Written Ability Test (WAT) topics Commonly asked in IIMs

1. Current Affairs & Economy

These are very common and test awareness + analysis.

• Is India’s economic growth sustainable?
• Inflation vs growth: What should India prioritize?
• Impact of AI and automation on employment
• One Nation, One Election – Pros and cons
• Gig economy: Opportunity or exploitation?
• Startup bubble in India: Reality or hype?
• Digital India: Successes and challenges
• Climate change and India’s economic development
• Privatization of PSUs: Boon or bane?
• India’s demographic dividend: Myth or reality?

2. Social Issues

These test ethical reasoning and societal awareness.

• Reservation system in India: Still relevant?
• Uniform Civil Code: Necessary reform or threat to diversity?
• Gender diversity in corporate leadership
• Education system in India: Rote learning vs skill-based learning
• Social media: Strengthening democracy or polarizing society?
• Population control laws in India
• Work-from-home culture: Productivity vs burnout
• Mental health awareness in India
• Freedom of speech in the digital age
• Urbanization and rural distress

3. Business, Management & Technology

Very important for IIM interviews.

• Artificial Intelligence: Threat or opportunity for managers?
• Ethics in corporate governance
• ESG investing: A fad or the future?
• Family-owned businesses vs professional management
• Data privacy vs business innovation
• Cashless economy: Risks and rewards
• Leadership in times of crisis
• Role of startups in job creation
• Short-term profits vs long-term sustainability
• Innovation vs regulation

4. Abstract / Philosophical Topics

These test clarity of thought and originality.

• “Change is the only constant”
• “Success is a journey, not a destination”
• “The pen is mightier than the sword”
• “Less is more”
• “Survival of the fittest”
• “Numbers don’t lie, but people do”
• “Knowledge without wisdom is dangerous”
• “Trust takes years to build, seconds to break”

5. Opinion-Based / Debatable Topics

They test balanced arguments.

• Should India ban cryptocurrencies?
• Online education vs classroom learning
• Is meritocracy possible in India?
• Should sports be mandatory in education?
• Is English still relevant in a globalized world?
• Media trial: Justice or injustice?
• Nuclear energy for India: Safe or risky?
• Should voting be compulsory?

6. Recent Trending Themes (High Probability)

These have appeared frequently in the last few years.

• ChatGPT and generative AI in education
• Deepfake technology and ethics
• Sustainability and green growth
• Layoffs in tech industry
• India as a global manufacturing hub
• Mental health at the workplace
• Women participation in the workforce
• Geopolitics and supply chain disruption