CAT 2025: Guide to Prepare for GD-PI-WAT

Q: What activities are covered in the CAT 2025 GD-PI-WAT stage?

The GD-PI-WAT stage includes Group Discussion (GD), Personal Interview (PI), and Written Ability Test (WAT), which assess a candidate’s communication skills, clarity of thought, analytical ability, and overall personality.

Q: What tips help improve performance in PI and WAT?

Candidates can improve PI and WAT performance by staying updated on current affairs, practicing mock interviews, structuring answers clearly, and regularly writing essays on diverse topics.

Q: What common mistakes should candidates avoid during GD-PI-WAT preparation?

Common mistakes include neglecting current affairs, memorizing answers, interrupting others during GDs, lack of self-awareness, and insufficient practice for interviews and writing tasks.

Author :

Shilpa Nigam

Last Updated on : 29 Dec 2025 11:20AM

After the CAT 2025 exam, the preparation for GD, PI, and WAT is very important because these rounds are going to be responsible for deciding 50-65% of the final MBA selection after the CAT 2025 exam.

Next Step To Take (Dec 2025):

Shortlist Colleges: Check eligibility after CAT 2025 results.
Prepare Answers: Build clear, honest responses for PI questions.
Read Daily: Follow editorials for GD/WAT current affairs.

GD, PI, and WAT Preparation Strategy

Component	Key Focus Areas	Preparation Tips
Personal Interview (PI)	Profile, Academics, & HR	1. Practice the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method for situational questions. 2. Revise basic concepts from your graduation subjects.
Written Ability Test (WAT)	Clarity & Structure	1. Write one essay daily within 20 minutes. 2. Use intro–body–conclusion format.
Group Discussion (GD)	Teamwork & Logic	1. Be assertive, not aggressive. 2 . Speak clearly, listen well, don’t dominate.

Common Mistakes to Avoid :

Late Preparation: After the call letters are issued, practically no time is left for practice.
Weak Body Language: Slouching or not looking at others reduces one’s self-assurance.
One-Sided Views: In GD/WAT, if one completely ignores the others' opinions, it is a clear indication of having little or no thinking capacity.

Post-CAT 2025 Timeline for participants

Phase	Event	Expected Date(s)
Shortlisting	IIM Shortlist Announcements	January 1–15, 2026
Registration	IIM CAP (Common Admission Process)	January 14–23, 2026
Selection Rounds	GD / PI / WAT Rounds	February – April 2026
Final Results	Admission Offer Letters	April – May 2026

To maximize chances of conversion after CAT 2025, candidates must transition immediately from "problem-solving mode" to "communication mode." The GD-PI-WAT stage is designed to assess their personality, clarity of thought, and fit for a leadership role rather than just their mathematical aptitude.

FAQ's

What activities are covered in the CAT 2025 GD-PI-WAT stage?

After the CAT exam results, many IIMs and top B-schools conduct Group Discussion (GD), Personal Interview (PI), and Writing Ability Test (WAT) as part of their admission process to assess candidates’ communication skills, analytical thinking, leadership potential, and clarity of expression.

What tips help improve performance in PI and WAT?

For Personal Interviews, practice self-introduction, academic and work profile discussions, and situational questions; for Writing Ability Test, regularly write essays on social, economic, and ethical topics, focus on structure, arguments, and clarity, and review feedback to improve writing coherence.

What common mistakes should candidates avoid during GD-PI-WAT preparation?

Candidates should avoid over-memorizing answers, monopolizing conversations in group discussions, being overly argumentative, and ignoring current affairs; instead, they should focus on being articulate, calm, well-informed, and authentic in their responses.

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