10th and 12th marks significantly affect new IIM placements - the ex-placecom AMA host confirmed "Sadly, YES" that these play a meaningful role. At IIM Rohtak (Rs 16L fees, Rs 18 LPA avg, 93%+ CAT cutoff), recruiters use 10/12 marks as the first filter for shortlisting, especially for finance, consulting, and FMCG roles. The typical filter is 80%+ in 10th and 12th for good shortlists; below 70% in either limits you to below Rs 15 LPA offers.
The harsh reality at new IIMs: even with 2 MBA years of IIM branding, your 10th/12th marks from 5-10 years ago still gate which companies you access. The ex-placecom saw students with 8/6 or 7/6 profiles struggle for Rs 15+ LPA roles despite strong MBA performance. If your 10th is 77% with 90% in 12th and 7 CGPA in BCom with 1 year work-ex, you're borderline - target specific functional roles (marketing, HR, operations) where 10/12 matters less than pitch quality.
Compensating factors: CFA/CA/CPA certifications, strong internship from Big 4 or bulge bracket, strong undergrad performance at tier 1 college. Don't hide low scores; position strengths prominently. At IIM I (Rs 16.
5L fees, Rs 25 LPA avg, 97% cutoff), the same acad gaps have slightly higher tolerance because of larger recruiter pool. Check your eligibility at collvera.