How to Crack GD for Admission in Top MBA Colleges

Updated On: January 17, 2024 02:11 pm IST | CAT

Group Discussion (GD) is one of the essential phases of selection for admission to business schools. Since it is an interactive form of assessment, you must pay a lot of attention to the preparation of this round. Find out how to crack GD for admission in top MBA colleges in India in the article below!

Table of Contents

Factors that Determine Group Discussion Performance at Top MBA Colleges
How to Ace the GD Round: Things to Remember
How to Prepare for GD: Important Tips
Faqs

How to Crack GD for Admission in Top MBA Colleges

How to Crack GD: Group Discussion (GD) is one of the important phases of selection for admission to business schools. Since it is an interactive form of assessment, you must pay a lot of attention to the preparation of this round. Here you will be judged majorly on the basis of your vision, and your potential for making decisions.

Now that most of the major B-school entrance exams like CAT, IIFT, MICAT, MAT, and SNAP are over, it is time to start preparing for Group Discussion, Writing Ability Tests, and Personal Interviews. Therefore, it is important to understand the basis of the aspects which you will be judged in a Group Discussion.

Also Read:GD, PI, and WAT Preparation Tips

Factors that Determine Group Discussion Performance at Top MBA Colleges

There are several factors that influence a candidate's performance in group discussions. Being aware of these factors can help aspirants improve these aspects and increase their efficiency and ability to perform significantly and gain more points during Group Discussion rounds of MBA admissions.

Personal Introduction
Verbal Communication
Body Language
Eye Contact (while listening as well as speaking)
Interruptions
Opening Statement
Content of speech

How to Ace the GD Round: Things to Remember

GD is an interactive selection which makes it even more important. The analysts will judge you on the basis of what you will speak. It is very important to not only choose your words wisely but also express yourself properly in that limited amount of time. Following are some of the points that you should remember:

Be Precise

GD is not about the duration of your speech, it is about the quality of your speech. Be precise while making your point. Speaking for 5 to 6 times in a 15 to 20 minute long GD is well enough. Make sure that you portray your vision clearly.

Support your Views with Examples

Giving your opinion on the subject is not enough. You will have to support your statements with examples in order to express yourself clearly. Real life examples are essential as they state that you are thorough with the subject you are talking about.

Avoid Statistics

It is advisable that you avoid figures and stats in your GD round as stats are variable and keep changing with time. Hence you could fall in a trap if the stats stated by you are incorrect.

Also Read:Preparing for MBA? Check Out List of Top B-Schools Accepting CAT 2022 Scores Here

How to Prepare for GD: Important Tips

If you have been preparing for B-school entrance exams and provided you have been reading the newspaper for the past eight to ten months, you can prepare for GD in less than a month. However, there is no fixed time required to prepare for GD. Following are the three tips that you must follow to prepare for GD:

Rigorous Reading

Reading the newspaper every day and being updated with current affairs is essential as most of the GD topics are picked up from news and updates from the business sector. The more you need the broader your vision and understanding of issues will become.

Conversation Skills

Make it a point to speak in English and enhance your vocal skills so that you don’t feel hesitant while speaking on the final day. It will also enhance your ability to express yourself.

Practice Groups

You can practice GD with your seniors, fellow applicants, or friends who had appeared or will be appearing for GD. there are various coaching institutes that take GD sessions where you can hone your skills for group discussion.

We think cracking MBA exams like the Common Admission Test (CAT), Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), MICA Admission Test (MICAT), Management Aptitude Test (MAT), and Symbiosis National Aptitude Test (SNAP) and scoring a high percentile is the most difficult part. But surprisingly, that is not so. At the time of GD or PI or even WAT, your individual performance comes to play. This is where you need to shine, not, overshine others. So the trick is, not to be opulent but to be direct and honest. Good Luck!

Candidates must also check out the articles below to know more about MBA admissions!

Related Articles:

Common Questions Asked in Personal Interview (PI) for MBA Admissions	Best MBA Specialization in India
Written Ability Test (WAT) for IIMs and Other Top MBA Colleges	How to Build Your Profile for MBA Admissions

If you have any doubts regarding the MBA admissions, then you can ask them in our Q&A Zone. To apply to MBA colleges offering various specializations, you can fill out our Common Application Form (CAF). For all admission-related inquiries, you can contact our student helpline at 1800-572-9877.

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FAQs

What are some of the other admission rounds other than Group Discussion?

Apart from the Group Discussion round, candidates also have to appear for Personal Interviews during the MBA selection process, which is common for a majority of the top B-schools and management institutes in India. In some colleges a Written Ability Test is also conducted where candidates are required to write an essay on a given topic to showcase their knowledge and language skills.

How are the Group Discussion rounds marked?

During group discussions, all the candidates are marked collectively and individually on a set of skills and abilities. Candidates are marked on their ability to communicate their arguments and opinions in a civilised but assertive manner. Candidates are also marked on their interpersonal skills, leadership skills, logical thinking and reasoning skills, and also their teamwork skills.

