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How to prepare for GD-PI & WAT rounds of top B-Schools? - Getting admission in B-Schools is quite a task these days due to the complexity of the admission process. Gone are those days when getting admission to top B-Schools was just a cakewalk one reason for this is the increased competition. Major top B-Schools be it IIMs, XLRI, IIFT or other B-Schools take admission through an entrance exam, post which the further selection rounds are held for shortlisted candidates. The admission process of top B-Schools includes GD-PI & WAT rounds. Clearing the B-Schools entrance exams can be achieved with hard work and dedication. But the challenge that candidates face is when they have to take part in the GD-PI & WAT rounds on qualifying the written entrance exam.
The very first question that comes to a candidates mind when he/ she is wanting to take admission to top B-School is - How to prepare for GD-PI & WAT rounds of top B-Schools? Overall selection of candidates is based on the composite score of entrance exams, GD-PI & WAT rounds, candidate’s profile, work experience, and much more. In this article of How to prepare for GD-PI & WAT rounds of Top B-Schools? Careers360 will help you know what WAT, GD-PI is? Common yet major preparation tips for selection rounds of IIMs and other top B-School.
Communication Skills
Writing Ability
Attitude & Aptitude Level
Interaction skills
Decisiveness
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Before moving straight onto the preparation tips, let us first look at what exactly the GD-PI & WAT rounds are and why they are conducted by top B-Schools to provide admissions to candidates.
WAT round is very much like the essay writing part, in which candidates are given a topic to write.
The round is conducted in offline mode i.e. pen paper-based and candidates are allotted a time duration of 15-30 minutes depending upon the institute they are applying for.
Out of the 20 IIMs, most of them have replaced GD round with WAT round as it is a great assessment process to judge candidates.
The word limit of 200 to 400 words is given to candidates.
Within this word and time limit, candidates are required to formulate ideas, jot down the points and provide a structure to reach a conclusion.
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In the GD round a group of 8-10 candidates is formed and given a topic to discuss.
The round can be conducted in both online and offline modes and the time duration is usually 20-30 minutes.
Group members are called group participants while the person conducting the GD round is called GTO (group testing officer) or if more than one person is conducting then GTO panel/panelists.
Candidates are given time to think in advance after the topic is disclosed and then participants discuss the same to reach an effective conclusion.
Personal or face to face interaction of selected candidate with the judges/interviewers is called the personal interview.
Candidates are judged on the basis of their interpersonal communication skills, responsiveness, confidence.
It is better to be well prepared as your overall impression will be impact full in a face to face round.
Top MBA Entrance Exams
Gain Subject Knowledge
Make Notes on Ongoing Trends
Time Management
Gain Subject Knowledge - Do not go unprepared for a WAT round. Gaining knowledge on major managerial subjects is one of the major preparation tips for written ability tests. Update yourself with current trends. Read national as well as international magazines/journals.
Make Notes on Ongoing Trends - One of the preparation tips for a written ability test is to make a bullet board and paste ongoing events on it. If it is not possible to have a bullet board, then buy some colourful sticky notes or flashcards and stick them in a visible place. Note all important information on them and get to read it every time your eyes attract the colour.
Time Management - As time is precious in all domains of life. Hence, while appearing for the WAT round, candidates must keep the value of time and try to submit their complete work within the stipulated time as per specifications of the B-Schools.
Note - Expert Ramnath Kanakadandi advises candidates to go for a CODER approach i.e.
Hence, collect the knowledge about the subject, organize and develop the important sticky/flash notes, express the same within the specified time limit and review them before submission.
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Avoid Jargon/Slangs
Practice in Front of Mirror
Don’t Deviate From Your Point
Read More - To prepare for group discussion rounds it is advisable to candidates to read as much as possible about the latest topics. A group discussion topics can be divided into Abstract Topics, Current Affairs Topics, Business & Economy Topics as well as Social Issues Topics. Go through some of the topics and try to add something extraordinary.
