IIM Lucknow Selection Criteria 2026: CAT Cutoff, Weightage & Proven Strategy to Convert Your Call

IIM Lucknow has released the newest selection criteria for admission to the PGP batch. IIM Lucknow continues to offer CAT scores the foremost importance in shortlisting candidates for the Writing Ability Test and Personal Interview Round. IIM Lucknow's process is a key part of the broader MBA admission process India, where CAT scores, academics, and interviews play a crucial role.

General Engineering Males are expected to seek out it harder to urge shortlisted for IIM Lucknow's interview process considering that IIM Lucknow gives 5 percent weight each to academic and gender diversity. Here's an entire breakdown of the newest IIM Lucknow selection criteria and what it means for you as a CAT test-taker.

IIM Lucknow Selection Criteria - Key Highlights

The IIM Lucknow selection criteria have seen very minimal changes as compared to last year.

Here are some important highlights from the latest IIM Lucknow selection criteria (2026 admission cycle):

• The weight of candidates' CAT scores continues to stay at 60% in calculating the composite score to shortlist candidates for the Writing Ability Test and Personal Interview round for admission to the PGP program at IIM Lucknow.
• SSC (Class 10th) marks are not considered in the selection criteria.
• HSC (Class 12th) marks are included with a weightage of one-tenth. Candidates scoring below the 80th percentile in HSC receive no points.
• Graduation scores and work experience are both given a weightage of 10%.
• Academic and gender diversity are each given a weightage of 5%.
• The minimum CAT cut-off is set at the 90th percentile overall, with sectional cut-offs at the 85th percentile for the general category.

Courses offered by IIMs - MBA, PGP, EPG, PGP-FABM, PDGHRM, PGPPM, etc.

Understanding The IIM Lucknow Selection Criteria 

IIM Lucknow's admission policy for its MBA program is fairly straightforward and may be weakened into 3 simple steps:

Step 1 - Eliminating Candidates supported The Minimum CAT Cut-Off For IIM Lucknow

The CAT exam selection process acts as the first level of screening for top IIMs, including IIM Lucknow. Last year, over 2 lakh candidates appeared for the CAT exam which was conducted over many cities across the country. Given the number of test-takers vying for seats at India's top b-schools, the CAT exam is employed as a process of elimination by the IIMs and other b-schools accepting CAT scores.

Each IIM sets a category-wise minimum CAT overall and sectional cut-off which candidates must meet to become eligible for being shortlisted for the Writing Ability Test and private Interview round. Please note that simply meeting the minimum CAT cut-offs doesn't mean that you simply are going to be shortlisted for the WAT-PI round.

Additionally, you want to meet both the general and sectional cut-offs set by an institute to become eligible for being shortlisted. The table below captures IIM Lucknow's minimum CAT overall and sectional cut-offs. 

Overall category cut-off for CAT: The general cut-off continues to be around the 90th percentile.

• In 2022, the raw score required for a 90th percentile was approximately 95–100 marks.
• In 2023, the raw score required was approximately 103 marks.
• In 2024, the raw score required was approximately 115–120 marks.
  
  

Note: Raw scores required for the same percentile have increased slightly in recent years due to rising competition and exam difficulty variations.

CAT raw scores required for the same percentile have shown an increasing trend in recent years. This is mainly due to rising competition and normalization across exam slots. Candidates targeting top IIMs like IIM Lucknow should aim higher than the minimum cutoff to stay competitive.

Step 2 - Shortlisting Candidates For The WAT-PI Round, Supported their Respective Composite Scores

Candidates who meet the minimum CAT cut-offs set by IIM Lucknow are now eligible to be shortlisted by the Institute for the WAT-PI round. Each IIM has a particular method of calculating a candidate's weighted composite score, which incorporates giving weight to a candidate's CAT score as well as their profile. Depending on the IIM, female applicants as well as candidates from various undergraduate backgrounds are given extra marks while calculating the composite score.

IIM Lucknow considers a candidate's CAT score, their Class 12 marks, their graduation scores, and their work experience (in months), and also provides marks for academic as well as gender diversity. The table below captures the latest IIM Lucknow selection criteria for the current admission cycle (2026 cycle / PGP batch 2025–2027 or latest).

