IIM Admission 2023: Subhra, from Durgapur, Shares Her PI WAT Experience at IIM Calcutta

Subhra Mondal, a 97+ percentiler in CAT 2022, has made her way to IIM Calcutta PGP 2023-25. In an exclusive conversation with Shiksha, she shares her PI and WAT experience at IIM Calcutta. Read on.

Subhra Mondal Shares Her IIM Calcutta PI WAT Experience Here

IIM Calcutta Admission 2023: Subhra Mondal from Durgapur converted IIM Calcutta admission call for PGP admission. She secured a percentile score nearing 97 in CAT 2022 to get a call from the top MBA college. This was her second attempt to the MBA entrance exam. In the first attempt she secured 73 percentile. 

Subhra completed her BTech (Chemical Engineering) degree from NIT Durgapur in 2021. Soon after the completion of the course, she started working as an Associate Consultant at Capgemini. In her conversation, she lays emphasis on the importance of MBA for an accelerated career growth. While sharing her experience, Subhra told Shiksha about how one must not fear taking tests. Scroll down to read about Subhra’s PI WAT experience at IIM Calcutta.

IIM Calcutta PI-WAT Process

The selection criteria for IIM Calcutta comprises shortlisted candidates to appear for PI and WAT rounds. The shortlisting happens based on the CAT scores. The final admission is done on the basis of collective performance in all selection rounds.

• Written Ability Test: Candidates are given a topic to put their thoughts forward on the same. Candidates may get selected or rejected based on the clarity of their thoughts during the WAT round.
• Personal Interview (PI): Almost all MBA colleges across India have been conducting a PI round to select candidates for admission. A group of panellists will evaluate the overall readiness of the shortlisted candidate for admission.

Also Read: IIM Calcutta Admission Process

IIM Calcutta WAT Experience

All candidates who appeared for the IIM Calcutta WAT and PI rounds were grouped. Each group had a different panel of interviewers. We all were given a sheet with the WAT topic. We had to complete the WAT within a stipulated time frame.

IIM Calcutta WAT Topic: My WAT topic in IIM Calcutta was about the profession of content writers.

IIM Calcutta WAT Answer

I wrote down about the topic by laying the following points: 

• Job of content writers
• Why companies require content writers
• What are the skills they need for this profession
• Whether they will be facing any trouble with he advancement of technology, including chatgpt. 

IIM Calcutta Interview Experience

I was the second last in my panel to be interviewed. I was waiting at the doorstep of my panel room even before the person before me came out of the room. As soon as the candidate before me came out, one of the interviewer called out my name and asked me to come in.

Date and time: March 25, 2023, at 8 AM

Venue: IIM Calcutta

Number of panellists: 3 (all male)

IIM Calcutta PI Questions

P1: Give us a short introduction of yourself in two minutes.

Subhra: I answered this question as per the IIM PI preparation.

P2: As you stated that you liked Mathematics at your school, so let us give you a question on probability.

Subhra: Yes Sir, I liked maths during my school time a lot. However, there are chances I may have forgotten a few concepts and might not be able to give you the correct answer but I will definitely try.

Then P2 gave me 1 probability question.

Gave them a wrong answer because of some mistakes but the interviewer taught me the correct way of solving the question.

P1: Tell me the full form of ADDA (This was a question on a development authority in Durgapur).

Subhra: I gave the answer to this ‘Asansol Durgapur Development Authority’

P1: Which is the most populated city in West Bengal after Kolkata and the third most populated city?

Subhra: I gave the answer to this question correctly.

P1: Which person’s birth anniversary comes on 1st of July?

Subhra: I told Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, he is the 1st CM of West Bengal and also has many several contributions towards the development of WB and his death anniversary also comes in 1st of July.

P3: Ok Subhra, why is Foxcon there in the news lately? 

Subhra: I answered this question correctly. (one follow-up question came on the same topic)

P3: What is your views on the women's reservation made recently?

Subhra: Sir can you be more specific about it so that I can mention my views?

P3: (Elaborated about the same) It’s okay if you don’t know about it you don’t have to tell about it.

Me: OK sir, I’ll surely look into it later on.

P3: Ok, so tell me the difference between emotional intelligence and IQ.

Subhra: Gave generic thoughts about the same. (a follow-up question was asked on this, which was also answered)

P1: What is your job profile and what are the tasks you are supposed to do?

Subhra: (Answered this question by explaining the job profile, with roles and responsibilities)

P2: What is the difference between Chemistry and Chemical Engineering?

Subhra: (answered the question correctly)

P3: Suppose you get an admission offer from two colleges X and Y, so what are the factors you’ll be deciding while choosing a college among them. (answered this question, no follow-up questions came)

P2: Okay Subhra, take a toffee and you can leave now.

I stood up to leave and P1 interrupted “Wait you didn’t tell us about your hobbies”. I sat down again and told them.

P1: Don’t you like reading novels?

Subhra: Yes I do but I have read only a few so far so didn’t mention it.

Asked me about some Bengali novels and continued the discussion on that for some five more minutes and left after greeting them.

Verdict: Converted

Thoughts on IIM Calcutta Interview

The panellists were very calm and helpful as well. It is completely fine if one doesn’t know the answers of some questions asked during a interview. However, it should not reflect through the body language that the candidate is not eager to learn about the same.

Read More MBA Interview Experiences

The table below mentions some other MBA interview experiences at top colleges:

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