After clearing theCommon Admission Test (CAT), now is the time for MBA aspirants to prepare for theWritten Ability Test (WAT)andPersonal Interview (PI)rounds at someIndian Institutes of Management (IIMs)and other B-schools starting around the second week of February to continue till March.



While CAT was a computer-based objective type test, WAT and PI that has more or less replaced thegroup discussion (GD)as a screening method tests the written and spoken communication abilities of the candidates.



WAT essentially checks clarity of thought, quality of expression and basic general awareness of current affairs. Candidates are usually given a topic and asked to write an essay of 300-400 words. The time limit varies from institute to institute. While IIM-Bangalore gives them 30 minutes, IIM-Ahmedabad provides only 10 minutes.



Candidates, who may have applied to several institutes, should be prepared to face one or more of group discussions, WAT or group tasks, as in the case of Symbiosis. Yet others like MICA use an aptitude test and SP Jain Institute of Management and Research has a personal as well as group interview.



During the shortlisting of candidates for admission, the institutes consider several aspects to assess each candidates suitability for the program by was of personality, past academic record, clarity of thought, general knowledge and work profile in case of those who has work experience.



While there is no magic bullet to shoot off a perfect essay, in general it should be in the proper format, with an introduction, main argument and a conclusion. Here again, clarity of thought, writing flow, ability to illustrate points with examples and reasoning are much valued. Time factor also comes into play with the candidate expected to complete the task in 20-30 minutes.



IIM Ahmedabad,IIM CalcuttaandIIM Lucknowgive 10% weightage to the essay,IIM Bangalore, IIM IndoreandIIM Trichygive it a weightage of 15%. IIM Kozhikode is the only IIM that still conducts the GD

Hy,

Yes you can apply for other top b school after cat results.

Some factors you should keep in mind while choosing a B-school are:



Institutes accepting CAT scores

CAT Cut-offs

B-School Ranking

Fee structure and other expenses Placements

Faculty

Curriculum



Next focus should be on the next two big stages- Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interviews (PI). Do not let inadequate preparation for GD-PI ruin your chances of getting into a B-School of your choice. Plan a strategy for this as well. Personal interview is all about telling the panel why you deserve the chance to study in their reputed institution.



Also, every b-school has a distinct GD/PI process for giving out calls. It is extremely important to know about the format for each call, else you might reach unprepared for the same and might miss out on your chance of getting an enrolment in a top b-school.



I wish you all the best.

Cheers !!

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