Many applicants put a lot of effort into their preparation for the Group Discussion (GD), Written Ability Test (WAT), and Personal Interview (PI). Yet, they still need to make some errors and get into their desired business school. Candidates taking the GD-WAT-PI should be aware that their performance will be evaluated based on their educational background and professional experience and their personality qualities that will determine whether they make a good or bad manager.

These rounds primarily focus on evaluating a candidate's body language, communication skills, teamwork, persuasiveness, opinions, knowledge, and general interpersonal behaviour. To be a successful manager, one must be modest, pleasant, knowledgeable, and ambitious. MBA schools and their potential students also seek these characteristics. This article has prepared a list of the criteria for evaluating candidates in the GD-WAT-PI session to enable candidates to understand the GD-PI-WAT session better and prepare accordingly.

Communication Skills

Communication skills refer to the ability to express oneself verbally and non-verbally effectively. In a GD-PI round of MBA admission, good communication skills are crucial as they demonstrate your ability to articulate your thoughts and ideas clearly and concisely.

Therefore, strong communication skills demonstrate your capacity for clear expression and courteous interaction with others, which is crucial in group settings and during interviews. It presents your capacity for logical and coherent argumentation and comprehension of and responsiveness to the viewpoints of others.

Writing Availability 

The Written Ability Test (WAT) is a round of the MBA admission process where candidates are evaluated based on their writing skills. Many business schools have started including WAT as part of their selection process to assess the candidates' ability to communicate effectively in written form.

When writing for the WAT, candidates should ensure that their writing makes sense and is grammatically correct. Using short sentences and avoiding complex vocabulary or heavy words that the candidate needs to become more familiar with can help improve the clarity of the writing. Additionally, including data and facts to support the arguments can make the essay more convincing.

It is also essential to follow the given instructions, format, and word limit of the essay, as these are also considered while evaluating the candidates. Overall, in WAT, the evaluators are looking for candidates who can communicate their ideas effectively, have a good command of the language, and present their ideas logically and coherently.

Subject Knowledge

Subject knowledge is a crucial parameter on which a candidate is judged in GD, WAT and PI. A candidate needs to understand the topic well to effectively participate in the group discussion, written ability test, or personal interview.

In a GD, having subject knowledge allows the candidate to articulate their thoughts and ideas clearly and concisely and to contribute meaningfully to the discussion. It also allows the candidate to respond to the perspectives of others logically and coherently and to build on the ideas of other group members.

In WAT, having subject knowledge allows the candidate to write an essay that is well-structured and makes sense. It will enable the candidate to include relevant data and facts to support their arguments and to present their ideas logically and coherently.

In PI, having subject knowledge allows the candidate to answer the interviewers' questions confidently and informally. It will enable the candidate to demonstrate their understanding of the topic and to provide specific examples and evidence to support their arguments.

Listening Power

Not listening to others can be dangerous because if you have not heard the argument correctly, you will also end up countering it incorrectly. This can lead to misunderstandings and make it difficult for the group to reach a consensus on the discussed topic. Additionally, it may also give an impression to the evaluators that the candidate is not a good listener and cannot work in a team.

Furthermore, actively listening to others allows you to understand their perspectives, build on their ideas, and respond to them constructively and productively, which can lead to a more productive and successful GD/WAT-PI, and it is hence the crucial component in which candidates are judged.

Positive Attitude

Attitude is a crucial parameter on which a candidate is judged in WAT/GD-PI. Your attitude can significantly impact how you are perceived by the evaluators and your ability to participate in the group discussion or personal interview effectively.

It is essential to stay positive and show an upbeat personality during WAT/GD-PI. This means being friendly, approachable, and open-minded. Being kind enough to give others a chance to speak and being polite when putting forth your views can make a good impression on the evaluators and your peers. It also creates a positive and collaborative environment that allows for a productive and successful group discussion or interview.

Confidence

Confidence is necessary because it allows you to express your ideas and thoughts effectively. It demonstrates your ability to handle pressure and think on your feet. Suppose you have a valid point but need to communicate it more confidently. In that case, it may need to be shared more effectively, and you may fail to earn a positive impression on the evaluators. On the other hand, if you speak confidently, you will be noticed, and people will be interested in listening to what you have to say.

