Essay writing and the Written Ability Test (WAT) are important parts of many OMETs. Not all exams include them, but XAT, TISSNET, and MICAT assess your clarity of thought, structure, language, and critical reasoning. Good preparation can increase your chances of being shortlisted for group discussions and personal interviews.

Exam-Wise Overview  
🔹 XAT Essay  

• Time: 20 minutes 
• Word Limit: 200 to 250 
• Focus: Structured argument, clarity, balanced perspective.  

🔹 TISSNET WAT  

• Time: 20–25 minutes 
• Word Limit: 250 to 300 
• Focus: Social issues, policy topics, current events. 
• Evaluation: Logical thinking, structure, grammar, societal awareness.  

🔹 MICAT Descriptive Test  

• Time: 30 minutes 
• Word Limit: 250 to 300 
• Focus: Creative writing and expressing opinions. 
• Evaluation: Creativity, language style, relevance, clarity.  

Recommended Structure  

• Introduction (2–3 lines)  

Clearly define the topic or problem.  

• Body (2–4 paragraphs)  

Present multiple perspectives or arguments.  

Support with examples, data, or real-life situations.  

• Conclusion (2–3 lines)  

Summarize your viewpoint.  

Offer a forward-looking or balanced perspective if it fits.  

Preparation Tips  

• Practice regularly.
• Write 1 essay per day, switching between factual and opinion topics. 
• Read widely. 
• Look at newspapers, editorials, social issues, and business news. 
• Time yourself. 
• Keep to 20–30 minutes to mimic exam conditions. 
• Focus on clarity over vocabulary. 
• Simple, correct language is better than fancy but confusing words. 
• Analyze past WAT/essay topics. 
• Identify recurring themes like social issues, ethics, business dilemmas, and creative storytelling.  

Common Mistakes to Avoid  

• Ignoring structure (introduction, body, conclusion). 
• Writing off-topic or generic essays. 
• Using overly complex language or making grammatical errors. 
• Skipping examples or reasoning. 
• Going over or under word limits.