Hello my name is Ashish Prakash, I appeared for CDS (2) 2015 for the first time. I matched the answer keys online and was assured to clear the written in OTA list ( age lapsed for IMA ). This was my first chance of giving CDS exam and before that I had applied for EPFO, FOREST SERVICE and GEOLOGIST’S EXAM conducted by UPSC but unfortunately I could not clear any of them. So when CDS result came and I saw my roll number for the first time on UPSC website I became very happy. Then everyone told me that clearing CDS written is bit easier but the main thing is SSB interview. After few months my SSB call letter came and selection centre was Allahabad. I had only 25 days left to join my regular batch. Till that time I was completely unaware of SSB process. And there are lots of myths about the SSB process. I became scared when many of my friends and brothers told me that Allahabad is not a selection centre it is a rejection centre, so don’t waste your time going there. At that moment SSBCrack came to rescue me and helped me in boosting confidence in myself after I read many interviews of recommended candidates. I then went to Baalnoi academy, Delhi for SSB coaching. The class was for 14 days after the class I got all the idea about the whole SSB process.
I was having problem in Word Association Test (WAT) as my writing speed was very slow so I practiced that a lot before leaving for Allahabad.
Journey to Allahabad and Day 1 :
I left for Allahabad on 14th of May and reached on 15th of May, as my reporting time was 1 pm so I went to Movement Control Office (MCO) situated at platform 1 of Allahabad Railway Station. At 1 pm Selection centre representative came and then all the candidates moved to the selection centre east. After reporting all the candidates were given Chest Number and Batch Number and allotted 11 SSB board.
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Day 2:
There were total 75 candidates who reported and then at 8 A.M the screen in test started. The first test was Verbal reasoning I started doing that but by the time finished I did only 40 out of 50. I panicked a little as many candidates had done all 50. Then in Non Verbal reasoning I did all 50. Second test was PPDT i.e Picture Perception and Description Test. Picture was not very clear and the picture shown was a man carrying another man on his shoulder and there were many people behind him. I wrote on the theme of disaster and made the hero of the picture a person who helped the villagers. In the coaching it was said that after the ppdt test there will be a tea break and story could be discussed among the candidates. But it was Allahabad board they knew how to break the coaching’s strategy. There was no break and directly candidates were divided in two groups (Freshers+ Screened Out and Repeaters) and narration started. I narrated well but was not given chance to complete the story, as officer after listening 2 lines said “Understood,Next” ! Then in Group Discussion it was a fish market with everyone screaming it becomes very hard to make your voice heard to the officers during group discussion. So narration part is most important. Then after the group discussion we waited outside and then again assembled at the Batra Hall. Results were announced and my chest number was also there, I became very happy and we all were given new chest number and now my chest number was 6. Now after screen in there were 17 candidates who made into the 2nd stage. We all filled PIQ forms and the sent back to our respective board.
Day 3:
After morning breakfast we all assembled in front of the testing hall and Psychology test started:
TAT
Series wise 11 pictures were shown and 4 minutes time allotted for each story. Tip for this is try to prepare at least 5 themes of a single picture while preparing for SSB. Like mountains, rivers, road, accident scene etc.
12 slide is blank slide where you need to write any story you want. In my case one of my friend from the coaching who was already recommended at Allahabad suggested me to write the 12th story related to myself, what I had written in my PIQ and Self-Description. Hence I wrote a story to show my organising ability.
WAT
This was the test of which I had practiced a lot but I was nervous while attempting. I completed sentence from 59 words and left 1 word but I wrote that word there in the blank. When I wrote Self-Description I took out some time and wrote sentence of the 1 left word also. While dealing with the negative words make sure to use positive sentences for it and this can also be done by using opposite word of the given word.
SRT
In this test I was quite confident but due to lack of time I did 40 SRTs only.
SD
In self-description test I wrote what my parents think of me, what my teacher think of me, what I think of myself, What my friends think of me, What is the aim of my life. My advice is to prepare the self-description test at home and practice it. In this way you can save your time and use it for other tests, if left.
This was the end of the psychology test, as we came out of the testing hall we were instructed to go to the 11 SSB board office and my Interview was scheduled on the very same day.
