aviator_ankur
Wanted to understand a few things regarding the IIM A Extempore:
1. How much talking time is allocated from start of the speech/extempore to the end of the speech/extempore?
2. Are we allowed to write down any pointers on a piece of paper? If yes, how much time is allocated/allowed for this?
3. In case we do not know much about the topic received, are we allowed to choose a new one? If yes, upto how many times can we change the topic?
aviator_ankur 1. Not much can be predicted for an IIM A PGPX interview.

It depends entirely on the mood of the panel and how they perceive your application. I have observed the panels being nice to some applicants while being more difficult to others. The good cop bad cop strategy is quite prevalent on the panel so be mentally prepared for that. During the extempore debate, the most important thing is to stand your ground and speak with confidence and rational while being respectful.
2. You can jot down your thoughts quickly, but you cannot formulate and write comprehensive arguments in less than a minute. The profs like to see how you structure your argument.
3. Yes, you can politely ask to pick a different topic. If you are unable to speak on the second topic, that would not look good. However, do not be afraid to request a first change if you are unsure about the first topic. I have seen many cases where applicants who changed the topic or supposedly felt that they were not good in the extempore discussion got through.
Aanchal Sahni (INSEAD alum, former INSEAD MBA admissions interviewer)
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