Vivek Agarwal scored 93.4 percentile in CAT 2023 and is creating this page as a reference for future applicants who will clear the CAT exam or any other major exam in the future and want to prepare for GD PI or WAT but do not have many resources or a network that can help them prepare like Vivek does.
Vivek says, “I didn’t have many resources, but I prepared with whatever information I could find online. Later, I realized that applicants like me share their interview experiences in groups, and edtech giants use them to discern the trends of questions asked in interviews. Hence, I decided to share those experiences on this website, which could help you understand the pattern of questions asked in interviews and design your preparation plan accordingly. One request: if you find this helpful, please consider sharing the website and refrain from copying and sharing it elsewhere.
Keep these five things in your hand, as what experience says:
- Current affairs (Refer it through business and economics)
- Knowledge about your state and city. (videos on internet)
- Civics (politics) and position holders name
- Academics
- General HR
Click here to explore those interviews
The MBA interview, a pivotal moment in the application process, serves as a platform for candidates to showcase their potential beyond their written credentials. It’s a dynamic exchange where intellect, ambition, and personality intertwine. Candidates must articulate their career aspirations, demonstrate a deep understanding of their chosen field, and convey how an MBA aligns with their goals. Beyond the academic and professional journey, interviewers often seek glimpses of leadership, adaptability, and problem-solving skills. The interview is not just about answering questions but also about forging a connection, presenting oneself authentically, and leaving a lasting impression that distinguishes the candidate from the rest.
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The interview experience is listed down:
1. IIM A FABM 8:15 reporting time
11/2/2024
Venue : orchid hotel
AWT Topic common for both PGP/FABM : ” Pedagogy of b-schools are mainly based on Protagonist’s POV.
That might result into overrated and biased outcome. Strength and weaken the authors POV by giving evidence/s
——
IIM FABM
MUMBAI venue : orchid hotel
I was in the 7th panel, sr. No. 4
2 male panelist ( M1 50+ m2 40s )
M1: opens door.. You can come in
*Greeted* both of them
M1 : so your name is XYZ? Right you write AWT in a weird fashion, tell me about the last para
Me: explained some jargons
Convinced, so what r ur hobbies?
Me : told, a lot of cross question on the latter part, when I said read about philosophy especially western thinkers, ( 15 mins -20 mins) solely to this part followed up with lots of rapid fire questions.. From buddha to heralcitus to Nietzsche.
M2: u done with rawe programme? so what do u do now?
Told*
M1: but selection in MBA nd getting afterwards in a rat race job, I suggest u should get some workex.
( I was the only one in my panel as a fresher)
Told but not convinced, he was adamant on knowing the real core reasons.
M2: what did u do in agri extension?
Told,
M2: any idea about UCC?
M1; what’s CAA?
M1: how is ur maths?
Said, average but will work on time to time
M1: tell me highlights w. R. T agri industry in budget
( he again brought the topic of AWT) for God knows why..
In the end both ask.. Any questions for us?
.. Ok u can take ( chocolate/ cashew/ almond / something else that I don’t know) thank u.
(Interview lasted for 34-37 mins) . I suggest whatever u do.. Be extremely simple and concise in AWT.
2.IIM A transcript 11th Feb Noon
Work exp- Battery RnDGrad- Chemical engineering
Panel- 1M and 1F in their 40s
P1-What is chemical engineering?
Explain your work ex.Explain the whole process.
What specifically is your role in this?
Extreme cross questioning in each answer. Wanted to know how chemical engineering helped in each step.
P2- Maths- What is Cartesian system of cordinate.
Give an alternative to this.
Further discussion on this and wanted depth. Asked for examples and stuff. Had to say IDK at the end.
What current affairs do you know?
Told that the newspaper is all about the election and the conflicts going on along with Bharat ratnaWhat are your hobbies?
Told chess.
I don’t care about chess. Tell me what’s going on in Pakistan politics. Told elections coming up but
Idk the specifics.What about US elections?
Gave my views and who I think will win. Who won the Bharat Ratna and why?
AnsweredFurther cross questioning on this.
Take a toffee and u can go.
Total time 20 -25 min
3.IMT Ghaziabad interview experience (BA graduate)
1)Questioned about gap years
2)Asked reason for upsc cse failure twice.
Asked what changes I made in second attempt after failing in first attempt.
3)Asked about my ongoing masters in political science and why I am interested in political science subject
4)Why we need nation ? Why can’t india be just states coming together to form union like European Union?5)Asked about strengths,weakness and how will I overcome my weakness.
6)How can you call yourself consistent (since I told consistency as my strength)if you give up on upsc after two attempts?
7)Why IMT?
It’s more like a conversation. Interviewers were so patient listening to my long explanations for every question.
4.IIM L Bengaluru ITC hotel
8/8/8 Mechanical backgroundWork Ex – 35 months
#WAT topic – College degree is overhyped in Indian education system
2 panellist (Both male)
P1: you were the last candidate on the list, what were you thinking outside
Ans – I said, I was thinking about my hometown (because I was expecting current affairs related questions on Dhanbad and Jharkhand)
P1: type of coal mines? You must have seen in your district.Ans – I said 2 types – open mines and closed mines then defined both of them.
P1: are you sure?
Ans – yes sir based on my knowledge.
P1: what’s your company doing and your role in this?Ans – explained briefly and about my role.
Then some counter questions about why are we doing this, elaborate with some examples and explain the terminology that you have used while explaining.
P1: how long have you been there in this company?
Ans- from the last 6 months. And earlier I was in the construction sector.
