IIM AHMEDABAD RANKING
IIM AHMEDABAD SELECTION CRITERIA FOR PGP 2024-2026
IIM Ahmedabad’s selection criteria can be very confusing to read and process, given the appreciable depth in which the institute explains the selection process for admission to its MBA program. But let’s break it down and put it in simpler terms to understand the process better.
IIM Ahmedabad Selection Criteria Step 1 – Preliminary Screening of Candidates
Each IIM sets a minimum sectional and overall CAT cut-off which, if you meet it, makes you eligible to be selected for IIM Ahmedabad’s future rounds of selection. The minimum cut-off to be at least eligible for a call from IIM Ahmedabad is listed in the table below, split category-wise.
IIM Ahmedabad Selection Criteria Step 2 – Calculation of Composite Score Based On Candidates’ CAT Scores + Profile
Now that IIM Ahmedabad has filtered out those who have not met the minimum cut-offs, it’s time to evaluate them based on their CAT 2023 performance as well as their profiles. Based on this, a candidate’s composite score is calculated which will be used to shortlist them for the Academic Writing Test and Personal Interview round.
We will refer to scores for profiles as Application Rating (AR) scores. AR scores comprise of 4 different components. We will explore each of these components in detail as we go along. The components are:
(A) – A candidate’s score in 10th.
(B) – A candidate’s score in 12th.
(C) – A candidate’s score in graduation.
(D) – A candidate’s work experience in months.
So, AR Score = A+B+C+D. This total score has a weight of 35% in calculating the composite score, while the CAT 2023 score has a weight of 65%. Please note that your AR score will be normalized, which is equal to your AR score divided by the average of the top 50 AR scores from the applicants’ pool.
Application Rating Score – Component A | 10th Marks
Your 10th marks are included in the latest IIM Ahmedabad selection criteria. You are given a rating score from 1 to 10 based on the percentage of maximum marks obtained in 10th. The table below comprises the percentage bracket and the corresponding score.
Application Rating Score – Component B | 12th Marks
Your 12th marks are included in the latest IIM Ahmedabad selection criteria. You are given a rating score from 1 to 10 based on the percentage of maximum marks obtained in 12th. However, the score you receive depends on which stream you opted for in 12th. For example, if you scored above 85% as an Arts/Humanities student, you get the maximum score but as a Science student, you need more than 90% marks to achieve a maximum score. The table below comprises the percentage bracket and the corresponding score.
Application Rating Score – Component C | Graduation Marks
Now, here’s where things get a little complicated, but we’ll simplify it for you! IIM Ahmedabad has a unique way of promoting academic diversity. In the selection criteria of many other IIMs, assigning marks for academic diversity is simple – if you’re an engineer, you get no marks, but if you’re a non-engineer, you get a particular score added to your overall application score. IIM Ahmedabad takes this to another level.
IIM Ahmedabad has created a total of 6 academic categories which are based on the bachelor’s degree obtained by a candidate. To put it simply, those with Engineering and related degrees are clubbed together, those with a Medicine degree are clubbed together, those with Arts/Humanities/Design, etc. degrees are clubbed together, and so on. The 6 academic categories are listed at the end of this article.
Given below are the academic category-wise percentage brackets and their corresponding scores.
Application Rating Score – Component D | Work Experience
The following table captures the marks assigned for work experience up to July 31, 2023.
IIM Ahmedabad Selection Criteria Step 3 – Shortlisting of Candidates For The Academic Writing Test + Personal Interview (AWT-PI) Round
Now that composite scores have been calculated, IIM Ahmedabad will shortlist candidates for the AWT-PI round. IIM A conducts two rounds of shortlisting for the AWT-PI round. This step can be a little confusing and can be explored further in-depth on the institute’s official website.
Round 1
From each of the academic categories (AC), the top 5% in the respective (AC) are shortlisted based on their composite scores. To be eligible to be a part of the top 5%, you need to meet a certain set of criteria:
- Criterion 1. Depending on your category, you should meet the minimum CAT 2023 cut-offs set by IIM Ahmedabad.
- Criterion 2. P greater than or equal to the minimum cut-offs mentioned in the table below, where P is the average of the percentages of marks scored in 10th and 12th std. examinations.
- Criterion 3. Finally, your percentage of marks in the bachelor’s examination should be greater than or equal to the minimum cut-off percentage, to be set at the 80th percentile of the percentage of marks of the respective academic category (AC) to which you belong.
Round 2
After candidates from Round 1 have been shortlisted, the additional number of candidates to be shortlisted for AWT & PI will be selected on the basis of the composite score. Additionally, and this is important, you also need to meet the minimum criteria 1 and 2 as listed under ‘Round 1’, i.e., you need to meet the minimum CAT 2023 cut-off set by IIM Ahmedabad + you also need to meet the minimum cut-off set by IIM Ahmedabad for the average of your 10th and 12th marks.
