Written Ability Test

The aim of this test is to gauge your writing skills along with your ability to put forward your idea
in the given constraints. To crack this test following are the tips which can help you.
Gather your points. First few minutes should be dedicated for that.
Structure is the golden rule. Writing in a structured form shows clarity of thought and will
fetch you more points.
Introduction, main body and conclusion are the framework which one should follow while
writing.
Attention to grammar and spellings is a must.
Remarks on politics and religion should not be over-zealous.
Practice makes one perfect, hence writing 1-2 essays daily along with timing yourself will
help you work under pressure on the D day.
Being precise and well versed will be helpful. Take help from teachers and college
seniors for the same. Contact your mentor.
PESTEL is a good tool to analyze a wide variety of topics from different vantage points.
P Political
E Economical
S Social
T Technological
E Environmental
L Legal
First impression is important, hence starting with interesting first line or a quote are
amongst the good ways to start.
Keeping It Simple is the key. Avoid jargon but good vocabulary is advantage. If you
possess limited vocabulary then keep sentences short, precise and lucid.
Use active verbs in the sentence structure to keep up the readers interest
Example : Avoid: This is a good introduction of the topic
Use : This introduces the topic well
Supplement your ideas and opinions with logic. Data facts and figures can be used to
support your idea.
Most IMPORTANT, handwriting should be neat and clear. Writing should be legible.

PERSONAL INTERVIEW

Dressing etiquette is extremely important. Being well groomed makes a major difference.
Shave properly and wear ironed formals, preferably a black suit with a blue tie. For girls
anything which is business formal works.
You must be thorough with your resume. Be well prepared with questions on courses
you completed in graduation, especially subjects that you claim you are interested in,
term projects in case of the engineering students, academic details etc. For people with
work experience, you can be questioned on your role at your organization and any
projects you may have worked on. Also, be prepared to answer questions on the
1

concerned industry. Adequate info on your industry with some insights could be a
differentiating factor.
Confident body language and good communication skills are expected
Maintain eye contact and address all the panel members
Goal clarity: Answers should be in line with the question asked; it is expected to have
reasonable clarity regarding your goals.
Don't be nervous. Try to keep a conversation going. The interviewers want to know more
about you.
Don't mention hobbies that you can't explain well.
Identify your strengths and be prepared to talk about situations where you found it useful
at work or in college.
Basic etiquettes like requesting permission before entering the room, greeting the
panelists and being polite go a long way in creating a lasting impression.
Listen to questions carefully, ask for clarifications if required
Maintain brevity in answers, no beating around the bush
Don't rush into your answer. Take a few seconds.
Make sure to smile. It goes a long way.

POSSIBLE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

1) Why MBA?
2) About yourself, your strength and weaknesses. This question needs to be answered very
carefully and can only be answered through thorough introspection.
3) Why should you be chosen over the other candidates?
4) Short and long term goals.
5) Questions on graduation subjects. You may prepare 1-2 subjects in detail should you be
asked about your favorite subjects.
6) People with work experience are expected to know relevant details about their company and
job profile; an indicative list includes stock prices, turnover, latest results, key business areas,
competitors, etc.
7) In case you have switched jobs, you might be asked for the reasons
8) You may be asked about your hobbies. Be sure to only tell about hobbies you actually
pursued and can substantiate as well. For example, if you like travelling, you could be asked
questions on where all have you have travelled. Further, you could also be asked about those
places, so prepare accordingly. The key is to not fake/lie here
9) Narrate an incident where you faced a challenge, how you overcame it and the lessons learnt
10) Which among the new IIMs would you choose to go to if you get through all? (Talk in terms
of faculty, pedagogy etc). Its advisable to go through websites of all the institutes you have a
call from to update yourself with relevant details.
11) Justify time lags, if any, in education
12) In case you say that you would like to take up marketing, you could be asked the following
questions (and similar questions for other fields as well)
a. Sell a pen/bottle etc.
2

b. Difference between consumer & customer

c. 4 Ps of marketing
d. Difference between sales and marketing
13) Questions on your ability to estimate (e.g. how much does it cost to build a 1 km road) and
come up with answers. Your thought process matters here, not the answer. A good way to
tackle these questions is by thinking aloud so that the panel gets a clear idea of your approach
14) What would you do if you do not get admission this year?
15) Difference between MBA/PGDM
16) Meaning of your name.
17) Qualities of a good manager and a good leader, difference between a manager and a leader
18) Abstract questions like whats the difference between science and art? Is a scientist an artist
as well? Justify
19)Where do you belong and what is the history behind the city? What is so special about the
city?

Current Affairs ( Note - Dont limit just to facts. Develop an opinion on all of these topics)
1. Read up on all Government initiatives like Start-up India, Smart cities, Digital India,
Make-In-India etc.
2. Net Neutrality
3. Indias relationships with countries such as Nepal, Iran, Japan, France, Russia, UAE,
China, Pakistan, South Korea etc. ( Note that India has made significant strides in the
recent past with these countries, and hence important to know the developments )
4. Oil Crisis
5. Rationalization of subsidies - pros and cons
6. Is there a right method to calculate Indias GDP?
7. Yuan Devaluation and its impact on India
8. Budget 2016-17 ( Very very important )
9. BS VI Norms- Challenges
10. Why is India Industrial production slowing down? - Reasons and Solutions
11. GST
12. Article 370
13. RBI and rate cuts
14. US Presidential Race
15. Zika Virus