September 12, 2026
Are you looking for the IIMB UG Selection Criteria ? The institute follows a structured selection process that considers a candidate’s performance in the UG Admission Test, Class 10 academic record, and Personal Interview.
If you are planning to apply for the B.Sc. (Hons) programmes in Data Science or Economics, understanding the IIMB UG Selection Criteria can help you prepare more strategically.
For the 2027–31 batch, IIM Bangalore has outlined a multi-stage admission process that begins with the application and IIMB UG Admission Test, followed by shortlisting, a Personal Interview, and final selection based on the post-PI score.
In this guide, we explain the IIMB UG Selection process in simple terms, including the entrance test pattern, shortlist criteria, pre-PI weightage, Personal Interview, final selection and important documents.
IIM Bangalore offers two four-year, full-time residential undergraduate programmes:
The Data Science programme includes an Economics minor, while the Economics programme includes a Data Science minor. Both programmes combine their core academic disciplines with applied business learning.
According to the official admission document, candidates must qualify in the required national-level entrance examination and appear for a Personal Interview conducted by IIMB. The broad IIMB UG Selection process can be understood through these stages:
Each stage has a specific role, so students should avoid preparing only for the entrance test.
The IIMB UG admission process starts with the submission of the online application form.
Before applying, candidates should carefully check the eligibility requirements and ensure that they have all the necessary documents ready.
Here are the pointers that students should keep in mind while applying
The eligibility requirements are an important first step because only candidates who meet the prescribed conditions can proceed with the admission process.
Students can also check the detailed IIMB UG Eligibility Criteria before filling out the application.
The IIMB UG Admission Test is one of the most important components of the IIMB UG Selection Criteria.
According to the official admission document, the test is:
The three sections are:
| Section | Question |
|---|---|
| Quantitative & Data Interpretation (QADI) | 30 |
| Logical Reasoning (LR) | 15 |
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 15 |
| Total | 60 |
The test is designed to assess more than mathematical ability. Students also need to demonstrate logical thinking, reading ability and verbal comprehension.
If you are beginning your preparation, solving IIMB UG Sample Papers and practising IIMB UG Previous Year Papers can help you become familiar with the type of questions and improve your time management.
After the UG Admission Test, IIM Bangalore prepares the first shortlist.
The official admission document states that candidates must obtain a predetermined minimum score across the test requirements to be considered for the first shortlist. Candidates must have a positive raw score in all three sections of the UG Test.
This is an important point for aspirants. A candidate cannot afford to completely ignore one section simply because they are strong in another.
The admission document provides the minimum percentile requirements used for preparing the first shortlist for the 2026–30 batch, based on UG Test 2025.
| Category | VARC | LR | QADI | Aggregate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | NA | NA | 80 | 114 |
| NC-OBC | NA | NA | 75 | 75 |
| EWS | NA | NA | 75 | 75 |
| SC | NA | NA | 70 | 51 |
| ST | NA | NA | 70 | 50 |
| PwD | NA | NA | 70 | 60 |
These figures are previous-cycle cut-offs, not guaranteed cut-offs for the 2027–31 batch.
IIMB specifically notes that these were used for preparing the first shortlist and that the scores of candidates actually called for interviews were higher.
Students should therefore use previous cut-offs only as a reference point and not treat them as a safe score for the upcoming admission cycle.
For a closer look at previous and expected thresholds, students can refer to the detailed IIMB UG Cut Off guide.
Candidates who make the first shortlist are assigned a pre-PI score.
The pre-PI score is calculated out of 100 marks using four components:
| Component | Weightage |
|---|---|
| UG Test | 70 |
| Class 10 overall standardised score | 15 |
| Class 10 Mathematics standardised score | 10 |
| Gender diversity | 5 |
| Total | 100 |
This makes the UG Admission Test the biggest component at the pre-PI stage.
The 70 marks allocated to the UG Test are further divided among the three sections:
| UG Test Sectio | Weightage |
|---|---|
| Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation (QAD) | 20 |
| Logical Reasoning (LR) | 30 |
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 20 |
| Total | 70 |
Logical Reasoning has the highest weight among the three sections at this stage, followed by QAD and VARC.
The gender diversity component is used only to calculate the pre-PI score. It is not carried forward to the next stage.
Based on the pre-PI score, IIMB selects candidates from different categories for the next stage.
The Personal Interview is the next major stage of the IIMB UG Selection process.
Candidates shortlisted for the second stage are invited for interviews in selected cities.
This stage is particularly important because the PI accounts for a significant part of the final selection score.
Students should not wait until they receive an interview call to begin preparing. Once the entrance examination is over, it makes sense to start working on communication, academic concepts, programme-related questions, and personal questions.
A dedicated IIM Bangalore UG Interview Preparation Tips guide can also help candidates understand how to approach the PI.
After the Personal Interview, IIM Bangalore calculates the post-PI score. For candidates who are called for the interview, the final weightage is:
| Component | Weightage |
|---|---|
| Class 10 overall standardised score | 10 |
| Class 10 Mathematics standardised score | 10 |
| UG Test score | 40 |
| Personal Interview | 40 |
| Total | 100 |
This is one of the most important parts of the IIMB UG Selection Criteria.
The UG Test and Personal Interview each account for 40% of the final score.
The remaining 20% comes from the candidate’s Class 10 overall and Mathematics scores.
Gender diversity is included in the pre-PI score, where it carries five marks.
However, IIMB explicitly states that this component is applicable only for calculating the pre-PI score and is not used in the next stage.
Therefore, it should not be included when calculating the final post-PI score.
