IIM Kozhikode selection criteria

Who this process is for

If you’re deciding whether to prioritise this campus after CAT, here’s what matters. IIM Kozhikode selects for its flagship PGP through a standalone three-stage process. It is not CAP. This guide is for CAT aspirants who want Kozhikode’s brand and need a clear read on registration, Aggregate Index Score shortlisting, and a final mix that still weights WAT heavily. If you are comparing PGP with PGP-Finance or other IIMK variants, download that programme’s own policy. Weights and eligibility can differ.

Primary sources: IIMK selection process page and the PGP Admissions Policy 2026-28 PDF. Context: IIM Kozhikode review, selection criteria explained, and CAT exam guide. Data stamped September 2026.

How the process works

Kozhikode’s PGP 2026-2028 policy is explicit about three stages.

1. Stage 1: Eligibility and registration. Candidates who opted for IIM Kozhikode in CAT and meet minima receive an email to register online. Only positive scaled scores in every CAT 2025 section count. Graduation aggregate must be at least 60% (or 50% for CA/CMA/CS routes as specified). Category-wise CAT and Class X/XII floors appear in Table 1. For General, that is CAT overall 85, sectional 75, and 60% in both Class X and Class XII. Stage 1 registration is not an interview call.
2. Stage 2: Aggregate Index Score (AIS) shortlist. Registered eligible candidates are ranked within category on AIS: CAT index 50%, Class X 15%, Class XII 20%, gender/academic diversity 10% or 5%, work experience 5%. CAT index uses equal weight across the three sections. Board percentages are adjusted against board-highest benchmarks described in the PDF. Diversity: female/transgender candidates can take the 10 gender score; non-engineering bachelor’s pathways can take 5 academic diversity; a candidate gets one of the two, not both. Work-ex points start from six completed months of full-time post-graduation paid work (as-of date in the PDF), with a month-wise annexure that peaks then declines for very long tenures.
3. Stage 3: WAT and PI, then final score. Shortlisted candidates write an essay WAT and sit PI (cities listed in the policy; half-day process). Final weights: CAT index 35%, PI 35%, WAT 20%, resume 10%. Resume scoring in the published annexure rewards listed professional qualifications and certifications (for example CA/CMA/CS and CFA levels). Offers follow category-wise merit and Government of India reservation rules. A waitlist is maintained at the institute’s discretion.

Failing to complete Stage 1 registration removes you before AIS math begins. That operational trap is unique enough that we flag it first in counselling conversations.

What to verify each year

Exact AIS cutoffs for interview calls are set after the applicant pool is scored. If a secondary site quotes a call composite without the live portal notice, treat it as unverified.

Profile implications

CAT-heavy profiles. CAT is half of AIS and still 35% of the final score. Equal sectional weighting inside the CAT index means you cannot hide a weak section behind overall percentile once you are past Stage 1 floors. Build section balance with CAT exam guide plans.

Academics-heavy profiles. Class X and XII together are 35% of AIS. Kozhikode is one of the most board-sensitive BLACKI shortlists in the current published set. Soft boards need a CAT index high enough to compensate, and even then Stage 1 percentage floors can block registration.

Work-experience profiles. Only 5% of AIS, with a peaked month curve rather than “more is always better.” Very long tenures can score lower than mid-range tenures under Annexure 1. Final resume points reward credentials more than raw months. Explain impact in PI rather than relying on the 5% AIS line.

Writing-heavy advantage. WAT at 20% final is the highest writing weight among the six campuses in this rewrite set. Candidates who write clearly under timed conditions gain a structural edge. Use WAT-PI guide drills specifically for essay structure, not only interview Q&A.

Diversity. Choose gender or academic diversity scoring carefully. You cannot stack both under the published rule.

How Kozhikode differs from Lucknow and Bangalore

Versus IIM Lucknow, Lucknow’s General MBA Stage 1a floors are higher on paper (overall 90, sectionals 85) and its MBA shortlist is more CAT-weighted (60) with a final PI of 40 and WAT of 10 (IIML policy PDF). Kozhikode asks for an extra registration step, leans harder on boards in AIS, and weights WAT at 20% in the end. Lucknow is tougher on CAT floors for flagship MBA; Kozhikode is tougher on Class X/XII consistency and writing. Peer guide: IIM Lucknow selection criteria.

Versus IIM Bangalore, Bangalore publishes pre-PI CAT 55 with explicit sectional point splits and post-PI PI 40 / WAT 10 (PGP 2026 PDF). Bangalore folds work-ex quality into interview scoring. Kozhikode keeps a simpler AIS recipe, a registration gate, and a much heavier WAT. If your relative strength is polished written communication plus strong boards, Kozhikode’s published math fits. If your relative strength is CAT sectionals plus interview presence with moderated writing weight, Bangalore may fit better. Peer guide: IIM Bangalore selection criteria.

Common mistakes

1. Missing Stage 1 registration and assuming CAT opt-in was enough.
2. Treating Stage 1 as an interview call.
3. Ignoring Class X/XII percentage floors and board-adjustment mechanics.
4. Stacking gender and academic diversity points when the rule allows only one.
5. Under-preparing WAT because other IIMs weight it lower.
6. Applying PGP cutoffs to PGP-Finance without reading that programme’s PDF.

Frequently asked questions