IIM Interview Timeline After CAT 2026: Shortlist, Interview, Result

Every year, aspirants ask when IIMs release shortlists, when interviews are held and when results come. The answer depends on the IIM and on the route it uses. This page lists what the IIMs themselves published for the CAT 2025 cycle (the batch that joined in 2026) and what has been published so far for the CAT 2026 cycle (batches starting in 2027).

Which Route Each IIM Uses

In the CAT 2025 cycle, IIMs followed one of four routes.

Own process. IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, Kozhikode, Indore, Mumbai, Nagpur and Udaipur each shortlisted candidates and ran interviews on their own. Each publishes its admission policy on its website.

Joint Admission Process (JAP). IIM Raipur, Kashipur, Ranchi and Tiruchirappalli (Trichy) ran JAP, with IIM Raipur as coordinator. Candidates register once after the CAT result, get shortlisted for a common personal interview, and each IIM then prepares its own merit list. See IIM Raipur's admission policy.

Common Admission Process (CAP). IIM Bodh Gaya, Jammu and Sirmaur ran CAP, coordinated by IIM Bodh Gaya, with a common offline personal interview. See IIM Bodh Gaya's admission policy.

Supplementary Admission Process (SAP). IIM Bodh Gaya's 2025-27 policy said it may run a supplementary round after CAP. Other IIMs publish their own notices on their sites.

For a fuller comparison, read JAP vs CAP vs own admission.

What the CAT 2025 Cycle Looked Like

The interviews fell between the January shortlists and the April and May results. Each IIM sent its own call letters with the city, date and time.

What Is Published for the CAT 2026 Cycle

• CAT 2026 is on Sunday, 29 November 2026, and results are likely in the first week of January 2027, according to the CAT 2026 information bulletin.
• IIM Ahmedabad published its admission policy for the 2027-29 batch on 11 September 2026. It says shortlists will be available tentatively by the second week of January 2027, offers tentatively in the second week of April 2027, and acceptance formalities tentatively by the first week of May 2027.
• IIM Ahmedabad holds its Analytical Writing Test (AWT) and personal interview in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai and New Delhi, and you choose two cities in the CAT form.
• IIM Bangalore has published its process note for the 2027-29 batch. The Written Ability Test (WAT) and personal interview take place on the same day at the same location.
• Other IIMs had not published dates for this cycle on the pages checked. Their dates will appear on their admissions pages after the CAT result.
• XLRI's XAT 2027 is on 3 January 2027, which matters if you are also applying there.

How to Use the Weeks Between Shortlist and Interview

The personal interview carries a large share of the final score. In the CAT 2025 cycle the published weights were 35% at IIM Kozhikode, 40% at IIM Bangalore and IIM Lucknow, 45% at IIM Indore, 48% at IIM Calcutta and 50% at IIM Ahmedabad. The IIM interview guide has the full breakdown for each IIM.

Before the Shortlists

You will not know which IIMs will call you until January, so keep your preparation general.

• Write out your story: why an MBA, why now, and what you plan to do after it
• Prepare a short walk-through of your resume and your work or academic projects
• Read a newspaper daily for economy and business news
• Note the parts of your profile a panel might question, such as a dip in marks or a career gap

After the Shortlists

Once you know your IIMs, add school-specific preparation. Read each IIM's admission policy to see how its final score is built, because the weights differ. Practise answering aloud, and keep a note of the questions you struggled with.

The Week Before an Interview

• Revise your key stories and your resume rather than learning new topics
• Check travel, accommodation and documents
• Keep original certificates and mark sheets ready. IIM Kozhikode's policy says candidates who cannot produce the relevant original certificates are disqualified from attending the PI

Managing Work and Travel

Most CAT candidates are working professionals or final-year students, so scheduling needs planning.

• Ask for leave as soon as your call letters arrive
• Where interviews overlap, write to the IIM's admissions office early. Rescheduling rules differ across IIMs
• Book travel after you receive your slot, and add a buffer day for delays
• If several IIMs call you in one city, try to cluster your travel

After Each Interview

Write down the questions you were asked while you remember them. Outside JAP and CAP, each IIM runs its own interview, so a result at one IIM does not decide another. Under JAP and CAP, one interview is shared by the participating IIMs, and each IIM applies its own weights to it.

Key Dates for the CAT 2026 Cycle

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