How to Get Admission to IIMs After Class 12: Exams and Selection
Students can apply to some Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) directly after Class 12 through integrated management programmes or undergraduate degrees. The route depends on the institute: some use an Integrated Programme in Management Aptitude Test (IPMAT), some accept the Joint Integrated Programme in Management Admission Test (JIPMAT), and IIM Kozhikode has a separate BMS entrance test. Each IIM sets its own eligibility and selection rules.
IIMs and Entrance Routes After Class 12
| IIM | Programme | Entrance route for the 2026 intake |
|---|---|---|
| Indore | Five-year IPM | IPMAT conducted by IIM Indore |
| Rohtak | Five-year IPM | IIM Rohtak’s IPM Aptitude Test |
| Ranchi | Five-year IPM | IPMAT conducted by IIM Indore, plus a separate IIM Ranchi application |
| Amritsar | Five-year IPM | IIM Indore’s IPMAT, plus a separate application |
| Shillong | Five-year IPM | IIM Indore’s IPMAT, followed by shortlisting and interview |
| Jammu | Five-year IPM | JIPMAT, conducted by NTA |
| Bodh Gaya | Five-year IPM | JIPMAT, conducted by NTA |
| Kozhikode | Four-year BMS | IIM Kozhikode BMS Aptitude Test |
Check Eligibility Before Applying
Applicants generally need to have passed Class 10 and Class 12, or be completing Class 12 in the year specified by the institute. Minimum board marks and age limits differ. For example, IIM Rohtak’s 2026 criteria required at least 60% in Classes 10 and 12 for most applicants, with a lower threshold for specified categories. IIM Indore and other IIMs publish their own rules, so one institute’s eligibility should not be assumed to apply to another.
Subject requirements can also vary. IIM Amritsar’s 2026 policy required Mathematics or Applied Mathematics in Class 12. IIM Kozhikode’s BMS policy, by contrast, allowed applicants from any stream who met its eligibility criteria. Always check the current admission policy, including category relaxations and rules for students awaiting board results.
What the Selection Process Usually Includes
After taking the required test, candidates may need to submit an additional application to each IIM they wish to join. Shortlisting can consider entrance-test performance, Class 10 and 12 marks, and other profile details. Some institutes also conduct a personal interview. Final offers are based on the institute’s composite selection criteria, not just the entrance score.
JIPMAT is a shared examination route for IIM Jammu and IIM Bodh Gaya, but each institute prepares its own merit list and admission process. Likewise, taking IPMAT Indore does not automatically apply a student to every IIM that accepts its score.
Plan for the Next Admission Cycle
The 2026–31 application and testing cycles have concluded at several institutes. Students targeting the next intake should track each IIM’s official admissions page and note the exam, application and interview timelines separately. The two-year MBA route at most IIMs is different: it generally requires a bachelor’s degree and CAT, so it is not direct admission after Class 12.
