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The IIM Lucknow admission process describes the manner in which students are selected for the flagship Post Graduate Program (PGP) and other management courses. The process is thorough and demanding with a focus on academic quality test performance and overall candidate profile.

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is mandatory for all candidates and is the initial step in the process.  A high overall and sectional percentile are required to be eligible. IIM Lucknow also sets separate CAT cutoffs for different categories like General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS and General category candidates usually need the highest percentile.

Candidates who make the short list are invited to the Written Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI) phases. The candidates undergo assessment in these rounds on the basis of communication skills, thought clarity, academic performance, work experience and general suitability for a management career.

The final shortlisting is done using a composite score that includes weightage for CAT scores, class 10 and 12 performance, graduation marks, work experience, diversity criteria (academic and gender) and PI/WAT scores.

Stage 1: Shortlisting criteria of PGP, PGP-ABM and PGP-SM for WAT & PI

Candidates will be shortlisted based on their CAT 2024 score, prior academic standing and other factors, as explained below. An extra qualifying requirement for MBA-SM is a minimum of 24 months of work experience.

Step 1a: Eligibility Requirements for WAT & PI of PGP, PGP-ABM and PGP-SM

Minimum total and sectional cut-off percentile for shortlisting for WAT and PI for PGP

Minimum total and sectional cut-off percentile for shortlisting for WAT and PI for PGP-ABM

Minimum total and sectional cut-off percentile for shortlisting for WAT and PI for PGP-SM

VARC: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, DILR: Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, QA: Quantitative Ability, QR: Quantitative Reasoning and VR: Verbal Reasoning

Step 1b: Composite Score Calculation for WAT-PI Stage Shortlisting

Only candidates who meet the requisite sectional and total percentiles for the relevant category in CAT 2024 will be eligible for Stage 1b. The parameters listed in the below table will be used to calculate the composite scores in Stage 1b.

Table 2: Weights Assigned to Various Components for Generating the Shortlist for WAT and Personal Interview Stage for PGP

Note: This table has been sourced from the official website of IIM Lucknow.

Notes for the above table

@ For last-year candidates, marks from one year prior to the examination (i.e., the second year for a three-year degree or the third year for a four-year degree) will be taken for admission. Those candidates must fulfill all qualifications of all of the exams, practical exams, and add-on exams for a bachelor's/qualifying degree on or before 30th June, 2026 and obtain the minimum percentage of marks in their graduation exam according to the eligibility criteria of CAT 2024.

* For the MBA-ABM program, the maximum marks for the diversity factors (DFa and DFb) are 20.

# Shortlisted candidates for admission to the MBA-ABM/MBA-SM programs are required to complete and submit the 'Special PGP-ABM/PGP-SM form' within the given time.  Otherwise, the candidates will be ineligible for the WAT-PI process for MBA-ABM/MBA-SM programs.

$ The work experience gained up to CAT-2025 registration, on or before July 31, 2025, will be final for admission consideration. Full-time work experience marks only will be awarded. Work experience in fractional months at different organisations: a total of 30 calendar days existent across organisations will be counted as a complete month. For establishing job experience, appropriate documents like experience certificates, appointment letters, pay stubs and bank statements must be submitted by candidates during the WAT-PI and admission process.

^^ For calculation of HSC aggregate percentage, marks in all the subjects on the mark sheet will be taken into account. The same rule is applicable in the case of calculating the graduation aggregate percentage if the course aggregate marks/% are not given. If grades obtained are not known the CGPA The formula/conversion norms of the board/university/institution will be applied to determine an equal percentage. In case the university/institution does not provide a conversion formula, the calculated CGPA as a percentage of the maximum cumulative grade points will be considered the aggregate percentage. In case a mark sheet contains both marks and CGPA the marks achieved will be used to find the graduation aggregate %. 

Academic Disciplines (AD) for MBA-ABM Program

Stage 1c: Schedule for WAT and PI

The WAT-PI process's shortlist and composite score (based on Stage 1b) will be made public on the www.iiml.ac.in website. The above-stated candidates will be required to

Complete and submit the WAT-PI form online within the given deadline. Candidates who fail to submit their WAT-PI form online within the given deadline will not be considered for the process. IIM Lucknow will not entertain queries on this front. Once the CAT-2025 results are announced, candidates should keep checking the official site of IIM Lucknow (www.iiml.ac.in) frequently for updates on the admission process and notifications.

Stage 2: Final Selection Criteria for MBA/MBA-ABM/MBA-SM Program Candidates

A candidate's final score for admission to the MBA/MBA-ABM/MBA-SM program for the batch 2025–2027 will be decided by the weights that have been assigned, which are compiled in the table below.

