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For instance, XAT essay would test you out on these parameters including the knowledge
about the topic, so, the interviewers would know some of your personality traits and can
easily spot if you are lying to them or trying to depict what you are not.
What can you do in 20 Minutes Essay Writing Test?
In 20 minutes, if you have substantial information regarding the topic or even if you don't
have, always remember one of the most important criteria is to Structure your essay.
A 20 minute essay can test you out in a panic situation if you aren't sure of the information
you know. In that time, its very important to keep your cool and maintain a structure.
A structured essay is always interesting and gives vital insights about a person, that the
person is clear and structured in his approach. You are not expected to know everything but
you can show that you are meticulous in your approach, which is the desired quality by all the
b-schools and not only XAT 2014 excepting institutes.
Key points to highlight during the Essay Writing Test
As mentioned above, you already know which are the desired qualities you need to have and
show case, through your essay. One main criterion for writing an interesting essay would be
to think of what the reader would like to know from the essay.
If You are the selector and reading about 1 lakh essay, then how would you select?
You would only select those which are different from the rest and provide interesting points.
This can be done through stating facts, humor or adopting a single, one sided approach and
justifying your point that is quite different from the customary views.
An introduction
A conclusion
It is important to structure an essay in different sections so that it is easy for the readers to
read and follow the author's thoughts clearly.
Essays could be of different types, for instance:
Descriptive Essay - A descriptive essay gives the detailed description about a topic
like person, place, or any incident.
Narrative Essay - A narrative essay is used to narrate a course of events. We can share
our experiences by means of the essay.
Persuasive Essay - Persuasive essay is used by the writer to convince the readers to
believe in his opinion.
Pictorial Essay - A Pictorial essay is a collection of photographs that tell a story. The
writers could add captions or text along with the photographs for a better description.
When we talk about the significance of essay writing in CAT 2012, we can say that cracking
CAT and scoring good percentile is only half the battle won. After cracking CAT, you need to
focus on the final hurdle - Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD) and Personal
Interview (PI).
WAT, as we all know, is the new test that has replaced Group Discussion (GD) exercise for
entering IIMs and other top B-schools. For instance, six new IIMs - IIMs in Ranchi, Raipur,
Rohtak, Trichy, Kashipur and Udaipur - have also replaced the GD process with Written
Ability Test (WAT) for Admissions 2012-14 like other IIMs in Ahmedabad, Bangalore,
Indore and Kozhikode.
This year (2012), 11 out of 13 IIMs are having written Ability Test (Essay) as a part of their
selection process. Now, essay writing skills have become much more important.
B-Schools believe that the admission process of conducting Group Discussion and then
Personal Interview has become so predictable that students mostly come prepared and it
becomes difficult for the panel to judge their real ability. That is why; this new trend of
conducting WAT instead of GD will help the admission committee judge a candidate in a
better way.
How to write impressive essays?
An impressive essay could be written only if you have a complete structure of the essay in
your mind. You need the follow the following steps for writing a lot of practice essays and
you will realize that your thought process is actually developing in the same direction.
These simple steps will guide you through the essay writing process:
Sometimes, you may face a situation where you will be shown several pictures and asked to
write a story or essay based on them. It will no different from a pictorial essay that we have
discussed above. You just need to concentrate on the pictures shown and create a topic on
your own. This, rather, is much easier to write than a given topic where you don't have the
option to choose.
In the situation where you are provided with many topics and you need to pick one, then you
should be wise and pick the topic that suits you or you may take help of the following points:
Find an interesting way to approach a topic, i.e. one from the different types of essay
we have discussed above
If you can't find anything that thrills you, just pick something and get started. Take your most
basic idea and start with it. But before jumping on to any particular topic, you need to
evaluate each potential topic.
How to Choose a Stance or Position?
In many topics, you will be required to take a side on a specific issue in order to construct a
persuasive essay or an argument so, you will need to know how to take a strong stance on a
subject at some point. There is an art to taking a side. You have to be a little crafty. To really
persuade someone in an argument essay, you have to know a little about each side and pick
the one you can argue most effectively.
You must remember that you don't have to choose the side you believe, necessarily. If you are
going to be graded according to your logical points, you might have to go against your gut
feelings.
