Writing your best essay– Serena Kallian

The written ability test or the written evaluation seems to have come to find a permanent place in the selection process of most of the IIMs and other institutes like the FMS, IIFT etc.  XLRI and IIFT had essay as part of their selection process for a long time now. In some cases institutes have not entirely scrapped the GD process but have introduced the essay writing or the written ability test as an additional round in the selection for the management programmes. Institutes like the IIM A and B have scrapped the G D process from their selection cycle. Among the IIMs, IIM A was the first institute to set the trend to have a written evaluation instead of the Group discussion. According to their recently released admission policy document the new selection criteria would involve a personal interview and points based on the written test and the academic background of the student.

In case of IIM B the institute will have a written ability test where students have to write a one page note.  The candidates selected for the interview will have to write a one page note on a topic provided by IIM B. The topics chosen will typically reflect current political, economic and business affairs, though other topics such as sports and those that require more creative thinking may also be included. The time provided for writing the note will typically be about 30 minutes. Two or three panel members will then evaluate each candidate on his / her performance on the note and his/her performance during the personal interview.

IIM K has assigned 20% weight age to the written task in the selection criteria. The task involves a written note or essay on a given topic in 30-45 minutes.  Apart from the older institutions all the newer IIMs have decided that the admission process and selection would be based on the performance of candidates in the CAT, Personal Interview & Written Analysis (PI & WA) and also the profile. The PI & the written analysis process will be common to all the six new IIMs, namely, Rohtak, Ranchi, Raipur, Tiruchirapalli, Udaipur and Kashipur. 

The purpose of the essay
According to academicians and admission experts an essay is used as a tool to understand the social and ethical values of the student who is the aspirant in this case. The written expression is like a mirror into the mind and thoughts of the aspirants so many feel this to be an effective selection method.  Admission essays test you on factors like clarity, structure, logic and focus. In the Indian management education scenario the essay is an impromptu activity with very little time so the strategy to be adopted while preparing for it should be different.  In some cases the interview would include a few questions on the essay or the note that is written by the aspirant. The topics covered in the essay can come from current affairs, political, social, business or economic issues, general knowledge or sometimes it can be an abstract topic.  In the domestic schools the essay would ideally test a candidate on the structure, the argument and justification of the argument, quality of the points used to justify, Knowledge of facts, language etc.

It is important to keep your cool in this case because the time given is short and panicking is not the best reaction. While writing the essay keep in mind the structure you would want to follow depending on the topic given. Make a mental note of the points and facts that are important to the topic. Always have a strong opinion and an appropriate justification for it as well. Avoid forging facts and creating fake examples, this can reflect badly in case you are quizzed about it in the interview. Do not indulge in overstatements or clichés, originality and a creative streak always adds an edge to an essay.

While composing the write up try to imagine the topic from a reader’s perspective and since there would be several essays written during the admissions from across the spectrum standing out can be a challenge.  Here are a few examples of topics that have been given to candidates in the recent past.

‘Educational System is quelling creativity in Indian children’, ‘Should Nehru's temples of learning remain elitist’, ‘Indian women should take up their husbands' surname after marriage’, ‘Obama will bring change, but only to USA’, ‘Professional management is a mere rhetoric in family run businesses’, ‘Taking up pure science is a waste of time’, ‘NGOs are yet to get their due in Indian society’, ‘Indian youth would do well to absorb positive western influence’, ‘Industrialization should not happen at the cost of human rights’, ‘Indian politicians need training in communication skills’, ‘Has globalization failed to live up to its promises?’, ‘India should move from multi-party to a bi-party system’, ‘Pubs are anti-Indian’, ‘The Indian Space Programme is an ambition misplaced’.