those positions, pay with break up during each of the positions held and a brief
description of the responsibilities during each of those positions held by the
candidate. The letter should be furnished on a letter head of the employer’s organisation,
should carry a seal of the employer and be duly affirmed by the authorized signatory.

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 b. In addition the candidate should provide a brief write up of the responsibilities held by the
candidate in each of the positions in each of the organisations in which the candidate claims
to have worked. In case the employer had opened a provident fund (PF) account during
the period of employment, the candidate should provide the PF registration number.
c. The name and designation of official to whom the candidate reported and the contact
coordinates of the official to whom IIMB may write in case it wishes to verify the
employment related claim that is being made.

Note: Presentation of employment claims that are not in conformity with the requirements
above are liable to be considered incomplete and disregarded by IIMB at its sole
discretion. Further, IIMB is at liberty to verify any or all of the employment related claims
made by the candidate. Upon such verification, if it is found that some are all of the claims
made are factually untrue, such candidate’s application will not be processed further at
IIMB. Such candidates may be further disqualified from being considered for admission to
any programme at IIMB in future. After a candidate joins the PGP at IIMB If it comes to
IIMB’s notice reliably that the candidate had made claims that cannot be substantiated as
factual and true, the candidate is liable to be expelled from the programme forthwith. In the
event of such expulsion the candidate will forfeit any fees paid until such expulsion.

6. For all candidates in the first shortlist, the weights for the parameters at the pre-PI stage are as
follows : CAT = 55 , 10th board = 10, 12th board = 10, Bachelors = 10, Gender Diversity = 05 , Work
Experience / Professional Course (whichever weight is higher) = 10.

The 55 points for CAT are derived from the performance in each of the three sections as follows:
Verbal & Reading Comprehension (VARC) - 19 points, Data Interpretation & Logical
Reasoning (DILR) - 21 points, and Quantitative Aptitude (QA) - 15 points.

The gender diversity component is applicable only for computing the pre-PI score for deciding
on interview calls and will not be applicable for phase 2 of the admissions process leading up
to the final offers of admission.

7. For all candidates in the first shortlist, the top 10 candidates in each of the following category
automatically qualify for PI: total score in CAT, adjusted Bachelors’ score (commerce, arts, and
science disciplines) and Professional (CA / ICWA / CS). These candidates are given a chance to
appear for PI due to their exceptional performance in these categories. However, at the end of
Phase 2, all such candidates must merit selection based on the composite aggregate score, like any
other candidate.

For all candidates in the first shortlist, normalization or standardization in any component stated
above is carried out as per the following formula. All standardization is done with reference
to the qualifying first shortlist or its subdivisions; Standardized score, truncated between 0 and
weight (wt) is computed from the raw score (val) as:
Max [0, min {wt, wt/2 + ((val-mean) / sd) * wt / 6}]

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 Phase 2

8. The topics chosen will typically draw on issues and developments that relate to current socio-
political, economic and business affairs, though other topics that require more creative thinking
may also be included. The time provided for the WAT will typically be about 30 minutes. The
performance of each candidate on the Written Ability Test (WAT) will be scored in terms of the
content and style of the note. Each interviewer will use the Personal Interview to
comprehensively evaluate the candidate's motivation and ability to fit in to and benefit from the
PGP. The average of the scores given by the interviewers in the personal interview will be used in
calculating the multi-factor score based on which offers of admission will be finally made, while
for the WAT, the scores given by an independent evaluator will be considered.

All candidates will be required to provide two confidential reference letters from their
employers or from teachers in the academic insitutions where they had been students previously.
These reference letters will also be used in the personal interview evaluation.

9. The work experience weight (10) assigned while computing Pre-PI score is scaled down to 5
during the post interview process to arrive at the composite score. This work experience score will
be multiplied by the quality of experience score, as evaluated by the interviewing panel as an
assessment of the relevance of the work experience to the programme. The quality of work experience
score will be evaluated on a 5 point scale (0.25, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2) by each member of the panel during
the interviews. The average quality of work experience score will be multiplied by the pre-
PI work experience score and accordingly the work / professional experience component score used
in Phase 1 will be revised to arrive at a weighted work experience score.

10. The scores from all past academic performance will also be updated, if required, on the basis of actual
mark sheets / grade cards submitted. Unless otherwise mentioned, percentages would be
calculated by considering all subjects that the candidate has appeared for in the examination.

In case of candidates who have completed their Class 12/ Bachelors during the pandemic and
doesnot have any score on their transcripts, no weightage shall be given to these components
(Class 12 and/or Bachelors as applicable) but the total pre-pi score of the candidate will be
scaled to 100. Please note that submission of relevant transcripts is mandatory

11. For all candidates called for interviews, the weights for the parameters at the post-PI stage are as
follows : Personal interview = 40, WAT = 10, CAT = 25 , 10th board = 5, 12th board = 5, Bachelors =
5, Work Experience / Professional Course (whichever weight is higher) = 10.

The 25 points for CAT are derived from the performance in each of the three sections as follows:
Verbal & Reading Comprehension (VARC) – 8.75 points, Data Interpretation & Logical
Reasoning (DILR) - 10 points, and Quantitative Aptitude (QA) – 6.25 points.

12. The final offers of admission to candidates selected from each category will be made strictly on the
basis of the final aggregate score as mentioned in (11).

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Since IIMB follows a comprehensive multi-criteria process at the pre-PI stage, it is able to identify
many candidates for the PI who have an excellent academic record and work experience but who,
while doing well enough in the CAT to be in the first shortlist, may have narrowly missed the high
score that would have been required if CAT alone was the basis for the PI shortlist. Such candidates
effectively replace candidates who have only a high CAT score but have scored poorly in terms of their
past academic record and work experience. IIMB emphasizes consistent and high performance in
past academics and all other parameters.

September 15, 2023

All information in this document is pertinent to the admissions cycle (2024) alone and therefore, no inference can be made from
this document about the admissions process that will be used for future admission cycles at IIMB.IIMB reserves the right to change,
modify or adopt any new admissions process that it deems necessary, at any point.

Any dispute concerning Admissions for the PGP Batch 2024-26 would be subject to jurisdiction of the competent courts within the
territorial jurisdiction of city of Bangalore only.