CAT Selection Process 2025-26: Admission Criteria, Check Non-IIM & IIM Selection Process, & Shortlisting

Preparing for the CAT 2025 exam may make you curious about knowing the whole CAT selection process. While cracking the CAT exam is the first step, admission to your dream B-school is the next step. However, you may be surprised to know that prestigious IIMs and other top B-schools follow a multi-stage selection procedure. Candidates are shortlisted based on their CAT percentile, academic profile, and work experience. This is followed by rounds like WAT (Written Ability Test), CAT Group Discussion (GD), and Personal Interview (PI).

Confused? Don’t be! In this blog, we’ll break down everything about the CAT admission process 2025. We cover how the Non-IIM & IIM selection process works, and the processes of CAT counselling, admission criteria, shortlisting and more. So just sit tight while you go through the copious details of the whole CAT admissions process. Let’s begin!

Important Dates for CAT Selection Process 2025-26: Overview

Step-by-Step CAT Admission Process

The CAT admission process kicks off once the CAT scores are released. There are mainly three stages in the admission process. Below we have described these steps in detail:

Step 1: Shortlisting based on CAT scores

The CAT counselling process begins with the IIMs and other B-schools announcing their cut-offs for shortlisting candidates. Each IIM releases its own list of shortlisted candidates. The candidates are shortlisted based on the CAT percentile, sectional cutoffs, and academic background. Over the past years, the minimum cutoff for older IIMs has remained 95-97 percentile. However, for reserved category candidates, the cut is slightly lower. 

The new IIMs have a cut-off in the range of 90-95 percentile. Only the candidates fulfilling these criteria will be called for GD and WAT/PI. Shortlisted candidates are sent invitation letters via email. The invitation letter sent will have the following:

• Registration Link for applying
• Last date for complete CAP registrations
• Date, time and venue for WAT/GD and PI

Step 2: CAT Group Discussion and CAT WAT (Written Ability Test) Round

After getting shortlisted through your CAT score, you will either appear in the Group Discussion or the WAT round. This varies in different IIMs and B-schools. In the MBA group discussion round, you will be in a group of 8 to 10 candidates. In this round of CAT counselling, you’ll be given a topic, and you’ll discuss it as a group. 

The examiner will assess your speaking skills, clarity of thought, group dynamics and personality traits. The top CAT group discussion topics cover subjects like politics, sports, current & world affairs, social issues, etc. 

Some IIMs and B-schools conduct WAT. In this, you’ll have to write an essay on a given topic within a limited time frame. Usually, this time frame is between 15 and 45 minutes. You will be assessed on your grammar, writing skills, vocabulary, and thought clarity.

Step 3: Personal Interview Round

After the CAT WAT/GD round, you’ll move to the final round in the IIM selection process. In this round, the candidate will appear before an interview panel of 4 to 8. The panel analyses the candidate’s personality, attitude and interests. The candidate is also judged on various parameters. These include general awareness, communication skills, and academic performance.

Step 4: Release of Final Merit List

Although the IIM admission criteria vary among IIMs. The IIMs and B-schools release the final admission list, with a composite score based on multiple parameters. Your CAT score and your performance in GD/WAT and PI have the highest weightage. Also, there are additional points for promoting diversity in IIMs.

Step 5: Final Selection and Document Verification

The candidates in the final list are sent invitation letters via email. These candidates are called for eligibility and document verification. With this step, the CAT admission process is complete.

IIM Shortlisted Candidates Parameters

The CAT admission process in IIMs varies. However, there are 5 main parameters on which IIMs shortlist candidates. They are as follows:

• CAT exam score
• Overall performance in WAT, GD and PI rounds
• Class 10th and 12th marks
• Gender diversity 
• Work Experience
• Academic Diversity

The table below shows the weightage of each parameter in the IIM selection process:

Documents Required for the CAT and IIM Selection Process

During the CAT section process, you’ll carry important documents in the subsequent rounds of interviews. The CAT exam selection process primarily consists of WAT/GD and PI. Make sure to carry the original documents with you. These documents will include:

• CAT Scorecard
• Call Letter of Interview
• All academic documents (Class X, XII and Graduation marksheet)
• Caste certificate (if applicable)
• Income certificate (if applicable)
• PwD certificate (if applicable)
• Work Experience certificate (if applicable)

IIM Selection Process vs Non-IIMs

There are key differences in the final CAT admission process in IIMs and Non-IIMs. IIMs and Non-IIMs have different weightage for the CAT score, and the admission criteria for shortlisting vary. The table below depicts and simplifies the key differences.

IIM Common Admission Process 2025

The IIIM common admission process (CAP) is jointly conducted by the group of 9 new IIMs. These include IIM Bodhgaya, IIM Kashipur, IIM Sambalpur, IIM Jammu, IIM Udaipur, IIM Ranchi, IIM Trichy and more. This IIM selection process is similar to the IIM A, B, and C admission criteria. But it’s conducted collectively by these new IIMs and not individually. 

There are the same rounds of CAT WAT/GD, and PI. However, the qualifying cut-off is lower than that of older IIMs. Moreover, it’s considered easier to get admission in these baby IIMs compared to older IIMs.