For instance, if a topic asks you argue either for or against the use of pesticide in cultivation
of food grains. Then, you should avoid getting carried away in emotions and think practically.
First, draw a line down the middle of a piece of scrap paper, dividing the sheet in half. Label
one side as 'yes', and other side as 'no'. Then think of strengths for each side and list at least
three strong points for both sides.
Once you have come up with various points for each side of your issue, read over the results
to determine which side is strongest, and which you could argue most effectively. Decide
which side has the points that you could back up with examples like statistics, expert
opinions, anecdotes, observations, precedence, consequence, etc.
Even though you choose one side as the strongest for your argument, you must be able to
demonstrate that you understand both sides of your issue. Keep this in mind as you construct
your argument essay, and use the strengths that you listed for the opposite side.
Practice is the need of the hour!!
Essay writing is something that you cannot improve overnight. It has to be in your habit. For
developing a habit of essay writing, you need to practice it on day to day basis. Writing
practice is very important, but to develop a habit of analysis is much more important.
If you really want to reach a position where you can write an essay over any given topic, then
you have to develop a habit of analyzing each and every situation as well as topic you come
across. For analyzing, you need to chart the following steps:
Read: Learn as much as you can about any topic you think you are not much aware
of. It could be anything like international relations, important historical events, great
personalities, etc.
Think: It may seem obvious, but you really have to think about whatever you read
and learn. You have to take a stance in each case and argue for as well as against the
topic in your mind itself.
Investigate: Talk to classmates, friends, and teachers about the topics you have been
reading. What do they think about them? The responses that you get from these
people will give you a preview of how they would respond to your opinion in your
essay. Talking out your ideas, and testing your opinions, gives you more of a clue of
what you have to say to persuade them to your point of view.
Organize: In any essay that you write, you should make sure that your points are
well-organized and that you are supporting or opposing the idea very clearly,
concisely, and to-the point. In standard essay writing, though, it is especially
important that you use specific examples to illustrate your main points. Don't give
your observer the impression that you are not educated on the issues related to your
topic. So, choose your words carefully.
Faulty Tone - You sound like a judgmental character, not buying any criticism
Faulty Structure - You are introducing the topic after you have presented you
argument for the same
Deviated Thoughts - You are not concentrating on one point rather trying to illustrate
too many facts without knowing how to organize them
Essay 2
How outsourcing affects the US economy is a matter of great debate. For those who speak for
the international business and globalization, this practice will have an overall positive effect
on the US economy - since it is economical for companies to hire less expensive work force
of other developing countries, opens up opportunities for greater entrepreneurship in the US,
and leads to more Americans holding higher level jobs.
Critics suggest that hiring foreign workers has an immediate effect on the US economy by
stripping many Americans of jobs they would have performed, particularly by semi-skilled or
skilled laborers as all the American population is not to be placed at higher level of
managerial hierarchy.
Both sides on this issue and all those who try to navigate a middle road between the two
sides, have some valid points. It is true that outsourcing has led to job loss in the US, and has
had a detrimental effect on those people who may be only minimally qualified to work.
However, it's also the case that there are plenty of skilled labor jobs being outsourced to
foreign countries. The loss is not only to people with minimal job skills.
This is a problem for those Americans in certain who are needy and might take jobs that
require minimal skill, but due to outsourcing it is now much harder to get jobs of this type.
When President Clinton enacted the Welfare to Work plan in the 1990s, he was attempting to
encourage people to get back to work so as to reduce government spending in welfare.
Unfortunately, with fewer jobs available for unskilled workers, people may find themselves
in exceptional poverty. Poverty does not benefit the US economy since it reduces consumer
spending and tax revenues.
Even in the middle classes, there are plenty of jobs that are now outsourced. This has been
particularly the case in the computer and technology industry. Again, inability to find work
means inability to purchase homes, spend money, and profit companies. When people don't
buy, corporations that produce things don't make money, which can thus "trickle down" to
fewer jobs available and a greater desire to outsource to make things more cheaply so they
will be more attractive to consumers.
Those supporting outsourcing say that lowering expenses of corporations will create jobs.
