Vipra
Vipra Shrivastava
Senior Manager - Content
Updated on Jan 29, 2025 17:04 IST
GD, PI and WAT are an integral part of MBA admission process. These three are basically personality assessment tests to assess a candidate's leadership skills, communication ability and problem-solving skills which are essential to succeed as a manager. As top MBA colleges prepare for the PI round, you should also gear up to put your best foot forward. Check out 13 must do things to crack GD, PI and WAT.
GD preparation

Group discussion (GD), Personal Interview (PI) and Written Ability Test (WAT) are an integral part of the MBA/PGDM admission process. It is crucial to know what to say and what NOT to say during a GD and PI. The same goes for WAT. MBA aspirants should know what to write and how to write in 250-300 words within 20 minutes.

Over the last few years, the top IIMs have stopped conducting GD whereas WAT has gained prominence. Most of the top B-schools conduct Essay Writing round as well to judge candidate's ability to communicate with a group of people in a lucid manner. However, the new IIMs conduct GD for selection of candidates. Many other top MBA colleges also conduct the GD round so work on your communication skills. 

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Admission process for 2025 batch has started at many MBA colleges. Those who have made it to the PI shortlist of B-Schools must start preparing for WAT/GD and PI without wasting any time. Shiksha brings to you 13 must-do things to crack GD-PI-WAT rounds of top MBA colleges in India.

Q:   Are six months enough to prepare for CAT?
A:

Usually, it is recommended to start CAT preparation about a year or nine months in advance. However, one can prepare for this exam even in six months if they put 8-10 hours daily into it. Candidates who have attempted the CAT before may not face a lot of hurdles in six-month preparation as they have a foundation in CAT preparation from previous year, but candidates who are appearing in the exam for the first time may face obstacles, mostly related to accuracy. The syllabus of CAT is vast and includes a lot of reading.

One also has to spend a lot of time in practice sessions and mock tests to be able to master all types of CAT questions - easy, moderate and tough. If you are a student of engineering/technical or commerce background you will need to pay extra attention on VARC . 

However, you'll be able to manage the syllabus of DILR and Quantitative Aptitude with adequate practice of topics. But if you are a student from Arts background, it is advised to start CAT preparation much earlier because you will have to brush up a lot of Mathematics. Reading Comprehension is one subject that cannot be mastered by student belonging to any academic stream, if their English comprehension is not strong. To develop reading habit all CAT aspirants will have to start much earlier.

Q:   When should I start preparing for CAT exam?
A:

Aspirants should start preparing for CAT exam at least nine months in before the test date. CAT preparation requires long-term planning thus one must start early. The best time to start CAT preparation is in March. Starting early will also help you assess that whether you need to join a coaching institute or not.

Divide your preparation into two phases -

  1. Covering the CAT syllabus 
  2. Practicing mock tests, sample questions and revision.

The CAT syllabus includes the following topics:

  • Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension: Parajumbles, Parasummary, Sentence Completion and Inferences, Questions based on passages, para meaning, order of sentences
  • Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning: Tables, Graphs, Pie Charts, Venn Diagram, Blood Relation, Seating Arrangement, Caselets and Syllogism
  • Quantitative Aptitude: Geometry, Algebra, Number System, Arithmetic, Mensuration.

You can read the following CAT books for exam preparation:

  • CAT Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning by Gautam Puri
  • Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT by Nishit K Sinha
  • Data Interpretation and Data Sufficiency by Ananta Ashisha
  • How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT by Arun Sharma
  • How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT by Arun Sharma and Meenakshi Upadhyay
  • 30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary Mass Market Paperback by Wilfred Funk and Norman Lewis/ Simon and Schuster
  • How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT by Sharma and Upadhyay
  • High School English Grammar and Composition by Wren and Martin
  • How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT by Arun Sharma
  • Quantitative Aptitude for CAT by Nishit Sinha
  • Quantitative Aptitude Quantum CAT by Sarvesh Sharma
  • Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by Abhijit Guha.
Q:   Is CAT exam tough for an average student?
A:

CAT is a speed based test which is designed to assess a candidate's analytical aptitude, logical reasoning skills, data interpretation and English comprehension. Now, it may sound tough, but these are the skills which we are taught in school so there is nothing new to learn. What is required is to learn these subjects at advanced level. If you are an average student but have studied Science or commerce in Class-12 and graduation, you will find a lot of familiar topics in Data Interpretation, Quantitative Aptitude and Logical Reasoning. All you will need is brush up the basics and practice the concepts on advance level problems.