Weights for the final score calculation after the WAT-PI stage

Notes:  

• Passing PI requires a minimum score of 12 out of 40.  Candidates who failed the PI exam will not be taken into account for the final merit list.

• It is the decision of the Admissions Committee of IIM Lucknow as to which academic category an academic program will be assigned.

• Reservation Policy: IIM Lucknow complies with the Government of India's reservation policy for admission to Central Educational Institutions.

• Courts at Lucknow alone will settle disputes regarding admissions in the 2025-27 batch.

Shortlisting criteria for the PGPWE Program

The candidate completes and submits the online application form and uploads the scanned copies of documents substantiating the achievements enumerated in the eligibility criteria:

• Filled-up application forms should be submitted by November 20, 2024.

• Based on their performance on the GMAT, GMAT Focus Edition, GRE, CAT, GATE and PGPWE entrance exams, candidates are selected for the Writing Ability Test and Personal Interview.

• Once the Writing Ability Test and Personal Interview are over, the final score is determined by the following constituents:

Shortlisting Criteria for IPMX program

The candidate completes and sends the online application form and attaches scanned copies of the documents in support of the achievements reflected in the eligibility criteria:

• To apply, submit a completed application form on or before October 2025 for the first phase and December 2025 for the second phase.

• Please also provide contact details of your recommenders, including email addresses. The recommended recommenders will receive an email inviting them to send in the recommendation letters online to the admission office.

• Applicants are shortlisted for the Writing Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI) depending on their GMAT/GMAT Focus Edition/GRE scores.

• The final score for IPMX selection for batch 2025-26 will be calculated using the weights specified in the following table.

Admission will be offered on the basis of the final score.

Shortlisting Criteria for bMBA program

The shortlisting process includes the three stages:

• Shortlisting Stage (SS)

• Interview Stage (IS), and

• Final Admission Stage (AS)

At each level, candidates will be evaluated using particular criteria and a score will be produced. The shortlisting score determines eligibility for the interview phase. The interview score plays a crucial role in determining the final admission score which is used to make admission offers. The evaluation criteria and scoring methodology for each stage are described below:

1.0: Shortlisting Stage (SS)

Table 1: Parameters for Shortlisting Score Calculation Sl.No. Parameters Weightage 1 Entrance Exam Score 50 2 HSC Marks 10 3 Bachelor’s Degree Marks 20 4 Work Experience 15 5 Gender Diversity 5 Total 100

Calculation of Shortlisting Score for PI

The detailed scoring mechanism for each criterion is outlined as follows:

1.1: Entrance Exam Score

Candidates can apply with scores from any of the following four entrance exams: CAT, GRE, GMAT or GMAT Focus. If an applicant has numerous exam scores he or she must submit only one of them. This exam score will be considered final for the current entrance cycle.  Scores for the shortlisting stage are calculated as follows:

Calculation of Shortlisting Score for Shortlisting for PI Stage

1.2 HSC Score

To calculate the aggregate % for HSC marks from all subjects on the marksheet will be used. To compute a candidate's score based on their HSC marks use the following quick reckoner:

If a candidate from GEN/EWS/NC-OBC scores 65%, they will receive 4 marks, while SC/ST/PwD candidates would receive 5 marks. Similarly if a candidate scores 70% he or she will receive 5 and 6 marks in the GEN/EWS/NCOBC and SC/ST/PwD categories, respectively.

1.3 Bachelor’s Degree Marks

If a GEN/EWS/NC-OBC applicant scores 65%, they will receive 8 marks, while SC/ST/PwD candidates will receive 10 marks. Similarly, if a candidate scores 70%, he or she would be awarded 10 and 12 marks in the GEN/EWS/NCOBC and SC/ST/PwD categories, respectively.

1.4 Work Experience Score

* Candidates with 3 years and 1 month of work experience will receive 2.5 marks, while those with 3 years and 29 days would receive 0 marks. 30 days will be recorded as one completed month, irrespective of the calendar days for the given month.

Candidates with 11 years and 11 months of experience will receive 15 marks, while those with 12 years will receive 12.5 marks.

1.5 Gender Diversity Score:

Five marks will be given to female applicants for gender diversity.

2.0 Interview Stage

Those who made the shortlist based on their shortlisting score will be asked to attend the interview. Candidates will only be taken into consideration for the final merit list preparation if they receive at least 12 out of 40 points during the interview.

3:0 Admission Final Score

Notes:

• Passing PI requires a minimum of 12 out of 40 marks. The final merit list will not include candidates who fail PI.

• Reservation Policy: IIM Lucknow admits students to Central Educational Institutions (CEIs) in accordance with the Government of India's reservation policy.

• Admission disputes for the 2025-27 batch will be resolved by competent courts in Lucknow exclusively.

• Illustration of a Candidate's Final Score Calculation