There are plenty of government agencies that outsource some of their work, saving millions
of dollars which has a direct effect on the US economy. A common theory contends that being
able to pay people lower wages for work means that companies will be able to produce things
with less expense and transfer this saving to consumers. Lower prices may mean more
consumer-spending, and companies will be able to hire more workers in the US because
they're paying less for workers outside of it.
Further, many argue that giving jobs to workers in less developed countries improves those
countries economically and increases trade for US products. It also increases a country's
ability to pay back debts to the US, and may promote better political relationships.
Companies economically benefit by selling their products in other countries. This means they
can hire more people in the US, lower their prices on products for US consumers.
There is another "side" to the issue of outsourcing that needs to be addressed. Not all people
in other countries economically benefit from outsourced jobs, and some companies aren't
This is just the examples of the pressure our younger generation is bearing. It could be more
trivial if the elder and experienced generation does not guide these future guiding lights in the
right direction. Our elders need to communicate with the youth freely and in a friendly
manner so that if the young ones have any problem or pressure, they could discuss it without
any hesitation rather than embracing any other options like drinking, drugs, etc.
Topic 4
Through some light over 'The Truth vs. Hype of FDI'
Essay 4
There are always many facts of any realistic situation, especially in the country where
democracy is deemed above anything else, and where the right to freedom of speech and
expression is used or misused, over and over again. Unlike the U.S., where only two major
political alliances exist - the Democratic and the Republicans, we in India have a host of
fronts other than two major alliances - the ruling party and the opposition, and all of them
consistently scuffles over every single agenda and many times ignore the main issue and
divert the whole argument.
Same is the case with introduction of Foreign Direct Investment (F.D.I) in the Indian retail
market. The government has decided to open up the Indian retail market for global players
through F.D.I. in multi-brand retail with a 51% threshold, i.e. they can have only 51% equity
in the investment and 100% ceiling in single-brand retail. There are several versions of the
possible outcome of this scenario floating in the different spheres of the country. But the
different interpretations ought to be backed with rational reasons.
Broadly, there are two different views with regard to the decision of the Indian government to
allow F.D.I. in Indian retail market, one supporting it and the other opposed to it.
The first argument is put forward by the government itself, supporting its resolution. The
government claims that 10 million jobs will be created in the retail sector in the next three
years. It mandates a minimum investment of 100 million U.S. dollars, approximately 500
crores rupees, for the foreign companies, with at least half the capital to be invested in backend infrastructures, including cold chains, refrigeration, transportation, packing, sorting and
storing. Now, this is a fact that India is not much developed in terms of infrastructures.
Hence, this step can be deemed most welcoming.
Another very influential agenda pointed out by the government is the nuisance of middlemanship. FDI in retail will ensure procurement of raw materials, especially of fruits and
vegetables, directly from the farmers, thus filtering out the roles of middlemen. Another
proposal buoying this idea is that a minimum of 30% of the value of manufactured items
procured should be sourced from small and medium Indian enterprises. The government
backs its decision with a host of other reasons, e.g., the presence of foreign retail majors will
ensure supply chain efficiency. It also alludes to examples of some other nations like China,
Thailand etc.
The second version includes the views of the opposition and those who consider this decision
to be inconsistent with the nation's development. There are over 1.2 crores shops in India,
employing over 4 crores people, 95% of which are small shops run by self-employed people.
The opposition claims that the move will lead to large-scale job losses. Since there is no
compulsion to procure all the raw and manufactured materials from Indian sources only, it
may lead to domestic agro-industries getting haywire. The move can also lead to market
prices being controlled by the foreign giants, further causing a slump of traditional Indian
markets and monopoly in the markets. The fact being pointed out by the opposition is that
any comparison being made between India and country like China is crushingly in genuine.
Both these versions of possible upshots are anything but restrained. And going by the history
of our nation's reaction to issues pertaining to the common-man's life, a lot of hype is being
created over the situation and the issue, by and large, is being blown out of proportions.
These extremist views, being largely politically motivated, are far from being the truth.
