Top 7 tips to ace EMAT Interview
Planning to take admission to the EPGP programme of IIM Kozhikode? Here are the top 7 tips to ace the personal interview. Check the list of important points that candidates must know before appearing for the interview.
EMAT 2025 Phase 1interview round will be conducted tentatively in second week of October 2024. Candidates who will fill in the EMAT application form for IIM Kozhikode’s Executive Post Graduate Programme in Management (EPGP) must check the top 7 tips to ace the interview. Executive PGP programme is offered to working professionals/ managers who have extensive work experience. Candidates will be granted admission on the basis of their score in EMAT 2025 exam and performance in a personal interview. Each component of the EMAT admission process must be treated with the utmost importance. Read this complete article to know the important points for a personal interview.
Top 7 Tips to Ace EMAT 2025 Interview
Have a good understanding of the programme
Before appearing for the interview, it is always best to know about the programme by looking at the institute's prospectus/ official website to know about the curriculum and course objective. Gathering such information will help in showcasing the candidate’s interest in the programme. Knowing about the programme will also help in framing the motivation for enrolling in the chosen programme. Aspirants are also advised to read the latest news, development and research in the field.
Q: Who is eligible for PGP IIM Kozhikode?
Yes, the aspirants of EPGP need to obtain a valid score in Executive Management Aptitude Test (EMAT) conducted by IIM Kozhikode in the online mode. This is a mandatory exam to qualify for EPGP in order to secure a seat at IIM Kozhikode. The EMAT is conducted to evaluate the basic logical, numerical, and verbal ability of applicants. In order to get shortlisted for the next selection rounds, candidates must get a minimum cut-off weightage as per the following table:
| Category | EMAT Cutoff (Weightage) |
|---|---|
| General | 25% (10 out of Maximum 40 marks) |
| OBC (NC), EWS, Women & SC | 20% (8 out of Maximum 40 marks) |
| ST & PwD | 18% (7 out of Maximum 40 marks) |
To know the detailed information around Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode course admissions for E-MBA/ EPGP course, click here.
Q: Which entrance exams are accepted for PhD admission at IIM Kozhikode?
IIM Kozhikode accepts the scores of entrance exams like CAT, GMAT, GRE, UGC NET, CSIR NET, and GATE for PhD admission. Apart from this, the institute conducts the IIMB Test for candidates who have not appeared for any of these tests. Candidates can apply for the following specialisations under PhD course at IIM Kozhikode:
Economics
Finance, Accounting & Control
Humanities and Liberal Arts in Management
Information Systems
Marketing Management
Organizational Behaviour & Human Resources
Quantitative Methods & Operations Management
Strategic Management
Q: Who is eligible for IIM Kozhikode Executive MBA course?
For admission to E-MBA course at IIM Kozhikode, candidate must fulfil the minimum educational requirements. To be eligible for this course, aspirants must hold a bachelor's degree with at least 50% aggregate. Further, candidates who do not have any UG degree must pass CA/ICWA/CS with minimum 50% aggregate in order to apply for the programme. Apart from this, students are granted admission based on EMAT score, followed by a personal interview.
Articulate your career goals
Aspirants must clearly and concisely be able to explain what they hope to achieve in their career with the help of the EPGP programme of IIM Kozhikode. Also, candidates must be able to explain the reason for their interest in this path and how they will be successful. While expressing career goals one must show excitement. Non-verbal cues play an important role in demonstrating one’s confidence and interest.
Treat it like a job interview
Treat this admission interview as similar to a job interview be it virtual or face to face. Candidates must wear professional attire and keep a copy of their resume ready in hand (in case of an offline interview) or on a desktop (in case of an online/virtual interview). The interview can be similar to that of a job interview in terms of questions asked such as - ‘Tell me about yourself” this is a great opportunity to display the experience and how is one a good fit for the B-School. These questions seem easy however, candidates must scale the important points and the interviewer must know.
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Know your strengths and weaknesses
Being a working professional, admission to the EPGP programme will demand to thrive in an academic environment. Candidates must ensure to be aware of their weaknesses and know how to overcome them. One must quote the strengths and weaknesses from their years of experience.
Q: Who is eligible for IIMK PGP?
Yes, the aspirants of EPGP need to obtain a valid score in Executive Management Aptitude Test (EMAT) conducted by IIM Kozhikode in the online mode. This is a mandatory exam to qualify for EPGP in order to secure a seat at IIM Kozhikode. The EMAT is conducted to evaluate the basic logical, numerical, and verbal ability of applicants. In order to get shortlisted for the next selection rounds, candidates must get a minimum cut-off weightage as per the following table:
| Category | EMAT Cutoff (Weightage) |
|---|---|
| General | 25% (10 out of Maximum 40 marks) |
| OBC (NC), EWS, Women & SC | 20% (8 out of Maximum 40 marks) |
| ST & PwD | 18% (7 out of Maximum 40 marks) |
To know the detailed information around Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode course admissions for E-MBA/ EPGP course, click here.
Q: When should I start preparing for EMAT?
To prepare for the Executive Management Aptitude Test (EMAT) conducted by IIM Kozhikode, candidates must start preparing for the exam 6-8 months prior to the exam date. It is important for candidates to build the basic foundation. Within this period, candidates must familiarise themselves with the syllabus and previous year papers, focus on topic-wise practice and solving a variety of questions, strengthen speed and accuracy in solving quantitative and reasoning problems.
Q: What is the mode of EMAT exam?
