Tips to Score Well in Essay Writing Component for XAT 2011
The essay writing component differentiates XAT conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur from other institutes. The 120-minute XAT paper requires that the candidates write an essay in 20 minutes. This is excluding the time given to a candidate to finish other sections such as data interpretation and quantitative ability, analytical reasoning and decision making and verbal ability and logical ability. Essay writing therefore needs special preparation.
The topics that appeared in XAT essay writing question papers in the last five years include: More than one billion Indians: A gigantic problem or a sea of opportunities (XAT 2005)
- Asked at the age of 83, as to which of his project would he choose as his master piece, Frank Lloyd Wright, the architect answered, "The next one" (XAT 2004)
-To give real service, one needs to add something that cannot be bought or measured, like sincerity and integrity (XAT 2003)
Topics of XAT essays are not directly related to current affairs but a thorough knowledge of current affairs, general knowledge and understanding of how the Indian economy functions will help. Apart from that, you need to have an idea about Indian society and demography. Basic idea and understanding of ethics and humanity will also help.
What does the examiner look for in your essay?
While writing an essay for XAT, you should be able to display sound knowledge of the subject and have clarity of thought. If you are discussing a point, finish the discussion and then move on to the next point. Always give examples and facts. Make sure your grammar and spellings are correct and your handwriting is legible.
Essay structure
You should divide your essay in paragraphs. Different paragraphs should express different ideas that contribute to the main idea. The first sentence of the paragraph should talk about what you intend describing, supporting sentences should expand the main idea introduced in the first sentence and the concluding sentence should logically conclude the idea.
Time management
Remember that you will get just 20 minutes for the essay. It is, therefore, important for you to manage your time well. Spend the first few seconds in thinking about what to write and structuring your thoughts. Make sure you leave a couple of minutes at least at the end to review what you have written. The last few minutes can be used to check the flow of the essay - whether the points you have made are integrated and to correct grammatical errors, small mistakes, errors in syntax etc. Try not to make too many changes.
XAT essay topics
XAT 2006: India has one of the largest pool of talented manpower, but few innovations and patented products.
XAT 2007: Economic growth without environmental damage - mirage or reality.
XAT 2008: The consequence of gender imbalance - The Third World War.
XAT 2009: The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of riches; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries.
XAT 2010: Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need but not every man's greed.
Source: HT Horizons
Date: 31st December, 2010
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