An essay on XAT essay!

*An Essay on XAT Essay 2022*

Essay is the most discussed, and perhaps dreaded too, word among XAT 2022 takers in the last 3-4 days!

 *Reason* : Reintroduction of Essay in XAT after 2018! Most of the Students are pressing panic button after this.

In this essay, I am trying to address 3 most discussed Questions/ issues of Students. These are-

1. How to type Essay & related queries?

2.How to manage time and type(write) 250 words essay along with 25 GK Questions in 25 mins?

3. What will be weightage & importance of Essay in selection procedure of XLRI?

4. How to write an Essay- Good Essay?

I am addressing these 4 Questions one by One.

1. *Typing the Essay* 

This is the most _unwanted_ question discussed and dreaded by a generation of Students" who are the most tech savvy homo sapiens generation & don't have any issues in reading and writing ( and chatting) on PCs, Laptops and smart phones! Some of you might be concerned" what if my keyboard/ system doesn't work properly?"

You don't need to be concerned about this at all as" Typing/ bad PC etc issues are for everyone" & so one should focus on finding ways to do the work and not on imaginary risks!

But, I am saying this issue as unwanted due to a second reason too- " No where in the official documents, it's written that candidates has to type in Essay" and not write the essay! One is assuming that as this is" Computer based Test"

As far as I remember,  XAT became a Paper based Offline exam to Computer based ONLINE Exam in 2018 and that continued GK & Essay section as usual! That year too witnessed similar hue and cry!

But later on it was clarified by XAT Convenor it will be *Paper based essay writing despite computer based test* 

I am sharing an internet excerpt of 2017 to clarify the point 

( *_Updated on Sep 6, 2017_ )* 

The Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT), which has been traditionally following a paper-pencil based mode, has taken a major shift and will be computer-based from 2018 onwards. 

Although the mode of test may have now changed to become computer-based, the exam pattern will remain the same as that of last year. 

 *However, the subjective part of the test, Essay Writing, has to be attempted in paper-pencil based mode itself.* Talking about this pattern, _Fr. Antony Uvari, the XAT 2018 Convenor says, “It will be very similar to the previous XAT . Candidates will also continue to write their essays on paper.”_

So, whatever was for 2018, same( writing the Essay on Paper) may be true for XAT 2022. 

Some clarification would be available in a couple of days. Despite this *one should be open to both* as _even Typing won't be much issue for a serious XLRI contender_  and focus on the upcoming 3 major issues.

2. *Time Management & Time Allocation of 25 mins* : This is quite Simple: *7+3+15* .

Look GK section has no negative marking. So, you don't have to ponder much and waste your time! Either you know the answer or don't know the Answer! So, whatever  best option you feel ( or better know) against every question, mark and move forward. 25 GK QUESTIONS can( & should) be done in 5-7 minutes.

Next *3* minutes should be spent around the Structural formation of the Essay Topic- For/against, collecting and organising ideas and logical *Coherency*.

 Out of Last *15* minutes, you should spend 12-13 minutes in writing ( and most probably not Typing) essay neatly. Please understand, one can easily write ( or even if required) 20 words per minute.

 *Last 2* minutes of 15 minutes should be spent in revising essay and rectifying errors ( spelling or grammatical as required and feasible).

Now let's move to third question!

3. *Weightage and Importance of Essay (and GK) in XLRI Selection procedure*

 Unfortunately 100% authentic answer of this question is not available as there is not any digital document available on this from XLRI side.

So, based on my Last ten years experience and selected students' feedback, we can say that this section doesn't carry any( or much) weightage in shortlisting. But it carries decent ( some) weightage in final selection. This last phrase leads us to Address _Last Question_ - *How to write a good short essay in 15 minutes?*

4. *Good Essay:*

Let's face the plain ( and bitter)Truth- " _If One is not used to writing regularly, 7 days is not enough to write a Great Essay"_

So, you should not be much concerned about Essay and focus more on Revising and consolidating the Main Section of 76 Questions.

As a confidence building measure, one can follow the following tips to write a decent Essay:

# Understand the Topic and collect your logics and facts and decide which side of the Topic ( for/ against) you want to be and make it clear in your opening lines( Introduction).

# Focus on *Structure* and *Coherency*

# One idea, One paragraph. So if you have gathered 3 points, make main body of 3 paragraph s in logical manner.

# Use simple and short sentences. Avoid spelling and grammatical mistakes. Remember you will be awarded marks for your ideas, logical Coherency and supporting arguments, facts and figures and not for flowery language!

# Most important, follow word limit. One *should not exceed 250 words* . Ideal:220-240 words.

# Revise and rectify your essay in last 2 minutes.

To increase your confidence, you should practice writing some essays before XAT & if feasible, get the feedback of your Mentor.

I am sharing previous year XAT Essay Topics for your reference and Practice (Practice 2-3 topics before the Exam)

2018: *Ethical practices and sustainability: do they co-exist?* 

2017: *Globalization and Jingoism always coexist* .

2016: *Technology and Nature are natural enemies.* 

2015: *Listening is a dying art. We hardly listen to understand. We only listen to refute or reply* .

2014: *The most beautiful thing can neither be seen nor be touched but can only be felt.* 

2013: *Corruption is the root cause of economic slowdown in India.* 

2012: *Government is not addressing the root cause of poverty* 

OR

Government is not able to implement the policies properly due to the huge magnitude of poverty.

2011: _The statesman who would attempt to direct private people in what manner they ought to employ their capitals, would not only load himself with a 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 a man who had folly and presumption enough to fancy himself fit to exercise it._

2010: *Earth provides enough to satisfy everybody's need but not everybody's greed.* 

I really appreciate your patience for reading such a long write up! Hope, it will help to address the related queries.

If you want "to write a good Essay", I would strongly recommend you to go through the following article

Link: https://galvanizingpotential.com/blog/8

All the Best