8 Personas You Encounter in a Group Discussion (GD)
Common Admission Test 2025 ( CAT )
Admit Card - 12 Nov '25
Group Discussion or GD is a tricky round of MBA admissions. It is unpredictable as neither do you know the participants, nor the topic. Read this article to know types of personalities you may meet in a GD.
It is much easier to showcase one’s talent in PI as compared to GD. PI is a one-on-one conversation with the interview panel where the focus is solely on you. In a GD, on the other hand, the panelists have to notice 8-10 candidates for their knowledge, communication, leadership and convincing skills at the same time. So, one can say that, pulling off a successful GD is a major battle won in the journey of MBA admission.
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Immediately after the CAT and other MBA entrance exam results are out, candidates have to appear for Group Discussion (GD), Written Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI) round. Admissions to these institutes are on the basis of performance in written test and GD/PI rounds.
For PwD candidates, facilities in CAT exam include, relaxation of marks in graduation. The minimum score required by PwD candidate in graduation for appearing in CAT exam is 45 per cent aggregate. Apart from that, such candidates are provided scribe service at the exam centre. To avail the service such candidates have to fill the relevant form during registration process.
Every candidate must carry a blue/black ball point pen and a few copies of their passport size photo to the exam centre. They must not carry any stationary item other than the pen. Candidates who have diabetes can carry fruits as per medical prescription. No other item will be allowed inside the exam venue. Candidates must not carry bags or valuables as there will be no arrangement for depositing while candidates appear for the exam. Candidates must also not carry notebooks or rough paper to the CAT exam centre. Any candidate found with an unauthorised item will be disqualified.
But in a GD, candidates have to present their opinion with 8-10 other candidates trying to enforce their opinion alongside. Your performance in GD is affected by people around you. So we decided to list out the types of characters / personalities who participate in a GD.
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Also Read: Few tips to perform well in GD/PI
Here are a eight personalities you may encounter during a GD
1. Leaders
When a GD commences, no particular role or character is defined. Characters automatically come out during the discussion. Often, one person stands out and emerges to be the leader of the group. Leaders are those who direct the discussion. It is not necessary that they’ll speak much but they take care that the discussion must go well. They try to give a chance to all the GD members to share views. They tend to be generous but quick with observations.
2. Discussion Hogs
You will definitely see one or more persons of this category during a GD. Hogs are people, who has something to say more or less for almost anything and everything. These characters have a tendency to dominate the discussion. They can be harmful to you as well as the entire group as they do not allow others to speak or share their thoughts.
On the CAT exam day, candidates have to follow a number of guidelines which include cooperating with the exam centre staff during identification process, following instructions given be the invigilator and following the test navigation for solving the questions. There are some key dos and don'ts that candidates should follow on the CAT exam day, which have been listed below: CAT exam day dos: 1. Reach the examination centre at the reporting time mentioned on your CAT admit card. 2. Carry two copies of the CAT admit card, one photo ID card, passport size photos 3. PwD candidates should carry the relevant certificates and documents as prescribed by the examination authorities. 4. Carry a blue/black ball point pen for signing the attendance sheet 5. Carry personal drinking water, hand sanitizer, face masks and gloves 6. Cooperate with the test centre staff and follow the instructions 7. While entering the answers, use only the computer mouse. Do not touch the keyboard as doing so will lead to screen locking. CAT exam day don'ts: 1. Do not carry prohibited items such as bags, purses, pencil box, beepers, wrist watch, calculators, mobile phones, electronic devices, scanners, cameras, wireless/Bluetooth transmission or any such communication devices. 2. Don't wear closed shoes, jewellery made of metal, jackets, clothes with pockets, mehendi on palms. Socks are allowed inside it. 3. Don't wear caps, hoodies or jackets/shirts with pockets 4. Don't be late for the exam. The entry gates will be closed 15 minutes before the commencement of exam. No candidate will be allowed to enter the exam centre after that. 5. Don't cheat or indulge in mal practice. You can be disqualified due to any such ACT. 6. Don't create a ruckus inside the test lab 7. Don't leave your seat until the exam duration gets over and the invigilator announces exit.
The top 6 Indian Institute of Management are given the responsibility to conduct the Common Admission Test exam. Each of the top Indian Institutes of Management conducts the exam rotation-wise after a gap of five years. The responsibility to conduct the CAT 2023 was given to IIM Lucknow. Professor Sanjeet Singh had been appointed as the CAT convener. For CAT 2024, IIM Calcutta will be the exam convening institute. IIM Calcutta will be responsible for preparation and conduct of the exam without glitches, in collaboration with TCS for test labs and centres. The institute will design the question papers, exam pattern and guidelines, as well as manage the conduct of exam and preparation of admit card, answer key and result.
