14 Parameters on Which you are Judged During GD/WAT-PI Round of MBA Admission

Clearing the GD-WAT-PI rounds is crucial for MBA admission as the final selection is done on the basis of an aspirant's performance in these. Read here 14 parameters on which candidates are judged in GD-WAT-PI rounds of MBA colleges.

Many candidates prepare well for the Group Discussion (GD), Written Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI) BUT fail to make it to their dream B-School. Why does it happen? When a candidate appears for the GD-WAT-PI, they must keep in mind that they are being judged not only on their entrance exam score but also on what they have learned throughout their educational and professional journey as well as their personality traits which will make them good or a bad manager. 

A candidate's body language, communication ability, team spirit, convincing ability, opinions, knowledge, and general behaviour are the key aspects that are evaluated during the GD-PI-WAT round. One must be humble, likeable, knowledgeable and ambitious to be a good manager. MBA colleges too look for these qualities in their prospective students. To help candidates understand the GD-PI-WAT session better and prepare accordingly, Shiksha has prepared a list of 14 parameters on which they are judged in GD-WAT-PI.

Also Read: MBA Admission 2026: Application deadlines of top B-Schools

14 Parameters on Which You are Judged During GD/WAT-PI

1) Communication Skills

In GD-PI, one of the most important things that are noticed is your communication skills. In a GD, not only should you put your point across with clarity, but also assertively yet politely. Make sure that you are loud enough to be heard by everyone, but do not shout or be rude while conveying your thoughts. In the PI, be humble, soft-spoken and honest. Always remember that the interviewers know more than you. 

2) Written Ability Test

Lately, many B-schools have started conducting Written Ability Test (WAT). WAT is a round where candidates are judged on their writing skills. Since many candidates are good at expressing their thoughts verbally but their writing skill is not so strong, clearing this round becomes a challenge for them. When appearing for WAT, candidates must ensure that what they write should make sense, and most importantly, it must be grammatically correct. Try writing in short sentences, and don't use heavy words without knowing their meaning or usage. Add data and facts to make your essay convincing.

3) Subject Knowledge

Another crucial parameter on which a candidate is judged in GD, WAT and PI is subject knowledge. Whether appearing in a GD, WAT or PI, it is extremely important to have subject knowledge of the topic. Interviewers not only expect a candidate to speak or write, but they look for a matter that makes sense – this can only happen if you are well aware of the topic that is provided during the GD-WAT. 

Also Read: 200 Group Discussion Topics for MBA admission

4) Listening Power

In a GD, it is important to speak and put forth your views, but it is equally important to listen to others. This is one parameter that several candidates fail at. In an attempt to display their knowledge, they forget to listen to others. This may be dangerous because if you haven't heard the argument correctly, you will end up countering it incorrectly too.

5) Attitude

Always remember that your attitude will make a huge difference in GD-PI. Stay positive and show your positive personality. Be kind enough to give others a chance to speak and when putting forth your views, be polite. Do not let others have an impression about you are rude or arrogant.

6) Confidence

Being confident will help you reach great heights. If you have a valid point but you do not put it across confidently, you might fail to earn a brownie point there. On the other hand, if you speak with confidence, you will be noticed and people will be interested in listening to what you have to say. 

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7) Leadership Skills

When participating in a GD, it is important to lead the discussion. This will give the interviewer an impression that you are well aware of the topic that needs to be discussed. Driving the discussion is a good idea, but make sure that you appear as a leader and not a dominator. 

8) Way of Presenting Views

You must be careful about how you present your views. It must appear that the point that is being discussed in the GD is relevant and makes sense. Many candidates know what to talk about or write, but they do not know how to present it. Also, when appearing for WAT, the thought process must be presented linearly, so that it makes sense. Scattered thoughts will only confuse the examiner. 

9) Interaction Skills

It is very important to interact with your fellow mates, and if needed, with the examiner too. Use your interactive skills and start the discussion. Also, when attempting WAT, write as if you are interacting with the reader. This will help you in presenting your thoughts effortlessly, and at the same time, will make it simple for the examiner to understand your thought process. 

10) Decision-Making Ability

Candidates who possess decision-making ability are sure to mark an impression on the examiner. At any given point of time, the examiner might expect a decision from you. If you do not know how to make a decision, you might fumble and miss out on the chance of making it to the next round. 

11) Problem Solving Ability

Group Discussion and WAT are all about testing a candidate’s problem-solving ability. The examiner will lay utmost focus on how you respond to a particular situation. The problem put in front of you needs to be comprehended well to draw the right inference.

Also Read:

• Scored low in CAT? Don't fret. You can still get a good college
• How to get direct admission in top MBA colleges without CAT?

12) Critical Thinking Ability

Your ability to think rationally to understand or solve a problem is one of the parameters that is judged by the examiner during GD/WAT-PI. A candidate must have the ability to understand the logical connection between the ideas that are being presented and should identify the significance of ideas to succeed in GD-WAT-PI.

13) Analytical Thinking

A candidate must possess the quality of analytical thinking. For any given topic, the candidate must first gather information (using his/her GK skills), identify the issues and problems that need to be spoken about and organize the information in a systematic form. 

14) Open-mindedness

It is good to have a point of view, but at the same time, it is also important for the candidate to be open to new ideas and views too. Also, one of the qualities of a good candidate is to accept what is right with a positive approach. 

When it is time for you to appear in the GD-WAT-PI, keep in mind the above-mentioned parameters on which you will be judged. 

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