Interview
Before the SSB I had faced few interviews for private job after my masters but this was my first interview for a big exam so I was very nervous.Reason behind this was also that till my class 12th I was a Hindi medium student and thus I somewhere lacked confidence in spoken English. I tried mirror test for that and practiced 10 minutes daily in front of the mirror.My interview was with the President of 11 SSB. In the coaching we were taught to knock the door before entering and same I imitated before entering, but it did not go well with him and he scolded me very much and said “when your chest number has already been displayed outside why you knocked the door.” I said sorry and sat on the chair in front of him. I was totally nervous at the moment as my first impression went bad. Then he started asking me from my PIQ. I had completed my masters in 2014. His first question was when I completed my masters in 2014 what was I doing for the 2 years gap? He also grilled me very much on the explanation of the question that why did I gave CDS exam so late. I kept on explaining him the scenario that when I was doing my graduation and after that in my masters none of our batch mate thought giving any government competitive exam except the Geologist’s exam. Then in the rapid fire questionnaire he asked a series of questions together. I gave the answers confidently. Then there was an unexpected question from his side to tell the name of a teacher whom I didn’t like and what the reason behind it was. Somehow I gave that answer also confidently. The interview went for about 45 minutes and then interview finished.
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DAY 3:
GTO 1
Day started with 2 group discussions, both went very well. I spoke around 6-7 times on both the given topics. Then the second task was Group Planning Exercise (GPE). In this task time was very less to write the solution to the given problems so I could wrote only the number of problems in order of their priority, and the solution to the first problem. Third task of the day was Progressive Group Task (PGT), in this task our group performed well and I too did gave 2-3 ideas. Remember to make sure that the idea you give is noticed by the GTO. Similarly after that Half Group Task (HGT) also went well. After HGT the next task was Group Obstacles Race (GOR) or commonly known as the snake race. This was the best task of GTO day 1 where everyone enjoyed very much. In this task never leave your group member and run away, help the group in finishing the task. GTO’s are very critical of all small activities we do during this task. War Cry helps in boosting the adrenaline level during this task. Once the task finished, we all were totally exhausted but to our surprise we were informed that Lecturette was also waiting for us !
When my turn came, I choose the most difficult topic from the given list “Endangered species of India”, and I had enough points to speak for more than 3 minutes confidently without any hassle.
Friend’s try to choose difficult topic if you can speak as it has more marks and creates good impression on GTO, but if you don’t have idea about any topic it is always better to choose the topic which you know and have knowledge about it. It is not good to speak things there which makes no sense.
DAY 4:
GTO 2
Day started with body warm up for about half an hour in the GTO ground, then started the first task of the day Individual Obstacles (IO) in that task I managed to complete all 3 obstacles in the given 3 minutes, thankfully without injury!! Many people who get some injury or bruises get panicked and highlight them, it sometimes creates not so good impression on the GTO. Why? Common friends after all we are going to be a warrior and small injuries and bruises will become part of our day to day life during training and after that. After IO second task was Command Task, which in my view is most important task of GTO day 2. There each cadet of a group was made a commander and he could choose two subordinates. My command task finished in the prescribed time. GTO asked me to give different different ideas for the same problem. The last task of the day was Final Group Task, which was also like Progressive Group task and in which the whole group performed together for the last time.
Day 5:
Conference Day
This is the final result day, and the whole SSB process comes to an end. We all assembled at the 11 SSB conference hall and were briefed about how to enter the room, where to sit and with whom to talk inside the conference hall. Everyone was thrilled and confident. My chest number 6 flashed on the board and I went inside. There was an oval table inside and around 12 officers (could not count) were sitting inside in the full army uniform and 11 board president who had taken my interview earlier was in the front. I greeted him and stood, he offered me to settle down. I had promised myself to keep calm and smiling inside the hall. I was confidently looking in to the eye of the president. He asked me how I felt attending my first SSB interview? I answered him it was wonderful. Then he told me to explain why wonderful in 5 lines. Again he asked me what I wanted to change in my personality after going back home. Then he asked me about any suggestion or complain for the SSB. All these questions and answers merely took 3 minutes and after that I again thanked everyone and went out of the conference hall. After all conference process got over we all were told to make lines according to chest number. Then one officer came with the result. By that time my heart started beating very fast. Officer said that the result of the batch was very poor and only one had been recommended. After listening that I was totally dismayed. Then he finally called the chest number and he called out chest number 6, I felt I had mistaken in hearing, he again called the chest number. I rushed in front, he told me to shout my name and UPSC roll number I did that, he congratulated me and the whole SSB process came to end.
It was not less than a miracle for me. I have faced rejections many time in my life. I completed my masters and worked in oil industry for few months,but then oil prices went down and I had to leave the job. Then I started preparing for UPSC exams. I know how much negative sometimes a human can be. I am already of 24 years and this was my First and Second last attempt for CDS exam and first SSB. But if effortlessly we work hard towards achieving success we definitely get success. Once again I would like to thank SSBCrack for simple explanations of whole ssb process and new updates and their endeavour in spreading knowledge to thousands of aspirants and helping them in shaping their future.
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