IIFT Selection Criteria 2023: Dates, Weightage, Cutoff

IIFT selection criteria are based on the entrance examination conducted by the organization itself. It is a deemed university established by the government of India and identified as one the top B-schools in the country and rooted its ground as a center of excellence in international trade and business. Besides, IIFT is an autonomous organization. Nonetheless, international students can get admission through the GMAT scores. 

In addition, the exam is held once a year. IIFT has tie-ups with twenty-five institutions worldwide and has a reputation for best practices. There are three campuses of IIFT located in India; those are in New Delhi, Kolkata, and Kakinada.

IIFT Selection Procedure Dates 2023

IIFT 2023 applicants should note all important dates relating to the selection process. Several dates are essential for IIFT 2023, including the application window, the announcement of the result, and the GP/PI dates. These dates are listed in the table below:

IIFT Selection Procedure Dates

IIFT Events	IIFT 2023 Dates
IIFT entrance exam 2023	December 18, 2023
IIFT 2023 exam result	February 11, 2023
Release of IIFT shortlist 2023	March 9, 2023
Extempore-PI	April 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28, May 1, 3 and 4, 2023
Final Selection List release	May 31, 2023

IIFT Selection Criteria

The IIFT selection criteria are based on three main stages. The selection process is organized to check the eligibility of candidates. The first stage is the online examination, and the second stage is based on essay writing. The final stage is group discussion (GD) and personal interview rounds. 

Stage 1 of IIFT Selection Criteria

The first stage is the online examination. Candidates need to appear for the online examination and qualify for the same. The primary step for the candidates is to register online for the examination. The details are given below:

• The examination is conducted online.
• The total number of questions is marked between 120-125.
• The question paper is split into four sections. The sections are classified as verbal ability & reading comprehension, general awareness, logical reasoning & data interpretation, and quantitative analysis. 
• Further, the cutoffs vary for each section. The questions are in the MCQ pattern.
• The time is tied to 2 hours.

Stage 2 of IIFT Selection Criteria

Once the candidates have successfully cleared the first stage, they appear for the essay writing stage. The IIFT exam selection criteria for this stage are based on the writing skills of the candidates. 

• The time allotted for the IIFT essay is set as 20 minutes. 
• The word limit for these essays is 300 marks.
• Candidates must showcase their writing skills and knowledge about a certain topic mentioned in the question paper. 
• Additionally, it is advised to be aware of the current events and recent happenings in the world. 
• Newspapers are considered credible sources for this stage of IIFT selection criteria. 

Stage 3 of IIFT Selection Criteria

After clearing stages one and two, candidates are called for IIFT third, also known as the final stage. The IIFT final selection criteria are based on the performance of candidates in the group discussion and personal interview rounds. 

• For the GD round, the candidates are split into groups of 5-7 members. 
• The GD round mainly focuses on the candidate's ability to perform as a team. 
• It analyses the adaptability and the presence of the mind.
• Moreover, this round monitors the candidate's ways to resolve conflict, work attitude, and behavior.
• The GD round is conducted for 5-10 minutes. 

These are considered essential skills for the business field. It summarises the ability of the candidates to become future leaders and heads of business organizations. 

Furthermore, the personal interview round is conducted just before offering admission. The committee observes the performance and the personality of the candidates. It is a common notion that if the candidates are confident enough, they can easily persuade the board of examiners. However, candidates are encouraged to answer the questions with utmost sincerity and honesty. 

IIFT Exam Selection Criteria for Foreign Candidates

IIFT has seats reserved for foreign candidates, including NRIs, in its MBA programs. The only condition is that candidates need to produce a valid GMAT scorecard. In addition, specific documents must be submitted, and post verification of authenticity, the candidature will be considered.

The documents required for IIFT selection criteria are listed below:

• An authentic passport is considered a valid document.
• A candidate currently based on Indian nationals living, working, and studying abroad should produce an application certificate from the Indian Embassy/High Commission/ Consulate.
• The certificate should state that the candidate has been a resident in that country continuously for not less than 18 months before the examination.

IIFT Exam Selection Criteria Weightage

After the completion of the selection process, the results are declared. Each stage carries a specific value. Therefore for a better understanding of the IIFT selection and weightage criteria for admissions, we have provided the following table:

IIFT Selection Criteria Weightage

Stages	Weightage
Round 1 - Online exam	65%
Round 2 - Essay	15%
Round 3 - GD & PI	20%

IIFT Sectional Cutoffs

The sectional cutoff for IIFT selection criteria was different. The candidates must score the cutoff to qualify for the exam and get admission to IIFT. Check out the 

IIFT Sectional Cutoffs

Sections	Total Questions	Cutoffs
		General/EWS/OBC	ST/SC
2023
VARC	35	32+	3
DILR	30	20+	6
QA	25	15+	10
GK	20	5+	5
2022
VARC	35	30+	28
DILR	30	20+	12
QA	25	15+	20
GK	20	5+	4
2021
VARC	35	19	15
DILR	30	13	10
QA	25	8	6
GK	20	5.5	4.5

IIFT Category Wise Cutoff

The IIFT category-wise cutoff is variant. Therefore, all candidates appearing for IIFT must qualify for the sectional and category-wise cutoff to acquire a seat. 

IIFT Category Wise Cutoff

Years	General	General-EWS/ OBC-NCL	SC/ ST/ PwD/	Kashmiri Migrants/ Non-Migrants
2023	52	47	42	53.94
2022	52.5	47.75	42.75	53.67
2021	43	13	15	-
2020	130	115	89	-

How to Prepare for IIFT Selection Criteria?

For cracking the IIFT selection process, the candidates must be well versed in the recent trend of the examination as well as the cutoff. Some of the additional steps that the candidates can follow while preparing for the IIFT exam are as follows:

• Arrange the Syllabus: The candidates should always be updated with the current syllabus. For clearing any examination, it is very important to analyse the syllabus and then start preparing carefully. 
• Section-Wise Approach: The online paper for IIFT questions will have four sections. Candidates should prepare well for each section. Moreover, each section will carry equal weight. However, in this whole fiasco, candidates should not forget to study for the essay section and the GD round. Reading newspapers proved to be the most effective way to crack the essay round. 
• Strategy: The exam is estimated to be between moderate to difficult. Thus, it should not be taken lightly. Before jumping into any conclusive decision, candidates are expected to draw a proper strategy for approaching the exam. There should be a thorough analysis of the syllabus; a proper module to complete each target will be set. Moreover, candidates should assign a target to complete each syllabus within the set time. 
• Practice: Every candidate must follow the path of practicing the areas they are weak. A little practice went a long way. The topics will be easy and hard as per the student's assessment. Therefore, practicing the tougher topics/ syllabus can yield fruitful results.
• Maintain Speed: The questions are calculated to be more in number concerning time. Hence, the candidates should try mock tests. Always keep in mind that completing the paper is a necessary aspect for scoring higher marks. Suppose any answer is marked wrong or there is confusion regarding the answer; in that case, candidates are advised not to waste time and move forward.

Note:

• The conducting committee determines the IIFT selection criteria. Thus, it can change in any particular year. For the betterment of the candidates, it is thoroughly advised to keep track of the examination by visiting the official website.
• The examination has stages and to clear those stages is essential to acquire a seat in any IIFT branch. Therefore, candidates should be sincere in their approach.