When you started preparing for B-school, the factor uppermost on your minds would have been the entrance test – primarily the CAT. You’d have pored over your quant textbooks, solved mock tests, attempted brain teasers, and tried out as many comprehension passages as possible. In your mind, that’s the most critical part of the B-school admission process. In a way, you’re right. The CAT and other entrance tests do sieve through the lakhs of prospective candidates, selecting only those who’ve displayed the best aptitude.

Alongside your CAT prep, you would definitely have started preparing for the interview and GD stages. Mock interviews, reading up on the news, and taking part in practice GDs is all part of the game. You might even decided upon what to wear to the GD or interview, and practised speaking in front of a mirror to make sure your voice is modulated just right.

WAIT, THERE’S MORE
Yes, there is. Over the past few years, the B-school admission process has been undergoing a subtle, yet unmistakeable, shift. The interview and GD stages have become a lot more important and candidates with excellent exam scores can find themselves pushed aside by those who may have scored a bit lower, but have excelled in the interview. Then of course, we’ve seen how B-schools have started laying extra emphasis on your prior academic record (it demonstrates a commitment and consistency that is vital for long-term success) and work experience - professional life is a whole different ballgame as compared to college, and those with work-ex are very well-placed to add on to their real-life experience with the education a B-school provides.

But there’s more! Several colleges and institutes also include a writing task or essay. Why? Haven’t they already tested your language skills in the CAT and the interview? No! There’s a difference between merely knowing what’s correct and being able to express yourself vividly.

Think of this – as a young business professional, you’ll often have to deliver addresses at a company meet, or prepare a Powerpoint presentation. You might also have to help write for a branding campaign. Or even flesh out some strategy for the senior management. You can only do this if your thought process is streamlined, if you know the correct usage of words (and the impact certain phrases can have), and you can persuasively put your point across. All your knowledge and expertise cannot help if you can't express yourself the way you want to!

Apart from the professional benefits writing skills lend you, there’s yet another reason why B-schools are interested in reading your work. An essay gives them the opportunity to gauge your reasoning and persuasion skills; your knowledge is on display; and of course, your writing style can give important clues to your nature. For those of you dreaming of foreign shores, your writing skills hold even greater importance. You’ll be expected to write a Statement of Purpose (SoP) that outlines your background and experience, and lays out your future plans. Several colleges may also assign you a specific topic to write on as part of the final stage. And for those of you hopeful of landing a scholarship, most financial aid schemes use essays to shortlist the candidates.

WHAT TO EXPECT
Just as colleges have their own preferred weightage system – giving emphasis to what they think is important for that year’s batch – the writing task you get may vary. Here’s a round-up for the common assignments:

• Descriptive Essay: The most straightforward of the bunch, these test your skills of self-expression and examine how you can present facts. For example, you can be asked to write an essay on the growing Civil Society movement. Here, you’ll be expected to remain dispassionate and factual. Your aim is to get the information across in a succinct and readable way.
• Sequence Essay: This can be considered a type of descriptive essay. There’s not really much difference – except that you’ll be writing in a more structured and chronological manner. For example, you can be told to write on the story of India’s liberalisation process.
• Comparative Essay: This is a mixed blessing for many. While it can demand more from you as compared to a straightforward descriptive essay, it seldom leaves you at a loss for material. You could be asked to write on a topic such as “Should India maintain close defence relations with Russia, or are the Western democracies a better set of partners.” You can not only use facts and examples here, but also have leeway to present your opinion and express what you really feel. Don’t be afraid to take a stand!
• Explanatory Essay: Similar to a comparative essay, explanatory topics will focus on one theme. You won’t be asked to make an outright comparison here, but will have to examine an issue and present a solution. For example, you could be asked to write on the issue of child marriage (and what can be done to eradicate it).
• Evaluatory Essay: This takes up where explanatory and comparative topics end. You’ll be assigned a topic such as “Is the Jan Lokpal Bill good for India?” When given a topic such as this, you have to focus on the theme and present your opinion. Your analytical skills will be on test here.

Hope our tips come in handy. Pick up your test prep textbooks and start writing!