How is GD conducted?

A group of people are made to sit together in a room. There will be a person (sometimes two or three) co-ordinating the GD. After the topic is given, the candidates start discussing the topic amongst themselves. They stop the discussion when moderator asks them to stop. In some cases, you may be asked to write the summary of the GD. Hence, while taking chance to speak; you should, at the same time concentrate on what the others are saying, so that it is easy to write others’ point of views. Don’t be in a wrong impression that writing a summary means it is mandatory that you have to come to a conclusion by the end of the allotted time for GD. This is not so! Even if you are asked to come to a conclusion, it is not always possible. In such cases, the moderator will look for your approach to the problems and not your prescription in the form of consensus.

Seating arrangement:

The groups of candidates are made to sit in a circular/ semi-circular fashion or in a u shape or in rectangular “boardroom” seating arrangement. In most cases the group size ranges from 8 to 15 students per group. However, it may also vary to a bigger number of participants depending upon the institute/company, which is conducting the GD. In most cases, the moderator decides the seating arrangement. The participants are allotted a specific seat in the GD. It is very rare that the participants are allowed to select their preferred place. If the seating arrangement is circular, then there is no difference between any two positions. However, if it is a rectangular arrangement, then the best positions are the middle of the shorter side. This gives the advantage of the better noticeability by the other members of the group. The next best position is the centre of the longer side. Physical prominence makes it a little easier to get one’s way into the discussion. The position at the two ends of the longer sides is probably the least desirable. But if don’t have any choice, you should make the best of the situation. Concentrate on your participation rather than on the position of your seat. To make yourself visible to others, you may lean a little forward while speaking. If you are getting physically excluded from the group, push your chair a little forward. Alternatively, request your neighbors to pull their chair a little back.

Time: Normally 15 to 20 minutes is the time given to each group for discussing the topic. There may also be variations. It may be terminated much earlier or it can be extended to 30 minutes or more.

Moderator: The person who co-ordinates the GD is called the ‘moderator’. He is neutral person, either from the company / institute conducting the GD or a professional. The moderators are normally experienced persons, who have the ability to judge the performance of every member of the group -even if is a large one. His primary role is to evaluate the performance of every participant. He is the one who announces the topic and time of the GD. He also keeps track of the time and the way the GD progresses. Generally, he does not interfere during the GD. However, he may intervene at two situations.

i) When the group discusses the points that are not relevant to the given topic.

ii) When there is chaos and noise in the discussion.

In the first case, the moderator may interfere to bring the discussion back to the track and the second case, he may stop the GD temporarily till order settles in. The moderator also has the right to ask a participant to stop talking, when any member dominates the GD. In other word, the moderator is only a facilitator or an observer, who is present to help the smooth flowing of the GD and evaluate the participants during the process.