The answer to the SRT will therefore reflect the aspirant’s power of understanding, practical ability,initiative, temperament, imagination, resoluteness, social behaviour, consistency, stability under stress in varying conditions. The psychologist is mainly interested to observe, whether the aspirant reveals a co-operative attitude or a negative or obstructive behaviour, whether he places the group before self interest.
If you critically analyse the questions, you will notice that the answer being given has invariably some relation to one of these aspects. Therefore, carefully ensure that your choices are and the answer reveals your attitude. Mainly, you have to sacrifice your personal interest to general or group interest. Finally,be careful to avoid contradictions and co-relate the answers with the statements you have made in the questionnaire. If you have given your hobby as hiking or trekking, then you must be able to answer the questions related to trekking with certain knowledge,as compared to others.
How SRT can be tackled? “One has to enter into the problem, bail out the problem and draw the solution with the resources available by observing and imagining”. SRT is another projective technique to assess human personality traits. One will actually indicate his presence in choosing a particular course of action under a given situation. The time stress has been purposely introduced to ensure that aspirant is bound to record his actions without detailed and prolonged deliberations. No special intelligence or technical skill is required to answer theses questions.
How to do well in SRT?
Intermix of many qualities are revealed. These major qualities are –
There are two components to solve the problem and to do well in SRT –
Perception: For perception, you know knowledge and information about various agencies, their role and your role in the organization.
Problem: One problem is associated with aspects of life. Let us exemplify the above as under –
Situation – He wants to marry Saleema Bano, but she is from different religion, both the parents are quarrelling and there is apprehension of riots. He…
Solution – Immediately situation with both parents, elders,discuss the merits and demerits and reach an amicable statement.
Interpretation –
A solution has to bring out the display of your personality through actions and reactions which spell your leadership qualities to come. You must bring solution to a problem. Assessment of situation is more important rather than offering a solution. Certain element will qualify the crisis. Level of problems and solutions both are interrelated.The important aspect to draw the solution is –
Source : My Appointment with a Psychologist by Krish Nair & Anoop T.
Individual Obstacles Tasks (IOT) These outdoor tasks are carried out on the second day of GTO. Overall this is the individual performance assessing day for each candidate except the Final Group Task which is a group task.The individual task consists of 10 obstacles laid in a typical fashion.The 10 obstacles are numbered and the same marks are assigned to the respective task.A minimum of all tasks should be performed in a span of 3 mins. and if time is left any other task can be gone over again.
It is not necessary to start the tasks from 1st , but it is left to the wish of the candidate where does he
want to start from.
Try to obtain 74 points ,that is, one round = 55 +9+10 = 74
The obstacles are
1. Difficult jump. (Jump over a small slide from the opposite side.)
2. Long jump. (jump across a 6 ft.* 3ft. drum.)
3. Zig – Zag Balance (walk over a zig-zag balance and complete I and land properly.)
4. High Screen jump ( jump over a slide and over a screen placed on it and land properly.)
5. Burma bridge (walk across a structure of rope tied between two ends of post carefully. Climb form
any side and climb down from other side.)
6.Tarzan swing ( While taking the leap fold your body and legs and leave the rope at the instant where
you feel it would be accurate for you to jump and cross the line.)
7. Monkey Jump (Climb on a big staircase structure and jump on the land safely.)
8. Double Ditch 8ft.*3ft. and 4ft.*3ft..(cross the 1st ditch with the help of a rope and the second one
with ease ,just by proper leg work..)
9. Commando walk (walk from any side up and down from another, maintain balance..)
10. Tiger leap (walk up a podium, leap and catch hold of a rope, count 1001,1002 and start coming down,don’t come rushing down , but do it step by step.)
The best way of doing this is to follow this sequence:
10, 9, 8, 4, 6, 7, 1, 2, 5, 3.
Or if not possible make circular arrangement on seeing the placement of obstacles at the same day itself, but do it fast.
A prior practice of climbing and running is necessary to enhance your performance.
Duration 3 mins. per candidate, 35-40 mins. overall.
