CAT GD: How to Prepare For The Group Discussion?

Categories of CAT GD Topics

Previous Year’s CAT GD Topics

Here’s a college-wise list of some of the last year’s Group Discussion topics:

CAT GD 2021 Topics

Having a list of important topics streamlines your GD preparation, making your journey more focused and organized. 

Whether the topic is based on the country's economy or revolves around a social issue, whether it's a political matter or something abstract, familiarity, to some extent, makes things easier and boosts your confidence.

Here's a list of some topics for the CAT Group Discussion 2021:

Important Skills

You will be judged on the following parameters in a CAT-GD: 

Confidence

It's essential in a Group Discussion that you put forward your opinions with adequate confidence. Lack of confidence holds you back from giving your best, and regardless of how relevant your views on a given topic are, you cannot leave a good impression. To stand out in a GD, your voice should reflect confidence. If you fear public speaking, you should start working on it through active participation in mock group discussions.

Leadership

Taking the initiative, presenting your opinions in an impactful yet calm manner, letting others finish their sentences, and using phrases like "I agree", wherever possible and felt necessary, are essential to ensure a remarkable performance in the group discussion round. Moreover, these are indicators of how effectively you can lead a team by setting a good example.

Knowledge and Awareness

You could be the most confident and impressive person in a room and yet, could fail to outshine if your views are not relevant enough and are not based on the factual understanding of the given subject. It is, therefore, mandatory to keep yourself updated with current affairs and the topics that have managed to grab attention in the recent past. When your opinions are the products of research and general awareness, you undoubtedly feel more confident to say them out loud and, thereby, stand out.

Communication Skills

Your vocabulary, command over the English language, pronunciation, sentence structure, fluency, and flow have a significant impact on your overall score. These are some of the most crucial determinants of your qualification status following the GD round, So, read, practice speaking fluently, take feedback from your mentors, and work on enhancing your communication skills. Talking to your friends and family formally in English can serve as an effective way of practicing on a regular basis.

Body Language

Pointing fingers, banging on the desk, touching your hair repeatedly, not maintaining eye contact, inappropriate gestures, etc., can conveniently steal away an incredible opportunity from you. It's important to sit straight, maintain eye contact, and avoid the gestures that suggest apprehension or lack of regard for the other group members. How you conduct yourself while speaking plays a pivotal role in deciding whether or not you get to walk into a prestigious business school.

Team Player

Since it's a group activity, you must pay attention to how your actions, words, and gestures impact the other participants. Interruptions, anguish, lack of listening skills etc., will lead to a negative impression. A team player values the opinions presented by others and appreciates the team as and when required. So, be courteous and display apt social behavior.

Other Traits

Time management, analytical and critical thinking, problem solving skills, overall attitude (open-mindedness/rigidness) are some of the other traits that are taken into consideration while judging a candidate during a CAT-GD.

CAT GD: Do's and Don'ts

• Listen to the topic carefully and utilize the preparation time well.
• If you don't understand something, be confident enough to request repetition.
• Don't interrupt others while they speak. Wait for them to finish talking and then present your views.
• Contribute to the discussion in a relevant way. Don't say things that are not related to the given topic.
• Speak fluently and be grammatically correct. 
• Avoid hand movements, repeated hair touching, long pauses, etc. 
• Sit straight and maintain eye contact.
• Be confident but be courteous.
• Be audible. However, don't raise your voice while expressing your opinions. 
• Don't be too rigid. It's good to be opinionated. However, having an open mind during a discussion is also essential.
• Wear formals. Appropriate dressing and grooming leave a good impression and make you feel confident.

We hope this helps you prepare effectively for the CAT Group Discussion round, and you stand out for all the right reasons. 

Steal the show with a stellar performance!

All the best!