However, since the competition is so high in CAT and less than 95 percentile can break your dream of joining a top college like IIM, the preparation for CAT requires a lot of focus, dedication, discipline and diligence. If you can do that, despite being an average student, you can crack the CAT exam.

Table of content
  • 13 Must-Do Things to Crack GD-PI-WAT
  • MBA Group Discussion
  • Written Ability Test
  • Important FAQs Related to GD-PI-WAT

13 Must-Do Things to Crack GD-PI-WAT 

MBA Personal Interview (PI)

1. It is okay to say ‘I don't know' in an MBA interview, instead of answering a question without any knowledge about the topic (read bluffing). Be humble and state that you don't have much knowledge of the topic.

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2. Here’s the classic opening question in a PI – ‘Tell me something about yourself’. Answer to this question usually leads to the next question. Typically, one should talk very briefly about family, education, career goals, hobbies, and interests. Do not talk a lot about the past. Briefly refer to education, life journey, and future plans.

3. Another common question is, ‘Why do you want to do an MBA?’ Answer such questions keeping in mind the holistic development you’ll get during MBA and acquisition of skills for life long success in personal and domestic space. Remember, post an MBA, one lands a job in corporate organisation where there are opportunities of rapid career growth along with high monetary returns. But at the same time, management as a career, is also a challenging profession. 

Q:   Is the CAT syllabus difficult?
A:

Yes, the difficulty level of CAT syllabus is very high as compared to other MBA entrance exams. However, if you prepare well and follow the CAT exam pattern well, you will be able to score well. Besides having an understanding of the CAT syllabus 2025, candidates also need to be well aware of the CAT exam pattern before they start preparing for the exam. The CAT exam pattern was revised in 2021 and the number of questions were reduced from 76 to 66. The structure of CAT 2023 and CAT 2024 was the same. The syllabus is still tougher than other exams.

The most important things to keep in mind are:

  1. CAT exam mode is online
  2. Each question carries three marks 
  3. There is negative marking of minus one mark for wrong attempts

The section-wise distribution of questions and difficulty levels as per the latest CAT exam pattern are listed below:

  • Quantitative Ability (QA) - 24 questions, difficulty level - moderate to high 
  • Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) - 20 questions, difficulty level - moderate 
  • Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) - 22 questions, difficulty level - moderate. to high
Q:   Can I prepare for CAT within 3 months?
A:
Hi Swaleha, 3 months are not enough for CAT as there many students with brilliant mind applying for CAT, you have to compete with them. So, at least, you have to start preparing for CAT before 6 months of exam. Rest of the information is given below. Exam preparation tips for CAT: Rather than focusing on all the topics, students need to try and select those topics with which they are more comfortable. Even on the exam day, with the question sheet in hand, students shouldn't try to solve each and every question and waste their energy, they should rather spend 5 minutes in scanning a section and selecting questions from their area of expertise and skill. In order to ace CAT, students should look at questions from the previous year's CAT paper and understand its syllabus. They should assess whether they are proficient, average or need improvement in each of the areas. The areas that fall in the third category should be focused on first followed by the second and third. CAT aspirants should always start early in preparing for the exams as an early start would benefit them in gaining knowledge about the kind of questions to be asked. Another advantage to it can be spending time in developing extra reading habits and increasing vocabulary. The best way to go on with the CAT preparations is to evaluate oneself in every 10-15 days, which is done by mock tests. But one thing that students should be careful about is to not to repeat the mistakes made by them in either the mock CAT or while practising at home or the whole purpose of taking mock tests would be lost. While preparing for the CAT question paper, one must keep in mind that management schools seek to test understanding of basic concepts that the student possesses. So, students should stop looking for the toughest material to practice and realize that their understanding of concepts is not as good as they think it is. Some things which CAT aspirants must do on an everyday basis are- Minimum 10 hours study everyday, especially before the 6 months of CAT exams. Preparation of minimum 10,000 words to enhance Vocabulary, study of newspapers and editorials for 2 hour's everyday and reading at least two magazines and one novel each week. Time management is an essential ingredient to crack the CAT exam and make it to your favorite college. Managing one's time includes balancing speed with accuracy, handling the pressure and you.
Q:   Which CAT exam slot is the toughest?
A:
The Common Admission Test exam is conducted in three slots. Each slot has a unique question paper, with unique questions at the Common Admission Test. The Common Admission Test examination authorities prepare the question paper keeping in mind that None of the slots is tougher or easier than another. However, it may happen that one or two questions in a particular slot are tougher. For more information, you may visit the Shiksha Common Admission Test page. (https://www.shiksha.com/mba/cat-exam). I hope this will help you.
Q:   What are the best ways to prepare for the DILR section?
A:

