Interviews are critical for IIM admission and often determine conversion even after strong CAT performance - but at IIM ABC, pre-interview composite score drives 70%+ of the decision. The FMS AMA host described his interview experience as "70% kickass" because he knew what was coming. At IIM Ahmedabad (Rs 27.
5L fees, Rs 35.22 LPA avg, 99%+ CAT cutoff), 99.8+ percentile candidates can still get rejected in interviews if their UG subject depth is weak.
Preparation areas: UG subjects (go deep - expect 20-minute technical grilling), current affairs (top 50 events of past 6 months), TMAY (tell me about yourself) narrative, why MBA, why this IIM specifically. Mock interviews: take 3-5 mock interviews before real ones, preferably with ex-IIM students or paid services. The FMS host's anxiety management trick: "I knew I could score well in CAT again if I had to, so what's to lose?
This took away all my worries." Interview panels assess communication, maturity, subject depth, and fit. Common grilling areas: why your 7 in UG, why your gap year, why MBA from IIM not XLRI/FMS.
Prepare 2-minute answers for 20 common questions; don't memorise - internalise. At FMS Delhi, the interview weight is 15%, extempore 5%, SOP discussion 10% - totaling 30% of final selection beyond 50% CAT weight. Prepare rigorously but don't over-stress.
Check your eligibility at collvera.