CAT Score

A candidate's CAT score has 60% weight within the selection criteria for shortlisting candidates for the WAT-PI round. So, as an example, for instance, you've scored 150 marks in CAT (congratulations!) and therefore the CAT AIR 1 has scored 230. this suggests that the score you'll receive is going to be 39.13, supported the formula above. Obviously, the utmost mark you'll receive for this criterion is 60. 12th (HSC), Marks A candidate's class 12th marks have a tenth weight within the selection criteria for admission to IIM Lucknow's PGP batch of 2021-2023.

 The table above also provides a variety of percentiles and their corresponding scores, with a maximum score of 10. IIM Lucknow has made use of the word 'percentile' and not 'percentage' while awarding scores for candidate's 12th (HSC) marks in their 'respective Board and Discipline', and it's important this distinction be acknowledged.

You can also check our complete CAT preparation strategy guide to improve your percentile and maximize your chances.

Graduation Marks

A candidate's graduation marks have a tenth weight within the selection criteria for admission to IIM Lucknow's PGP batch of 2021-2023. IIM Lucknow will normalize a candidate's score by considering their undergraduate academic discipline, which is split into 5 categories i.e. Engineering, Science, Commerce, Arts, et al.

Work Experience

A candidate's work experience (in months) is going to be calculated until the 31st of July 2023, which can are entered while registering for the CAT exam. Candidates with work experience lesser than or adequate to 6 months are going to be given zero marks for work experience as per IIM Lucknow's latest selection criteria.

 IIM Lucknow is comparatively more lenient when it involves awarding marks for work experience, considering that other IIMs like IIM Ahmedabad don't award any marks for those with but a year of full-time work experience.

Gender Diversity

For some years now, the IIMs have been pushing for a more gender-diverse MBA classroom. To the present end, some IIMs provide additional points for gender diversity to incorporate more female candidates within the MBA batch (one reason why IIM Rohtak's MBA batch of 2022 has 69%, women!).

 The calculation here is simple and self-explanatory - if you are a female applicant, you get 5 marks out of a maximum of 5, and if you are not, you get zero marks for gender diversity.

Academic Diversity

Given that the pool of Engineers taking the CAT exam is significantly larger than those from other undergraduate streams, all 20 IIMs within the country has been, for the past few years, pushing for a more academically diverse MBA classroom by awarding extra marks for being a non-Engineer.

Within the case of IIM Lucknow, non-engineers are going to be provided 5 more marks than Engineers in calculating the composite score to shortlist candidates. The table below captures which undergraduate streams are eligible for tutorial diversity marks.

Based on the varied selection criteria and therefore the weights assigned to them, IIM Lucknow will shortlist candidates for the Writing Ability Test and private Interview round. The shortlist usually comes calling in the month of January, a couple of days after CAT results are released.

Step 3 - Creating Final Shortlist For Admission To IIM Lucknow's r PGP/PGP-ABM/PGP-SM program Batch of 2023-2025

After completing the WAT-PI round, IIM Lucknow calculates a new composite score to create the final shortlist of candidates for admission to the PGP/PGP-ABM/PGP-SM batch (2025-2027 or latest admission cycle).

The highest weight in this stage is assigned to the Personal Interview (PI).

IIM Lucknow has specified that if you do not score at least 12 out of 40 marks in PI, you will not receive an admission offer regardless of your academic profile, diversity, or CAT scores.

• CAT score carries 30% weight
• WAT carries 10% weight

Strong WAT PI preparation can significantly improve your chances of converting your IIM Lucknow call. As you'll see, the very best weight during this final step is for the private Interview. IIM Lucknow has specified that if you do not score a minimum of 12 out of the 40 marks assigned to PI, you'll not be sent an admission offer no matter your academic profile, diversity, or CAT scores. Your CAT scores will have a 30% weight within the final shortlisting process, while your WAT performance will have a tenth weight within the shortlisting process.

Read our detailed WAT-PI preparation guide to understand how to perform well in the interview stage

Notes:

• The minimum requirement for getting a pass in PI is 12 out of 40 marks. Names of candidates who do not
  pass in PI will not be included in the final merit list.
• Final discretion on the academic category that an academic program will be classified into rests with the
  Admissions Committee of IIM-Lucknow.
• Reservation Policy: IIM Lucknow applies the Government of India reservation policy for admission to
  Central Educational Institutions (CEIs).
• Any dispute concerning Admissions for the batch 2023-25 would be subject to the jurisdiction of the
  competent Courts within the territorial jurisdiction of the city of Lucknow only.
  