The best way to prepare for DILR section is through practice. Before starting the preparation, aspirants should be accustomed to the question types by going through previous years’ question papers and solving those. Since there is not much conceptual understanding required in this section, practice is the key to excel in this area.

Some of the most popular books on DILR section that you can refer are How to Prepare for Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning for CAT by Arun Sharma, Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT by Nishit Sinha, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning for CAT by Pearson, to name a few.

Q:   How to start preparing for CAT and from which year of UG should we start preparing for CAT?
A:

 Ideally, students start their preparation for CAT and other management entrance tests from the 2nd year onwards. -Starting by understanding the syllabus and the concepts of each section. -Once you are thorough will the syllabus, practice with mock tests, and identify your strengths as well as weak areas. -Be consistent with your stronger portions and keep working on your loose ends too. -If a particular topic is out of your understanding, don't waste much time on that. Rather try to improve the sections you are performing on average. -No student ever tries to attempt the whole exam. Strategies & plan on attempting your test. -Practice as many Mocks as you can, no matter how much score you are getting. Mock tests will help you will time management which is yet another important aspect of giving entrances. -Do keep the backup option of the other entrance tests as well as the syllabus is more or less the same. -Keep yourself updated with the Current Affairs and news, especially business and economics. That will help you with your GD&PI. -Last but not the least, don't pressurize yourself. Just take it easy and give your best. Good Luck :). .

4. One more common interview question is – ‘Where do you see yourself five years from now?’ While answering this, focus on skills development, increased responsibility while highlighting your goals as achievements. But do not say I want to become VP or General Manager or something similar.

Also Read: Top questions asked in Personal Interview (PI)

MBA Group Discussion

5. For preparation of GD topics read extensively so that you don't fall short of knowledge on current affairs. You must have complete information on political, economic, social and Science & Tech issues of the recent times. Read  current affairs and business magazines. Watch documentaries on important events and occurrences. 

6. Enter the group discussion at the right point i.e. when others are taking a small pause or have completed their point which you can counter or elaborate upon. Be loud and assertive but be polite in explaining your points.

7. It is not necessary to arrive at a consensus during a GD. Candidates can have different opinions but what is important is concluding the discussion with convincing points and with civility.

8. Do not try to prove others wrong in a GD. Just remember it is not a debate but a group discussion and everyone has the right to their opinion.

9. While participating in a GD, focus on the following:

  • Content
  • Team approach
  • Leadership skills
  • Communication skills
  • Analytical & logical reasoning

10. Ensure participation by showing maturity and putting up relevant points. Build your arguments with facts, figures and situations. Keep a logical approach throughout the GD. It becomes easy to build on other's arguments and conclude.

Also Read: 80+ Trending GD Topics for MBA

Written Ability Test

11. WAT topics can be as abstract as ‘describe the colour blue and pink’ or more substantiative like 'hard work or smart work' to something more focused on current trends. So keep reading the news, latest social trends and articles on India’s growth stories. Read philosophical books and articles. Do not forget to read editorial sections of newspapers daily.

