This book is designed to help candidates achieve mastery in the three critical sections of a B-school selection process: Written Assessment Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD), and Personal Interview (PI). While WAT/AWT and GD can be prepared for and mastered over a relatively short period of time, preparation for the personal interview is a longer process. Hence, that is the area we have dedicated significant amount of space to in this book. In the Written Assessment Test (WAT) and Academic Writing Test (AWT) section, we talk about the reason B-Schools have started to include this section quite regularly in recent times in their evaluation process. We touch upon the key skills that are tested in this section, and the various question types. We follow that up with the recommended approach to tackle each type of WAT question and end with a sample WAT essay constructed bit by bit using the recommended approach.
About the Author
Abhishek (Andy) Anand, beginning in 2010, has mentored hundreds of students for CAT, CLAT and GMAT. He has conducted several successful workshops all over Delhi – in IIT Delhi, in SRCC and in several colleges. What sets him apart from several other people in the coaching and training industry is the astounding success rate of his students. His incredible energy in the classroom, his ability to connect at a personal level with his students and his quirky yet elegant approach to Logical Reasoning have made him one of the most sought after mentors in the country.
Pradeep (Shastry) Vedula is a purchase & supply chain consultant with one of the leading global management consultancy firms. An alumnus of IIM Bangalore, he has been actively involved in mentoring and coaching several hundreds of students over more than a decade. He is a Dale Carnegie certified trainer and his passions are teaching, writing, reading and traveling. Pradeep lives in Mumbai and one of his life goals is to run the Mumbai marathon.
Table of Contents:
Preface
About the Book
One Free Mock Interview with the Author of the Book*
Words, and words are all I have…
Chapter 1. Written Ability Test and Academic Writing Test
What is this Section all About?
Why do B-schools have the WAT Section?
What are the Key Skills Required to do Well in WAT? And how does one go about Building These Skills?
What are the Different Kinds of WAT Questions?
Chapter 2. WAT Practice Questions
Introduction
How to Practice WAT Questions Effectively?
Input Stem 1
Input Stem 2
Input Stem 3
Input Stem 4
Input Stem 5
Input Stem 6
Input Stem 7
Input Stem 8
Input Stem 9
Input Stem 10
Input Stem 11
Input Stem 12
Input Stem 13
Input Stem 14
Input Stem 15
Input Stem 16
Whole better than the sum
Chapter 3. Group Discussion
Introduction
What is a Group Discussion? How is it Structured?
What Skills are Tested in a GD?
How should one Prepare for GD?
How to Brainstorm for Ideas in a GD?
What are the Different Types of Topics in GDs?
General Points for any GD
But first… Know thyself
Chapter 4. Who am I?
Introduction
STUD-DUD Continuum
1. STUD
2. NERD
3. DUDE
4. DUD
Chapter 5. The Sales Pitch
What is an Interview?
The Sales Pitch
How to Make a Successful Sales Pitch – the Raft and the Rower!
Chapter 6. Building the Raft
Introduction
The Big 5
1. Academic Consistency
2. Position of Responsibility
3. Extra-Curricular Activities
4. Internships
5. Hobbies
Sample Curriculum Vitae
The STUD
A Friend Like Me
How does one do that?
Chapter 7. The Master Rower
Introduction
The 7-Sided Star
The Heart of the Star
Create the Dump List
Choose the Best and Choose Across
Double Litmus Test
Sequence of Events
Some Don’ts
Some Do’s
1. Academics
2. Internship/Work Experience/Projects
Some Do’s
Some Don’ts
3. Extracurricular Activities
4. Current Affairs
5. Profile Weaknesses
6. Strengths and Weaknesses
7. Hobbies
CV of a Friend Like Me
Interview Transcript
Chapter 8. The Mother of all Interview Questions 155
Why MBA?
Dressing up for the Big Day
Body Language in the Interview
Chapter 9. Discussion with the Panelists 159
Discussion 1
Interview Transcript
Discussion 2
Interview Transcript
Discussion 3
Interview Transcript
Discussion 4
Interview Transcript
Chapter 10. Interview Transcripts of Students Who Made it to Top B-Schools 187
Interview Transcript 1
Interview Transcript 2
Interview Transcript 3
Interview Transcript 4
Interview Transcript 5
Interview Transcript 6
Interview Transcript 7
Interview Transcript 8
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