The truth, in fact, lies somewhere in the middle; Firstly, a sheer glance at the whole matter at
hand gives anyone the fair idea that this move is going to do more good than harm. Since the
government is not directing anything against the Indian domestic enterprises, they can coexist with the big guns of the world, and a healthy competition is never a bad idea in today's
world. They should, in fact, look forward to work in liaison with these companies. If the idea
to introduce F.D.I means that the farmers are going to get their worthy rewards and the
masses are going to have access to better qualities of commodities at better prices, then this
step should be welcomed with open arms, even if this means that a handful of people will be
driven out of jobs, because while choosing between two evils, one should always go for the
lesser evil.
However, if the government is backing its decision purely on the basis of examples and
references of nations like China and U.S., then it should also keep in mind the grave
differences between the highly-disciplined systems of theirs and the chaotic conditions of our
system.
The bottom line is that any step of any nature taken by the government is always going to
benefit a particular section of the society and at the same time, is going to be harmful for
another section. But the million-dollar question is whether this decision has really been taken
with a chaste heart, or is just another example of seasonal politics.
Team MBA Rendezvous will keep on posting such informative and useful material for your
preparation. Wishing you all 'best of luck'!!
The candidates in XAT are tested on both the counts and would then be shortlisted based on
their performance in essay writing as well." Prof Munish Thakur, Admission Chairperson
XLRI and Convener XAT 2015
XAT 2015 will have a separate section of Essay Writing of 30 minutes out of the total allotted time limit of 3
hours to solve the entire test paper. Awarding a separate subjective section of half an hour duration in an
objective type MCQ test is in itself reflects the importance and weightage in the Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT)
2015, gateway to the MBA/PGDM batch 2015-17 in XLRI, SPJIMR, XIMB, IMT, XISS, LIBA, TAPMI, Great
Lakes and many more top rated B schools.
XAT 2015 will be a paper pen based 3 hours duration test to be conducted by XLRI on January 4, 2015. The
exam will provide admission opportunity in top B schools of India like XLRI, XIMB, SPJIMR, IMT, LIBA,
TAPMI. More than 120 B schools are associated to XAT 2015 and will short list the candidates on the basis of
XAT 2015 scores.
Importance of Essay Writing Test in XAT 2015
Essay Writing will play an important role in XAT 2015. A lot depends on it in finalising the admission to the
desired Management College in and after getting shortlisted. Emphasising the importance of Essay writing test
in XAT 2015, Prof Munish Thakur, Admission chairperson XLRI Jamshedpur and Convener XAT 2015 says
Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) aims to assess multidimensional capability of aspirants in XAT 2015. Essay
writing will also be accounted for calculation of Percentile. Test takers may be very good at attempting objective
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) but may not have real life driven written communication skill, or a wider
perspective on important issues of our times, which is a basic requirement. The candidates in XAT are tested on
both the counts and would then be shortlisted based on their performance in essay writing as well.
Weightage of Essay Writing in XAT 2015
According to Prof. S.K. Agarwal, Verbal Ability Expert and mentor on XAT preparation XAT awards great
importance to the writing ability of future managers and accordingly place high weightage to this test. Although
the percentile is based on MCQ test in XAT, total marks can not be awarded without obtaining marks in Essay
Writing Test. Its weightage becomes more prominent in final admission round.
Essay Writing section is of 30 minutes duration and does not figure in calculation of percentile at the initial
stage but is very important part of shortlisting criteria in XLRI for admission 2015. XLRI Jamshedpur, SPJIMR
Mumbai; XIM Bhubaneshwar; IMT Ghaziabad; TAPMI; LIBA Chennai and other coveted B schools are very
particular on taking into account the obtained scores of Essay Writing in XAT.
Evaluation of Essay Writing in XAT
Essay Writing in XAT is a 30 minutes test. Final selection depends on it and if written with a clear and coherent
flow of thought with rich contents, may get the candidate through the last round of admission procedure.
Evaluation of essay in XAT is done after the candidate has qualified the MCQ test. The score and the thought
expressed in essay then serve as a ground for the selection in B schools listed in XAT.
Expect the questions in PI
The crucial role, this essay writing plays, is the candidates ability to face the Board and answer the penetrating
questions, based on whatever was expressed in the essay. The piece of advice is not to write anything
superfluous or biased which is confusing and is difficult to explain.