Confidence also helps in building a positive image of yourself. A confident person is perceived as more competent, knowledgeable and trustworthy. This can be beneficial when trying to persuade others to accept your ideas or build a consensus. So, confidence is a vital parameter on which candidates are judged on the GD/WAT-PI round of MBA admission.

Leadership Skills

Leadership is an important parameter on which a candidate is judged in the GD/WAT-PI round of MBA admission. When participating in a GD, it is essential to lead the discussion, as it demonstrates your ability to take charge and guide the group towards a solution or a consensus.

Leading the discussion effectively means displaying an in-depth understanding of the topic and providing relevant and insightful contributions to the debate. This helps establish you as a leader willing to take the initiative and guide the group towards a productive outcome.

However, balancing leading the discussion and being a dominator is essential. A dominator dominates the conversation, not allowing others to express their ideas, or interrupting others when speaking. This can be perceived as arrogant and may hinder the group's ability to reach a consensus.

Way of presenting Views

When participating in GD, WAT, or PI, you must be careful about how you present your views. Many candidates may know what to talk about or write but must figure out how to explain it effectively. It is essential that the points you make appear relevant and make sense in the discussion or essay context.

It's also important to remember that a good presentation of your views does not only mean good structure and logical flow of thoughts but also includes good grammar, vocabulary, and sentence formation.

Interaction Skill

Interactive skills are essential in GD-PI, as they allow you to communicate effectively with others and to create a positive and collaborative environment for a productive and successful discussion or interview. When participating in a GD, it is vital to listen to others actively and to respond to their ideas constructively and productively, and when attempting WAT, writing in a conversational tone and using simple language can help to present your thoughts effortlessly and make it simple for the examiner to understand your thought process.

Hence, interactive skill is an important parameter on which a candidate is judged in GD/WAT-PI.

Decision-Making Ability

In the GD/WAT-PI, a candidate's decision-making capacity is a crucial criterion. Effective decision-making displays a candidate's capacity for critical thought, data analysis, and good judgement. This ability is vital in group discussions because it enables a candidate to take control of the conversation and lead the group to an answer or a consensus.

So, the ability to make decisions is a crucial factor in the GD-PI since it shows a candidate's capacity for critical thought, data analysis, and sound judgement. Practical decision-making skills will likely leave a good impression on the judges and increase a candidate's chances of progressing to the next stage.

Problem-Solving Ability

In GD-PI and WAT, the evaluators want to test a candidate's problem-solving ability. They will pay close attention to how the candidate responds to a specific situation or problem presented during the GD-PI or WAT.

The candidate needs to understand the problem, analyze the situation, and develop a logical and coherent solution. This ability to comprehend the problem and draw the correct inference is crucial because leaders in the business world are often faced with complex issues and need to make quick and effective decisions.

Critical Thinking Ability

 In the GD, WAT, and PI, evaluators will watch candidates' critical thinking skills and ability to see how ideas are related logically. They will also judge how well they can comprehend a situation, pinpoint the problems, and develop solutions.

Rational thinking is an important parameter judged by the evaluators during GD/WAT-PI. It refers to the ability to think critically, understand the logical connection between ideas, and identify the significance of those ideas. This skill is essential when participating in a group discussion or personal interview and attempting a written ability test.

Analytical Thinking

A candidate's ability to think analytically is crucial during the GD, WAT, and PI. It entails having the capacity to compile data, recognize concerns and problems, and arrange them systematically. A candidate with this ability can comprehend a subject more fully and articulate their ideas or arguments logically and cogently.

Hence, Analytical thinking ability is one of the important parameters on which the candidates are judged on the GD/WAT-PI round of MBA admission.

Open Mindedness

Another important quality of a suitable candidate is to accept what is fitting with a positive approach. This means the candidate can admit when they are wrong and is willing to learn from others. This shows that the candidate is humble, open-minded, and ready to grow and improve.

When appearing in GD, WAT, and PI, it is important to remember the parameters you will be judged. Knowing these parameters can help you prepare better and present yourself in the best possible way during the evaluation process.