This test aims at judging the personality traits and basic psychology of a candidate. It brings out attitudes, thoughts, desires, feelings and even negative aspects of one’s personality.For testing the word association, candidates are shown a word of common usage for about 15 seconds, during which time candidates are supposed to write a sentence. After 15 seconds are over, another word is exposed for 15 seconds, the process continues and candidates are asked to write 60 sentences.
The words are easy and of day-to-day usage. Time given to the candidates is so short that they have to write down the very first thought that comes after seeing the word. The psychologists analyse the personality traits, attitudes and feelings on the basis of these natural reactions of the candidates to specific words.
There can be no ready made solutions to the word association test. However, with a little bit of practice the candidates can choose correct sentence. The pessimistic, negative, pervert and counter-productive feelings must be avoided whereas positive feelings of success, honesty, respectfulness, uprightness, optimism, humanism, etc should be highlighted. For example, the word “failure”, can be used as “Failure cannot always be avoided”, or “Failures are the pillars of success”. Whereas the former sentence depicts pessimism and defeat, the latter sentence shows how a negative word can also be used in a positive manner. On similar lines the candidates must prepare himself beforehand for words like defeat, death, disease wrong, etc. It must be ensured that the sentences used are small and convey some positive aspect of one’s psyche. Due care must be taken to ensure that the sentences do not depict the feeling of fear, insecurity, anxiety, cowardice, etc. To do well in this test the candidates must practice with several sets of words and do the self appraisal.
1.WAR
Candidates reactions: a) Peace overcomes war
b) War is destruction
c) I hate war
d) War means bloodshed
Suggestion: Love Peace, but be prepared for war
2.PEACE
Candidate: a) Every one loves peace (Acceptable)
b) I love peace
c) Peace brings Progress ( Very Good)
3.WORK
Candidate: a) work is worship
b) Hard work pays (Acceptable)
c) Hardwork leads to success (Very Good)
d) Work while you work play while you play (Avoid using proverbs)
In this article, we will know what is PIQ form in SSB Interview and why it is so important in your SSB Interview Recommendation. We will also know the importance and significance of PIQ form. PIQ form is very important because it has crucial information about aspirant, also most of the personal interview questions in SSB interview is related to what you have written in your PIQ form. So do fill it properly and do not write something which you might not aware of, it may create a problem for you in the Interview. Below you can find detail about PIQ form. The basic PIQ form is of two pages, it includes questions related to your academics, relatives, self and other miscellaneous questions. Candidate must keep full attention while filling this form, write legible and to the point, do not overwrite and exaggerate personal information.
When PIQ form is filled in SSB Interview?
If your reporting time at SSB Centre is early morning, then your screening is done on the same day. In this case, PIQ form is filled out after the screening is done on Day 1 screening tests are done.
If your reporting time is in the afternoon or in the evening, then your PIQ form is filled before the Screening, on the same day if reporting after your document verification.
What does the PIQ form consist of?
The basic PIQ form is a two-pager questionnaire that consists of some of the basic details about you and your personal life. These questions form a base on your personality, whatever you write in your PIQ form, must be in line with your actions and behavior during your stay at SSB Centre.
Activities like NCC & Sports or Games played with Position Held if any
Participation in Extra-circular activities – Interest & Hobbies
Details of your previous SSB Attempts
Sample PIQ form is given below for your reference.
Download SSB Interview PIQ form:
You can download the original PIQ form which you may get in the SSB, so download it from below and keep practicing in it.
Important of PIQ form in SSB Interview
PIQ form is the first thing you fill after you clear your screening test and the beginning of your stage 2 testing. The Candidate’s PIQ form is circulated to the Psychologists and the Interviewing Officer and GTO in some cases. Their assessment is either based on your PIQ form or compared to your PIQ form.
PIQ forms a base of your personality and the psychologist forms an opinion about the candidate through their PIQ form. The psychologist may interpret the candidates’ background, their family, and other social parameters from their PIQ form. Based on this information and the assessment done by them based on the candidate’s responses in psychological tests, they predict whether the candidate has given a genuine reaction in the paper or not.
Most of the questions asked by IO in the personal interview are based on your PIQ form, IO goes through your PIQ form well in advance and come up with some questions to crosscheck your PIQ form, questions used to cross-check are so indirect and you might take it in ease but you should not contradict what you have written in the PIQ form. So it is better to write what you are and what you can prove during the personal interview.
