Saturday, August 10th, 2019
Whether you will get an interview call from IIM Bangalore or not, it would depend upon the following factors (on a 100 point scale):
Whether you will get admission into IIM Bangalore or not, it would depend upon the following factors (on a 100 point scale):
Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGP) at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) for the batch of 2020-22.
IIMB has internally developed an admission process that seeks to identify the most promising candidates for the PGP. This process has been progressively refined over the years, based on cumulative data on the Common Admission Test (CAT) applicants and the academic performance of the candidates that were admitted to IIMB. The process arrived at is based on the relationship between the academic performance of students of the PGP in IIMB and their past academic performance, their CAT score, performance in the admission interview and prior work experience. The selection criteria and weights given to various parameters are based on data from previous cycles as well as on inputs from the IIMB faculty body and other relevant stakeholders. The selection criteria are usually reviewed every year and revised as necessary. The admission committee fixes these criteria and weights at the beginning of each admission cycle before looking at information pertaining to candidates applying in that cycle so as to avoid any bias.
IIMB has found over the years that students who perform well academically in the PGP are typically those who have a consistently good academic record during their secondary school, higher secondary school and graduation level, besides exhibiting sufficiently high aptitude as measured by the CAT. Therefore IIMB uses multiple parameters, namely academic performance in 10th & 12th grades, graduation programmes as well as the candidate’s section-wise scores in CAT to judge the suitability of a candidate for the PGP. Relevant work experience, if any, is also given weight in the selection. Evaluation by multiple criteria is also consistent with empirical research on recruitment and selection that shows greater efficacy of recruitment processes that use multiple criteria. The CAT score, over and above being a selection criterion, is also used to establish the minimum level of proficiency that is expected from the candidate in respective faculties as indicated by section wise minimum scores in the CAT. The various criteria mentioned above are used to arrive at a composite score for every candidate, which in turn is used to select candidates for the subsequent stages. The remaining part of the document explains this process in detail.
IIMB adopts a two-phase selection process and accordingly these selection criteria are applied in two phases. The first phase of the process is applied to all eligible candidates who appear for CAT 2018 to determine candidates to be called for a personal interview (PI). Candidates selected for the PI process will be additionally required to take a Writing Ability Test (WAT) on a topic to be provided by IIMB. The topics chosen will typically draw on issues and developments that relate to current socio-political, economic and business affairs, though other topics such as sports and those that require more creative thinking may also be included. The time provided for the WAT will typically be about 30 minutes. During the interview, the panel will evaluate each candidate’s academic background, quality of work experience and other personal traits. The WAT submission will be evaluated separately. The scores of the WAT, interview and pre-PI scores (with appropriate weightages) will be used cumulatively in the second and final phase to select the candidates for the programme.
The selection process, parameters and weights used are uniform for all categories of applicants. Sufficient candidates are shortlisted at each stage from each social category to meet the reservation requirement for each group, as applicable at that time.
Phase 1
For the batch of 2019-21 based on CAT 2018 – Table 1
Minimum Percentile requirements for the 1st shortlist* | ||||
CATEGORY | Section 1
(VARC) |
Section 2
(DILR) |
Section 3
(QA) |
Aggregate |
General | 80 | 75 | 75 | 85 |
NC-OBC | 70 | 65 | 65 | 75 |
SC | 65 | 60 | 60 | 70 |
ST | 55 | 55 | 55 | 65 |
PWD | 50 | 50 | 50 | 60 |
* These are cut-offs used for preparing the first short-list. The scores of those called for interviews were higher.
For all candidates in the first shortlist as stated in Table (1), an adjusted score is calculated for each of the candidates based on the final scores obtained by the candidate in his/her bachelors’ degree and/or professional degrees, as the case may be. Incomplete or intermediate graduate scores are considered only if the candidate’s final score is pending. Thus, for final year bachelor’s degree candidates, their incomplete graduation score would be taken in lieu of the final graduation score.
The form for application to IIMB’s PGP provides clear guidance on how to present grade related information at the 10th, 12th and graduation level. For example, a 10 CGPA in the 10th grade may not be entered as 100%. Similarly, candidates are required to present information relating to their branch of study in their graduation. Candidates are advised to follow these guidelines carefully while presenting this information. Presenting information incorrectly is liable to be construed as misrepresentation, resulting in the candidate’s application not being taken to the next level in the selection process. Further, once a decision not to proceed with processing an application is made for reasons of incorrect or inaccurate information, no further discussion will be entertained with regard to the processing of such application. IIMB’s decision in this regard will be final.
