IIM Admission 2020: Somansh Chordia shares his WAT-PI experience at IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Calcutta

Somansh Chordia, 100 percentiler in CAT 2019, shares his WAT-PI experience at IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Calcutta.

Somansh Chordia

Somansh Chordia, 100 percentiler in CAT 2019 received interview calls from all the IIMs. Sharing his experience of Written Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI), he told Shiksha that while he confidently converted IIM Ahmedabad interview, at IIM Calcutta it was a different experience.The interview at IIM Calcutta ended abruptly.

A Mechanical Engineer from IIT Bombay, Somansh cleared CAT exam in his first attempt with 100 percentile and plans to join IIM Ahmedabad.

Also Read: CAT 2019 Topper Interview: How Somansh Chordia Scored 100 Percentile in First Attempt

IIM Ahmedabad WAT-PI Experience

Date & place of interview: February 23, 2020, Mumbai

WAT Topic: An IITian working at Google has come up with an idea to make schooling online

Summary of what I wrote: Since the format of written test is well defined, I wrote about the evidences that would support and oppose the claim that online schooling is better. I just listed the differences in benefits and ways in which it could be verified. While taking a stand, I wrote against the proposal.

Personal Interview Experience

A detailed account of your PI. This will include what was asked, and what you answered.

Request you to give your answers in detail & not just mention ‘answered’.

Q: I was asked to introduce myself which I did by telling about college, hometown, family background

Q: The second question was, ‘Did you get placed and if yes, where?’

A: I told them about it and since it was a good core (Engineering) firm, they enquired if I would like to join it, to which I said no and then a couple of questions on how did I get selected if I wasn’t aiming for it and why would I not like to join. Answer to which included a part of my motivation to pursue an MBA.

Q: Then they asked me about my hobbies.

I said badminton as one of them and one of the panelist started asking technical questions

Q: How does a shuttlecock work

(answered)

Q: It’s displacement vs time when thrown vertically

(answered)

Q: What’s chain rule in differentiation

(answered)

Q: How to derive integration by parts using chain rule

(couldn’t answer)

The other panelist started asking me about my motivation to pursue an MBA and it led to a series of questions probably because my answer wasn’t satisfactory

What were India’s promises in Paris Agreement (since I had mentioned sustainability in my previous answer)

I didn’t know the exact promises but I didn’t want to say a plain no and wanted to show that I have some knowledge in this field, I began talking about SDGs. As soon as I started speaking about it, he corrected me but allowed me to continue and in the end I admitted that I didn’t know about the promises made in the Paris Agreement.

Q: What are your views on increasing consumption in rural India?

A: I asked him to explain the question, twice. I gave a simple answer that since increasing consumption would lead to an increase in the GDP, and our nation needs that, rural certainly has more scope but we should be careful and not repeat the side effects that increased consumption in urban areas has caused. He didn’t seem convinced. I felt he was expecting a more economical answer.

Q: Do you have any questions for us?

A: I was surprised as none of my friends who were already interviewed, hadn’t told me about this and I wasn’t prepared. I said no and they asked me again if I was sure. I did not ask any question and the interview ended there

Status: Converted

IIM Calcutta WAT-PI Experience

Date & place of interview: February 27, 2020, Mumbai

WAT Topic: Is introducing bullet trains in India a good idea

Summary of what I wrote: Since I didn’t know much about the details, I listed the different parameters that should be considered while taking the decision and ended by saying that since bullet trains is a pretty old technology and newer ones like hyperloop are almost ready, we should plan for that if at all it is needed.

Personal Interview Experience

1. Introduction

Same as above

2. They started talking about my hometown Nagpur. It included questions like what is it famous for, how do I find it different from Mumbai and what according to me is the reason for those differences.
3. Do I have any role model

I said I don’t have a single role model but some people inspire me. Then they asked me about the qualities that I learnt from them which are useful in management. I couldn’t answer this satisfactorily.

4. Hobbies

I mentioned reading autobiographies but couldn’t justify it well as I hadn’t read much during college. The interview kind of abruptly ended there.

Status: Did not convert

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