Essay writing tips for XAT; last 5-years essay topics

MBAUniverse.com presents an article by Career Launcher on how to prepare for a unique testing area of XAT: Essay Writing.
Last years paper had 120 questions in total, split into three sections: Data Interpretation & Quantitative Ability (DI/ QA), Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning (VA/ LR) and Analytical Reasoning & Decision Making (AR/ DM). While DI/VA had 44 questions, other two sections had 38 questions each. In addition, there was an essay topic that aspirants had to attempt.

Essay Writing for XAT
By Career Launcher
What is looked for?
Subject knowledge
Clarity of thought
Flow of ideas
Examples
Facts

Correct usage of grammar
Correct usage of words
A neat hand-writing
How should you write?
Always write in paragraphs
Its not a natural but learned skill
Different paragraphs express different ideas that contribute to the main idea

A paragraph should ideally contain :
(i) Topic Sentence: it is the 1st sentence expressing the main idea of theparagraph- Say what you are going to say
(ii) Supporting Sentences: they expand the main idea expressed in the topic sentence- Say it
(iii)Concluding Sentence: rounding off what has been said or a logical conclusion of the idea in the topic sentence- Say it again!!!

How should you write?
Follow a flow of paragraphs
Always let the first paragraph be an introduction to the subject matter
Expansion/ support/ refutation of the idea must follow in subsequent paragraphs
The last paragraph must have a conclusion of the main idea
There could be two forms of writing- Deductive and Inductive
You should have good knowledge of the topic to write about

Read the directions carefully
Recognize action words- discuss, evaluate, argue, comment etc.
Focus on the issue rather than peripheries

Choose words with precise meanings; avoid ambiguity
Do not use Jargon
Do not use Slang
Do not use Clich
Do not use Abbreviations
Do not use Quotations without acknowledgments
Make tentative statements; avoid definitive statements- it leaves a scope for further discussion

How to prepare?
Regular reading of:-
(i)Newspaper editorials
(ii)News papers
(iii)News websites
(iv) Non-fiction

Discussions with friends and family
Informational thinking
XAT Essay Topics from past 5 years
Gender Imbalance would lead to Third World War- XAT 2008
Economic growth without environmental damage a mirage or a reality. XAT 2007
India has one of the largest pools of talented manpower, but few innovations and patented products. XAT 2006
More than one billion Indians: A gigantic problem or a sea of opportunities XAT 2005
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 XAT 2004
To give real service, one needs to add something that cannot be bought or measured, like sincerity and integrity. XAT 2003
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