To help MBA aspirants crack WAT-GD-PI round of IIMs, Shiksha has compiled a list of parameters on which a candidate is judged in the MBA WAT-PI round. They can prepare for the IIM PI round on the basis of same parameters. Read more.
We all know it very well that IIM Written Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI) round is tough to crack, due to its unpredictable nature. Many CAT candidates prepare well for this round, go through all the current affair journals, business magazines and newspaper editorials, but fail to make it to the dream institute. So it is important to remember that only knowledge is not enough, what you also need are personality traits like confidence, composure and communication skills. All the hard-work will be really fruitful for IIM aspirants only if they can convert the interview calls. Here are some key insights and IIM WAT-PI experiences of students who converted the interview calls successfully.
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How to Crack IIM Interviews?
- Communication skills
- Writing ability
- Subject knowledge
- Listening power
- Confidence
- Leadership skills
- Presentation skills
- Interactive skills
- Decision making ability
- Problem solving ability
- Critical and analytical thinking
- Open-mindedness
Also Read:
- 14 Parameters on which you are judged in WAT-GD-PI
- IIM Shortlist 2024: Check institute-wise dates and process
- IIM selection and admission criteria 2024-26 for MBA/PGDM
- What is IIM CAP? Know selection criteria, cut offs, participating IIMs
Previous years toppers of the CAT exam who later on joined top IIMs, say that confident and to the point answers are the key. Most of the times, the interview panel members pose ambivalent questions to test your ability to think on the feet and give a convincing answer. Here are some of the CAT test takers who converted IIM Interview calls.
Q: Which CAT exam slot is the toughest?
Q: How to prepare for CAT?
Preparing for the Common Admission Test CAT can be a challenging task, but with the right approach and study plan, it is possible to succeed.
Here are some tips on how to prepare for CAT:
- Understand the Exam Pattern and Syllabus: Start by understanding the exam pattern and syllabus of CAT thoroughly. The exam consists of three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Ability.
- Make a Study Plan: Once you understand the exam pattern and syllabus, make a study plan that works best for you. Allocate time for each section, and include time for revision, practice tests, and solving previous year's question papers.
- Strengthen Your Basics: CAT is a test of your fundamental concepts in Mathematics, English and Logical Reasoning. Hence, focus on building a strong foundation by revising and practicing the basic concepts.
- Read and Analyze: To improve your Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, start reading newspapers, magazines, and books regularly. Analyze the content, style, and tone of the passages to gain a better understanding of the language.
- Practice Regularly: Practice is the key to success in CAT. Solve as many practice tests and previous year's question papers as possible to get familiar with the exam pattern and build your speed and accuracy.
- Time Management: CAT is a time-bound exam, and time management is crucial. Practice solving questions within the stipulated time frame to build your speed and accuracy.
- Join a Coaching Institute: If you find it challenging to prepare for CAT on your own, consider joining a coaching institute that offers specialised coaching for CAT. They will provide you with a structured study plan, guidance, and practice tests to help you prepare for the exam.
Remember, consistency, and dedication are key to success in CAT. Keep practicing and working hard, and you will achieve your goal.
Q: Is the CAT syllabus difficult?
Yes, the difficulty level of CAT syllabus is very high as compared to other MBA entrance exams. However, if you prepare well and follow the CAT exam pattern well, you will be able to score well. Besides having an understanding of the CAT syllabus 2025, candidates also need to be well aware of the CAT exam pattern before they start preparing for the exam. The CAT exam pattern was revised in 2021 and the number of questions were reduced from 76 to 66. The structure of CAT 2023 and CAT 2024 was the same. The syllabus is still tougher than other exams.
The most important things to keep in mind are:
- CAT exam mode is online
- Each question carries three marks
- There is negative marking of minus one mark for wrong attempts
The section-wise distribution of questions and difficulty levels as per the latest CAT exam pattern are listed below:
- Quantitative Ability (QA) - 24 questions, difficulty level - moderate to high
- Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) - 20 questions, difficulty level - moderate
- Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) - 22 questions, difficulty level - moderate. to high
- IIM Ahmedabad student Anchal Taatya told Shiksha that he stumbled on two questions but sailed through. Read more about his IIM Ahmedabad WAT-PI.
- IIM Ahmedabad student Akshay Mehendiratta, on the other hand was lucky to have a relaxed interview panel. Here’s what he says about IIM Ahmedabad’s WAT-PI round.
