What You’ll Learn
- Why Grammar for WAT MBA Matters More Than You Think
- The 15 Grammar Mistakes in WAT That Cost You Marks
- Essential WAT Grammar Tips from IIM Evaluators
- Grammar for Statistics in WAT: Numbers That Don’t Embarrass
- Storytelling WAT: Grammar That Makes Narratives Shine
- Grammar Across the WAT GD PI Process
- WAT Based GD: When Your Essay Becomes Your GD Topic
- Grammar Mistakes in GD: Spoken vs Written Errors
- School-Specific Grammar Expectations
- The 2-Minute Proofreading System
Here’s a quote that should make you pay attention to grammar for WAT:
“If you don’t know the difference between ‘their’ and ‘there,’ I will assume you don’t know the difference between an asset and a liability.” — Corporate Hiring Manager
Harsh? Yes. True? Absolutely. In a writing test, grammar errors aren’t just mistakes—they’re signals. They tell evaluators that you’re careless, rushed, or simply don’t have the language skills expected of a future manager. And in the 30 seconds an evaluator spends on your essay, those signals determine whether you land in the “Top” pile or the “Average” pile.
This guide covers everything you need to know about grammar for WAT—from the 15 most common errors to school-specific expectations, from using statistics in WAT correctly to making your storytelling WAT narratives grammatically flawless. Whether you’re preparing for your first WAT MBA attempt or refining your skills, these WAT grammar tips will help you avoid the errors that cost marks.
Why Grammar for WAT MBA Matters More Than You Think
Let’s be clear: evaluators aren’t English teachers hunting for split infinitives. They’re assessing your fitness for an MBA program where you’ll write proposals, emails to clients, board presentations, and strategy documents. Grammar errors in WAT don’t just lose you marks—they create doubt about your professional readiness.
The Real Cost of Grammar Errors
| Error Type | Impact | Evaluator Reaction |
|---|---|---|
| Subject-Verb Disagreement | -1 to -2 marks | “Basic error. Did they not proofread?” |
| Tense Inconsistency | -1 mark | “Confusing timeline. Unclear thinking.” |
| Run-on Sentences | -0.5 to -1 mark | “Hard to follow. Poor structure.” |
| Spelling Errors | -0.5 per error | “Careless. Unprofessional.” |
| Hinglish/Informal Language | Maturity score: Zero | “This is a formal assessment, not WhatsApp.” |
The 15 Grammar Mistakes in WAT That Cost You Marks
After analyzing evaluator feedback from IIM faculty interviews, here are the most common grammar mistakes in WAT—ranked by frequency and impact. Fix these, and you’ll eliminate 90% of language-related score deductions.
Critical Errors (Instant Red Flags)
Wrong: “The impact of AI technologies are significant.”
Right: “The impact of AI technologies is significant.”
Rule: The subject is “impact” (singular), not “technologies.” Ignore the words between subject and verb.
Wrong: “India launched Digital India in 2015, and it transforms rural connectivity.”
Right: “India launched Digital India in 2015, and it has transformed rural connectivity.”
Rule: Stay in one tense unless the time reference genuinely changes.
Wrong: “Climate change is a pressing issue governments must act quickly failure to do so will have catastrophic consequences.”
Right: “Climate change is a pressing issue. Governments must act quickly; failure to do so will have catastrophic consequences.”
Rule: If you need to pause for breath while reading, you need punctuation.