  

Start your WAT-PI preparation now and boost your chances of converting IIM Lucknow

Get expert guidance with our WAT-PI preparation course:

• Mock interviews with experts
• Essay writing practice
• Personalized feedback
• Real interview questions

What Does the newest IIM Lucknow Selection Criteria Mean For You?

CAT Score is the Biggest Game-Changer

• CAT score carries 60% weight, meaning most of your composite score is in your control. A higher percentile not only helps you clear the cutoff but also significantly improves your chances of getting shortlisted.

Class 10 Marks Don’t Matter

• IIM Lucknow does not consider Class 10 scores, so poor performance here won’t affect your chances. Instead, focus on improving your CAT score and other profile components.
  
  

Class 12 Performance is Crucial

• Class 12 marks carry 10% weight, and candidates below the 80th percentile receive zero points. Since evaluation is based on percentile (not percentage), a weak score can reduce your shortlist chances.
  
  

GEM Candidates Face Higher Competition

• General Engineering Males (GEMs) do not receive academic diversity points, making the competition tougher. To stay competitive, GEM candidates should aim for a very high CAT percentile (97–99+).
  
  

Advantage for Female & Non-Engineer Candidates

• IIM Lucknow awards 5% weight each for gender and academic diversity, giving female and non-engineer candidates an edge. This can help offset slightly lower CAT scores.
  
  

Work Experience Adds Value

• Work experience carries 10% weight, and candidates with more than 6–12 months of experience gain an advantage. Freshers with less than or equal to 6 months receive no points in this category.
  
  

Focus on maximizing your CAT score, maintaining a balanced academic profile, and starting early with WAT-PI preparation. A strong overall profile increases both shortlist and final conversion chances.

You can inspect the newest IIM Lucknow selection criteria for admission to the PGP batch of 2023-2025.

Boost Your Chances of Getting Into IIM Lucknow

A smart MBA entrance exam strategy combined with strong profile building can significantly improve your chances of getting shortlisted. Remember, your CAT score gets you the call, but your WAT-PI performance converts it.

Don’t leave it to chance start preparing the right way today complete CAT + WAT-PI preparation program:

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the CAT cutoff for IIM Lucknow?

The minimum CAT cutoff for IIM Lucknow is around 90 percentile overall with sectional cutoffs around 85 percentile. However, for a realistic chance of getting a call, candidates (especially GEM) should aim for 97–99+ percentile.

2. How much weight does CAT score have in IIM Lucknow selection?

CAT score carries 60% weight in the shortlisting stage for WAT-PI and 30% weight in the final selection, making it the most important component.

3. Does IIM Lucknow consider Class 10 marks?

No, IIM Lucknow does not consider Class 10 (SSC) marks in its selection criteria.

4. What is the weightage of Class 12 marks in IIM Lucknow selection?

Class 12 marks carry 10% weight, and candidates below the 80th percentile in their board may receive no points.

5. Is work experience necessary for IIM Lucknow?

Work experience is not mandatory, but it carries 10% weight and can significantly improve your chances, especially if you have more than 6–12 months of experience.

6. Do engineers get fewer chances at IIM Lucknow?

Yes, engineering candidates (especially GEM) face tougher competition because they do not receive academic diversity points (5%), unlike non-engineers.

7. What is the role of gender diversity in IIM Lucknow selection?

IIM Lucknow awards 5% weightage for gender diversity, giving an advantage to female candidates in the selection process.

8. What is the minimum score required in the Personal Interview (PI)?

Candidates must score at least 12 out of 40 marks in PI. Failing to meet this cutoff will result in rejection, regardless of CAT score or profile.

9. What is included in the final selection process of IIM Lucknow?

Final selection is based on:

• Personal Interview (40%)
• CAT Score (30%)
• WAT (10%)
• Academic/Profile factors (remaining weight)
  
  

10. When does IIM Lucknow release WAT-PI shortlist?

The WAT-PI shortlist is usually released in January, shortly after the CAT results are declared.


Also read:

CAT VS Other MBA exams

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IIM Lucknow Personal Interview Experiences

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