Also Read:

12. This essay writing round tests the candidate’s written ability, knowledge of the topic, understanding of the topic and clarity of thoughts. So, practice writing short essays with a proper- beginning, middle and end. Practice how to put your thoughts in a words in logical and lucid manner.

13. While preparing for the WAT or the essay round, refer to available textbooks and guides. But the daily practice is the key here.

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Important FAQs Related to GD-PI-WAT

Q: What is WAT?

A: WAT or the Written Ability Test is the writing test conducted by various B-schools in India. It is a part of the MBA selection criteria. WAT is conducted for 15-30 minutes where candidates have to write a short essay on a given topic. WAT is conducted to analyse the students' writing skills and the ability to present and argument in a convincing manner.

Q: What kind of questions are asked in the WAT round?

A: There are no questions in the WAT round. Candidates are given a topic to write an essay. The WAT topic can be abstract or related to current affairs and trends. To prepare well for the WAT round make sure you are aware of the current happenings and occurrences, business, economics, trends, etc. Read a newspaper daily to perform well in this round.

Q: How can I approach the WAT topic?

A: Divide the WAT topic into three parts, i.e. introduction, body and conclusion. Firstly, understand and analyse the topic at hand carefully. Jot down the important points in rough. Start with an introduction to the topic. Make sure that the introduction is not too long. Do not divert from the topic. For the main body of the essay, talk about the topic in detail. Facts and figures always act as an added bonus. Keep the conclusion short and crisp. Mention the points included in the body and conclude it. Do not write an open ended conclusion.

Q: How can I prepare for a GD?

A: Group Discussion (GD) is all about speaking in public amid a group of competent candidates, hence, focus on gaining the subject knowledge or gathering information regarding the relevant topics. Read newspapers and magazines regularly and take notes to prepare on a variety of GD topics. This will surely come in handy. Maintain a timeline of the recent events and trends. You can also prepare with the help of mock GD sessions.

Q: What kind of questions will be asked in a GD?

A: Generally, the questions in the GD round are asked from current happenings and occurrences across national and international borders. The topics can be completely abstract or based on current events too. 

Q: How can I perform well in a GD?

A: When participating in a Group Discussion round (GD) focus on the content that you put forward. Focus on communication skills and leaderships skills. Back your answers with logic and reason. Be a good listener. Focus on facts and figures.

Q: Is it important to give an opinion during GD?

A: Yes, you may give an opinion but it should be backed by logic and facts. Having an opinion will give the panelists the window to understand your though process and perception.

Q: What should I carry to a Personal Interview?

A: When appearing for a Personal Interview make sure that you are dressed smartly. Do a background check of the B-school you are applying to. Ensure that you have a sound knowledge of the specialisation you have opted for and know enough about the course. Carry a well-written resume along with all the necessary documents decked properly in a folder.  You must also carry a portfolio or work sample neatly stacked in files (in case you have work experience), a notepad and a pen.

Q: How to handle a tough question at a Personal Interview?

A: If you are confronted with a question that you do not know or find difficult to answer, do not loose calm. Take your time to understand and analyse the question and then answer politely. Its always okay to say "I don't know" if you are not confident with your answer. You can always ask the panelists to allow you to answer the question later.

Q: Why do I need to have a resume to an MBA interview?

A: Having a well-written resume will highlight your leadership and other soft skills. A resume can be considered as an asset which will highlight the most important points of your skills and personality.

Q: How do I conclude the MBA interview?

A: When the panelists are done asking questions,  ask the panelists about the next steps and remind them about your strengths and key skills. Have some questions ready that you would want to ask the interviewers.  You can also talk about how the institute/college will help you in your career and that the programme is in line with your future goals. Always carry a smile and end the Personal Interview with a greeting.
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Vipra Shrivastava
Senior Manager - Content

Vipra is a massive Breaking Bad fan. When not watching crime drama series, she spends time in updating the list of places she wants to visit and people she wants to meet, but she is happiest in the company of dogs. ... Read Full Bio

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