GD PI WAT Essentials: Learn from Toppers and Experts

How to Prepare for GD PI WAT for MBA Admissions

If you are aspiring to join a top B-school in India, you must be aware of the three letters that can make or break your dream: GD PI WAT. These are the personal assessment rounds that are conducted by most MBA colleges after the written entrance exam results. In this article, we will explain what GD PI WAT are, why they are important, and how to ace them with some tips and tricks.

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What are GD PI WAT and why are they important?

GD PI WAT stands for Group Discussion, Personal Interview, and Written Ability Test. These are the three most common types of personal assessments that B-schools use to evaluate your personality, communication skills, knowledge, and suitability for their programs. Let's look at each of them in detail.

GD: Group Discussion

What is a group discussion and how is it evaluated?

A group discussion (GD) is a situation where you have to discuss a given topic with a group of 8-10 candidates for 10-15 minutes. The topic can be based on current affairs, business, social issues, or anything else that can generate different opinions. The purpose of a GD is to test your ability to work in a team, express your views clearly and logically, listen to others, and persuade them with valid arguments. A panel of experts will observe your performance and rate you on various parameters such as content, communication, leadership, analysis, etc.

How to prepare for a group discussion and what are some common topics?

To prepare for a group discussion, you need to do the following:

• Read newspapers, magazines, blogs, etc. regularly to keep yourself updated on current affairs and general knowledge.

• Practice speaking on various topics with your friends or family members. Try to structure your thoughts in a coherent manner and use relevant facts and examples to support your points.

• Learn to respect others' opinions and avoid being aggressive or rude. Also, avoid interrupting others or dominating the discussion.

• Be confident and assertive, but not arrogant or overconfident. Use polite phrases like "I agree with you" or "I beg to differ" to express your agreement or disagreement.

• Try to initiate the discussion if you have a clear idea about the topic. This will show your leadership skills and create a good impression.

• Try to conclude the discussion by summarizing the main points and giving your final opinion.

Some of the common topics for GD are:

• Is India ready for electric vehicles?

• Should social media be regulated by the government?

• Is online education better than offline education?

• Is work from home the new normal?

• Should India ban Chinese products?

PI: Personal Interview

What is a personal interview and how is it evaluated?

A personal interview (PI) is a one-to-one interaction between you and a panel of experts, usually consisting of faculty members and alumni of the B-school. The duration of a PI can vary from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the college and the panel. The purpose of a PI is to test your academic background, work experience, career goals, personality traits, and fitment for the program. The panel will ask you various questions based on your profile, resume, application form, etc. and evaluate you on parameters such as knowledge, communication, confidence, attitude, etc.

How to prepare for a personal interview and what are some common questions?

To prepare for a personal interview, you need to do the following:

• Review your profile, resume, application form, etc. thoroughly and be ready to answer any question related to them.

• Research about the B-school, its programs, curriculum, faculty, placements, etc. and be ready to answer why you want to join it and how it will help you achieve your goals.

• Brush up your academic concepts, especially from your graduation subjects and the subjects related to your preferred specialization.

• Prepare answers for some common questions such as:

• Tell me something about yourself.

• What are your strengths and weaknesses?

• What are your short-term and long-term goals?

• Why do you want to pursue MBA?

• What are your hobbies and interests?

• Be honest and authentic in your answers. Do not lie or exaggerate anything.

• Be polite and respectful to the panel. Greet them with a smile and maintain eye contact.

• Be confident and calm. Do not panic or fumble if you do not know the answer to a question. You can politely say that you are not aware of it or ask for a hint.

WAT: Written Ability Test

What is a written ability test and how is it evaluated?

A written ability test (WAT) is a situation where you have to write an essay on a given topic within a limited time, usually 15 to 30 minutes. The topic can be based on current affairs, business, social issues, or anything else that can test your writing skills and analytical abilities. The purpose of a WAT is to test your ability to express your thoughts clearly and coherently in written form, using correct grammar, vocabulary, and punctuation. A panel of experts will read your essay and rate you on parameters such as content, structure, language, logic, etc.

How to prepare for a written ability test and what are some common topics?