XAT 2015 exam pattern
XAT 2015 will be divided in two parts
Part-1 will have four sections in multiple choice questions (MCQs) format
1. Verbal and Logical Ability
2. Decision Making
3. Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation
4. General Knowledge.
The marks of General Knowledge will not be used for determining the percentile and cut off at first stage of
selection. However it is used by XLRI and some other Associate Member Institutes at the time of final selection
Part-2
The second part in XAT 2015 will be the test on writing ability. Aspirants will be asked to write an essay on a
given topic. Candidates having been tested on objective Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) will also be tested
on real life driven written communication skill based on wider perspective on important issues of our times. The
candidates in XAT are tested on both the counts. Their performance in essay writing will also form the base of
their final section round.
XAT 2015: Time duration; overall as well as sectional
XAT 2015 will be a 3 hours test to be held on January 4, 2015. The test will be conducted in 47 cities across
India in a single session beginning from 10.30 AM to 1.30 PM with no break in between.
The candidates will not have any break in between except for the fact that Objective MCQ part will be over in
150 minutes and next 30 minutes will be allotted for essay writing part.
XAT 2015 test takers will be expected to complete the first 3 sections of the first part of the MCQ exam namely
Verbal and Logical Ability; Decision Making; Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation in 140 minutes while
questions in General Knowledge section will have to be attempted in 10 minutes only. 30 minutes will
separately be allotted for essay writing test.
How to deal with Essay Writing in XAT 2015
XAT 2015 Essay Writing test aims to search the right person who can express his thoughts well in a written
form and who is well read and well informed about the various prevailing important national and international
issues as well as their effects on businesses. It will definitely have its due impact on business managers. Besides
it conveys whether the aspirant is free from biases and is able to understand the things without prejudice.
Key points to remember in Essay Writing
The 30 minute essay writing test means you should write a well worded essay of about 350-400 words. To
achieve this goal you must have prepared well and practiced well keeping in mind the following points.
Outline the essay: Starting to write an essay without organized thoughts is nothing short of trying to build a
house without a blueprint of design and foundation. The end product ends up a mess of disorganized and
illogical thoughts and redundancies and irrelevant material. So give a few seconds to organize your thoughts
before
proceeding
to
write
the
essay.
Practice well before the exam: Writing is hard work for the new and experienced writer alike. With a lot of
practice, youll eventually get to that more confident place, a place in which your writing really conveys your
thoughts. Use simple and lucid sentences and paragraphs that really tell your reader everything that you meant
to say.
Read more to become a good writer: Read something basic, not directly in your field of expertise. Most fields
have journals that are considered very good in their field. Reading good literature in general is essential to retraining your brain to good English construction and style. Read articles and editorials in news paper,
periodicals like India today, Economist, Readers Digest, Time, and Magazines of interest to you. Read wellwritten material regularly.
men use them; for they teach not their own use; but that is a wisdom without them, and above
them, won by observation. Read not to contradict and confute; nor to believe and take for
granted; nor to find talk and discourse; but to weigh and consider. Some books are to be
tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested; that is, some books
are to be read only in parts; others to be read, but not curiously; and some few to be read
wholly, and with diligence and attention
Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man. And
therefore, if a man write little, he had need have a great memory; if he confer little, he had
need have a present wit: and if he read little, he had need have much cunning, to seem to
know that he doth not. Histories make men wise; poets witty; the mathematics subtle; natural
philosophy deep; moral grave; logic and rhetoric able to contend
As a reader, I would, without the slightest hesitation, say that the above highlighted extract is
one of the greatest piece of writing in the English language, as a critic and book lover I am
enthralled by the succinctness of the content, it is difficult to believe that Francis Bacon,
around 1600, could have written such a deep and insightful essay in so simple a language,
when Shakespeare ,his contemporary, was busy writing plays and sonnets in a language that
today is almost inscrutable to most readers who understand English.
Characteristics of a good essay
An essay has to be compact, one might right a short story or a piece of poetry which starts
and ends abruptly, just the way Anton Chekov writes his short stories, most of them start
without any background and end abruptly without any conclusion, but an essay cannot be
written like a short story.
A good essay has more ideas and less words, most writers even the columnists in newspapers
have some predilection for words, one reads the whole article and still, as a reader, one is not
able to make out whether the author has given anything new to the audience; overuse of too
many words spoils the essay and there is little substance left.
