Many defence aspirants want to prepare for the SSB interview at home. There must be many reasons like work or school that hamper your chances to take offline coaching which demands more time. Here we are mentioning the best ssb interview books and how can you prepare at home for your upcoming SSB interviews. You can also enroll in our online SSB interview batch to boost your SSB preparation.
For Screening Day-1:
- The first test is the OIR for whose preparation you can buy any OIR books (there are many available) and start solving it, focussing on time and accuracy. Even if you are preparing for Bank/SSC Exams as a backup, then also it would be beneficial.
- For PPDT – the best way to prepare would be to first write stories following all time and details related instructions. Then to narrate in front of the mirror while sitting(as will be in SSB), and recording it to see whether it was crisp (like did you wander off unnecessary details), your voice quality (was it confident/bold enough), your body language, etc. Keep on noticing the mistakes and improving upon it, it will be not more than a 20 minute exercise at all, so you can make it a daily routine. If you have SSB buddies around you and are able to have regular contact with them (which has become quite hard in the pandemic), go for those Group Discussions to boost your confidence.
- Note: If the corona wave is at peak and still SSB is going on, they may require to wear face shields with masks on even during the narrations and GD, so practice at home with it, because speaking from personal experience it may seem normal, but face shields hamper your voice quality, something very- very important. So practicing with it, will give you enough confidence to raise your voice without sounding too weird.
For Psych Tests:
- First, start with the best SSB interview psychological tests book. You should know that there are no absolutes / perfect answers/responses in psych tests. They are different for every individual, like if a stage is shown someone may write about winning a dance competition, while someone may write about organizing a competition, there are always different viewpoints because all of us have different life experiences. My advice would be to practice for them at home, and analyse your responses, whether it could have been more related to me or whether it could have been generic or whether the actions were sufficient, etc. Also, if you have an SSB buddy, get it analysed from them also to get their views. Remember never copy, there are always responses you can get from web on stories/words/situations, but always formulate your own, try to understand the actions and then write as per your own imagination but never copy. About SD, I will add it up with PI tips below
For Personal Interview
- Search for the PIQ form the web, get its hard copy and then fill all the details in it. Now sit in front of a mirror and start question yourself on the details you filled, for example if you wrote under responsibilities, some post, then what was your role, why were you given that post, what all you did during your tenure, what were the shortcomings, what problems were there and how you dealt with them, what all more could you have done, etc. Do this for all the sections, questioning and cross questioning yourself, if you are short on questions, you can get the commonly asked information questionnaire on our blog. Also, you should be aware of your strengths and weaknesses, and how are you able to utilise your strengths or how are you working to remove your weaknesses. Remember there are no specific best responses in personal interview, only the true responses (your own life experiences) are the best responses. Also have knowledge about the force you want to join, like if you want to join the Army, then which regiment do you aspire for, why so, its history, contribution latest defence equipment, deals, exercises, comparison with our neighbours, what role will you play in the the army, if not army then what? Etc.
- After this exercise, ask your brother/parents/SSB Buddy to take your mock interview, take their opinions and improve upon. The tip of recording your performance as in PPDT will also be beneficial.
- Also remember there is no use of memorizing responses related to your life, if you have followed the above exercise it would be enough.
- Now that you have done this self-introspection completely start writing your Self-Description in an organized way, because now your responses in interview will be coherent with what you write.
For GTO
- First, focus on your fitness. Although extreme level of fitness is not required, but in tasks like GOR (Group Obstacle Race) and IO (Individual Obstacles, you will need a lot of stamina, as it may so happen that immediately after the IO/GOR, lecturette/any other task will be conducted and if you are someone with less stamina you will be exhausted physically and that may take a toll on your performance. Also keeping yourself in shape helps you boost your confidence and project a positive vibe about yourself to the assessors.
- Anyways the academy you aspire to join maintains a very high standard of physical fitness for its cadets, so why shy away from it now.
- For this you can start gyming or if you have a ground nearby start going for runs. Try for swimming as it will also help you in the academy to great extent. Also if you are able to play team sports, it would be of best help to you, as nothing builds more personality than them, they bring out every aspect of you be it physical or mental toughness. It also builds the most important virtue required not just for SSB but also for professional and personal life: TEAM-SPIRIT.
- For GDs read newspapers, you can also follow any trusted news portal online, and explain to your brother/family/friends whatever you read and discuss with them their opinions, as it would give you a wide viewpoint.
- For GPE, there are numerable models online, find them, and write your responses. Make your own method like writing in a tabular form or to go paragraph wise. Read responses of other people and see what all did you miss or what could have been done in a better way. Having a SSB Buddy would be great.
- For PGT/HGT/CT/FGT, I would advise to learn the basics of tying the knots, and try to solve the obstacles (there are many pictures of them floating on the web). Remember not just you but almost your whole group becomes kind of clueless, from the third obstacles, but a calm mind will find the solution, there is no prize for the first solution, take your time(there will be) and find the best route for your group. Just keep trying.
- For Lecturette, speak in front of mirror neither more than nor less than for three minutes on important topics / issues you read about. Never speak randomly, rather plan it under various parts like Definition, Advantages, Disadvantages, Solutions(focussing on this part), etc and record your lecturette using phone/ any other device. Now notice your body language, voice modulation(if you sounded too monotonous), expressions, and keep on improving.
If you are preparing for the upcoming SSB interviews from home, be it for Indian Army, Indian Air Force and Indian Navy, you can download and purchase the best SSB interview preparing books from the below links. SSBCrack is trusted by millions of defence aspirants for more than 10 years now. We understand the emotions of the defence aspirants and we care for the health of our future warriors. Stay home Stay safe !!