And with this, we’re done with the shortlisting process for the AWT-PI round! Now, candidates will be invited to interview for admission to the MBA program, where they will be asked to participate in the
Academic Writing Test as well as a personal interview with a panel of professors + institute alumni.
IIM Ahmedabad Selection Criteria Step 4 – Final Selection For The MBA Batch of 2026.
Now that your AWT-PI round is complete, IIM Ahmedabad will generate a new composite score based on your performance.
The normalised PI and AWT scores of a candidate are their scores in the respective field divided by the average of the top 1% scores in the same field respectively. Candidates, who appear in AWT & PI will be able to view whether they have been offered admission by IIMA tentatively during the second week of April 2024.
IIM AHMEDABAD PLACEMENT TRENDS
IIM Ahmedabad has recorded 100% placements for the MBA batch of 2022-24. Further, there were 163 dream application this year, which is 54% higher as compared with 2023 placement drive. Apart from this, Consulting and Investment Banking companies were the top recruiters during IIM Ahmedabad placements 2024. IIM Ahmedabad placements 2024 (Cluster 3) concluded with the participation of leading recruiters such as Tata Steel, NPCI, Jio Financial Services and Axis Bank. Earlier, a total of 38 companies visited the campus during Cluster 1 IIM Ahmedabad placements 2024. Further, Accenture Strategy made the highest number of offers, i.e. 25 offers during IIM A placements 2024. Apart from this, Elevation Capital offered the highest package during Cluster 1 IIM Ahmedabad placements 2024. As of now, leading companies such as Amazon Finance, Microsoft, FinIQ and HCL Software have participated in the IIM Ahmedabad placements 2024. It is to note that IIM A class of 2024 comprise 397 PGP students and 47 PGP – FABM students.
The highest package offered during IIM Ahmedabad PGP and PGP FABM placements 2023 stood at INR 1.46 crore per annum and INR 33.39 LPA, respectively. Further, the average package offered during IIM Ahmedabad PGP and PGP FABM placements 2023 stood at INR 34.45 LPA and INR 20.11 LPA, respectively. In addition, the placement rate recorded during IIM A placements 2023 for PGP and PGP FABM courses was 100%. Moreover, the highest and average package offered during IIM Ahmedabad PGPX placements 2023 stood at INR 1.08 Crore per annum and INR 35.68 LPA, respectively. Further, a total of 128 offers were accepted during IIM Ahmedabad PGPX placements 2023. Apart from this, according to media reports, the highest and average package offered during IIM Ahmedabad PGP placements 2023 stood at INR 115 LPA and INR 34.36 LPA, respectively. In addition, 188 companies visited the campus and 280 offers were made during IIM Ahmedabad PGP placements 2023. The top recruiter during IIM Ahmedabad PGP placements 2023 was McKinsey.
According to media reports, the placement rate recorded during IIM Ahmedabad summer placements for the PGP batch of 2023-25 was 100%. A total of 124 companies participated and BCG emerged as the top recruiter during IIM Ahmedabad summer placements for the PGP batch of 2023-25. Among the total 404 students placed, 142 students were placed in the Consulting sector followed by 73 and 48 students being placed in Finance and Marketing sectors during IIM Ahmedabad summer placements for the PGP batch of 2023-25. Moreover, IIMA completed its PGP-FABM summer placement process for the batch of 2023-25. A total of 45 students of the FABM class of 2023-25 were placed in leading companies such as Accenture, Nestle, PepsiCo, DCM Shriram, and many more. In Agri-Input, 11 students have been placed, 7 in AgriTech, 6 in Consulting, 7 in Conglomerates, 9 in FMCG, 2 in Food Processing, and 3 in other sectors. Additionally, as per the media report, a total of 60 offers were made during summer placements of the PGP class of 2025. Further, Boston Consulting Group emerged as the top recruiter by offering 22 positions.
IIM AHMEDABAD SEAT DISTRIBUTION FOR 2024-2026
IIM Ahmedabad Cutoffs CAT Safe Score by IIMking
IIM AHMEDABAD GDPI EXPERIENCES OF STUDENTS
1 – Way back it 2006, we had GD & PI. My GD was an absolute fish market and everybody spoke madly. I tried speaking once or twice, could not make much impact. My first question in the interview was, ‘Why did you not speak in GD?’. I answered frankly, I tried, but it was a fish market and I couldn’t contribute. Next, they (panel of 3 Profs) asked me to tell my views, which I did. After that they proceeded with other questions and interview went beautifully. It was about my industry (power), my engineering subjects (high voltage) and my hobbies and interests. I was selected.
To answer the question, yes it is highly competitive, especially the GD. I think now its done away with and you would have WAT (Written Analysis Test).
