Why MBA Entrance Exams Assess You on Language Skills

These days, English language proficiency has become a prerequisite for getting admission in every national and international B-School. Most of the MBA entrance exams assess you on language skills through the Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension section., To crack this section of MBA entrance exams, candidates are required to have excellent fluency in written and verbal English. They should be well-versed with all the rules of English Grammar, have profound knowledge of Vocabulary, and possess exemplary comprehension skills.

There are many students who are comfortable with the other sections of the MBA exams but the Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension section makes them nervous. Since they are not on the path of becoming the next Shakespeare, they often wonder ‘Why MBA entrance exams assess you on language skills’. This article talks about a few reasons why MBA aspirants need to have proficiency in the English language and how it can be enhanced.

Why MBA Entrance Exams Assess You on Language Skills

English has become a significant language everywhere, with more and more people trying to get along with it to communicate effectively with anyone from every corner of the world. In recent times, every international organization is conducting its business operations in the English language, which requires professionals to have a great understanding of it. Furthermore, during the admission process, candidates have to go through Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI) rounds for which they need to be able to communicate effectively in English. Thus, MBA entrance exams assess you on language skills and make sure you are well-suited for their management programs. Here are a few more reasons:

Your Language Skills Prove Your Ability to Communicate Effectively

Executive MBA courses by top B-Schools prepare you for various managerial roles where you’ll be required to communicate effectively within a team in English. You need to convey your ideas clearly to your team members in the English language, which requires you to have proficiency in it. Confident speaking and clarity of thought are crucial to leading a team, and your success as a business professional depends on them.

Your Ability to Comprehend, Interpret, and Read Between the Lines Is Tested

The verbal and reading comprehension section is a test of your comprehension skills and your ability to read between the lines and interpret the sentences. When you’re working in an organization at a managerial level, you will have to read and interpret business cases and write proposals, for which you need to have a great command of the language. This is exactly what MBA entrance exams and language tests prepare you for.

English Is the Primary Language Used by International Companies

English has become a universal language; thus, almost every national and international company has started doing their business transactions in this language. You must have a great understanding and sense of the language if you want to thrive in the organization. You will have to communicate with the other business houses in English to reach a strong client base. And when you’re applying for a job in a giant corporation, your mastery over the language will help you bag the role.

English Proficiency Is Essential to Your Academic Success

All the national and international MBA programs are taught in English. If you have a poor understanding of the language, you’ll not be able to grasp the concepts and express your ideas; thus, fall behind in the academic environment. You’ll also be left behind in the group discussions, public speaking, and active class participation, which is something MBA programs prepare students for. With a poor academic scorecard, no reputed organization would be interested in recruiting you.

Also Read: Qualities That Top B-Schools Look for in MBA Aspirants

How Top MBA Colleges in India Assess You on Language Skills

MBA aspirants’ language skills are tested as part of the Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) section in various MBA entrance exams. Following are the important topics covered under this section:

• Reading Comprehension
• Para Jumbles
• Grammar- Error Spotting
• Sentence Correction
• Fill in the Blanks (Grammar-Based)
• Antonyms & Synonyms
• Sentence Completion
• Analogies
• Vocabulary

Also Read: How to Prepare for CAT VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension) - Expert Advice, Tips

Popular MBA Entrance Exams in India Assessing Language Skills

To get into one of the top management institutions in India, such as IIM, XLRI Xavier School of Management, Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, ISB Hyderabad, etc., you need to clear entrance tests comprising sections like Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). The VARC section is the assessment of your English language.

Also Read: Tips to Prepare for MBA Entrance Exams: Exam Pattern, Syllabus, Best Books

How Top Foreign B-Schools Assess You on Language Skills?

Getting enrolled in international MBA programs requires non-native English speakers to take a language proficiency test to prove their Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking of the English language. Some international B-schools require only a minimum Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score to get admission to MBA programs; however, most of the institutions in the Europe, America, and Australia need a high score of one of the language proficiency tests as a proof of your proficiency in the English language. If you believe that your academic or professional records bespeak your high-level language proficiency, you can contact the admission authority to confirm whether you need to take a language test.

Popular English Language Tests Required at International B-Schools

How to Crack the VARC Section in MBA Entrance Exams

If you want to pass a national-level MBA entrance exam or get through the language test to study abroad, you need to have a strong command over the English language. And for that, you need to put continuous efforts in learning the four language skills i.e., Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing. Here are some important preparation tips to crack English language or VARC section in MBA entrance exams and other language tests:

Get a Stronghold Over the Basic Concepts

Mastering the basic concepts of Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension is the key to getting through this section successfully. You need to improve your English grammar, which can be done by reading books like English Grammar & Composition by S C Gupta, Objective English for Competitive Examination by Hari Mohan Prasad & Uma Sinha, Objective General English by S.P Bakshi, to name a few. Practice your vocabulary by referring to books like Word Power Made Easy, Merriam-Webster's Vocabulary Builder, Thesaurus, and more. Mugging up the concepts isn’t going to help; you need to practice more and more to tighten your grasp over them. 

Start Conversing in English

Practicing your speaking skills is one of the hardest parts, but the most effective in enhancing your language skills. Start using English interactively while having a conversation with your friends or classmates who are comfortable with the language. If you can’t find anyone, you can join a chat room and start a conversation. Another option is to record yourself and focus on the mistakes to improve your fluency. You can even try talking in the mirror and hear yourself out.

Watch English Movies & Shows

While watching an English movie or show, you get great exposure to the language which helps you understand it better. You get to know the colloquial, conversation forms of the language and get introduced to new words and phrases which can make you start thinking in English. Pick movies or series with good screenwriting and turn the subtitles on to practice listening and reading at the same time.

Read Books and News in English

Reading is a process where your mind attaches meaning to the words, phrases, and expressions. When you read English literature or news, you get acquainted with the usage of words and phrases and understand the grammar and structure of the passage. Plus, reading is always helpful in learning new things and acquiring knowledge. You can start with a novel of your choice to expand your vocabulary and get familiar with the usage of grammar. Reading news helps in learning new words and different writing styles, and staying up to date with the latest trends and affairs.  

Start Writing More Often

Writing is a tedious process. Being able to put down your thoughts into words is not easy, especially when you’re doing it in a non-native language. It may seem intimidating to a lot of people, but one can master this skill with discipline and willingness to learn. You can begin by writing a journal in English to get a hold of the language. Writing answers on Quora or starting threads on Reddit will also make you more comfortable with the written language.

Practice Mock Tests & Previous Question Papers

Practice is the key to successful exam preparation. For this, candidates should take full-length as well as sectional mock tests of the entrance exams they are preparing for. Taking one sectional mock test on Language Skills daily and full-length mock tests twice or thrice a week will make you better prepared for MBA entrance exams. Apart from this, you should also solve question papers from previous years to get a better idea of the topics and question types you will come across. Reach out to your mentors for the assessment or in case of any doubt.

Master the Art of Time Management

Last but not the least, you should practice managing your time properly since you will get only 20-30 minutes for the VARC section. Being able to go through all the questions and attempting them in the given time will require proper time management. It is advisable to not spend more than 2-3 minutes on a question. Also, you must keep 10-15 minutes extra in hand towards the end to revisit the questions you are doubtful about.

Language skills are essential to acing your MBA entrance exams and language proficiency tests. By assessing your language skills, the MBA entrance exams are preparing you for a successful business career. So, it’s crucial to stay focused and improve your skills to clear those tests with flying colors!