Practice English group discussions

Group discussions are used in university admissions and job placements to test how you think and speak in English under social pressure. The hard parts aren't the ideas — they're entering the conversation, holding your point when others talk over you, and summarizing well.

Airi helps you rehearse those moves. Practice opening a topic, agreeing and disagreeing politely, bringing in a point, and summarizing at the end. She responds and pushes back, so you can get used to speaking up and staying clear when the discussion heats up.

A quick example with Airi

Topic: should companies allow remote work permanently? Give your opening view.

I think remote work is good because people can save time from commuting.

Small fix: "save time on commuting." Fair point. But doesn't it hurt teamwork?

Maybe, but with good tools teams can still work well together.

Good — you defended your point. Now try to summarize both sides.

Try a conversation like this, free600 free credits, about 8 minutes of speaking. No card.

Group discussion evaluation criteria: how a GD round is judged

Two published guides say what assessors look for in a group discussion (GD). The UK careers site targetjobs tells assessment center candidates that they are not primarily assessed on reaching the "right" answer, which often does not exist, but on how they work with others. MBAUniverse, an Indian MBA admissions portal, says the GD round tests communication skills, topic knowledge, thought process and leadership.

Formats vary by institute and employer. One MBAUniverse guide describes around 8 to 12 candidates and about 12 to 15 minutes, while its topics page mentions 20 to 25 minutes. Either way, your share of the talking time is a few minutes at most, so plan several short turns, not a speech. The published advice points to four behaviors:

Contribute without dominating. The targetjobs advice is to be assertive, but not aggressive.
Link to other speakers. Exam boards reward the same habit in paired tests: in Cambridge English's commentary on a sample B2 First speaking test, the candidate with the top mark for Interactive Communication links her contributions to what her partner has said and keeps inviting her partner's views.
Bring others in. Prospects, a UK graduate careers site that is part of Jisc, advises drawing others into group discussions, and targetjobs says to draw out quieter members and seek their views.
Move the group forward. Summarize the group's progress from time to time and keep an eye on the clock, as targetjobs suggests.

Group discussion phrases for eight key moments

Moment	What to say	Why it works
Opening the discussion	Let me get us started. The topic asks whether ..., so let's take the benefits first, then the risks.	You offer a structure, not just an opinion.
Coming in between two speakers	Can I pick up on that last point?	It links your turn to the last one.
Disagreeing	I see it a little differently. If ..., then ...	It questions the idea, not the person.
Being cut off	Just let me finish this thought, and then it's all yours.	Firm, friendly, and it promises them a turn.
Everyone talking at once	Can we go one at a time? Maya, I think you were first.	It restores order without shouting anyone down.
Bringing in a quiet candidate	We haven't heard from Ken yet. Ken, what's your take on this?	It gives a quieter member an easy way in.
The group drifting	We're getting off topic. The question was ..., so can we go back to that?	It shows you are tracking the goal.
Closing	Let me sum up. We agreed that ..., we were split on ..., and most of us lean toward ...	A fair summary covers the whole group.

Types of group discussion topics, and how to open each one

MBAUniverse files its GD topics under business and economy, current affairs, social issues and abstract topics. Assessment centers add the case study, which targetjobs describes as a brief, often a set of documents based on a real-life business situation.

Topic type	Example	A strong opening
Business or current affairs	Will artificial intelligence create more jobs than it replaces?	Let's split this in two: which jobs are at risk, and which new ones are appearing.
Social issue	Should schools ban smartphones in class?	There are three groups to think about here: students, teachers and parents.
Abstract	Zero	I read "zero" as a starting point, not as nothing. How do the rest of you read it?
Case study	A coffee shop is losing customers to a new rival. What should the owner do?	Before we suggest fixes, can we agree on the main problem: price, quality or location?

Mistakes English learners make in group discussions

Instead of	Say	Why
According to me, online classes work better.	In my opinion, online classes work better.	"According to" reports someone else's view. The Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English tells learners not to say "according to me".
In my point of view, the plan is risky.	From my point of view, the plan is risky.	Longman's entry for "point of view" carries the note: don't say "in my point of view".
I am agree with Maya on this.	I agree with Maya on this.	"Agree" is a verb, so it takes no "am".
Let's discuss about the costs first.	Let's discuss the costs first.	"Discuss" takes a direct object. Longman's note: don't say "discuss about something".
As she told, prices are rising.	As she said, prices are rising.	"Tell" needs a listener: "she told us". "Say" does not.
You are wrong.	I'm not sure that's always true, because ...	Challenge the idea, never the person. How you treat the group is judged too.
Dear friends, today I will speak about pollution.	Pollution is a huge topic. Shall we start with the causes?	A discussion is a conversation, not a speech. Open with something others can answer.

How to practice a group discussion alone, with Airi

Airi plays one other candidate and changes roles when you ask. That is enough to drill most of the moves above; the one she cannot recreate is several people talking at once. The free credits cover about eight minutes of speaking, so keep your turns short and take one topic from opening to summary.

Set the scene: "Let's do a group discussion. You are another candidate, not my teacher. Give me a topic and let me open."
Ask for resistance: "Now disagree with me and give your reason." Reply with a softer opening, one reason and one example.
Change her role: "Now be a candidate who keeps going off topic." Bring the discussion back each time.
Change it again: "Now be a quiet candidate who gives one-line answers." Draw her out with a direct question.
Sum up both sides and where the discussion ended up, adding nothing new. Then ask: "Did I leave out anything you said?"
Each time a small fix appears, say the corrected line once, then carry on.

Airi remembers your last topic, so next time you can return to it and argue the other side.

How to get the most from it

Practice entering

Learn phrases to join in: "I'd like to add...", "Building on that...". Rehearse them out loud.

Disagree politely

"I see your point, but..." keeps the exchange respectful. Drill it with Airi pushing back.

End with a summary

A fair summary shows you listened to everyone. Practice a short, balanced wrap-up.

Start speaking today

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Frequently asked questions

What is a GD interview?

GD stands for group discussion: a selection round where candidates discuss a topic while assessors watch how each person communicates and works with the group. Airi helps you rehearse the speaking moves.

Can Airi simulate other participants?

She plays one participant who responds and challenges you, so you practice entering, defending and summarizing. Ask her to change roles, for example to a candidate who disagrees or one who drifts off topic.

Is it useful for MBA or placements?

It can be. GD rounds are used in some MBA admissions and campus placements, and the moves they call for, opening, cutting in, disagreeing and summarizing, are the ones you rehearse here. Airi is one voice, not a full panel, so practice with a real group as well when you can.

How do I start a group discussion in English?

Frame the topic instead of making a speech: say what it means, name two angles the group could cover, and ask "Where shall we begin?" Speaking first only helps if it gives the group a direction. If you know little about the topic, let others open, then come in by linking two of their points.

How do I conclude a group discussion?

Give the main points from both sides in three or four sentences and say where the group ended up, for example: "We agreed that phones distract students, we were split on a full ban, and most of us favor limits set by teachers." Leave out new arguments and your own opinion.

Can I practice group discussions online with AI for free?

You can start for free. Airi runs in your browser, and you get 600 free credits when you sign up with Google, about eight minutes of speaking: enough to take one topic from your opening to your summary. After that there are one-off credit packs from USD 5, with no subscription.

Last updated: 2026-10-03