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’

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.

Extempore Topics

Topics on Global Current Affairs

1. Climate crisis and potential solutions
2. Rise of artificial intelligence and automation
3. Cryptocurrency market trends and regulations
4. Cyber security threats in digital age
5. Economic reforms and policies under implementation
6. National Education Policy
7. Impact of the Russia-Ukarine conflict

Topics on Social Issues

1. Corruption in India
2. The role of art and media in shaping public opinion and social movements
3. Understanding mental health issues and reducing stigma in society
4. Impact of immigration on social cohesion

Topics on Business, Economics and Finance

1. Opinion about cashless economy
2. Indian Budget
3. Role of startups and entrepreneurship
4. Business ethics and corporate social responsibility
5. Solution to Poverty
6. Slowdown of the Indian Economy
7. Global regression
8. Impact of trade wars

Topics about Management

1. Challenges and opportunities of remote work
2. Role of data analytics in decision making
3. How will AI transform the work culture
4. Ethical considerations during business decision making
5. Integrity or Adaptability: what holds more importance
6. Can corporate ethics coexist with profit maximisation
7. Is ESG (Environment, Sustainability and Governance) investing a strategic necessity