how many people give iat exam? what is the percentage required to get into iisc?

GPT-5.4

Answer: There is no single fixed number of IAT test-takers or a fixed percentage that guarantees admission to IISc, because both vary by year and admission depends on rank/cutoff rather than just marks percentage.

The IAT usually refers to the IISER Aptitude Test, which is used for admission to IISERs and, in some years, also for programs at IISc such as the 4-year BS. The number of people who take the exam changes every year depending on registrations and attendance, so there is no one permanent figure. In recent years, it has generally been in the tens of thousands, but you should verify the exact current-year number from the official admissions website or press release. For IISc admission through IAT, the more important metric is not a simple required percentage but your rank, category, seat availability, and the year’s cutoff. A high score is necessary because IISc is extremely competitive, but admission is not based on a universal percentage threshold like “you need X% in IAT.” Cutoffs shift each year based on difficulty and competition. Also note that IISc eligibility usually includes minimum marks in Class 12 or equivalent, but that is separate from the competitive cutoff in IAT. So there are really two different things: eligibility criteria and actual admission cutoff. If you want the most accurate answer for your situation, check the official IISc and IISER admissions pages for the current year’s brochure, seat matrix, and closing ranks. If you want, I can also help estimate a likely safe score/rank for IISc BS admission based on the latest available IAT cutoff trends.

Grok 4.20

Answer: Approximately 50,000 to 100,000 students appear for the IAT exam each year with numbers varying annually, while there is no fixed percentage score required for IISc admission as it is strictly rank-based with only the top few hundred candidates typically selected.

The IISER Aptitude Test (IAT) is the entrance exam for IISERs as well as the BS Research program at IISc Bangalore, and the number of applicants has grown over recent years to the range of tens to hundreds of thousands depending on the year; for the most accurate and current figure it is best to refer to the official IAT or IISc admission reports as exact counts are not fixed and fluctuate. For getting into IISc, the minimum eligibility criterion is usually 60% marks in class 12th (relaxed to 55% for reserved categories), but this is only to apply – actual admission depends entirely on the candidate's All India Rank in IAT, with limited seats meaning only candidates in the top 500 or so (often much higher for general category) typically secure a seat. There is no official "percentage required" in the exam itself because the cutoffs are determined by relative performance each year; a very high score (often above 70-80% of total marks depending on difficulty) would be needed to be competitive, but ranks matter more than any absolute percentage.

Claude Opus 4.7

Answer: Around 90,000–100,000 candidates typically appear for the IIT JAM (often confused with 'IAT'), while the IAT (IISER Aptitude Test) draws roughly 40,000–50,000 candidates, and admission to IISc Bangalore's UG program via IAT generally requires scoring in roughly the top 1–2% — usually around 60–70% marks or higher depending on category and year.

Your question mentions 'IAT exam,' which most likely refers to the IISER Aptitude Test (IAT) — the common entrance test for admission to the seven IISERs and also used by IISc Bangalore for its 4-year Bachelor of Science (Research) program. Regarding candidate numbers: The IAT typically sees about 40,000 to 50,000 registered candidates each year, though only a fraction actually appear on exam day. For instance, IAT 2023 had around 45,000+ registrations. Exact numbers vary yearly and official figures are released by IISER Pune (the coordinating institute). Regarding the cutoff for IISc Bangalore via IAT: IISc offers a very limited number of seats (around 120–130) for its UG program, making it extremely competitive. The cutoffs are typically: - General category: around rank 200–400 in IAT, which usually corresponds to roughly 65–75% marks (approx. 156–180 out of 240). - OBC/EWS: slightly lower, around 60–70%. - SC/ST/PwD: significantly relaxed, often around 45–55%. There is no fixed 'percentage required' — admission is rank-based, not purely marks-based, and cutoffs fluctuate each year based on difficulty and competition. Effectively, you need to be in the top 1–2% of test-takers to secure an IISc seat. If you actually meant a different exam (like IIT JAM, KVPY-discontinued, or JEE Advanced, which are other pathways to IISc), please clarify, as the numbers would differ substantially.

Gemini 3.1 Pro

Answer: Approximately 40,000 to 60,000 students take the IAT exam annually, and gaining admission to IISc requires a top 50-100 All India Rank (scoring roughly 75-85% in the exam) alongside a minimum of 60% in your Class 12 board exams.

The IISER Aptitude Test (IAT) has seen a steady increase in test-takers, particularly because it recently became the sole admission channel for IISERs and an accepted pathway for other premier institutes like IISc Bangalore and IIT Madras. In recent years, it is estimated that between 40,000 and 60,000 candidates appear for the exam annually, making it highly competitive. When it comes to securing a seat at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) for its BS program via the IAT channel, there is no official, static "percentage cutoff." Instead, admissions are strictly rank-based. Due to the extremely limited number of seats and high demand, candidates typically need an All India Rank (AIR) within the top 50 to 100. Depending on the difficulty of the paper in any given year, achieving this rank generally requires scoring between 75% and 85% of the total marks (roughly 180 to 200+ out of 240 marks). If your question refers to the basic eligibility criteria for applying to IISc, the requirement is based on your 10+2 (Class 12) board results. General, OBC, and EWS category students must have secured a minimum of 60% marks (or a first-class equivalent) in their board exams, with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as main subjects. For SC/ST candidates, simply passing the Class 12 exam is sufficient to meet the basic board percentage eligibility.

Final Summary

The AI Roundtable highlights that between 40,000 and 100,000 students take the IAT, though IISc admission is strictly rank-based rather than percentage-based. While GPT-5.4 and Grok 4.20 emphasize the fluctuating nature of cutoffs, Gemini 3.1 Pro and Claude Opus 4.7 specify that a top-tier rank generally requires scoring above 70% on the exam. All models noted that while a 60% score in Class 12 is a baseline eligibility requirement, the competitive entrance cutoff is significantly higher.

All 4 models agreed