Update on: December 12, 2022
Written Ability Test (WAT) is an important part of final selection to MBA programme in IIMs and other top MBA colleges. However, during the Covid-19 pandemic, many IIMs did not conduct WAT for admission 2021 and 2022 in their final selection process. Now, the WAT 2023 in IIMs is back for MBA admission 2023. Now without WAT Preparation for MBA Admission in IIMs, it will be difficult to get into the final merit list. IIMs have clarified in their admission policy 2023 that WAT 2023 will be an integral part in their final selection round with good amount of weightage.
Read below about the important details about how IIMs conduct WAT round, What are the key Written Ability Test topics for IIMs to prepare, How to score high in WAT 2023 and more
What is WAT for IIMs?
WAT is a paper-pen based writing test of 15 to 30 minutes duration conducted by IIMs and other top B-schools to test your writing skills after you are shortlisted for final admission round. This test is conducted just before your personal Interview session. In fact, most of the IIMs have replaced Group Discussion (GD) round by WAT in the final selection round.
Why IIMs conduct WAT?
Out of the 20 IIMs almost all of them, have replaced GD round by WAT round as key component along with personal interview, in their final selection process for admission to their flagship programmes. Since there is no subjective skill test like WAT Topics for CAT Exam, the written ability test in final selection round is found a better testing process to assess a candidate than GD as many candidates are unable to express their opinion and views during GD while who could speak louder make their presence felt during GD round.
In WAT round a candidate can freely put down his views and thoughts on paper coherently without fear of getting disrupted.
WAT Preparation for IIMs: Important WAT Topics for MBA Preparation
WAT Topics for MBA Preparation in an IIM or other B-school can be based on Current affairs, Business, Economics, Finance, Social or Political issues, Sports related news or could be based on abstract topics.
Topics for WAT in IIMs are carefully selected to enable the candidates to express their coherent views and opinion, place the relevant data and other facts to add value to their writing. Since there are many changes in the economy, tax structure, number of things are happening around, the scope of Written Ability Test Topics for IIM has also widened with such changes touching the common life.
Some of the important WAT Topics for MBA Preparation, for example, are:
- Budget 2023,
- National Education Policy (NEP),
- RBI Digital Rupee,
- Gati Shakti Master Plan,
- Agnipath,
- 5G Telecom,
- Gig Economy,
- Demonetization,
- GST,
- Make in India,
- Bank Recapitalization
- Need of Bullet Train in India
- Farm Bills 2020 and Farmers’ Protests,
- Covid-19 impact & Vaccination
These are the latest WAT topics 2023 that are making round in IIMs and other top B-schools. Shortlisted candidates may be asked to write on any of them in final selection round. A complete list of Written Ability Test Sample topics, past solved and probable WAT topics is prepared by experts at MBAUniverse.com to guide you on the WAT topics. Read more
WAT Preparation for MBA
WAT is not an unlimited length essay writing. You are supposed to give your best within the given time frame of 20-25 minutes. A coherent, thoughtfully written piece could be around 200 to 300 words but it should not lose track on the WAT topic in any paragraph or any line. To improve your writing skill and make you score high in WAT, you should always remain in WAT preparation mode with following suggestions:
- Purchase a note book of fairly large size, write down the probable WAT topics on it and begin practicing, at least, one a day.
- Once you complete writing on the WAT topic, read it again.
- Try to find out the mistakes, like – punctuation; grammar; spelling errors in it.
- Find out how many cuttings and cancellations are there in one paragraph of the mock WAT, you have taken.
- Next time when you write on any WAT topic– minimise them.
- In a few days, you will be equipped with fine writing skills with fewer mistakes or no mistakes.
Dos’ & Don’ts for Written Ability Test
Remember the following to avoid mistake in WAT
No ambiguous thought
- Avoid Repetition
- Avoid irrelevant & heavy Vocab
- Understand the formation of sentences and practice more
- Avoid Grammatical mistakes
- Synchronise your ideas, write each point one by one
- Write simple & short
- Avoid cuttings & cancellations
Weightage to WAT Round in Final Selection
During the past few years weightage to WAT in IIMs has increased. Now WAT carries 10 to 15 percent onwards in almost all the highly ranked IIMs like IIM Ahmedabad, Calcutta, Bangalore, Kozhikode, Lucknow and other top MBA colleges in India.
The 9 new IIMs who have joined hands and are going through Common Admission Process (CAP) by conducting single point WAT and PI round coordinated by one of the CAP participating IIMs for admission to 2023-25 batch have also increased the WAT and PI weightage to 35-40 percent. High scores in CAT exam may not suffice to take you through the final selection process unless you have understood how to write in WAT and practiced on probable WAT topics to hone your writing skills.
GD PI WAT Preparation: Tips from Experts and Toppers
High scores in CAT exam may not suffice to take you through the final selection process unless you have understood how to write in WAT and practiced on probable WAT topics to hone your writing skills.
