Although a weak academic background significantly diminishes the chances of securing admission to certain IIMs, it should not be perceived as an absolute barrier to entry across all IIMs. In this article, we will explore the potential opportunities for gaining admission to IIMs by examining the admission criteria observed in recent years.

To focus on the main subject, let’s omit IIM Bangalore from our discussion. With the exception of IIM Bangalore and partially IIM Shillong, it is feasible to secure admission to other IIMs even with certain shortcomings in your academics.

Before addressing the question of how to gain admission to IIM with poor academics, it is crucial to establish a clear definition of “poor academics.” Furthermore, the interpretation of poor academics may differ among various IIMs. Let’s examine the prospects of admission to each IIM individually in detail.

IIM Ahmedabad invites the top 50 performers from each academic discipline, regardless of their academic background. However, if you are an engineer, securing a position among the top 50 nationwide can be a challenging endeavour. Generally, a percentile score below 99.96 is unlikely to meet the criteria for engineers. For non-engineers, achieving a percentile score of 99.7 or higher should provide a favourable chance of receiving an invitation based on this criterion, with some variation depending on the specific field of study.

To qualify for the regular shortlisting process, the candidate must have a minimum average score of 80% in both class X and class XII. If an applicant’s average falls below this threshold, regardless of their CAT score, they will not receive an interview invitation unless they happen to be among the top 50 performers in their respective academic stream.

When it comes to academics, Calcutta stands out as the most generous among the IIMs. Graduation scores are not taken into consideration by IIM C during the shortlisting process, nor is work experience considered when inviting candidates for interviews. Therefore, if your class X and class XII scores are respectable (80% or above), achieving a percentile of 99.7 guarantees you a call. In case your class X or class XII scores are not particularly strong, obtaining a sufficiently high percentile in the CAT exam is essential. Once again, a percentile of 99.8 can be considered a safe score if either your class X or class XII score falls within the 70% range. However, if both scores are below 70%, you would need an impressive percentile of 99.95 to secure a call from IIM C.

When shortlisting candidates, IIM Lucknow does not take into account their class X marks. However, the weightage given to CAT scores and work experience is substantial, which means that applicants with low graduation scores can compensate with a high CAT percentile and relevant work experience. IIM Lucknow allocates 60% weightage to CAT scores, 10% to work experience, and 10% to both 12th and graduation scores.

When offering calls to candidates, IIM Kozhikode does not take into consideration their class X scores. The weightage assigned to the CAT score is 75%, while both class XII and graduation scores carry a weightage of 7.5% each. As a result, achieving a percentile of 99.8 or above in the CAT exam can serve as a valuable compensating factor for less impressive academic records.

IIM Indore assigns a weightage of 34% to class X scores and 40% to class XII scores, while the CAT score holds a weightage of only 20%. If your graduation scores are relatively low, there is still a possibility of receiving a call from IIM Indore. However, if either your class X or class XII scores are low, it is unlikely to receive a call regardless of your CAT score. It is worth noting that IIM Indore normalizes board percentages, particularly considering boards known for mark inflation, such as TN and Andhra. Therefore, aspirants from these boards should take this factor into consideration.

If your academic scores are excellent, with scores of 90 or above in X, XII, and graduation, achieving a percentile of 97 will effortlessly secure a call. Even if your academic scores are lower, obtaining a percentile of 99.2 or higher will guarantee calls from the new IIMs. To ensure a safer position, aim to score above the 99.4 percentile mark.

When shortlisting candidates, other prestigious B-schools such as FMS, MDI, XLRI, and JBIMS do not give significant importance to past academic records. If you achieve a percentile of 99.7 or higher in the respective exams, you can be assured of receiving an interview call from these institutes (except JBIMS) and have a high probability of converting it into an admission offer. Instead of solely focusing on how to get into IIM with less impressive academics, it is advisable to broaden your options and concentrate on your preparation.

If you believe that your academic score might hinder your chances of entering the IIM, you’ve always aspired to join. It may be beneficial to let go of those specific expectations. Instead, redirect your focus towards maximizing your CAT scores and enhancing your overall profile. By doing so, you can confidently face the interview process and increase your prospects of gaining admission to top-tier B-Schools.