- Another IIM Ahmedabad student Ananya Mishra confessed that the WAT-PI round was not a piece of cake. On the one hand she had to present her opinion on 24x7 news channels and on the other she had to answer Chemistry questions. Here’s how she came out a winner at IIM Ahmedabad Interview
- IIM Ahmedabad’s Pratham Mani was asked questions from Electrical Engineering and Fantasy Premiere League. Here’s how he handled his IIM Ahmedabad PI panelists.
- IIM Calcutta’s Omkar Mukherjee had to write on global warming in WAT, while the PI panelists grilled him on Chess. Here’s how he impressed IIM Calcutta PI panelists.
How to Crack IIM Interviews: Student Share the Secrets
Read below, accounts of more students who converted IIM calls in in the past five years.
| Student Name |
IIM |
IIM Interview Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Nishant Pandey |
IIM Lucknow |
|
| Shreshth Khare |
IIM Bangalore |
|
| Satya Gopal |
IIM Kozhikode |
|
| Akansha Ghosh |
IIM Ahmedabad |
|
| Akash Mohapatra |
IIM Ahmedabad |
|
| Kislay Jha |
IIM Bangalore |
|
| Somansh Chordia |
IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Calcutta |
|
| Devesh Bansal |
IIM Kozhikode |
|
| Ahsaas Sharma |
IIM Ahmedabad |
|
| Chandan Singh |
IIM Lucknow |
|
| Isha Nisar |
IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Bangalore |
|
| Nitish Nair |
IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore and IIM Calcutta |
|
| KA Altaf |
IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore and IIM Calcutta |
|
| Lakshay Kumar |
IIM Calcutta |
|
| Sourav Mishra |
IIM Ahmedabad |
|
| Vaibhav Jatin Shah |
||
| Parth Agarwal |
||
| Anshul Aggarwal |
IIM Kozhikode |
|
| Ankur Parmar |
IIM Kozhikode |
|
| Priyanjit Biswas |
||
| Ruchika Bhartiya |
||
| Parth Agarwal |
IIM Bangalore |
|
| Ankit Anand |
IIM Bangalore |
|
| Pratham Mani |
||
| Aditi Agarwal |
IIM Ahmedabad |
|
| Gursimran Ahuja |
IIM Ahmedabad |
|
| Biswanath Chakraborty |
||
| Nishant Shah |
IIM Ahmedabad |
|
| Biswanath Chakraborty |
IIM Bangalore |
|
| Achintya Bhattacharya |
IIM Bangalore |
|
| Biswanath Chakraborty |
||
| Shubham Varshney |
IIM Ahmedabad |
|
| Shubham Ranka |
IIM Calcutta |
|
| Dhiraj Bedi |
IIM Calcutta |
|
| Wasim Khan Pathan |
IIM Calcutta |
Another factor that plays a significant role in final selection is previous academic record. It has been seen in the past that 90 percentilers couldn’t make it to IIMs due to unsatisfactory academic record. Moreover, with growing focus on diversity in the class, the IIMs are now looking for candidates who come from diverse fields and non-traditional background.
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So cracking IIM WAT-PI is all about how you use your knowledge and presence of mind to handle the questions. Keep your calm, don’t panic and don’t beat around the bush. Believe in yourself and you will sail through.
Also Read:
Q: Is CAT exam tough for an average student?
CAT is a speed based test which is designed to assess a candidate's analytical aptitude, logical reasoning skills, data interpretation and English comprehension. Now, it may sound tough, but these are the skills which we are taught in school so there is nothing new to learn. What is required is to learn these subjects at advanced level. If you are an average student but have studied Science or commerce in Class-12 and graduation, you will find a lot of familiar topics in Data Interpretation, Quantitative Aptitude and Logical Reasoning. All you will need is brush up the basics and practice the concepts on advance level problems.
However, since the competition is so high in CAT and less than 95 percentile can break your dream of joining a top college like IIM, the preparation for CAT requires a lot of focus, dedication, discipline and diligence. If you can do that, despite being an average student, you can crack the CAT exam.
Q: Are six months enough to prepare for CAT?
Q: Why is CAT considered a difficult MBA entrance exam?
Q: When should I start preparing for CAT exam?