P1: Tell me about the construction of the Howrah Bridge. (Further explained I want to know the type of beam)
Ans- I got confused, then replied It could be a combination of 2 cantilever beams from both ends fixed or it could be an overhanging beam.
P1: draw the diagram and explain why?
Ans- I drew on the paper and then said it is an overhanging Bridge and explained why overhanging. (After Google search result- suspension type balanced cantilever bridge)
P1: How will you identify the defects inside the metal body?Ans – I started answering we can check the strength of that material if the values lie under the range of standard values then it’s defect free. Same for other methods we can perform tests on that piece of metal like ultrasonic wave testing and…
P1: He interrupted in the middle and explained the 2 methods ie destructive and non destruction test with examples.
P2: your CGPA is very close to 8 in every semester. What does that mean, you are stagnant or consistent?
Ans – then I said, it shows my consistency over the year while participating in other extracurricular activities.
P2: write on the paper – “I am eager to learn”
Ans- I wrote that sentence.
P2: then why have you written “l m eager to learn” in SOP.
Ans – sorry sir, it could be a typo. ( later I realised it was “I’m”. Due to the print quality, it was illegible.)
P2: okay, 1 last question, what would you prefer in case of a dilemma, your ethics or your morality?
Ans – I answered in favor of my ethics and gave 1 reason to it but it wasn’t in a structured way. I was making the same point again and again.
Then both panelists said ok, you can take some toffee and enjoy the rest of the day.
5.NMIMS Mumbai WAT-PI
Background- #Hotel Management
Work ex-19 months
#WAT Topic
Case was given on Social Activism
Q-Is Social Activism essential for country’s democracy?
Two Male Panelists around 40-50
Q1 Briefly tell me about Yourself
Q2 Why MBA
Q3 Tell me Revenue of Amazon and ITC, since I’ve worked in these companies that is why it was asked
Q4 Since the govt is making efforts to boost up the tourism sector and in particular religious tourism, what you think is the role it can play for the development of this particular sector.
Q4 Since you have started a cloud kitchen ,what you think is the future of these businesses?
Q5 Tell about your hobbies.
Time-It lasted for around 10 mins, panel was conversational not grilling as such
6.IMT G Interview
Profile- B.Tech #IT fresher
Panel- 2MCTT: Is the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047 reasonable? (something like this)
1) Difference between CS and IT
2) Why MBA
3) What is branding
4) Why transition from engineering
5) Which stream in MBA?
6) Graduation questions
– Difference between verification and validation
– Types of testing- Cryptography use
7) Why not job after engineering? (Grilled on this)
7.SPJIMR Delhi
WAT topic – related to how technological advancements are reducing the mental cognitive abilities of human beings.
ROUND 1
All 4 candidates had finance profile (2 #BFIA, 1 #BMS, 1 #Bcom hons)
Questions asked
-what are free cash flows to firm-formula of FCFF
-difference between FCFF and FCFE-what is cost of capital
-what is beta and how is it calculated-what is the proportion of debt and equity in capital called
-what are three main types of business decisions-difference between investment and financing decision
This was followed by some personal questions based on form B.
– Asked a candidate how he would calculate the ROI for a cricket team and another one
– how he as a producer would make sure his film does great.
ROUND 2
Total 4 situations discussed
– you saw the interviewers of your upcoming SPJIMR interview in a cafe last week so do a role play how you would approach them
– your roommate is doing drugs, would you report him or not and kept on adding layers like his father is the DCP and has threatened you
-you are the PM of this country for 1 day and can implement any 2 policies with immediate effect. What would they be
-anything interesting about you that did not come up in any of the 2 rounds
8.NMIMS PI Experience 2024
Bcom (Hons) 9/8/8 Fresher
NMAT – 250
WAT – Paragraph about what are prompt engineers in AI and what qualities one needs to have to be successful in that field. Then the question was ‘Why are educational institutions not able to produce more prompt engineers’
Panelists – M1 and F1 (Both late 40s)
M1 – TMAY
M1 – Tell me about your internship experience at EY. cross questioning on that for about 4 minutes.
M1 – What is a Balance Sheet
M1 – I am not a commerce graduate. How can I understand and use a balance sheet for my benefit easily?
F1 – Tell me about your other internship experience (In the financial brokerage field). Cross questioning for about 2 minutes.
F1 – What was your project in the Research Methodology subject?
F1 – what was your hypothesis and findings, both qualitative and quantitative
F1 – As a fresher, how will you contribute to the class where there are people with 2-3 years of workex?
Overall lasted for about 10mins. Did not grill or cut me too much.
9.CAP Interview
10/93.8/7.99
Work Ex-4.5
CAT- 99.08
2 Panelists (Both Male)
Panelist 1-Introduce Yourself
Why MB after 4.5 yrs?
Why MBA being a BTech in mechanical?
What are your job roles?
Questions related to Job Profile (what is polymer, what do you do in this…)
What are the major projects/ideas
you have worked on?
Panelist-2
So you are a mechanical engineer, what is the difference b/w enthalpy and entropy?
Jharkhand related questions,
Do you read newspaper, Paytm RBI related questions
Challenges you face during your job experience, your learnings
My CAT percentile
Have you submitted your CAT scorecard?
Thank You
10.GLIM Interview transcript
Fresher
Undergrad : BFM
Two panelist
Male (50)
Female (30)
Interview –
10-15 mins
Tell me something about yourself apart from what you have already mentioned
Questioning about trekking and football 5 mins
What is SIP?
Current repo rate and reverse repo rate
Budget highlights
Interim vs final budget
Which other calls do you have and what will be your priority?
Current maharashtra governor and deputy CM no. Districts and lok sabha seats
Click here to explore more interview experiences #14
