IIM CAP 2025: WAT, Interview Process begin from Feb 17 at 8 IIMs, Metro Cities; Read Candidates Experiences, Interview Transcripts, WAT Topics, Type of Questions

The initial days of IIM CAP 2025 process saw thought-provoking WAT topics like “Should AI be controlled to protect employment?”. Candidates, who appeared in the IIM CAP Process, have shared his experiences. Check details below. 

IIM CAP 2025 Day 1 Experience
The first day of the IIM CAP 2025 saw a thought-provoking Written Ability Test (WAT) topic: “Should AI be controlled to protect employment?”. A candidate, who appeared in the IIM CAP Day 1 Process shared his experiences. The interviews began with conventional queries such as self-introductions, educational background, and activities undertaken between graduation and the CAT exam. Emphasis was placed on the candidates' research projects, including data collection methods and metrics used for model assessments.

The WAT lasted for 20 minutes, and candidates were not required to submit resumes or CVs. During the interview, one of the panelists highlighted a grammatical error in a candidate's WAT submission. The interviews also explored contemporary business trends, such as the shift of startups towards profitability and differences between angel investors and venture capitalists. Many candidates expressed their surprised to learn that WAT responses were being evaluated in real-time during the interviews. 

IIM CAP 2025 Day 2 Experience
Date: 18th February (Afternoon)
Venue: Red Fox by Lemon Tree
Candidate Profile: Academic Background: BA Hons | Academic Scores: 93.94% | Fresher, Male

WAT Topic: Pathways for Developed India @ 2047
The candidate was assigned the topic “Pathways for Developed India @ 2047” for the Written Ability Test (WAT). As the interview began, one of the panelists was seen reading through the WAT sheet.

Interview Questions and Flow:
Panelist 1:

• Began with basic questions about the candidate's course and college.
• Asked about the degree specialization and the favorite subject from graduation, though no follow-up questions were posed on this topic.
• The conversation shifted to the internship experience. Questions covered included:  
  • Role: Market Research Intern
  • Responsibilities: Primary data collection using a structured questionnaire.
  • M1 asked the candidate to write down the basic framework of the questionnaire on paper.
• The panelist then asked detailed questions on Research Methodology: 
  • Sampling Techniques: Asked about almost every technique, including Cluster Sampling, Stratified Sampling, Convenience, Purposive, and Systematic Sampling.
  • Statistical Knowledge: Inquired about the candidate's knowledge of statistics, to which the candidate admitted having only a basic understanding.
  • Research Methodology Studies: Probed into what was learned during graduation.

Panelist 2:

• Took over with a focus on even deeper research concepts: 
  • Difference between Probability and Non-Probability Sampling.
  • Types of Analysis used in research, including Thematic Analysis.
  • Presented hypothetical scenarios to determine the most suitable sampling techniques.
  • Explored various research biases in different contexts.

Interview Style and Dynamics:

• The panelists conducted the interview in a fast-paced, rapid-fire manner.
• The candidate struggled to complete most answers as questions were asked continuously before the previous answer was fully given.
• The interview appeared to be timed (15 minutes), with a timer set on interviewer’s phone. As the alarm went off, the interview was concluded within a minute.

Candidate's Reflection:

• The candidate described the interview as highly intense and research-focused, with very little opportunity for elaboration. 
• Despite the pressure, the candidate-maintained composure and answered to the best of his ability. At the end, candidate commented, "I was surprised by how deeply they went into research methodologies. It felt like a viva exam!" 
• As the IIM CAP 2025 progresses, candidates can expect detailed discussions on academic projects, industry trends, and critical thinking assessments through WAT. The focus on real-world implications of business and tech trends. Stay tuned for more updates on the IIM CAP 2025 interview process. Continue reading IIM CAP Schedule, Cities, Dates, Process and more.

IIM CAP Interview and Personal Interview process will begin soon. More than 20,000 candidates are expected to participate in IIM CAP 2025 process. 

IIM CAP PI WAT Schedule 2025 dates are as below:

• IIM CAP PI WAT Start Date: Feb 17th, 2025  
• IIM CAP PI WAT End Date: 22nd March, 2025. 
• Note that IIM CAP Interview Date starts from February 17, 2025.

IIM CAP 2025 Interviews will be conducted at 8 IIMs and key metros. Here is a list of IIM CAP Interview Locations 2025. 

• Mumbai
• Delhi NCR
• Bangalore 
• Kolkata
• IIM Udaipur
• IIM Trichy 
• IIM Kashipur, 
• IIM Nagpur, 
• IIM Ranchi, 
• IIM Sirmaur,
• IIM Bodhgaya 
• IIM Jammu

The IIM CAP 2025 application form filling process for eligible candidates was live from January 14 till January 23, 2025. IIM CAP Date Slot Selection window for PI/WAT was scheduled from January 30 to February 3, 2025. The PI/WAT process will take place from February 17 to March 22, 2025. Check important IIM CAP dates below. 

Table 1: IIM CAP 2025 Dates 

The IIM Common Admission Process (CAP) is a common selection process conducted for candidates shortlisted by participating IIMs based on their CAT scores. Instead of appearing for separate rounds of interviews for each IIM, selected candidates undergo a centralized Personal Interview (PI) round. Final admission offer to the candidates is released by individual participating IIM based on the performance in CAP round, CAT score, Academic Profile, diversity, work experience and their other selection parameters. Here’s a step-by-step guide to IIM CAP 2025 Admission Selection Process.  

Step 1. Shortlisting for CAP 2025: After the announcement of the CAT 2024 results, participating IIMs released their shortlisting criteria (95%) and calls for candidates for the CAP round.  