What happens during a Group Discussion round?

The Group Discussion rounds during the MBA selection process include a group of potential MBA candidates who are asked to hold a discussion on a certain topic that is is pre-assigned to them by a panel of judges who asses each candidate on a range of factors like the content of the arguements, interpersonal skills, communication skills, leadership skills, analytical skills, critical and logical thinking, and also their ability to work and hold a discussion as a team. Typically the group discussion rounds last for 30 to 45 minutes, but different institutes may have different lengths of group discussion rounds.

How can I perform well during a Group Discussion round?

There are numerous points that candidates should remember in order to perform exceptionally well during a group discussion round. Some of the most important tips to remember when entering a group discussion are mentioned below:

When others are taking a brief break or have finished making their point, enter the discussion at that precise moment so you can refute or expand. When making your points, be brash and assertive while remaining polite.
It's not required to reach an agreement during a GD. Candidates may hold a variety of opinions, but it is crucial to wrap up the conversation with strong arguments and decorum.
In a GD, don't try to refute anyone's assertions. Just keep in mind that everyone is free to voice their opinions because the discussion is not a debate.

How to prepare for the Group Discussion round for MBA admission?

There are several ways to prepare for the Group Discussion rounds of the MBA selection process. However, candidates must assess their own strength and weaknesses before beginning their preparation for the MBA admission rounds to use their time more efficiently. For group discussions, it is essential for candidates to regularly read newspapers in order to stay informed about current events. Candidates must be fully informed about current political, economic, social, and science and technology issues. It's crucial for candidates who are strong readers to read widely on a range of subjects. This will reduce the need for last-minute preparation. Candidates should spread out their reading. Reading expands one's knowledge base and improves vocabulary abilities.

Is the Group Discussion round more important than Personal Interview or Written Ability Test?

Every round of the MBA selection process is just as important as the other. However, candidates often consider the personal interview rounds to be more important than the Group Discussion or Written Ability Test rounds. That being said, it is easier for aspirants to showcase their skills and knowledge more effectively during the personal interview as it is a sole assessment of the aspirant alone and not a group activity. However, candidates should always strive to perform well in each of the MBA selection rounds to make sure they are considered prime candidates for MBA/PGDM admissions at their choice of B-schools or management colleges.

Is it okay to share opinions during Group Discussions for MBA admission?

Yes, it is okay to share personal opinions during the Group Discussion rounds for MBA admissions. It is only by sharing personal opinions that the group discussion can be conducted in a effective manner. However, an important thing that every MBA aspirant should note that whenever they wish to share their personal opinions on a certain topic during group discussions, it must be backed by proper logic and reasoning. Candidates are liable to lose points during group discussions if they merely share their opinions and not provide sufficient information to back up their points. Furthermore, candidates must always refrain from sharing opinions that are driven by emotions and opinions that may be considered controversial or offensive to other group members.

What are the topics for Group Discussion during MBA admission?

The topics for Group Discussion during MBA admission are chosen in random order by a panel of experts who assess the performance of candidates during the Group Discussion round. Although the exact topics that an individual student might be assigned during their group discussion are not possible to predict, there are certain topics that have been known to be repeated during the group discussion rounds of a number of top management colleges. Some of these topics that are popular group discussion topics for the MBA selection process of many colleges and universities are mentioned below:

Air India Disinvestment by BJP Government & Acquisition by TATAs: Selling Family Silver or Saving Taxpayer’s Money
Are Stock Market & Economy Not Co-related?
Budget 2023: Will it Propel Economic Growth
Cryptocurrencies and NFTs: Real Revolution or Just a Bubble?
Economic Survey 2023
Facebook Rebrands to Meta: What is Metaverse & Augmented Reality
Farmers' Protest and MSP
Global Climate Crisis: India Leadership
Privatization of Public Sector in India

Is it mandatory to appear for the Group Discussion round during MBA admission?

Yes, the Group Discussion round during MBA admission is a mandatory part of the selection process for a majority of business schools and management institutes. Although there are many colleges who only conduct personal interviews for selecting potential candidates for MBA admissions, a sizeable number of the top management colleges in India and abroad conduct group discussions during the MBA selection process. Therefore it is mandatory for aspirants to prepare for this round of the MBA selection process if they hope to secure admission in their choice of management institute or B-school and pursue an MBA or PGDM course.

What is the Group Discussion round during MBA admission?

The Group Discussion round is part of the MBA admission process of most B-schools and management institutes. During this round, candidates are required to be part of a discussion on a particular topic that is assigned to them by a panel. Candidates have to conduct this group discussion along with other candidates and showcase certain skills like communication, knowledge of current affairs, leadership skills, interpersonal skills and other skills. Group discussion helps the evaluators assess a candidate’s performance within a group and how well they are able to hold a conversation with individuals who have different opinions and perspectives.

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