How to Improve English for MBA Exams

How to Improve English for MBA Exams: In India, it is almost mandatory to qualify in an MBA entrance exam in order to take admission to MBA colleges, particularly when we talk about the top-tier colleges. Some private colleges do offer direct admission to MBA without entrance exam but there are very limited seats offered under that category every year. Hence, for a majority of MBA aspirants, admission through entrance exam is the way to go.

MBA entrance exams can prove to be a tough nut to crack. There is intense competition for top colleges such as the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and a good score is necessary to stand out from the pack. One area where MBA aspirants often face difficulty is preparing for English in MBA exams. Given below are the exam patterns of popular MBA exams in India. It can clearly be seen that English is a section that is common across all of the MBA entrance exams and is a very important section for any MBA aspirant.

Exam Pattern of Popular MBA Entrance Exams

Check the table below for the MBA Entrance Exam Pattern for popular exams in India. The English sections have been highlighted for each exam.

Hence, we can see that the English section is an important section of any MBA entrance exam. Having a good preparation strategy for English can boost your score and help you get into a good MBA college.

English Syllabus in MBA Entrance Exams

Before you start preparing, it is important to take note of the syllabus for the English or Verbal Ability or Language Comprehension section of the MBA entrance exams. There are three main areas on which any candidate has to focus when preparing for English in MBA entrance exams.

• English Grammar and Usage

• Vocabulary

• Reading Comprehension

While different exams may have a different exact syllabus, there are quite a few topics or types of questions which are commonly seen no matter which MBA exam you attempt. Given below are some of the important topics covered in the English section of MBA entrance exams.

These form the majority syllabus of English in most of the MBA entrance exams in India. Hence, it is very important that candidates have a good preparation of these topics for a good score in the exam.

English Preparation Tips for MBA Entrance Exams

Let's be honest, short-term preparation strategies are not really ideal for English preparation. It requires long-term dedication and constantly staying in touch with the language. Any candidate who has stayed in touch with English either from school-level or in the form of movies, music etc. will find it easier to go through the English section in the MBA entrance exam with mediocre preparation than a candidate who is not in the habit of using or reading English.

However, that does not mean that short-term preparation for English does not work. Just like any other section in the MBA exam, English also has a fixed syllabus and candidates can improve their English with short-term strategies as well.

Tips to Prepare for Reading Comprehension Section in MBA Exams

Reading Comprehension is considered one of the toughest and most time-consuming topics in entrance exams. Here are some tips to improve your performance in the Reading Comprehension questions.

• Build a daily reading habit.

• Read different types of content (news, books, articles, opinion pieces, blogs etc.)

• After reading, try to note down important information about the content such as:

  • What was it about?

  • What is the author trying to say?

  • Key information / facts

  • The tone of the passage etc.

Tips to Improve English Grammar for MBA Entrance Exams

Having a good knowledge of English grammar is very important for a good score in an MBA entrance exam. Here are some tips to improve English grammar. When it comes to grammar, it becomes necessary to deal with the grammatical rules. However, since grammar can be essentially endless it is important to restrain yourself in this area.

• Refer to the previous year question papers and understand the type of questions appearing in the entrance exam.

• Understand the construction of sentences and try to identify the various parts of speech in a sentence.

• Pay special attention to exceptions in grammatical rules.

Tips to Build Vocabulary for MBA Entrance Exams

Vocabulary-related questions might be asked in various forms including synonyms and antonyms, contextual usage, word closest / farthest in meaning etc. Given below are some tips to improve vocabulary for MBA exams.

• Always consult a dictionary when you come across a difficult word while reading. Note down the word and its meaning.

• It is better to not just try to cram up word meanings but understand the usage of a word in a sentence.

• Learning root words will help increase your vocabulary manifold with less work. It is a good way to work smartly when you have less time.

• Do not spend a lot of time on vocabulary. This is one area that can automatically improve with an overall improvement in English.

Best Books to Improve English for MBA Exams

The table below contains some of the best English preparation books relevant to MBA entrance exams in India.

Popular MBA Colleges in India

If you properly follow the tips and tricks to improve English for MBA exams, you will be able to get a good score and apply to the leading MBA colleges in India.

If you are looking for help with MBA admissions, just fill our Common Application Form (CAF) or call our toll-free helpline number 1800-572-9877 and our expert counsellors will help you get admission to the best MBA college for your needs.