If you are aiming for IIM Kozhikode (IIMK) in the CAT 2026 cycle, it helps to see how its process ran in the CAT 2025 cycle, because IIMK publishes its policy for a new batch after the CAT result. This page uses the IIMK admissions policy for the 2026-28 batch, and labels every number with that cycle.
Key Takeaways
- IIMK selects in three stages: registration after the CAT result, a shortlist based on an Aggregate Index Score, and then a Written Ability Test (WAT) and personal interview (PI)
- In the CAT 2025 cycle, General category candidates needed at least 85 overall and 75 in each section to register, along with 60% in class X, class XII and graduation
- The shortlist score gave 50% to CAT, 15% to class X, 20% to class XII, up to 5% to work experience and up to 10 marks for diversity
- The final score gave 35% to CAT, 35% to the PI, 20% to the WAT and 10% to the resume
- The published minimum is a floor, and the percentile that earns a call depends on the pool and on the rest of your profile
How IIMK Selects: Three Stages
Stage 1: Registration. After the CAT result, candidates who selected IIMK and meet the minimum eligibility criteria receive an email with instructions to register online. IIMK's policy says this is a pre-interview registration process and not a call for an interview.
Stage 2: Shortlist. IIMK builds a shortlist in each category using an Aggregate Index Score. Only shortlisted candidates receive a call. In the CAT 2025 cycle the shortlist was due on the registration portal around the second week of January 2026.
Stage 3: WAT and PI. Shortlisted candidates write the WAT and then appear for the PI. The final merit list is category-wise.
Stage 1: Minimum Eligibility and Registration
In the CAT 2025 cycle, candidates needed a positive scaled score in all sections of CAT, and met these minimums:
| Category | CAT percentile | Sectional percentile | Class X | Class XII |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | 85 | 75 | 60% | 60% |
| OBC-NCL and EWS | 75 | 65 | 60% | 60% |
| SC | 65 | 55 | 55% | 55% |
| ST and PwD | 55 | 45 | 55% | 55% |
Candidates with a graduation degree also needed at least 60% aggregate marks in it. Candidates with CA, CMA (ICWA) or CS needed at least 50% in those examinations.
Common mistakes at this stage:
Some candidates rush the registration and enter incomplete or mismatched details. IIMK verifies documents, and its policy says candidates who cannot produce the relevant original certificates are disqualified from attending the PI. Enter percentages exactly as your university certifies them, and use the university's official CGPA conversion where it exists.
Stage 2: The Aggregate Index Score
The score used for the interview shortlist in the CAT 2025 cycle had these components:
| Component | Weight |
|---|---|
| CAT 2025 index score | 50% |
| Class X percentage | 15% |
| Class XII percentage | 20% |
| Work experience | Up to 5% |
| Gender and academic diversity | Up to 10 marks |
Minimum Versus Shortlist
The minimums in Stage 1 decide who can register. The Aggregate Index Score then ranks the registered candidates within each category. The percentile that gets a call therefore depends on how many candidates register and how their marks compare, and IIMK does not publish it in advance.
How Work Experience Is Scored
The policy scores work experience up to a maximum of 5. The score rises with each month from 6 months, reaches its maximum at 35 to 36 months, and then falls month by month for longer experience.
The Diversity Marks
IIMK awards marks for gender and academic diversity. Only female and transgender candidates can receive a gender diversity score of 10. This is one reason a candidate's percentile alone does not fix their position in the shortlist.
Stage 3: WAT and PI
The final score in the CAT 2025 cycle was computed as follows:
| Component | Weight |
|---|---|
| CAT 2025 index score | 35% |
| Personal interview score | 35% |
| WAT score | 20% |
| Resume score | 10% |
The Written Ability Test
The WAT asks you to write on a topic. IIMK gives it 20% of the final score, which is a larger share than the IIMs that publish 8% to 10% for their written test.
Practice topics (these are practice prompts of the kind used in WAT rounds, and not reported IIMK topics):
- The road not taken makes all the difference
- Is ambition without ethics dangerous?
- Leaders are born, not made
- Should India adopt a uniform civil code?
- Is AI a threat to employment or an opportunity for growth?
- The impact of digital payments on rural India
- Startups or corporate jobs: what should fresh graduates choose?