CAT Conducting Indian Institute of Management Over the Years:
- 2023: IIM Lucknow
- 2022: IIM Bangalore
- 2021: IIM Ahmedabad
- 2020: IIM Indore
- 2019: IIM Kozhikode
- 2018: IIM Calcutta
- 2017: IIM Lucknow
- 2016: IIM Bangalore
- 2015: IIM Ahmedabad
- 2014: IIM Indore
- 2013: IIM Indore
- 2012: IIM Kozhikode
- 2011: IIM Calcutta
- 2010: IIM Lucknow
- 2009: IIM Ahmedabad
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.
Also Read: Top Group Discussion Topics for MBA Admission 2023
3. Introverts
If you see a person in your GD who is shy and speaks less, you may categorise him/her as introvert. The reason behind their shyness could vary from lack of confidence or feeling over-powered by other strong contenders. Or they may be naturally introverts. The introverts may or may not present their point in the whole discussion. And if they state their point, chances of cutting their point is higher and easier. However, if encouraged by the leader of the group, these people could state their view points well.
Also Read: Five situations that may stump you in PI
4. Challengers
The one who has a question for every comment made during the discussion are the challengers. These people try to target mostly on the statement made by the strong contenders. Challengers’ questions can be right or wrong. They play an important role in a discussion as they help in bringing out the real facts. But sometimes, the situation can be uncomfortable, as they might ask something embarrassing or personal.
5. Devil’s Advocates
Devil’s advocates, also known as butchers, are people in a group who are in search of an opportunity to cut others’ point. They are those who do not let others complete their sentence. They just state their point of views without letting others speak or complete their sentences. They are impatient and tend to speak their mind. They believe in getting things without giving it a second thought. The group members need to be cautious of such characters.
6. Protectors
Protectors are those people in a group who take care of keeping the conversation on track. If they see that the conversation is diverting from the subject, they ask others to get back to the subject. These people are quietly forceful, talk straight and to the point. They are different from leaders as they do not tend to lead the conversation, but talk straight and stick to the subject.
Also Read: 14 Parameters on which you are judged during a GD/WAT/PI
7. Observers
These people are hard to understand. Initially, they are quite and rarely speak. In the early stages of the discussion, anyone can confuse them with introverts. But the USP of these characters are that they come out to be intelligent and well organised. They first observe everyone around them and the conversation going on. They understand the concepts first and later give valid points with logical solutions. They are sharp and resourceful.
8. Aggressive/ Loud
You might see people with loud body language or who are very aggressive. They tend to disturb the statements with loudness such as speaking in high voice or loud actions like banging desk or stomping foot. While they speak, others cannot speak. Sometimes, it can become a little messy to deal with them. Don't worry about such candidates. They will be automatically marked down for aggresive behavious.
So, what kind of GD character do you aspire to be?
GD/PI experience shared by IIM students
| Student Name |
IIM |
Interview |
|---|---|---|
| Akshay Mehendiratta |
IIM Ahmedabad |
|
| Anchal Taatya |
IIM Ahmedabad |
|
| Ananya Mishra |
IIM Ahmedabad |
|
| Pratham Mani |
IIM Ahmedabad |
|
| Omkar Mukherjee |
IIM Calcutta |
|
| Vaibhav Jatin Shah |
||
| Parth Agarwal |
||
| Anshul Aggarwal |
IIM Kozhikode |
|
| Ankur Parmar |
IIM Kozhikode |
|
| Priyanjit Biswas |
||
| Ruchika Bhartiya |
||
| Parth Agarwal |
IIM Bangalore |
|
| Ankit Anand |
IIM Bangalore |
|
| Pratham Mani |
||
| Aditi Agarwal |
IIM Ahmedabad |
|
| Gursimran Ahuja |
IIM Ahmedabad |
|
| Biswanath Chakraborty |
||
| Nishant Shah |
IIM Ahmedabad |
|
| Biswanath Chakraborty |
IIM Bangalore |
|
| Achintya Bhattacharya |
IIM Bangalore |
|
| Biswanath Chakraborty |
||
| Shubham Varshney |
IIM Ahmedabad |
|
| Shubham Ranka |
IIM Calcutta |
|
| Dhiraj Bedi |
IIM Calcutta |
|
| Wasim Khan Pathan |
IIM Calcutta |
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