CAT is NOT Just About Percentile – How to Convert Calls from IIMs

Your Complete Guide to Cracking the IIM Interview Process

By Planet E | Trusted Coaching for CAT, MBA, and Government Exams

Introduction: Percentile is Just the Beginning

A 99+ percentile in CAT is a dream for many—but what if we told you that percentile alone won’t get you into IIMs? Thousands of candidates score high in CAT every year, but only a few convert their IIM calls. Why? Because IIMs look beyond numbers.

At Planet E, we’ve mentored hundreds of aspirants not just to crack CAT but to ace the WAT-PI round and step into their dream IIMs. This guide will show you exactly how to convert your IIM calls, decode the profile weightage, and understand the WAT-PI ecosystem that determines your final admission.

📊 Section 1: How IIMs Select Students – It’s Not Just CAT Percentile

🔹 The IIM Shortlisting Criteria

Each IIM has its own selection matrix, combining:

• CAT percentile (overall + sectionals)

• Academic record (10th, 12th, graduation)

• Work experience

• Gender and academic diversity

• WAT and PI performance

Let’s understand the typical weightage distribution.

🚨 Planet E Insight: You could be a 99.8 percentiler and still not get a final convert if your PI is poor or your academic profile is weak.

🧠 Section 2: What Really Matters in the IIM WAT-PI Round?

📌 WAT (Written Ability Test)

• Duration: 20-30 minutes

• Word limit: 250-400 words

• Topics: Current affairs, abstract topics, business issues

Tips to Ace WAT:

• Structure matters: Intro – Body – Conclusion

• Show clarity of thought

• Stick to facts with a balanced opinion

• Practice 2 WATs daily (Topic bank available at Planet E)

🎙️ PI (Personal Interview)

This is where real conversions happen.

Common IIM PI Questions:

• Tell me about yourself.

• Why MBA? Why now?

• Why IIM A/B/C?

• Questions from graduation subjects

• Work experience-related questions

• GK & current affairs

Top Traits IIM Panels Look For:

• Clarity of goals

• Strong communication

• Authenticity

• Awareness (personal, national, global)

🎯 Section 3: Profile Evaluation – The Secret Sauce

Your academic and professional journey defines the foundation. Here’s how your profile is evaluated:

📋 Academic Profile:

🧑‍💼 Work Experience (in months):

🎓 Academic Background:

• Engineers = higher competition

• Non-engineers = diversity advantage

💡 Planet E Pro Tip: We help students craft their story irrespective of their background to bring out uniqueness.

🛠️ Section 4: Step-by-Step Plan to Convert Your IIM Calls

Step 1: Self-Analysis

• Know your strengths and gaps

• Reflect on your achievements and failures

• List career goals (short-term and long-term)

Step 2: Prepare ‘Tell Me About Yourself’

• Your life journey in under 90 seconds

• Don’t just list achievements – tell a story

• Practice with our expert mock panel

Step 3: Brush Up on Academics

• Revise key concepts from undergrad

• Go through your project work and internships

• Be ready with real-world application of theories

Step 4: Mock PIs & Feedback

At Planet E, we offer:

• 1-on-1 personalized mock interviews

• Detailed performance reports

• Suggestions for improvement

Step 5: WAT Practice + Feedback

• Practice 20+ previous WAT topics

• Use peer review + faculty review

• Improve content, structure, language, speed

📚 Section 5: Resources and Tools by Planet E

Join our exclusive WAT-PI Mentorship Batch designed to boost your final conversion rate by up to 3X.

⚠️ Section 6: Common Mistakes to Avoid in IIM Interviews

1. Giving memorized answers – Sounds robotic

2. Being overconfident or arrogant

3. Ignoring academics or final-year project

4. Lying about work experience

5. Weak ‘Why MBA?’ answer

6. Unprepared for GK/Current affairs

✔️ Planet E Tip: It’s your interview room performance that finally seals the deal, not just CAT scores.

🎓 Section 7: What IIM Interviewers Really Want

They are not looking for “perfect” students. They want:

• Honest, self-aware individuals

• Logical thinkers who can handle pressure

• Candidates with a growth mindset

• Clear purpose and goals

🌱 “It’s not just about what you’ve done. It’s about how you think and how you reflect.” – Ex-IIM Bangalore panelist

🚀 Section 8: Final Takeaways – How Planet E Ensures Your IIM Call Becomes a Convert

✅ Personalized profile evaluation
✅ 20+ mock PI sessions with industry experts
✅ 100+ WAT topics with model answers
✅ Interview mentorship by IIM alumni
✅ Real-time feedback and handholding
✅ Emotional intelligence & GK sessions

🎯 Conclusion: CAT Opens the Door, Your Story Walks You Through It

Cracking CAT is a massive achievement—but converting an IIM call requires introspection, confidence, clarity, and preparation. At Planet E, we go beyond percentile. We prepare you as a person—not just a candidate.

Your story matters. Your voice matters. And with the right guidance, your IIM dream is closer than you think.

📞 Ready to Convert Your IIM Calls?

👉 Join the Planet E WAT-PI Mentorship Batch
📍 Available at Dadar & Thane (Offline) and Online PAN-India
🌐 www.planete.in
📩 planete.mumbai@gmail.com
📲 Call/WhatsApp: +91- 8850815168 / 9324023344