What does WAT test? Find out: MBAUniverse.com presents FAQs - Part 2
Added: (Thu Nov 24 2011)
Pressbox (Press Release) -
The CAT 2011 results will be declared on 11 January 2012. Post the results the short lists of candidates to be called for GD-PI-WAT will be prepared by the respective IIMs. If you think that you will be able to make it to that list, then this is the right time to start preparing for these rounds.
For admissions 2012 most of the IIMs have replaced GD with WAT (Writing Ability Test), which will have good weightage for the final selection of candidates. To help you prepare in the right direction for WAT, MBAUniverse.com has launched the special series ‘Conquering the WAT Round’. Under this we are providing you expert advice on all aspects of essay writing.
We had presented to you the first part of the FAQs on Essay Writing recently http://www.mbauniverse.com/article.php?id=5212. Today, we present you the Part 2 of the FAQs. This is the concluding part of the FAQs.
Read further to get your answers:
Q. What is the duration of the WAT round?
A. The duration of writing the essays vary between IIMs. While IIM Ahmadabad gives you the duration of 10 minutes, IIM Bangalore’s Essay Writing duration is 30 minutes. In IIM Lucknow it is for 15 minutes. Here it becomes a challenge for the candidates to write the essay in such a short span. But with regular practice, this will not be a matter of concern for the students.
Q. How should one do the time management?
A. Remember that you will get limited time for the Essay. Manage the time properly. As Sidharth Balakrishna, CAT expert, author and IIM Calcutta alumnus suggests, "Spend the first few seconds in thinking about what to write and structuring your thoughts. Make sure you leave a couple of minutes at least at the end to review what you have written. The last few minutes can be used to check the flow of the essay-whether the points you have made seem integrated together and also to correct the grammatical errors, small mistakes, errors in syntax etc. However, do not try to change too much in the last few minutes."
Q: What should be the length of essay?
A: There is no word limit. It depends on you how you write in the given amount of time.
Q: What should be the right pattern for writing the essay?
A: While writing an essay for XAT, you should be able to showcase your subject knowledge and clarity of thoughts first. You should be able to balance your flow of ideas properly. If you start discussing a point, finish the discussion and then move on to the next point. Always give examples and facts. Make sure you write in correct grammar and spellings along with a neat handwriting.
Your essay must adhere to the given word limit. Make sure that your essay has an introduction, main body and conclusion. Be analytical: focus on supporting your opinions with adequate logic, examples, data and facts.
You should divide your essay in paragraphs. Different paragraphs express different ideas that contribute to the main idea. The first sentence of your paragraph should talk about what you are going to say in the paragraph; supporting sentences, which shall expand the main idea introduced in the first sentence and the concluding sentence, which shall what has been said and provide a logical conclusion of the idea.
Q. While writing the essay what are the key points to be kept in mind?
A. While writing the essay you must keep in mind some points such as you will not get any option of topics and will have to write on what you have been asked to write on. As soon as the topic is declared by the panel, your time starts. Here, the key is to write as fast as possible in order to finish the essay. Don’t waste time in thinking and planning the structure of the essay, you will not be able to complete it.
Essay writing should be precise rather than beating the bush or repeating the same point again and again.
Your focus should be to start the essay and put as many important points as possible. It is not a compulsion to present it in an impressive and flowery language. But accuracy and correctness of spelling and grammar definitely matters a lot. It is important to develop the ability to think and articulate fast. For the B-School panelists, it is a tool to see how you structure your thoughts and produce them in least time.
Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more expert tips on Essay Writing.