= 8x/36 if 0 < x < 36
= 8 if x >= 36
Where x is the months of work experience up to July 2019, as captured in CAT application form (and substantiated in the application to IIMB). This implies that the score will peak at 36 months of work experience and will remain at that level for candidates with work experience exceeding 36 months. The work experience score (maximum 8 in the pre-PI stage) will be multiplied by the quality of work experience score on a 5 point scale (0.25 – 0.5 – 1 – 1.5 – 2) as given by interviewers in the PI process in Phase 2 to then arrive at a weighted work experience score.
IIMB duly recognizes the value of professional experience in enhancing the learning experience for the student in the classroom. Accordingly it assigns credit for a candidate’s work experience in the selection process.
Therefore, IIMB is keen to ensure that the work experience claimed by the candidate is authentic and professionally significant enough to deserve credit. For example, no consideration is given to any time spent as an intern, either during or after the course of study in a programme, or any periods of apprenticeship such as articleship required as part of certain professional courses, or any unpaid work undertaken in any organization or institution.
Candidates will be required to produce the following as evidence of work experience for each instance of employment claimed by the candidate:
i) Letter from each of the employers that the candidate claims to have worked with. The letter should state the following details (i) The starting date of the employment, ending date of that respective employment, positions occupied during employment with that
particular employer. In case the candidate claims to have moved through different positions/titles during the period, the application should provide the starting date of each of those positions, pay with break up during each of the positions held and a brief description of the responsibilities during each of those positions held by the candidate. The letter should be furnished on a letter head of the employer organisation, should carry a seal of the employer and be duly affirmed by the authorized signatory.
ii) In addition, the candidate should provide a brief write up of the responsibilities held by the candidate in each of the positions in each of the organisations in which the candidate claims to have worked. In case the employer had opened a provident fund (PF) account during the period of employment the candidate should provide the PF registration
iii) The name and designation of official to whom the candidate reported and the contact coordinates of the official to whom IIMB may write in case it wishes to verify the employment related claim that is being
iv) Presentation of employment claims that are not in conformity with the requirements above are liable to be considered incomplete and disregarded by IIMB at its sole Further, IIMB is at liberty to verify any or all of the employment related claims made by the candidate. Upon such verification If it is found that some are all of the claims made are factually untrue such candidate’s application will not be processed further at IIMB. Such candidates may be further disqualified from being considered for admission to any programme at IIMB in future. After a candidate joins the PGP at IIMB If it comes to IIMB’s notice reliably that the candidate had made claims that cannot be substantiated as factual and true the candidate is liable to be expelled from the programme forthwith. In the event of such expulsion the candidate will forfeit any fees paid until such expulsion.
The 40 points for CAT are derived from the performance in each of the three sections as follows: Verbal & Reading Comprehension (VARC) – 14 points, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) – 16 points, and Quantitative Aptitude (QA) – 10 points.
The gender diversity component is applicable only for the computing the pre-PI score for deciding on interview calls, and will not be applicable for phase 2 of the admissions process leading up to the final offers of admission.
For all candidates in the first shortlist as stated in Table (1), normalization or standardization in any component stated above is carried out as per the following formula. All standardization is done with reference to the qualifying first shortlist or its subdivisions; Standardized score, truncated between 0 and weight (wt) is computed from the raw score (val) as:
Max [0, min {wt, wt/2 + ((val-mean) / sd) * wt / 6}]
Phase 2
All candidates will be required to provide two confidential reference letters from their employers or from teachers in the academic insitutions where they had been students previously. These reference letters will also be used in the personal interview evaluation.
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Since IIMB follows a comprehensive multi-criteria process at the pre-PI stage, it is able to identify many candidates for the PI who have an excellent academic record and work experience but who, while doing well enough in the CAT to be in the first shortlist, may have narrowly missed the high score that would have been required if CAT alone was the basis for the PI shortlist. Such candidates effectively replace candidates who have only a high CAT score but have scored poorly in terms of their past academic record and work experience. IIMB emphasizes consistent and high performance in past academics and all other parameters.
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