One should exhibit eloquence both in writing and speaking, but again one should be cautious
not to cross the border get into the domain of grandiloquence where one ends up shoving
words which are either redundant or inapplicable.
A good essay has logical connectivity between the sentences and the paragraphs, if someone
is new at writing; he or she should use short and terse sentences, be simple and clear.
Unnecessary gaudiness is incoherent and irritates both the reader and the examiner, one
should write to express the ideas and thoughts and not to brag ones vocabulary and
grandiloquence.
Never try to be too elaborate in an essay, one should use good aphorisms, proverbs, wise
quotes, sayings, maxims, axioms to prove a point or support ones point of view, these
things also point to fact that the writer is well read and sagacious.
Always try to put in something of your own, most of the time writers and busy borrowing
ideas, draping them in their own words and projecting them as their own.
Comparison between Reading comprehension and Essay
In structure an essay has to be similar and should have the same flow as a normal passage in
RC, the content might vary depending on the subject.
As we often seen in RC, the opening paragraph highlights the intent and the purpose of the
author, the body of the RC adds examples, points of view, arguments and the last paragraph
concludes.
A simple essay should at the most have 4 to 5 paragraphs, if one is good at using modifier and
clauses and has practiced enough the art of using them then one should use long sentences,
else or otherwise, one should avoid them and use short sentences instead; long sentences, if
not grammatically correct, can at times distort the meaning and sound funny just as misplaced
modifiers sound.
The biggest hurdle to writing is practice, if one is used to too much of reading, speaking and
writing then inadvertently one ends up writing well.
XAT Essay Topics for the past 15 years
As we all know that XAT differentiates itself from all the other exams by having an essay
writing at the end of the exam. Unlike last year where the Essay writing and General
Awareness section were held together, this year only the Essay section will be held after 2.5
hours of the Aptitude and G.K Test. Though the essay is not considered while declaring the
initial cut-offs, it holds a lot of importance during your interview of important colleges like,
XLRI. You will be given 20 min to write an essay on the mentioned topic. There is no word
limit mentioned, but an essay of 350-400 words will be more than sufficient. Anyways its
not the length of the essay, but the quality of content that matters.
Though there are no specific XAT essay writing books to depend on for XAT 2014. But going
through the following topics that have been asked throughout the past 15 years in XAT will
surely help you with the preparation of this section.
1999 - Television really is, another eye so you can see anywhere, another part of your heart
so you can feel and care about things you never felt and cared about before, another ear to
hear strange music, The first and only international language.
2000 - Ships are safer in the harbour. But they are not meant for the same.
2001- Economic Growth without distributive justice can only lead to violence
2002- Indian Economy in the Post WTO Era.
2003- To give real service, one needs to add something that cannot be bought or measured,
like sincerity and integrity.
2004- Asked at the age of 83, as to which of his project would he choose as his master piece,
Frank Lloyd wright, the architect answered, The next one
2005- More than one billion Indians: A gigantic problem or a sea of opportunities.
2006- 'India has one of the largest pools of talented manpower, but few innovations and
patented products.'
2007- Economic growth without environmental damage a mirage or a reality.
2008- Gender Imbalance would lead to Third World War.
2009- The Inherent vice of Capitalism is unequal sharing of blessings and the inherent virtue
of Socialism is equal sharing of misery
2010- Earth provides enough to satisfy everybodys need but not everybodys greed
2011- The statesman who should attempt to direct private people in what manner they ought
to employ their capitals would not only load himself with most unnecessary attention but
assume an authority which could safely be trusted to no council and senate whatever, and
which would nowhere be so dangerous as in the hands of man who have folly and
presumption enough to fancy himself fit to exercise it.
2012- Statement 1 - Poverty is a big menace in India. Due to its complexity and
most of the government initiatives fail.
magnitude,
Statement 1 - Poverty is a consequence of failure of government policies due to the fact that
governments do not target the root causes.
The students had to support one of the two statements,provide the justification for the same
and give further examples to support his/her point.
2013 - 'Corruption is the root cause of economic slowdown in India'
2014 -The most beautiful thing can neither be seen nor be touched but can only be felt.