Avoid Jargon/Slangs - Do not try to showcase your vocabulary skills in a group discussion round as it may leave a reverse impact on your results. Be clear and specific to what you have to say. Avoid technical jargon and common slangs while in a formal group discussion round. It may happen that Jargon/Slangs may not be known to other group participants or group testing officers
Practice in Front of the Mirror - If you feel you are low in confidence at the time of speaking openly, then practice speaking in front of the mirror. Think about what you have to say, and then be clear with your words. See your facial expressions, body gestures while you speak this way you will learn how to speak and express yourself in front of others
Don’t Deviate From Your Point - Be specific with your points. For example, if you are with the pros of any topic stick to the same and do not deviate from your wordings on hearing others as per the preparation tips for group discussion. Do not be diplomatic until you are concluding the group discussion topic
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Showcase Confidence
Improve Listening
Have a Presence of Mind
Have a Formal Dress Code
Showcase Confidence - Being confident enhances your personality. Looking confident and feeling confident should be one of the preparation tips for the personal interview. Remember that being nervous is easy and natural, thinking the same will make you look pathetic and may reduce your chances of success in a personal interview
Improve Listening - Understand the difference between hearing and listening. Do not hear the interviewer, try to listen to what he says or asks you. By listening carefully you will be able to answer accurately and up to his/her/their expectations
Have a Presence of Mind - One of the Preparation Tips for Personal Interview apart from listening is to be present. Do not make the interviewers wait for your answer else it may leave them guessing and doubting your preparation
Have Formal Dress Code - Remember you are going to appear for a personal interview for admission in one of the top B-Schools. Hence, select a proper and formal dress code. Male candidates can go for a formal light shade full-sleeve shirt with pants. Footwear could be Oxford, Derby, Brogue, etc., While female candidates can wear a half sleeve shirt along with trousers/knee-length skirt with heels/Ballerinas. Be formal and remember that appearance also matters in a personal interview.
Top Colleges in India offering MBA
Choosing top coaching institutes include several factors like how is the environment of coaching,how the teachers teach and how they handle various students problem. Whether they provide one to one guidance or only group tutoring is there. There are several coaching institutes for CAT, some of the top in Pune are
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Hello
After the CAT process :
1. Results: CAT results are declared in January .
2. Shortlisting : Institutes shortlist candidates based on CAT scores , academics and work experience .
3. Selection Rounds : Includes WAT (Written Test) , GD (Group Discussion) and PI (Personal Interview) .
4. Final Admission : Institutes release merit lists considering CAT scores , selection round performance and overall profile .
For more details check link given below :
https://bschool.careers360.com/articles/cat-selection-procedure
ALL THE BEST
Hello aspirant,
Here below I am providing the names of some of the top colleges:
To know about more colleges, you can visit our site through following links:
https://bschool.careers360.com/colleges/ranking
Thank you
Hope it helps you
Hello,
Unfortunately, I could not find any online specific CAT model papers of the CSE-AI course of Dr. MGR Educational and Research Institute in Chennai. However, the universities normally provide these study materials directly to the students who are enrolling for the course or through their academic portals.
You can try these options:
If you do not find what you are looking for, you can prepare with generic CAT preparation resources available for AI and CSE topics, which are usually almost in line with the syllabus.
Hello,
An approximate score in CAT 2024 that's around 88-90 percent, along with the profile being male engineer in NC-OBC, can result in selection to some newer or baby IIMs - Indian Institutes of Management like these ones:-
The newer IIMs have a slightly smaller cut-off every year, yet the cutoffs are normally lower for the newer ones, and the older, bigger IIMs have bigger cutoffs. According to the predicted percentile, you have a reasonable chance for the colleges, especially in OBC category.
You can use the Careers360 College Predictor to understand how good your chances are. It gives you a more personalized insight into how likely it is that you'll get into a B-school given your CAT score, profile, and category. You can use it here:
Careers360 CAT College Predictor.
This tool gives you a more detailed analysis based on real-time data and trends.
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