Common Errors (Frequent Mark Deductions)
- #4 Their/There/They’re: “Their going to implement the policy”
- #5 Its/It’s: “The company lost it’s market share”
- #6 Affect/Effect: “This will effect the outcome”
- #7 Comma Splice: “Growth is essential, it drives employment”
- #8 Dangling Modifier: “Running late, the meeting was postponed”
- #4 Their/There/They’re: “They’re going to implement the policy”
- #5 Its/It’s: “The company lost its market share”
- #6 Affect/Effect: “This will affect the outcome”
- #7 Comma Splice: “Growth is essential; it drives employment”
- #8 Dangling Modifier: “Running late, I postponed the meeting”
Subtle Errors (Professional Polish)
| # | Wrong | Right |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | “Less students enrolled” (countable) | “Fewer students enrolled” |
| 10 | “This phenomena is common” | “This phenomenon is common” |
| 11 | “Between you and I” | “Between you and me” |
| 12 | “Could of been avoided” | “Could have been avoided” |
| 13 | “The data shows that” (formal) | “The data show that” (data = plural) |
| 14 | “Irregardless of the outcome” | “Regardless of the outcome” |
| 15 | “Should of went” (double error) | “Should have gone” |
One candidate mixed Hindi phrases and informal language throughout their WAT. Result: Maturity score: Zero. Rejected despite good content. WAT is a formal assessment. Save Hinglish for casual conversations. Phrases like “basically,” “actually,” “you know,” and direct Hindi insertions signal immaturity to evaluators.
Essential WAT Grammar Tips from IIM Evaluators
These WAT grammar tips come directly from IIM faculty interviews and successful converts. They’re not textbook rules—they’re practical strategies that work under exam pressure.
Simple sentences with clear subjects and verbs always beat complex sentences with potential errors.
Do: “The government implemented the policy.”
Active voice is clearer, shorter, and shows confidence.
Zinsser: “Clutter is the disease of writing.”
The “Safe Grammar” Strategy
Under time pressure, stick to constructions you’re 100% confident about. Here’s a framework:
Pattern 1: [Subject] [Verb] [Object]. → “India launched Digital India in 2015.”
Pattern 2: [Topic sentence]. [Supporting evidence]. [Analysis]. → Three short sentences instead of one complex one.
Pattern 3: While [concession], [main point]. → “While critics raise valid concerns, the evidence supports digital adoption.”
Pattern 4: [Statement]. However, [counter]. Therefore, [conclusion]. → Clear, logical, error-resistant.
Grammar for Statistics in WAT: Numbers That Don’t Embarrass
Using statistics in WAT boosts credibility—but only if you write them correctly. Nothing undermines a data point faster than grammatical errors around it. Here’s how to integrate numbers professionally.
Rules for Writing Numbers
| Rule | Wrong | Right |
|---|---|---|
| Spell out 1-10 | “India has 5 trillion-dollar companies” | “India has five trillion-dollar companies” |
| Use numerals for 11+ | “UPI processed ten billion transactions” | “UPI processed 10 billion transactions” |
| Percentages | “Grew by twenty-one %” | “Grew by 21%” |
| Large numbers | “₹200000000000” | “₹2 lakh crore” or “₹200 billion” |
| Years | “In the year two thousand twenty-four” | “In 2024” |
| Starting sentences | “7.3% was India’s growth rate” | “India’s growth rate was 7.3%” |
The Data Sandwich Formula
Statistics need context to have impact. Use the Data Sandwich: Context → Statistic → Interpretation.
[CONTEXT] India’s digital payment ecosystem has undergone a remarkable transformation.
Sets up the data point with context[STATISTIC] UPI processed over 10 billion transactions in December 2024, according to NPCI data.
Specific number + source = credibility[INTERPRETATION] This demonstrates that digital infrastructure, when designed for accessibility, achieves adoption faster than mandates ever could.
Explains WHY the statistic matters—connects to argumentEvaluator pet peeve #3: “I Google suspicious numbers. Fabrication = automatic fail.”
One candidate wrote “60% of startups fail due to lack of funding” in an essay marked by a startup founder. Score: 2/10. If you’re unsure, use qualifiers: “Research suggests…” or “Studies indicate…”—grammatically correct hedging beats confidently wrong statistics.
Storytelling WAT: Grammar That Makes Narratives Shine
Personal stories score higher—essays with a personal story in the first 50 words score 5.2× higher on average. But storytelling WAT has its own grammar challenges. Narrative writing requires tense consistency, pronoun clarity, and dialogue punctuation.