For GD, I prepared by taking up 3 to 4 topics per day, reading up magazines & newspapers (in 2006, we had limited access to internet) and jotting down points in a notebook. One page per topic. I tried to build a structure of thoughts for each topic, drew diagrams and asked myself more questions on the topic, while trying to answer those. Unless and until, you are a voracious news reader/consumer, this approach should help. And yes, do maintain a physical notebook – I think that in some way, writing with your own hand is connected to your thought process.
For PI, I prepared all common questions such as Why MBA, Tell Me Something about yourself etc. I also did some mock interviews. I would recommend, if you get hold of some alumni, do mock interviews with them – those would very insightful. IMS organizes Achievers’ Workshop for all call getters (with some consent to claim your credentials, if you get selected). During IMS workshop, the mock interviews were conducted by IIM (including IIMA) alumni. Mock interviews are critical – do atleast 3 to 4 over a period of a month to improve your interview skills. Before the mocks, do your own soul-searching and structure your answers. Structure implies having a logic for why you said what you said.
Although, I did not do WAT, my belief is that professors look at the structure and analysis, rather than data and information. The thought process is more important.
That was a long answer, hope it helps!
2 – The GD/PI round at IIM Ahmedabad is considered one of the most challenging components of the admission process. It tests candidates’ critical thinking, communication skills, leadership potential, and overall fit for the program.
The GD (Group Discussion) portion typically involves a panel of 8-10 candidates discussing a topic or case study for around 20-30 minutes. Candidates are evaluated on their ability to articulate their views clearly, listen actively, and build upon each other’s ideas. Strong interpersonal skills, the ability to think on one’s feet, and a willingness to engage constructively with the group are essential.
The PI (Personal Interview) that follows is an in-depth one-on-one session with a panel of faculty members and industry experts. This is an opportunity for the candidate to showcase their unique experiences, academic achievements, extracurricular involvement, and overall potential. Interviewers often ask probing questions to assess the candidate’s decision-making abilities, problem-solving skills, and alignment with the program’s objectives.
To prepare for the GD/PI round, candidates should:
1. Thoroughly research the institution, its programs, and the admissions process.
2. Develop a strong understanding of current affairs, industry trends, and relevant academic and professional topics.
3. Practice articulating their thoughts and experiences clearly and concisely, while also being able to engage in discussions and respond to unexpected questions.
4. Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewers, demonstrating their genuine interest in the program.
5. Rehearse mock GDs and PIs with peers or mentors to receive feedback and refine their approach.
6. Ensure they are well-versed in their own background, achievements, and goals, as these will be the foundation for the personal interview.
The GD/PI round at IIM Ahmedabad is designed to identify candidates who not only possess strong academic credentials but also exhibit the leadership qualities, analytical abilities, and personal characteristics that are essential for success in the program and beyond. Thorough preparation and a confident, adaptable approach can significantly enhance a candidate’s performance in this crucial stage of the admissions process.
3 – Personal interview
These are few of the points i feel are most important while tackling an interview
1. Focus on your life so far and basic questions on current affairs just to see if you have a view and then make a decision. Show awareness to every possibility before making a decision. Look at the problem from multiple angles – interviewers like that.
2. Don’t be someone youre not: theyll catch you easily. Dont lie.
3. Be polite at every point. Be humble – smile and say you do not know
4. Be chilled out – listen to something funny (videos on youtube maybe?), talk to the people outside, crack a few jokes. Dont revise notes before going in the room.
PI they wanna know about you – your life. Nothing more. So however cliched this might sound – know yourself.
GD
Topics to revise:
Basic current affairs should be okay. You should know politics (current PM era, General elections BJP, Congress basic initiatives etc), economics (Indian economy, general world economics, US/China economies maybe), current affairs – general (all headline topics for last 1–2 months prior to GD)
These above mentioned topics should be more than enough.
Tip: unless you were in Hibernation for 2 months prior to the GD, dont think you should bother about the topics – they’re pretty general and you’ll definitely have an opinion.
Key Personality traits
Everyone is unique but i feel you must demonstrate atleast one of these traits in GDs to have a good shot:
1.Take a balanced approach to things – aware of pros and cons/ negatives and positives of any topic brought up. Then after weighing them make a rational decision
2. Ability to listen to other people: listen to people intently – add to their points and come up with new conclusions. Avoid butting in avoid initiating new lines of debate
3. Ability to stand out: this i feel is key – typically 2/3 people out of 10 crack a GD. Surprisingly this is the easiest too. The pressure gets to most people – they get the pressure of speaking up in those 10 minutes – they rush in. Speak calmly. You may argue that you have to be loud to be heard. Yes, you do. But be smart here. Dont try to butt in having a diametrically opposite point. Try this.
