Next Steps after Submission: How to Prepare for Essays, Assessments & Interview

Overview

The webinar explains what applicants should expect after submitting an undergraduate application to Ashoka University: two mandatory assessments, a possible interview, and practical steps for preparing.

The admissions team emphasizes that the process is holistic. Assessments matter, but no single score determines an applicant’s outcome.

Mandatory Assessments

Applicants must complete both assessments for their application to proceed.

On-the-Spot Essay

• Choose one of two prompts.
• Write for 30 minutes. The essay must be at least 250 words; there is no stated maximum.
• Evaluators focus primarily on how applicants understand and engage with a prompt, organize their thinking, develop and support an argument, and communicate clearly.
• Prior subject knowledge, elaborate vocabulary, and perfect grammar are not the focus. Applicants are not expected to provide statistics or facts. If they use specific information, it should be accurate and relevant.
• There is no single correct position. Applicants may agree, disagree, or take a nuanced view, provided they explain their reasoning.

Ashoka Aptitude Assessment

• Complete 40 multiple-choice questions in 90 minutes.
• The assessment tests comprehension, logical and numerical reasoning, problem-solving, and related aptitude.
• Mathematical concepts are drawn from material studied up to Class 10; advanced mathematics is not expected.
• Questions may involve mathematics, comprehension, elimination, numerical patterns, and logical extensions.
• There is no negative marking. Applicants can move between questions and mark questions to return to later.

Suggested Approach to the On-the-Spot Essay

The presenters recommend spending a few minutes planning rather than immediately writing under pressure. A possible process is:

1. Read both prompts carefully. Compare them and choose the one you feel able to engage with most meaningfully—not necessarily the one you know the most facts about.
2. Break down the chosen prompt. Identify its claims, assumptions, distinctions, and questions.
3. Generate possible ideas. Jot down arguments, examples, and questions. Consider more than one perspective, including possible counterarguments.
4. Choose a position or lens. Decide what you want the essay to say and which ideas best support that approach.
5. Make a brief outline. Put the points in a logical order so that each paragraph contributes to the overall argument.
6. Write the essay. Use the remaining time to develop the outline, answer the prompt directly, and support your reasoning. Aim for a coherent response of at least 250 words.

The sample prompts discussed concern the distinction between history and literature, and whether advances in neuroscience reduce social stigma around mental health. They illustrate that prompts can invite several defensible perspectives.

Preparing for the Aptitude Assessment

The presenters advise applicants to focus on careful reading and reasoning rather than trying to guess an answer from the options immediately:

• Read the full prompt and all relevant conditions before solving.
• Take time to understand what is being asked. The presenters suggest spending roughly 35–45 seconds, or up to about a minute, on a question when needed.
• Apply the information in the prompt systematically, using logical or basic mathematical reasoning as appropriate.
• Use the sample papers on the university website to become familiar with the range and style of questions. They are practice materials, not a prediction of the questions that will appear.
• Stay focused on each question and avoid rushing past comprehension.

Assessment Arrangements and Practical Guidance

Most applicants take the assessments at an in-person center. Some applicants, including those outside India or with approved access arrangements, may receive different instructions or take the assessments online.

For in-person assessments, applicants should:

• Arrive 30 minutes early.
• Bring their hall ticket, printed or digital, and a valid, non-expired government photo ID. The name and photograph must be clearly visible and match the application.
• Check the hall ticket and individual communications for the assigned venue, time, and other instructions.
• Bring as few personal items as possible. Personal devices may need to be stored; rough paper and a pen will be provided.
• Follow the center’s rules. A short break is provided between the sections.
• Not bring a calculator unless one has been specifically approved as an accommodation and listed in their instructions.

Online applicants will receive separate instructions. They may need a computer with a camera and microphone, a quiet room, and compliance with other test conditions. Applicants with learning, mobility, or other access needs should follow the arrangements communicated to them. Approved accommodations may include extra time, a basic calculator, or a scribe.

Applicants should follow their own hall ticket and official communications rather than relying on another applicant’s instructions.

The Interview, If Shortlisted

Not every applicant will be invited to interview. For those who are shortlisted, the interview is generally online and may involve one or two interviewers. It is intended to be both personal and academic, and may explore:

• The applicant’s academic interests, activities, motivations, and self-awareness.
• How well the applicant understands and can discuss their application.
• Why they chose Ashoka and what they have learned about its academics and student life.
• The applicant’s broader context and potential fit with a residential university community.

The interview is described as a conversation rather than a fixed list of questions. Applicants are advised to:

• Re-read their application before the interview, including essays and activities.
• Research Ashoka’s academic curriculum and its approach to teaching.
• Speak with current students or people familiar with the university, if possible.
• Be prepared to discuss why they applied and what makes them a good fit.
• Avoid either overselling or underselling themselves. Be open, curious, and engaged, and use the conversation to share relevant experiences or information not included in the application.

Holistic Admissions and Questions Addressed

The admissions team considers the application as a whole, including school performance, activities beyond academics, essays, assessments, and other information provided by the applicant. The team did not provide a score cutoff or the weight assigned to each part of the process. It advises applicants to focus on doing their best in each stage rather than trying to target an undisclosed score.

Applicants who submitted SAT or ACT results may have them considered, but those tests are not mandatory. The Ashoka assessments remain mandatory even for applicants who submitted SAT scores.

The presenters’ overall advice is to prepare using the official samples, read instructions carefully, seek support for any access needs, and avoid unnecessary anxiety. They encourage applicants to treat the assessments and interview as opportunities to show how they think and who they are.

Speakers and Sources Featured

• Maduri Lalwani — Office of Admissions; co-presenter and webinar moderator.
• Marcia Prince — Director, Office of Admissions at Ashoka University; lead presenter on the assessments and interview.
• Ashoka University Office of Admissions — Source of the admissions-process guidance and assessment instructions presented in the webinar.