“One personal story beats ten statistics. Show your real self, not a rehearsed persona.” — IIM Faculty Interview, 2024
Grammar Rules for Storytelling
Right: “Last year, my company faced a choice. We were deciding whether to admit…”
Stories happened in the past. Keep them there.
“My grandmother still counts cash for vegetables. Last Diwali, she asked about Paytm. Now she’s teaching her friends.”
Right: “When the manager met the client, the manager was angry.”
Who is “he”? Ambiguous pronouns confuse readers.
Instead of: My manager said, “You need to improve.”
Write: My manager told me I needed to improve.
Storytelling Opening Examples
Digital Divide: “My grandmother still counts cash for vegetables while my brother trades crypto worth lakhs before breakfast. This is India’s digital divide in 2025.”
Present tense throughout—vivid, immediateProfessional Growth: “Six months ago, I lost my job to an AI tool. Today, I train that same tool.”
Time markers clearly signal tense shiftsEthics in Business: “Last year, my company faced a choice: admit a quality problem or hide it. Admitting cost ₹20 lakhs. We admitted.”
Consistent past tense, clean sentence structureGrammar Across the WAT GD PI Process
Understanding the WAT GD PI process helps you see why grammar matters beyond just the written test. Your language consistency across all three components affects your overall impression.
- Creates first impression before GD/PI
- Panelists may read your WAT before interview
- Sets expectation for your communication level
- Grammar errors here create doubt for later stages
- Spoken grammar errors less penalized than written
- But consistent errors signal weak language skills
- Subject-verb errors noticed in structured summaries
- Hinglish severely penalized in formal GD
- Panelists compare your spoken vs written English
- Major mismatch = doubt about authenticity
- AI-assisted WAT suspicion if PI grammar poor
- Consistency builds trust; inconsistency raises flags
ISB Admissions: “We detect AI essays in 15 seconds. They are instantly rejected.”
Signs that trigger AI detection include: Overly perfect grammar with no natural errors. If your WAT has flawless grammar but your PI reveals basic language gaps, evaluators will suspect AI assistance. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s consistent competence across all three stages.
Key Insight: 80% of interviewers make decisions within the first 15 minutes of PI—and WAT influences pre-PI perception. Strong WAT grammar creates positive bias before your interview even begins.
WAT Based GD: When Your Essay Becomes Your GD Topic
In some schools, WAT based GD means your written essay becomes the starting point for group discussion. The GD might explore the same topic you just wrote about—which means your written grammar errors can haunt you verbally.
How WAT Based GD Works
Grammar Mistakes in GD: Spoken vs Written Errors
Grammar mistakes in GD are evaluated differently than written errors, but they still impact your score. Here’s what to avoid when speaking in group discussions.
Spoken Grammar Errors That Hurt
| Error Type | Common Mistake | Correct Form |
|---|---|---|
| Subject-Verb (Common in GD) | “The government have decided…” | “The government has decided…” |
| Double Negatives | “We can’t not ignore this issue” | “We cannot ignore this issue” |
| Redundant Words | “In my personal opinion, I think…” | “I believe…” or “In my view…” |
| Tense Shifts | “The policy failed, and it creates problems” | “The policy failed, and it created problems” |
| Mother Tongue Influence | “He is doing very good” | “He is doing very well” |
GD-Specific Grammar Situations
Grammatically Safe Openers:
- “I’d like to begin by addressing…”
- “The core issue here seems to be…”
- “Let me offer a perspective on…”
Avoid: “So basically, like, the thing is…” (informal, filler-heavy)
Grammatically Safe Transitions:
- “Building on what [Name] said…”
- “I agree with the previous point, and I’d add that…”
- “That’s a valid observation. Additionally…”
Avoid: “Yeah, so like he said, and also…” (casual, weak)
Grammatically Safe Counters:
- “I see the merit in that argument; however…”
- “While that’s true in some cases, the data suggest otherwise…”
- “I’d respectfully disagree because…”
Avoid: “No, but that’s wrong because…” (abrupt, rude)
Grammatically Safe Summaries:
- “To synthesize the discussion, we’ve covered three main points…”
- “The group seems to agree that…, though perspectives differ on…”
- “In conclusion, the consensus appears to be…”
Avoid: “So basically everyone said…” (oversimplified, casual)
When GD becomes chaotic, your grammar becomes more visible. If everyone is interrupting and shouting, the candidate who maintains grammatical composure stands out. Try to bring structure/calm—it gets you noticed. If that fails, fight for airtime but keep trying to impose structure with each entry. Proper grammar in chaos signals leadership under pressure.