To prepare for a written ability test, you need to do the following:

• Read newspapers, magazines, blogs, etc. regularly to improve your vocabulary and writing skills.

• Practice writing essays on various topics within the given time limit. Try to follow a simple structure of introduction, body, and conclusion.

• Avoid spelling and grammatical errors. Use simple and clear sentences. Avoid using jargons or slang words.

• Avoid plagiarism or copying from other sources. Use your own words and ideas.

• Avoid being biased or offensive. Use logical arguments and facts to support your opinion.

Some of the common topics for WAT are:

• The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the economy and society.

• The pros and cons of farm laws in India.

• The role of women in leadership positions.

• The challenges and opportunities of digital transformation.

• The ethical issues of artificial intelligence.

Other types of personal assessments

Apart from GD PI WAT, some B-schools may also conduct other types of personal assessments such as case study, group exercise (GE), or extempore. Let's look at each of them briefly.

Case Study

What is a case study and how to solve it?

How to participate in a group exercise?

To participate in a group exercise, you need to do the following:

• Understand the task and the rules clearly. Ask questions if you have any doubts.

• Cooperate with your team members and contribute to the task. Do not be passive or aggressive.

• Show your creativity and innovation. Do not be afraid to try new ideas or approaches.

• Communicate effectively with your team members. Listen to their suggestions and give constructive feedback.

• Manage your time and resources well. Do not waste time on irrelevant or trivial issues.

Extempore

What is an extempore and how to deliver it?

An extempore is a situation where you have to speak on a given topic for a few minutes without any prior preparation. The topic can be based on current affairs, business, social issues, or anything else that can test your spontaneity and speaking skills. The purpose of an extempore is to test your ability to think on your feet, organize your thoughts, and express them clearly and confidently. A panel of experts will listen to your speech and rate you on parameters such as content, communication, fluency, etc.

How to deliver an extempore?

To deliver an extempore, you need to do the following:

• Think quickly and brainstorm some points on the topic. Try to recall any facts or examples that can support your points.

• Structure your speech in a simple format of introduction, body, and conclusion.

• Speak clearly and confidently. Use appropriate tone, pitch, and volume. Avoid filler words like "um", "uh", "like", etc.

• Maintain eye contact with the audience and use gestures to emphasize your points.

• Be concise and relevant. Do not deviate from the topic or repeat yourself.

Conclusion and FAQs

In conclusion, GD PI WAT are the personal assessment rounds that are conducted by most MBA colleges after the written entrance exam results. They are important to test your personality, communication skills, knowledge, and suitability for their programs. To ace them, you need to prepare well by reading, writing, speaking, and practicing on various topics and questions. You also need to be aware of other types of personal assessments such as case study, group exercise (GE), or extempore that some B-schools may conduct. By following the tips and tricks given in this article, you can improve your chances of getting admission in your dream B-school.

Here are some FAQs that you may have:

• Q: How much weightage do GD PI WAT have in the final selection process?

• A: The weightage of GD PI WAT varies from college to college. Generally, they have a high weightage ranging from 30% to 50% in the final selection process.

• Q: How many GD PI WAT rounds do I have to attend?

• A: You have to attend one GD PI WAT round for each college that shortlists you. However, some colleges may conduct common GD PI WAT rounds for multiple programs or campuses.

• Q: How can I get feedback on my GD PI WAT performance?

• A: You can get feedback on your GD PI WAT performance by attending mock sessions conducted by coaching institutes or mentors. You can also ask for feedback from your peers or seniors who have attended GD PI WAT rounds before.

• Q: How can I improve my communication skills for GD PI WAT?

• A: You can improve your communication skills for GD PI WAT by reading newspapers, magazines, blogs, etc., watching videos or podcasts on various topics, listening to English news or radio channels, speaking with your friends or family members in English, and practicing pronunciation and grammar exercises.

• Q: How can I deal with stress or nervousness during GD PI WAT?

• A: You can deal with stress or nervousness during GD PI WAT by doing some relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, yoga, etc., before the session. You can also boost your confidence by recalling your achievements and strengths, dressing well and comfortably, carrying all the required documents and materials, reaching the venue on time, and having a positive attitude.

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