Clearing the entrance test or receiving a Personal Interview call does not mean that a candidate has secured admission.
IIMB states that final offers are made to candidates in each category strictly on the basis of their post-PI scores.
This makes the final stage highly competitive.
A candidate with a good entrance-test score still needs to perform well in the interview and maintain a strong overall post-PI score.
Candidates should keep their documents ready well in advance.
The official IIMB admission document lists the following:
Students can also check the detailed IIMB UG Application Form guide for information related to the application process and documents.
Reference letters are another important part of the admission process. Candidates shortlisted after Stage I must submit two online reference letters.
The referees should be teachers from academic institutions where the candidate is currently studying or has studied. They should have taught the candidate relevant subjects within the last four years.
The reference letters must be submitted directly by the referees through the online application process.
IIMB also states that the application can be submitted only after the Reference section is complete and that no separate extension will be granted for reference-letter submission.
This means candidates should contact their potential referees early instead of waiting until the last date.
The selection process makes one thing clear: preparation should not be limited to one subject or one stage.
Mathematics is an essential part of the UG Admission Test, and the official test syllabus is based on NCERT up to Class XII.
Start by strengthening your fundamentals rather than immediately jumping into difficult questions.
Focus on understanding concepts, improving calculation speed and learning how to approach unfamiliar problems.
You can use an IIMB UG Entrance Exam Preparation strategy to structure your preparation according to your strengths and weaknesses.
Logical Reasoning receives 30 marks out of the 70 UG Test marks used in the pre-PI score.
Instead of practising only immediately before the examination, make reasoning questions part of your regular study routine.
Try different question types and analyse your mistakes after every practice session.
VARC is another component of the UG Admission Test.
Students who are not naturally comfortable with long passages should start reading regularly. Editorials, essays and quality non-fiction can help improve comprehension and vocabulary over time.
Practising IIMB UG English Comprehension Questions can also help you become more comfortable with passage-based questions.
Mock tests and practice papers are useful for understanding the examination environment.
Try solving IIMB UG Sample Papers under timed conditions rather than treating them as casual practice.
Once you have built a reasonable level of preparation, move on to IIMB UG Previous Year Papers and analyse:
The analysis after a mock test can be just as valuable as the test itself.
A preparation plan should fit your school schedule instead of creating an unrealistic timetable.
Divide your preparation into three broad phases:
Concept building → Practice → Mock tests and revision
Students who need a structured routine can follow an IIMB UG Study Plan and adjust it according to the time available before the examination.
The Personal Interview carries 40% of the final post-PI score.
So, PI preparation deserves serious attention.
Be ready to discuss:
The best interview preparation is not memorising model answers. It is explaining your thoughts clearly and honestly.
The easiest way to understand the complete IIMB UG Selection Criteria is to compare the two scoring stages.
| Component | Pre-PI Score | Post-PI Score |
|---|---|---|
| UG Test | 70 | 40 |
| Class 10 Overall | 15 | 10 |
| Class 10 Mathematics | 10 | 10 |
| Gender Diversity | 5 | — |
| Personal Interview | — | 40 |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
The difference is significant.
At the pre-PI stage, the UG Test dominates the calculation.
At the post-PI stage, the Personal Interview becomes equally important as the UG Test.
This is why candidates should prepare for the interview as seriously as they prepare for the entrance examination.
Previous cut-offs can help you understand the competitiveness of the admission process, but they should not become your only target.
The official IIMB admission document includes the cut-offs used for the first shortlist in the previous cycle and clearly states that candidates actually called for interviews had higher scores.
Therefore:
For detailed discussion of previous and expected cut-offs, refer to the IIMB UG Cut Off resource.
After the entrance examination and subsequent IIMB UG selection stages, candidates should regularly check the official admission portal and their registered communication channels for updates.
If you are waiting for your result or shortlist status, you can refer to the IIM Bangalore UG Result guide for information on checking the result and understanding the next steps.
Candidates who receive an interview call should immediately shift their focus towards PI preparation rather than continuing to prepare only for the entrance test.
The IIMB UG Selection Criteria 2027 is designed to evaluate candidates across multiple stages rather than relying solely on their entrance-test performance.
The UG Admission Test is crucial for reaching the shortlist, while the Personal Interview becomes equally important during final IIMB UG selection process.
The final post-PI score gives:
For aspirants, the message is straightforward: prepare for the entire process.
Build strong fundamentals, practise the test sections regularly, solve sample and previous-year papers, maintain a realistic study schedule and give yourself enough time to prepare for the Personal Interview.
Most importantly, always check the latest official IIM Bangalore admission notification before applying. IIMB has clearly stated that the information in the current document applies to the 2027–31 admission cycle and that the institute reserves the right to modify the admission process for future cycles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the IIMB UG Selection Criteria for 2027?

What is the IIMB UG Selection process?

What are the sections in the IIMB UG Admission Test?

How much weightage does the Personal Interview have?

Does Class 10 performance matter in IIMB UG admission?

Is gender diversity considered in the final score?

Do previous IIMB UG cut-offs guarantee an interview call?

Does clearing the UG Admission Test guarantee admission?

SHARE