IIM Kozhikode conducts EMAT in offline mode. Candidates preparing for the EMAT exam must keep the certificates, application form and other documents ready to appear for the interview round. IIM Kozhikode will conduct EMAT and personal interview rounds on given date and time.
Q: Which is the best resource to prepare for EMAT?
Some of the best resources for EMAT preparation are:
- EMAT sample paper: Candidates can download the EMAT sample paper online to become familar with the exam pattern and difficulty level of the quetsion paper
- Online Forums: Candidates can participate in forums like Quora to get expert or alumni tips to prepare for the exam.
- Coaching: candidates can enrol in the coaching institutes to prepare for the exam. Coacing institutes help provisinf the study materials and mock tests.
Q: How difficult is the EMAT exam?
The difficulty level of the EMAT exam varies depending on an individual's preparation and background. Generally, it is considered moderately challenging. The exam tests analytical, verbal, and quantitative skills, requiring a solid understanding of basic concepts. With regular practice and thorough preparation, the exam can be manageable. However, time management and accuracy are crucial for tackling the exam effectively.
Prepare questions for the interviewers
At the end of the interview, aspirants must ensure to put insightful questions to the interviewer. This kind of preparation will demonstrate one’s genuine interest in learning about the institute or programme. If candidates know the name of the interviewer ahead of time, do the research by searching for him/her on the LinkedIn profile and tailor the questions accordingly.
Stay Unique and grounded
Approach the interview as a conversation. Demonstrate your strengths and what makes you unique among other interviewers. Share the story with great enthusiasm while keeping the general tone calm. Come out to be the grounded and thoughtful candidate instead of boasting about the things that never happened. Make the interviewer feel that the B-school is the first choice. Don’t tell the interviewer what you think they want to hear, instead show what you can bring to the B-school. Highlight the work experience that is not common such as knowing multiple languages and social work.
Identify your key selling points and supporting stories
Candidates must include the key selling points to offer to the interviewer. List the key selling points such as soft skills along with the set of examples to illustrate it clearly. Examples should relate to your strengths and how you can contribute to the B-school at the same time. Candidates must keep in mind the curriculum that includes behavioural examples. Don’t sound rehearsed and take control of the interview.
Other Important Points for the D-Day
- Arrive for the exam and interview one hour prior to the commencement
- Do not try to trick the interviewer
- Stay happy and positive and demonstrate a good personality
- Avoid usage of jargon during the interview
- Keep the copy of the resume ready
- Treat other interviewees with respect
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Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered a week ago
IIM Kozhikode admission process is entirely based on a valid scores of candidates obtained in EMAT test, which is conducted by IIM Kozhikode for its EPGP/ EMBA courses. Candidates willing to get admission to IIM Kozhikode Executive MBA course must obtain a minimum of 50% aggregate in any undergradua
S
Contributor-Level 9
Answered a week ago
Hi Mahesh,
For the 2025-27 batch, IIM Kozhikode has set the following minimum cutoffs for the Post Graduate Programme (PGP):
- Overall CAT Score: 85th percentile
- Sectional CAT Score: 75th percentile
These cutoffs are applicable to general category candidates.
Additionally, candidates must meet the followinA
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 2 weeks ago
Select between California Institute of Technology ( Caltech ) and IIM Kozhikode for an MBA count on your career destination. Caltech is renowned for its focus on applied science, innovation, and entrepreneurship, stool it a great option if you 're interested in tech - beat back business sector field
A
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 3 weeks ago
- First of you congrats for scoring that percentile The final CAT cut off percentile is usually around 90-95 percentile, so you can take admission in IIM KozhikodeThe minimum CAT cut-off for IIM Kozhikode is 85 percentile for general category candidates. The cut-off is lower for other categories: 75 p
M
Beginner-Level 3
Answered 2 months ago
Candidates seeking admission in IIM Kozhikode for MBA in Finance can refer to the table given below to check out the previous year's CAT percentile:
| Section | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 97 | 97 | 97 |
| Quants | 97 | 97 | 97 |
| VA-RC | 97 | 97 | 97 |
| DI-LR | 97 | 97 | 97 |
P
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
The college has great faculty and placement opportunities for the students. Placements: At IIMK, all the courses offered students placement opportunities. Around 70% of the students in the CSE course get placed at this college. The average package offered to our course students was between 5-6 LPA.I
S
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 2 months ago
To compare and find out which IIM is best for an MBA course among IIM Mumbai and IIM Kozhikode, candidates must consider various factors, such as the highest placement package, course fees, and ranking given by NIRF and Shiksha Ratings. Look at these factors from the table mentioned below:
| Institute | the highest Placements Package | Rankings | Course Fees | Shiksha all over Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Kozhikode | INR 72.02 LPA | NIRF - 03 | INR 12.1 Lacs - INR 22.5 lakh | 4.4/5 |
| IIM Mumbai | INR 54 LPA | NIRF - 06 | INR 14 lakh | 4.6/5 |
V
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 months ago
IIM Kozhikode offers good placements annually to its PGP – Business Leadership students. The key highlights of IIM Kozhikode PGP BL placements for the Class of 2023 and 2024 are presented below:
Particulars | PGP BL Placement Statistics (2023) | PGP BL Placement Statistics (2024) |
|---|---|---|
Highest package | INR 43.92 LPA | INR 46.35 LPA |
Average package | INR 29.23 LPA | INR 27.11 LPA |
Median package | INR 25 LPA | INR 24.96 LPA |
Offers made | 66 (4 international offers) | 62 (1 international offer) |
Recruiters visited | 50 | 52 |
Contributor-Level 10
Who is eligible for Executive MBA in IIM Kozhikode?