Is it true that the person who speaks the most in a Group Discussion is bound to be the most successful?

This is a myth. Generally, a person who has sound knowledge about the topic, and is a clear thinker, tends to speak more. This leads students to wrongly believe that success is directly proportional to the amount you speak. Just speaking for the sake of speaking will not take you far.

Will I be quizzed in my Interview about my participation in the Group Discussion?

If the interview immediately follows the Group Discussion, then this is likely to happen. You may be asked to rate the performance of all members in the Group Discussion, or to state your opinion on the topic, etc.

Is it true that the Group Discussion is used more as an elimination technique than as a selection tool?

In institutes other than the IIMs, during the preliminary stages of selection, the Group Discussion is used as an elimination technique. In the final stages of the selection process, it is used to actively select rather than to discard. This is because most of the elimination has already been done at the earlier stage. At the IIMs, since there are no such stages, the Group Discussion is used to select and not to eliminate.

What is the level of accuracy desired in the facts and figures that you quote in Group Discussion?

For a micro-figure like the 7 wonders of the world, etc., you are expected to be 100% accurate, but in a macro-figure, an error margin of 5% on the higher / lower side is permitted.

Is motivating other persons in a group to participate looked upon favorably?

If you try to motivate people by openly requesting them to speak then it might not be acceptable. You might be forcing someone to talk at the expense of the other members of the group. Also, the person whom you are "helping" may not really want to speak at that point. It is, therefore, better to use other methods of motivation. These include agreeing with halting speakers, adding on to their point, implicitly supporting them and giving them direction, etc.

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Related Links: -
+ Group Discussions - Part I
+ Group Discussions - Part II: Your Queries Answered
+ Conquer Thy Kingdom: How to Prepare for Group Discussion & Personal Interview
+ Group Discussion (GD) Topics for MBA Entrance
+ Must Read for GD/PI
+ Join Discussions on Current GDs
+ Share your GD Topics & GD Experiences

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