- The role of sustainability in business strategy
- Should companies prioritise shareholder value or stakeholder welfare?
What to aim for in a WAT:
- Structure: A clear introduction, body paragraphs with distinct points and a conclusion
- Balance: Acknowledge more than one viewpoint before stating your position
- Concrete examples: Use data or real cases and avoid generic statements
- Your own thinking: Avoid coaching-centre templates
- Clean language: Grammar, spelling and clarity all count
The Personal Interview
The PI carries 35% of the final score. Candidates often describe IIMK interviews as conversational, with the panel following up on the points you raise.
Areas candidates prepare:
Academic questions. If you are an engineer, expect questions on your core subjects. If you studied commerce, expect accounting or economics basics. Panels want to see what you learned in your degree.
Work experience. Be ready to explain what your company does, your role and a typical project, with follow-up questions on the details.
Current affairs. Panels may move quickly between topics. You could be discussing your work and then be asked about a recent RBI decision.
Why MBA and why IIMK. Generic answers about career growth say little. Know IIMK's programme, its specialisations, its location and what you would do with them.
Geography. Some candidates report questions on geography, including where Kozhikode is and which states border Kerala. Know your India map.
A Typical Interview Flow
- Opening: "Tell me about yourself." A crisp summary works better than your life history.
- Work experience: What your company does, your role and a typical project.
- Academics: A question from your bachelor's subject.
- Current affairs: A recent policy or economic development, with your view.
- Why MBA and IIMK: Connect your past, your present and your plan.
- Closing: "Do you have any questions for us?" Have one or two ready.
Preparation Plan for the CAT 2026 Cycle
CAT 2026 is on 29 November 2026 and results are likely in the first week of January 2027.
Before the result (December):
- Keep your marksheets and certificates in one folder
- Start daily current affairs reading on business, economy and policy
- Write out your story: why an MBA, why now and what next
After the shortlist:
- Register carefully and verify every detail
- Practise two or three WAT essays a week
- Do mock interviews aloud
- Revise the fundamentals of your bachelor's subject
The week before:
- Know IIMK's programme and campus location
- Prepare your opening answer
- Review your resume and be ready to discuss every line
Common Mistakes in IIMK Interviews
1. Not knowing where Kozhikode is. A candidate who cannot place the campus on a map signals little research.
2. Bluffing. Saying "I do not know, but here is how I would find out" works better than making up facts.
3. Robotic answers. Panels can spot memorised scripts. Speak in a conversational way.
4. Treating follow-ups as threats. A follow-up question is a chance to show depth.
5. Generic answers to why IIMK. "It is a top IIM" is not an answer.
The Role of Mock Interviews in IIMK Preparation
Because the interview is conversational, practise speaking your answers aloud, and do not only prepare them in writing. Speaking aloud shows you where you lose your thread, where your answers run long and which follow-ups you cannot answer.
Start Practicing with AI Mock Interviews →
Rehearsal AI provides unlimited mock interviews specifically designed for IIM WAT-PI. Practice with AI that asks unpredictable follow-ups, challenges your reasoning, and gives objective feedback on your responses.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the exact composite score formula for IIMK?
For the CAT 2025 cycle, the shortlist score used CAT 50%, class X 15%, class XII 20%, work experience up to 5% and diversity up to 10 marks. The final score used CAT 35%, PI 35%, WAT 20% and resume 10%. IIMK publishes the policy for each batch, so check its site after the CAT 2026 result for the CAT 2026 cycle.
I have a 95 percentile. Can I get an IIMK call?
The General category minimum in the CAT 2025 cycle was 85 overall, so 95 clears it. Whether you receive a call depends on your Aggregate Index Score compared with the other registered candidates in your category, which includes class X and XII marks, work experience and diversity marks.
Is the IIMK interview easier than IIM A, B or C?
Each IIM interviews differently. IIMK's conversational style can feel less intimidating, and the panel still follows up on your answers.
When are IIMK interviews scheduled?
In the CAT 2025 cycle the PI shortlist was due around the second week of January 2026. IIMK sends call letters with the venue and date, and the WAT and PI schedule for the CAT 2026 cycle will come from IIMK after the result.
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