1. IIM Bangalore at a glance
| Flagship programme | MBA, 2 years, residential |
| Entrance exam | CAT |
| Qualifying cutoff (Gen) | 85 overall / ~80 each section |
| Realistic call (Gen) | 99+ percentile |
| Fee (2 years) | ~₹26.3 lakh |
| Average package | ~₹35.4 LPA (177 recruiters) |
| Top sectors | Consulting (~45%), Finance, IT |
| Location | Bannerghatta Road, Bengaluru |
2. CAT cutoff & eligibility
IIM Bangalore's minimum qualifying cutoff is 85 percentile overall for General candidates, with sectional minimums of around 80. That's notably lower than IIM-A's 95 — but don't be fooled: real General-category calls still cluster at 99+ once academics and profile enter the composite.
| Category | Overall (min) |
|---|---|
| General / EWS | 85 |
| NC-OBC | 80 |
| SC | 70 |
| ST | 65 |
| PwD | 60 |
Overall qualifying minimums for the current cycle; sectional minimums (~80 Gen) also apply. Confirm against the official IIMB criteria each year.
3. The selection process, step by step
- CAT + minima. Clear 85 overall (Gen) and the sectional minimums.
- Pre-interview shortlist. A composite of CAT 55 + academics 30 + work-ex 10 + diversity 5 decides who's called.
- WAT + PI. Shortlisted candidates take a Written Ability Test and Personal Interview (from around January).
- Final selection. A weighted score across all components (below) decides admission.
Note how much academics (30%) weigh in the IIM-B shortlist — a full 10 points each for Class 10, Class 12 and graduation. If your school and college record is strong, IIM-B rewards it more than most IIMs do.
4. The weightage shift — the insight that changes how you prepare
As at every top IIM, CAT's weight drops sharply once you're past the shortlist — from 55% to 25%.
The lesson is the same as at IIM-A with a twist: your CAT score gets you the call, the interview (40%) wins the seat — and your academic record matters at both stages here more than most places. Serious WAT/PI preparation is essential.
5. How IIM Bangalore differs from IIM Ahmedabad
| IIM Bangalore | IIM Ahmedabad | |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifying cutoff (Gen) | 85 / ~80 | 95 / 85 |
| CAT weight (shortlist) | 55% | 65% |
| Academics (shortlist) | 30% | part of 35% profile |
| Interview weight (final) | 40% | 50% |
| Fee (2 yrs) | ~₹26.3 L | ~₹27.5 L |
6. Fees & ROI
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Total fee (2 years) | ~₹26.3 lakh |
| Average package | ~₹35.4 LPA |
| Fee recovered in | Under 1 year of post-MBA CTC |
Like the other top IIMs, an average graduate earns back the full programme cost within the first year of work — a standout return, especially given Bengaluru's tech-and-startup recruiting access.
7. Placements
IIM Bangalore's recent placement cycle: a ~₹35.4 LPA average across 177 recruiters. The sector mix leans hard into consulting, with strong finance and a tech edge from its Bengaluru location:
Sector shares are approximate from the recent placement report; exact splits vary year to year.
Every IIM-B story starts the same way: a strong CAT score.
That 99+ percentile is built in mocks. Full-length CAT tests, sectional practice and actual CAT 2020–2025 past papers — the first step toward the room. Free to start.
Start your CAT prep on ExamDuo →8. FAQs
What is the CAT cutoff for IIM Bangalore 2026?
85 percentile overall for General (70 SC, 65 ST, 60 PwD), with ~80 sectional minimums. Real calls need 99+ once academics and profile count.
What is the fee for IIM Bangalore MBA?
About ₹26.3 lakh for the two-year programme — recovered inside the first year on a ~₹35 LPA average.
How does IIM Bangalore shortlist candidates?
CAT 55% + academics 30% (10th, 12th, graduation) + work-ex 10% + diversity 5%. Academics count more here than at IIM-A.
What is the final selection weightage?
Interview 40%, CAT 25%, academics 15%, work-ex 10%, WAT 10% — CAT drops from 55% at shortlist to 25% at the final stage.
What is the average package at IIM Bangalore?
~₹35.4 LPA with 177 recruiters; consulting ~45% of offers, then finance and IT.
IIM Bangalore or Ahmedabad - which is easier to get into?
IIM-B's qualifying cutoff is lower (85 vs 95) and it weights academics more, so strong-academics candidates may find its shortlist friendlier — but real calls at both cluster near 99+.