PIQ form background questions
The place of residence – In terms of facilities available in any city, it may be different in a metro city compared to that of a very small town. The facilities the candidate might have got during his upbringing and how judicially they have used those facilities can be predicted. Clearly, it gives a lot of insight into the candidate. This shows how parameters are formed about different candidates and they aren’t judged on a single scale.
Your Family background and parents’ occupation – The education level of the candidate’s family can be used to predict the level of awareness that a candidate gets while growing up. Similarly, if a family has sufficient income then it is a higher possibility that the candidate must have got optimum resources for their overall personality development.
Common Mistakes committed by Aspirants while filling PIQ Form
Writing incorrect information due to lack of self-knowledge or unavailability of details
Framing frictional information to get attention from SSB Board
Writing too much data and boasting
Poor handwriting
Not understanding the importance and gravity of the form and writing just for the sake of filling the form
Don’t have clarity about special achievements in academics and sports, ending up with writing false achievements
Not revealing correct hobbies and extra-curricular activities and framing them to stand out of the crowd
Most of the readers are asking about the good SSB coaching academy, so that they can get good training and guidance from there and achieve their dreams. This post consist name of some good SSB coaching academies, though I have asked few details from them by contacting the concerned branches. Below list is not based on any ranking structure, all are well known institutes in this field.
May be we have missed the names of few academies, so if you know about a good one do tell us.
Below you can find their introduction, as given in their websites. You can check their websites if you find something interesting.
1 Baalnoi Academy
“Named after the achievements of 9 Rajputana Rifles in the 1971 Indo-Pak War in the “Battle of Balnoi” in the Poonch Sector “Baalnoi Academy” was created in 1997 as a need based coaching institute to train aspirants for the Defence Services. The Academy has a faculty of dedicated instructors who have served with the SSBs during current decade and are abreast with the latest procedures. Training is imparted through use of ‘State-of-Art’ technology and modern techniques of teaching. With its emphasis on maintenance of Quality, it has already made a name for itself among the leading institutions of its kind. “Baalnoi is one of the well know Academy, they have a very good selection rate in the past years.
2. Minerva academy
“The Minerva Academy, since its establishment in 1955, with Over 30000 successes in SSB Interviews and over 1000 top positions, has achieved an enviable and unbeatable record of success in the field of coaching for interviews, in general, and the Service Selection Board, in particular. Every fourth officer in the INDIAN ARMED FORCES has been a student of the Minerva Academy The Academy gives training for SSB interviews/PABT only, being it’s Single-Line Specialty. We conduct no other type of teaching/training for any other exam, not even for written exams for NDA/CDS etc.”
3. Olivegreens
“The Olive Greens is a premier, SSB training & personality enhancement Institute committed to youth empowerment. The Institute is located in the heart of Chandigarh, with a sprawling campus, that houses hi – tech and spacious, air conditioned Activity Rooms. The uniqueness of the Institute accrues from its outdoor layout of obstacles, including all types of Leaderless Group Tasks, Command Tasks, Group Obstacle Race & Individual Obstacles. In order to infuse realizing into training, the dimension of all these obstacles has been precisely calibrated to those existing in various SSBs.
The faculty comprises of dedicated professionals trained at the elite Defence Institute of Psychological Research, New Delhi, Ministry of Defence and professional psychologists. These highly experienced, senior Army officers have been assessors and members of Services Selection Boards for protracted period of time”
4. The Cavalier
“The Cavalier aims at quality education & training enabling the candidates joining the institute to face challenges of their fields confidently and successfully. The Cavalier is a recognized name in the field of career in defence services, computer training and resettlement of retiring defence personnel.
The Cavalier is an educational and training initiative of the Ex Defence Officers. It is engaged in training aspirants for Service Selection Boards and other interviews. The Cavalier also provides computer software / hardware and security resettlement courses conducted by Directorate General Resettlement (DGR), Ministry of Defence for retiring defence personnel.