Aspirants should start preparing for CAT exam at least nine months in before the test date. CAT preparation requires long-term planning thus one must start early. The best time to start CAT preparation is in March. Starting early will also help you assess that whether you need to join a coaching institute or not.
Divide your preparation into two phases -
- Covering the CAT syllabus
- Practicing mock tests, sample questions and revision.
The CAT syllabus includes the following topics:
- Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension: Parajumbles, Parasummary, Sentence Completion and Inferences, Questions based on passages, para meaning, order of sentences
- Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning: Tables, Graphs, Pie Charts, Venn Diagram, Blood Relation, Seating Arrangement, Caselets and Syllogism
- Quantitative Aptitude: Geometry, Algebra, Number System, Arithmetic, Mensuration.
You can read the following CAT books for exam preparation:
- CAT Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning by Gautam Puri
- Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT by Nishit K Sinha
- Data Interpretation and Data Sufficiency by Ananta Ashisha
- How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT by Arun Sharma
- How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT by Arun Sharma and Meenakshi Upadhyay
- 30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary Mass Market Paperback by Wilfred Funk and Norman Lewis/ Simon and Schuster
- How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT by Sharma and Upadhyay
- High School English Grammar and Composition by Wren and Martin
- How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT by Arun Sharma
- Quantitative Aptitude for CAT by Nishit Sinha
- Quantitative Aptitude Quantum CAT by Sarvesh Sharma
- Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by Abhijit Guha.
Q: Can I prepare for CAT within 3 months?
| “Got a question about top MBA exams? Ask students who have already made it to top B-Schools.” |
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 20 hours ago
The admission threshold at top IIMs based on CAT scores stands higher than 50 percent hence students with this percentile will have access to other acclaimed B-schools. These colleges form a list of institutions that could accept your application for admission:
- University Business School (UBS), Chand
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered Yesterday
Yes, students can get admission at Centre for Liberal and Advanced Studies MBA without CAT. The institute accepts admisison based on entrance exams. The institute accepts other national exams such as MAT, XAT, CMAT, and others. Candidates can appear on any of the exams accepted the institute. It is
A
Beginner-Level 5
Answered 2 days ago
It is mandatory to clear CAT examination to seek admission at IIM Ahmedabad. The Institute considers CAT percentile for the admission to MBA, along with the understanding of the CAT percentile for IIM Ahmedabad that reached up to 99.6 in the past years which shows how challenging it is for a candida
A
Beginner-Level 5
Answered 5 days ago
Yes, the CAT 2025 exam will be conducted in three shifts. Until 2019, CAT was conducted in two shifts and the exam duration used to be 180 minutes. However, in 2020, the number of shifts were increased to three and exam duration was reduced to 120 minutes in order to follow the social distancing gui
C
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 5 days ago
Yes, candidates can get into the Vidyasagar University MBA course with the CAT percentile. As per the admission guidelines of the university, candidates are shortlisted for the MBA course based on multiple national-level exams such as MAT/XAT/ ATMA/ CMAT. Candidates must make sure to apply for the e
P
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 6 days ago
No, CAT is not compulsory for admission to AIMS Mumbai. Aspirants with a valid score in any of the accepted entrance exam such as XAT, CMAT, ATMA, MAH CET, etc. can get admission provided they also fulfil the eligibility requirements. Candidates need to provide the entrance exam score in the applica
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Mewar University MBA course admission is entrance-based. Candidates must participate in national-level exams such as CUET-PG, MAT, CMAT, CUET, and MUEE. Therefore, candidates can get admission to the MBA course without a CAT score since candidates can opt for any on of the entrance exams mentioned a
T
Contributor-Level 6
Answered a week ago
During CDAC C-CAT counselling process, the candidates will be allotted as per their obtained rank, preferences, category and seat availability. It is important for the candidates to select the correct order of preferences for allotment. The authorities will prepare the allotment list carefully after
S
Beginner-Level 4
Answered a week ago
No. The authorities will not allow fresh choice filling for the second round of CDAC C-CAT counselling. Candidates will have to make their selection during the first round of CDAC C-CAT counselling. No changes can be done once the choices are submitted. Fresh choice filling can be done only during t
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
During the CDAC C-CAT counselling process, the candidates will have to select their choice of courses before the final date. It is to be noted that the selection of courses has to be done in the order of preference. This is important as the order of preference will be considered for allotment of sea
J
Beginner-Level 4