Talking fluently in English is not necessary at all. However, if you are going to be taking your exam in English and subsequently the interview medium too is English, then it would be to your advantage that you are fluent in the language.
I shall illustrate what difference being fluent in English can make and where it won’t be needed.
- Having command over English will help you articulate yourself better.
- Command over English means you go head to head with urban candidates
- Command over English showcases you as someone who has overcome many odds (assuming urban students are usually good in English) to master the language. Shows that you are a go-getter.
- You will be able to express yourself nicely in the essay paper.
Now fluency in spoken English is needed only in the interview stage. Nobody there judges you based on your language. If you can express yourself confidently and put forth your views clearly, then it doesn’t matter.
However, having said all that, in today’s world, it is extremely important that you speak and read good English. Now many people would give you the “English is a colonial legacy. To hell with it!” speech or “Why should we Indians not learn our own language” arguments. Don’t go by such negative arguments. Being good at English doesn’t mean you ignore your mother tongue or other languages. It is just one additional step in being competitive.
So, if you have time to work on your English, do that. Skills are gained not for the purpose of an exam. An exam is nothing but a reason to acquire them. If you don’t have time, then to hell with it and crack the exam without it. You will be fine either way.