If you’re wondering how to get into IIFT now that it uses CAT, you’re in the right place.
The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) is one of India’s top institutes for MBA in International Business and Global Trade, offering industry-focused programs that lead to premium roles in consulting, BFSI, export-import, analytics, and multinational corporations.
From 2024 onwards, the IIFT entrance exam conducted by NTA has been scrapped.
IIFT admissions are now fully CAT-based, and the complete selection process revolves around:
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CAT 2025 scores
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Sectional & overall CAT cutoffs
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GD-PI-WAT
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Academic, gender & work-experience diversity
This guide explains the latest IIFT admission process via CAT 2025, expected category-wise cutoffs, campus-wise competition, and a practical preparation strategy aligned with CAT 2025.
Snapshot: IIFT Campuses & Flagship MBA Programs
IIFT is a Government of India–established institute focused on foreign trade and international business, widely considered a high-ROI, quasi-IIM-level B-school.
IIFT Campuses at a Glance
| Campus | Flagship Programs | Core Focus Area |
|---|---|---|
| IIFT Delhi | MBA (IB), MBA (BA) | Trade, strategy, analytics |
| IIFT Kolkata | MBA (IB) | Trade, supply chain, eastern-region industry |
| IIFT Kakinada | MBA (IB) | Emerging trade hub, coastal business |
Programs are as per recent admission notifications. Always verify with the official IIFT brochure.
Across campuses, the IIFT MBA (IB)—also referred to as MBA International Business—is the flagship program preparing students for global roles in trade, finance, consulting, analytics, and strategy.
IIFT Campus & Facilities Overview
The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) offers world-class academic and residential facilities across all campuses.
Key Facilities Across Campuses
| Facility | Availability |
|---|---|
| Smart classrooms & seminar halls | ✅ |
| Specialized trade & IB libraries | ✅ |
| Hostels & residential blocks | ✅ |
| Sports & gym facilities | ✅ |
| Auditoriums & industry interaction spaces | ✅ |
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IIFT Delhi benefits from proximity to ministries, embassies, MNCs, and consulting firms.
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IIFT Kolkata focuses on eastern-India trade, logistics, and supply-chain ecosystems.
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IIFT Kakinada, the newest campus, emphasizes coastal trade and emerging business hubs.
IIFT Fees & Placements (Latest Available Data)
IIFT MBA Fees (Indicative)
| Category | Approximate Fee |
|---|---|
| Indian students | ₹17.25 lakh |
| NRI / Foreign students | ~USD 60,000 |
| Hostel & mess | Charged separately |
IIFT Placement Highlights
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Highest international package | ₹80 LPA |
| Average domestic salary | ₹25.16 LPA |
| Median salary | ₹24 LPA |
| Total students placed | 392 |
| Recruiters | 82 (26 first-time) |
| Top hiring sector | BFSI (30%) |
IIFT’s placement cell supports students through resume prep, mock interviews, and role-specific guidance, making it one of the strongest placement ecosystems among CAT-accepting MBA colleges.
IIFT Admission Process Through CAT 2025 (Two Stages)
Stage 1: Shortlisting (CAT-Based)
Shortlisting is based almost entirely on CAT 2025 scores, along with a small gender diversity bonus.
Stage-1 Weightage
| Parameter | Weightage |
|---|---|
| CAT 2025 score (normalized) | 98% |
| Gender diversity | 2% |
| Total | 100% |
You must clear:
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Sectional cutoffs in all three CAT sections
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Overall composite cutoff for your category
CAT Sectional & Composite Cutoffs (Based on Recent Trends)
| Category | Sectional Cutoff (%) | Composite Cutoff (%) |
|---|---|---|
| General | 55 | 30 |
| EWS / OBC-NCL | 50 | 25 |
| SC / ST / PwD | 30 | 20 |
⚠️ These are qualifying thresholds.
Actual CAT percentiles needed for calls—especially for IIFT Delhi—are much higher.
Stage 2: GD-PI-WAT Final Selection
Candidates shortlisted through CAT move to Group Discussion, Personal Interview, and Writing Ability Test.
