Although the syllabi in the admission/entrance test differ from university to university, there are certain common aspects that appear in most of the entrance test, CAT, XAT, MAT, XLRI, SNAP and MBA Entrance Exams conducted by State Universities in one form or the other. These aspects include tests on quantitative aptitude, reasoning, intelligence, comprehension, case analysis, relationships, word power, synonyms, antonyms, general knowledge/awareness, etc.

In any Group Discussion or Personal Interview, the panel always CAREFULLY evaluates whether the statements you make are emotional or factual. Uses of facts and figures do help provided you support with a source. Don’t shoot figures on the economy if you don’t remember where you read them. The panel may ask you later to support your statements in the interview.

Emotions: the Group Discussion panel is not only evaluating your knowledge but also your personality. You are being selected for being an MBA, You are expected to be Professional, positive and calm. Deliberate attempts or topics may be given that will evoke your emotions such as Reservation. Always talk objectively. The use of data in such topics will be regarded highly useful by the GD panel.

Your ability to state convincing and viable solutions for the topic or case study will determine how good you are in applying what you have learned till now. The panel ranks the ability to use your knowledge in real life situations rather highly.Your ability to build a strong knowledge base is dependent on your understanding of major economic news and how it affects the nation.

Retention of the Group Discussion panel peaks after 15 seconds of your statements. So try to create mental visualizations. So start by saying-“Imagine Mumbai connected with a 4 lane flyover and smooth traffic”. Visualizations remain in the mind of the panel long after you have spoken.

Arvind ensured that all his viewpoints ended with a final solution. He would always finish by stating the economic benefit of such a decision to be taken and why he thought it would create benefit for the nation and economy.

Leadership is about cohesiveness. Top organizational leaders are not the ones who come out with the greatest ideas, but because they are willing to listen to various viewpoints and integrate them to achieve the objective of the organization. The Group Discussion panel is extremely aware of this corporate reality.

If you have developed something new, perhaps SOMETHING SMALL like a website or a blog to guide people to perhaps tips on how to set up a router for small businessmen will definitely be viewed positively. The main thing is to show how your innovation adds to bringing customers or repeat viewers. In short can you market your innovation properly?

The MBA Personal Interview is actually tougher than job interviews. In job interviews they actually need manpower so they don’t ask tough questions. Here you are being SHORTLISTED against equally capable competitors so they are trying to find means to NOT SELECT you. So be careful with your replies.