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The candidates are not allowed to write on paper, they can only mentally structure their thoughts. They are given 1-2 minutes to think and then deliver the speech for 2-3 minutes.
There is a diverse pool of topics from which the topic is chosen. It can be Current Affairs such as ‘Climate justice’, Abstract/ Philosophical topics to evaluate such as ‘pursuit of happiness. For admission into a top MBA college, topics involving business trends and economic issues are important. Students can be asked to describe the relevance or present their views about a word or concept such as ‘Resilience’.
What is the purpose of Extempore?
Filters communication skills: Identifies candidates who can articulate ideas verbally, without writing it down. This shows who is capable of active class participation, presentations and leadership. In corporations, multiple situations will help MBA graduates with this skill.
Assesses confidence and fluency: Reveals presence of mind, composure and fluency of delivering speech without prior preparation. It aims to find a student who can process thoughts and evaluate and understand any topic within a short time.
Test performance under pressure: Mimics real-world scenarios and the candidates have to immediately evaluate on the topics. This tests if they can perform spontaneously under pressure. In inter college case competitions while pursuing MBA, this ability makes the student excel.
Complements the PI: Provides another conversational data point other than the Personal interview.
How to prepare for Extempore?
Stay updated: Read newspapers such as The Hindu, The Economic Times, business magazines and credible online portals. Focus must be on both national, international and social issues. Staying up to date is significant for MBA aspirants.
Practice structured thinking: With any issue, the candidate must try to mentally evaluate the background, premise and conclusion for every topic. For any topic, the candidate should think of a key idea supported by brief reasoning. During the MBA journey and in the field of management, candidates give multiple presentations. Hence, structured thinking is crucial.
Practice speaking aloud: If the candidate is not very confident in forming or voicing their opinions, they must practice by choosing a random topic. Recording while speaking and reviewing it later will help incorporate improvements. This will benefit the candidate once they are studying in an MBA college.
Fluency and diction: The candidate should make sure not to use filler words a lot or repeat the same explanation multiple times. Observe body language and simulate pressure wth peers/family.
Bridge phrases and manage nerves: The candidate must focus on conveying the ideas while maintaining the correct flow of thoughts. Using sentence connectors like ‘Another significant aspect’, ‘Moving to my next point’, ‘I would like to conclude’
Dos and Don’ts for Extempore
Do’s | Don’ts |
Maintain a balanced and professional tone | Over-politicise the topic or get into controversy |
Use conjunctions or phrases to connect your sentences | Use filler words such as ‘uh’, ‘um’ that indicate nervousness or unprofessionalism |
Structured delivery | Ramble/ repeat points |
Define a clear path for thoughts | jump between ideas |
Comparison: Extempore, WAT and AWT
These three processes are conducted by different colleges and one thing tested by all three is performance under time constraints. It tests if the candidate can think spontaneously. Success hinges on staying informed, practicing a structured flow of thoughts and developing an analytical mindset. This table will help the students understand which process suits them the best.
Features | Extempore | WAT (Written Ability Test) | AWT (Analytical Writing Test) |
Mode | Spoken | Written | Written |
Prep Time | 1-2 minutes (Mental Preparation) | 15-20 minutes | 20-25 minutes |
Delivery | Continued Monologue | Structured Essay | Analytical Problem Solving |
Focus | Quick structuring + Verbal Fluency | Written Analysis+ Clarity | Case Study Evaluation/ Problem Solving |
Evaluation | Communication +Articulate ideas under pressure | Writing+ Critical Thinking | Analysis+ Problem Solving |
Extempore Topics
Topics on Global Current Affairs
Climate crisis and potential solutions
Rise of artificial intelligence and automation
Cryptocurrency market trends and regulations
Cyber security threats in digital age
Economic reforms and policies under implementation
National Education Policy
Impact of the Russia-Ukarine conflict
Topics on Social Issues
Corruption in India
The role of art and media in shaping public opinion and social movements
Understanding mental health issues and reducing stigma in society
Impact of immigration on social cohesion
Topics on Business, Economics and Finance
Opinion about cashless economy
Indian Budget
Role of startups and entrepreneurship
Business ethics and corporate social responsibility
Solution to Poverty
Slowdown of the Indian Economy
Global regression
Impact of trade wars
Topics about Management
Challenges and opportunities of remote work
Role of data analytics in decision making
How will AI transform the work culture
Ethical considerations during business decision making
Integrity or Adaptability: what holds more importance
Can corporate ethics coexist with profit maximisation
Is ESG (Environment, Sustainability and Governance) investing a strategic necessity