Final Selection Weightage (MBA IB & MBA BA)
| Parameter | Weightage |
|---|---|
| CAT 2025 score | 48 |
| Group Discussion | 21 |
| Personal Interview | 22 |
| Academic diversity | 3 |
| Gender diversity | 3 |
| Work experience | 3 |
| Total | 100 |
Your final composite score determines whether you convert IIFT Delhi, Kolkata, or Kakinada.
Expected IIFT CAT 2025 Cutoff (Category-Wise)
Overall Expected CAT Percentile Targets
| Category | Expected CAT 2025 Percentile |
|---|---|
| General | 98+ |
| EWS | 96+ |
| OBC-NCL | 90+ |
| SC | 85+ |
| ST / PwD | 75+ |
Campus-Wise Expected Cutoff (General Category)
| Campus | Expected CAT Percentile |
|---|---|
| IIFT Delhi | ~98+ |
| IIFT Kolkata | ~97+ |
| IIFT Kakinada | ~95–96 |
📌 Safe rule: Aim higher than qualifying cutoffs, especially for IIFT Delhi.
CAT 2025 Eligibility & IIFT Eligibility
| Criteria | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Graduation | 50% (Gen), 45% (SC/ST/PwD) |
| Degree duration | Minimum 3 years |
| Final-year students | Eligible |
| Age limit | None |
| CAT score | Mandatory (CAT 2025) |
👉 Refer to Mockat’s CAT Exam Eligibility Guide for form-filling clarity and edge cases.
CAT 2025 Section-Wise Preparation Strategy (IIFT Focused)
Quantitative Ability (QA)
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Strong focus on arithmetic, algebra & numbers
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Accuracy > attempts
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Important for IB & analytics-oriented roles
DILR
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Most critical sectional cutoff
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Practice mixed-difficulty sets
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Missing DILR cutoff = no IIFT call
VARC
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Focus on economics, trade & global RCs
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Para-summary & para-jumbles are high ROI
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Helps later in GD-PI-WAT
👉 Use Mockat’s CAT mocks, sectionals & analysis tools to track sectional strength and percentile readiness.
Reservation Policy & Category-Wise Advantage
| Category | Benefit |
|---|---|
| EWS / OBC-NCL | Lower cutoffs + reserved seats |
| SC / ST / PwD | Significant relaxation |
| Women candidates | Gender diversity points |
| Non-engineers | Academic diversity points |
Even with relaxation, sectional cutoffs remain mandatory.
What Happens After Clearing IIFT CAT Cutoff?
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CAT-based shortlist released
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GD-PI-WAT calls issued
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Final composite score calculated
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Campus-wise final admission list published
IIFT clearly separates:
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Qualifying cutoffs, and
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Final conversion scores
IIFT vs Other CAT Colleges
| Institute | Strength |
|---|---|
| IIFT | International trade & IB specialisation |
| IIMs | General management |
| FMS Delhi | ROI |
| MDI Gurgaon | Consulting |
IIFT stands out for global exposure, IB roles, and niche trade expertise.
How Mockat Helps You Crack IIFT via CAT 2025
With Mockat, you can:
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Understand CAT & IIFT eligibility clearly
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Practice topic-wise tests for QA, DILR & VARC
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Take full-length CAT mocks
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Analyse marks obtained & sectional gaps
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Prepare for GD-PI-WAT after IIFT calls
👉 Explore:
Final IIFT CAT 2025 Checklist
| Area | Action |
|---|---|
| Eligibility | Verify CAT & IIFT criteria |
| CAT Target | Aim above expected IIFT cutoff |
| Sectionals | Clear all three sectional cutoffs |
| Diversity | Leverage gender & academic points |
| GD-PI-WAT | Prepare trade & IB-focused answers |
| Campus | Prioritise Delhi, but consider all |
Final Word
If you combine a high CAT 2025 percentile, a smart understanding of IIFT cutoffs, and focused GD-PI-WAT preparation, your chances of converting IIFT Delhi, Kolkata or Kakinada increase dramatically.
With the right CAT strategy and Mockat’s structured prep, IIFT is absolutely achievable.