School-Specific Grammar Expectations
Different IIMs have different tolerance levels for grammar errors. Here’s what the research reveals:
| School | Grammar Strictness | WAT Weight | Priority Focus | Key Advice |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Bangalore | STRICT | 15% (Highest) | Logical consistency | Proofread 3×. Simple sentences. Clean grammar wins. |
| IIM Calcutta | EXTREMELY STRICT | 10% | Opinion + Authority | Proofread 2×. Every word must count in 250 words. |
| IIM Ahmedabad | Moderate | 10% | Analytical depth | Basic grammar must be flawless. Focus on analysis. |
| IIM Kozhikode | Flexible | ~10% | Creativity | No major errors needed. Creative angle rewarded. |
| XLRI | Moderate | 10% | Ethics + Values | Grammar correct, but focus on moral reasoning. |
School-Specific Grammar Insights
The 2-Minute Proofreading System
You have 2-3 minutes at the end of your WAT for review. Here’s a systematic approach that catches maximum errors in minimum time.
- Check essay has clear intro, body, conclusion
- Verify thesis appears in first 50 words
- Confirm conclusion ties back to thesis
- Look for any incomplete sentences
- Read BACKWARDS sentence by sentence
- Check subject-verb agreement (biggest errors)
- Verify tense consistency throughout
- Spot their/there/they’re, its/it’s errors
- Check any statistics for correct format
- Underline key sentences (+0.8 marks average)
- Ensure handwriting is legible (+1.5-2 marks)
- Verify word count is within limit
The Backwards Reading Technique
Your brain auto-corrects errors when reading forward—you see what you meant to write, not what you actually wrote. Reading sentences last-to-first breaks this pattern.
How to do it:
1. Start at the last sentence
2. Read it in isolation—does it make grammatical sense?
3. Move to second-last sentence
4. Continue until you reach the first sentence
This technique is used by professional editors and catches errors that forward-reading misses.
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Subject-verb agreement checked in every sentence
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Consistent tense throughout (no random shifts)
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Their/there/they’re and its/it’s verified
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No run-on sentences (max 25 words per sentence)
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Active voice used (minimal passive)
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Statistics formatted correctly (numerals for 11+, % symbol)
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No Hinglish or informal language
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Pronouns have clear references (no ambiguous “he/they”)
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Within word limit (±10% tolerance)
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Read backwards for final error check
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1Grammar Signals ProfessionalismGrammar errors don’t just lose marks—they create doubt about your fitness for an MBA. One error makes evaluators look for more. Protect your entire essay by eliminating obvious mistakes.
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2Clarity Beats ComplexitySimple sentences with clear subjects and verbs always beat complex sentences with potential errors. Sophistication comes from ideas, not vocabulary. Short sentences = fewer errors.
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3School-Specific Strictness VariesIIM-B and IIM-C are STRICT on grammar—proofread twice. IIM-A prioritizes analytical depth. IIM-K values creativity. Know your target school’s expectations.
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4Grammar Consistency Across WAT-GD-PIYour language level should be consistent across all three stages. Major mismatches between written and spoken English raise authenticity concerns.
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5Leave Time to ProofreadTop scorers finish writing in 16-17 minutes on a 20-minute WAT. Use the remaining time for backwards proofreading. A complete average essay beats an incomplete perfect one.