Example: Person to your left speaking something After she finishes 2 lines you speak up. You speak this “Excellent. This is an excellent point brought up by you (briefly repeat wat she said, demonstrates you heard her properly. Most people focus on their parts alone) – i would like to add this.” Then, quickly do a pros and cons analysis and give your point. Speak clearly, nicely. Once or twice. 45 seconds – 1.5 minutes should be great.
Do these 3 points right along with the current affairs topic mentioned and you should do fine in the GD.
4 – Hi guys, This is Shantanu Singh Yadav. I have secured admission at IIM Ahmedabad for its prestigious MBA programme for the academic year 2020-22.
Interview preparation:
Post the release of response sheets by IIM Kozhikode and realizing I was scoring 180+, I started my preparation for GD and PI. The first thing I did was to prepare an exhaustive write-up about myself, starting from academics, work experience, achievements, projects, interests, and hobbies, short- and long-term goals. Current affairs for GD and PI didn’t require much preparation owing to my habit of reading newspapers and magazines religiously. Coaching institutes would provide you with a lot of material on current affairs, world policy, and recent developments in various domains, etc. Still, since you prepared for VARC through reading newspapers and magazines, you’ll be able to relate to stuff on a much higher level, it’d be a cakewalk for you.
I attended a few sessions from experts, along with two mock GD and PI sessions, of which one was purely focused on my IIM Ahmedabad interview, which was only my second interview in a long list of 14-15 shortlists including IIM A, C, L, S, MDI, SPJIMR, XLRI, and IIFT. I also prepared a few core subjects from my engineering and mathematics, which eventually aided me a lot during my IIM A, C & L interviews. Interviewers mostly would look for a holistic personality in a candidate, so it’s better to go through what you studied in your undergrad. The interviewers would often ask you to explain some topic or concept just to gauge whether the time and money invested by you in your undergrad was worth it or not.
The Interview :
It began with the usual formal greetings and handshakes (oh yeah, pre-COVID times!), and the interviewers asked me about how the previous round went (most institutes have a WAT or GD or both before the PI) followed by questions and discussions on few topics from my undergrad. They asked me to choose a concept and explain the physical significance of it, for which I chose to talk on humidification and de-humidification and a few other topics from Mass Transfer.
This was followed by the usual question on why MBA and a couple of others on basic probability and statistics.
The panel asked me if I was comfortable with current affairs (as if I had a choice :p), to which I replied in affirmation. I was asked questions on Trump’s impeachment, Brexit, and the Middle East crisis. We had a very healthy and extended discussion on Trump’s impeachment, Pelosi’s stand, and conduct as the speaker and, of course, his current contender Joe Biden, and that is when I came to know that Joe has named his son Hunter.
Post this, I was asked some statistics, like India’s religion-wise & caste-wise divide along with the distribution of GDP among various sectors. I couldn’t provide them the exact numbers, but I was sure that my guess was pretty close to the actual data. The interview concluded with my views on the annual budget.
Two years of preparation, about 20 interviews, and still, I never received a toffee/cookie from the panel.
5 – Keep an eye on what is happening around the world. Develop your opinions on issues (For example – What is your opinion of Belt and Road Initiative of China).
Be good on academics. IIMs ask a lot of questions based on academics, so be ready with some ‘practical’ knowledge about the concepts you have studied during your UG Course.
Read newspapers/editorials etc. Most of the IIMs have a WAT (Written Ability Test) in which you have to write a professional essay of about 300 words. Learn how to write good essays, and the best way to do is to read good essays.
Do some introspection. IIMs ask your hobbies, your reason of doing MBA and many other HR/personality based questions, so be ready with them too.
If you have work experience (of any kind), be ready to face questions on that also. Workings of the department you are in, some business stats (ROI etc) and many other relevant things can be asked.
Lastly, if you are not good at communicating (specially in English), then work on that. Since interview will mostly be in english, being fluent with the language is of utmost necessity.
These were some common things that you can consider. Also, many IIMs love to have a stress interview. Do some good research about stress interviews and how to survive them, to increase your chances even further.
I hope it helps, Good Luck!
IIM AHMEDABAD FEE STRUCTURE
The Programme Fee for the 2024-25 PGPX Batch is INR 33 lakhs for candidates opting for SSH (Single Accommodation) and 35 Lakhs for candidates opting for MSH (Married Student Housing) plus cost of International Immersion Programme (IIP) excluding travel and stay related expenses.
PGPX fee is usually a packaged/bundled fee which includes, for every student – tuition fees, books and course materials, accommodation and other service facilities such as library, computing, network changes etc. However this does not include the cost of International Immersion Programme (IIP). Utilities such as electricity, telephone, laundry, sports/gym subscription are additional and to be paid as per usage charges.