Step 2. Registration for CAP 2025: Once shortlisted, you will be required to register for CAP on the official CAP portal. Last date was January 23.

Step 3: IIM CAP 2025 City, Date-Slot Booking Dates: Selection of preferred city for Offline PI/WAT and date-slot booking can be done only by candidates who successfully completed IIM CAP registration. Details are described above. 

Step 4: Personal Interview and WAT: Candidates must appear in Personal Interview (PI) and Written Ability Test (WAT) round.

Step 5. Post-CAP Evaluation: After the CAP round, the organizing IIM sends the interview scores to all participating IIMs. Each IIM then evaluates candidates independently based on its own admission policy. Key factors considered include CAT 2024 score, CAP PI score, Academic profile, Diversity factors (gender, academic background, etc.)  and Work experience.  

Step 6: Final Selection by Individual CAP IIMs: Each participating IIM uses its own formula to compute the final score and release its merit list.  

Total number of IIMs participating in IIM CAP 2025 round is Eight (8). IIM Raipur and IIM Sambalpur have dropped out of the CAP 2025 process. Check complete list below. 

Table 2: List of IIMs participating in IIM CAP 2025 

IIM CAP Colleges with Average CTC & Fees is given below. 

Table 3: Colleges with Average CTC & Fees

Selection of preferred city for Offline PI/WAT and date-slot booking window is now closed. Check dates below: 
IIM CAP 2025 City, Date-Slot Booking opening date was January 30 (Monday).
IIM CAP 2025 City, Date-Slot Booking last date was 3rd Feb 2025 (5.00 PM).
Email Confirmation Received from IIM CAP Office by a Candidate 

IIM CAP 2025 City and Date-Slot Booking Process is explained next. 

Many changes have been announced in the IIM CAP 2025 process by IIM Bodh Gaya. Read below. The biggest change is that the process will be conducted in-person in offline mode. 

In order to participate in IIM CAP process, all registered candidates must opt for four different cities (in order of preference) to appear in the offline PI/WAT process. IIM CAP Date-Slot Booking 2025 is available on a First Come, First Serve basis. If any candidate does not book a date slot before last date, the IIM CAP 2025 system will allot the date slot automatically (random allocation of date slot). Hence candidates are advised to book their city and date-time slot immediately. 

Check how to complete IIM CAP City and Date-Slot Booking 2025 application below.

Here is a step-by-step guide to complete your IIM CAP Date-Slot Booking. 

Step 1: Logon to IIM CAP 2025 official website - https://cap2025.iimbg.ac.in and login to your candidate account

Step 2: Select your First Preferred City. If there are vacant seats for the first preferred city, you will get the option of selecting a date slot for that only. 

Step 3: If there is no vacant seat for the first preferred city, you will get such options for the second preferred city, and so on. If there are no vacant seats for the third and the fourth preferred city, then all such cities would be available on the portal where there are vacant seats. You can select any one of these cities. Further, the selection window for date slots would be available.

Step 4: After competition of city and date-slot selection you will get a confirmation. Save and take a print out. 

Remember, IIM CAP Date-Slot Booking 2025 is available on a First Come, First Serve basis. If you do not book a date slot during the stipulated time, the system may allow the date slot automatically (random allocation of date slot).

Following is the sectional and overall percentile cut-off for appearing in PI and WAT of Common Admission Process 2025 of 8 participating IIMs (IIM Bodh Gaya, IIM Jammu, IIM Kashipur, IIM Nagpur, IIM Ranchi, IIM Sirmaur, IIM Tiruchirappalli and IIM Udaipur). 

Table 4: IIM CAP 2025 Cut Off 

Candidates with percentile equal to or more than the above-mentioned IIM CAP Cutoff 2025 can appear in PI and WAT by applying on the https://cap2025.iimbg.ac.in 

Each participating IIM is free to give their own weightage to CAP process. Based on past trends, the expected weightage by participating IIM in their Final Admission is expected to be as follows:

Table 5: Weightage in Participating IIM Final Selection

In a bold move, IIM Sambalpur has exited from Common Admission Process (CAP) from MBA Admissions 2025. IIM Sambalpur will conduct its own admission process for MBA and newly launched course MBA in Business Analytics programs. Sharing the context behind this shift in IIM Sambalpur admission 2025 process, Prof Mahadeo Jaiswal, Director, IIM Sambalpur, said, “Since 2018, IIM Sambalpur has been a part of CAP, where it has collaborated with other IIMs... The primary objective of this collaboration was to optimally use the limited resources during the initial years of the institute…” Dr Jaiswal further added, “However, with the introduction of this new and independent admission process, IIM Sambalpur has opted to conduct its MBA admissions process independently similar to the earlier generation IIMs, allowing prospective candidates to be directly interviewed by the institute.”

Prof. Prabhat Ranjan IIM CAP 2025 Coordinator said there will be no impact on CAP process and said, “The dynamics of CAP will not be impacted by the exit of IIM Raipur and IIM Sambalpur. The 8 CAP-IIMs respect the value in the joint effort of overall coordination. A single appearance in the process enables candidates to be part of the admission processes of 8 IIMs.”

Similarly, Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Raipur has also announced it will no longer participate in the Common Admission Process (CAP) for its MBA admissions from 2025 onwards, opting instead for an independent selection process. Exit of IIM Raipur and IIM Sambalpur from IIM Common Admission Process shows the confidence that these IIMs have in pulling quality students. 

In conclusion, the Common Admission Process (CAP) is the final selection round for MBA admission 2025 in eight second and third generation IIMs: IIM Bodhgaya, IIM Jammu, IIM Kashipur, IIM Nagpur, IIM Ranchi, IIM Sirmaur, IIM Trichy and IIM Udaipur. Read above article for complete details on IIM CAP process.