The Cavalier caters for written coaching for competitions like NDA, CDSE, Central Police Force, SSC (Pre) and DOEACC ‘O’ & ‘A’ level computer courses. The Cavalier also provides computer software / Hardware resettlement courses run by Directorate General of Resettlement, Ministry of Defence for defence personnel. The Cavalier aims at quality education enabling the candidates joining the institute to face the challenges of their fields confidently and successfully.
Today The Cavalier is a recognized name in the field of competitions, resettlement of Defence personnel, both officers and men and computer education.
5. SSB Universal Counselling
Lt Col Rajeev Devgan, Ex. Group Testing Officer started the Universal Counselling Centre at H/C-317, Ganga Nagar, Meerut during February 2001. The Gunner officer is a product of Delhi Public School, Mathura Road & was commissioned in 5 FIELD REGIMENT through Indian Military Academy, Dehradun during December 1975.
The officer also served in 871 LIGHT REGIMENT, 224 FIELD REGIMENT, 305 MEDIUM REGIMENT, ARTILLERY CENTRE, HYDRABAD & NASIK respectively. The officer qualified as Group Testing Officer from Directorate Institute of Psychological Research, DIPR Delhi during January 1987 and upholds the GUNNER’S PRIDE in imparting best of Education and Training to Young Aspirants to join the Armed Forces in the Officer Category.
The Officer enjoys an extensive experience as a Group Testing Officer with a prolonged tenure in SSB Allahabad for approximately 3 years duration and also served Selection Boards on attachment schedules with SSB Banglore, Allahabad and Bhopal for short spans leading to an extensive overall period of 18 months.”
The Editorial Team of SSBCrack consists of a group of Professional writers and aspirants. Their main aim is to provide up to date information regarding SSB Interviews and sharing quality information about Indian Defence to help aspirants. Mail us to join our editorial team now.
This is the last task of GTO 1 day and this is the most exhausting day.This task can be considered outdoor but is actually a sitting indoor task. The task means to delivering a small lecture on a topic to be selected from a chit on which 4 topics are written (topmost = most difficult, next two = difficult and easy, last = easiest), for a span of 3 mins continuously and fluently only in ENGLISH.
Tips for Lecturette in SSB
Tips for Lecturette in SSB Interview
Choose any of the topics but advised to select 2 or 3 for convenience.
Give a brief introduction , actual cause and nature of topic selected, deep mature thought over its ascent over mankind, its +ve and -ve effects , a small example if possible to explain clearly your perceived thought.
While giving your lecture, report your topic to the GTO and then proceed. Look into the eyes of group members and not the GTO while giving lecturette.
While preparing make sure you have taken the above points in consideration.
Make a prior preparation of one topic which you like in case that you cannot speak on any of the topics given then ask for permission from GTO to talk on your topic.
Just before the actual task starts the GTO asks for a brief introduction of all candidates one by one in the following format,
Name
Father’s name
Father’s occupation
Family background
Schooling and education
Currently what are you doing
Where are you from and hobbies?
Cover all these points in 45 seconds and do not stumble anywhere, have a good profound fluent voice, look at your friends and do not make any hand gestures. Limited hand gestures can be made at the time of lecture but not many.
Don’t get tense and panic while delivering lecture instead keep a smiling face. Duration is per candidate = 3 mins, total about 30 -35 mins.
1.The AFCAT Question Paper will have 100 questions. All questions will be of three marks each. For every correct answer the candidate will get three marks and for every wrong answer one mark will be deducted under negative marking. The total time allotted for the paper is two hours.
Above links are very useful , do go through at least 5 questions of each type, almost 15 questions comes from Numerical ability so do not ignore this part :
Reasoning and Military ability is the most simplest part click here to see the type of questions comes in Military ability. Also check the previous post “AFCAT Study Material “.
Note: Remember there is “- ve” in AFCAT so do not try to make blind hit of more question it will reduce your chances of passing AFCAT, first solve the easiest part for you and fetch more marks . Your 3 wrong hits make you loose your one correct answer.
Yes SSB is one of the very challenging and unique interview, its stressful for someone and on the other hand few enjoys it ( probably the freshers ). Yes it unique because it judge you on different level unlike common interviews which just go with your academics and personality even without judging it properly. But this is not the case with SSB interview, we always listen from others specially from the recommended one that ” just be yourself in SSB interview ” so what is it ??
What do you mean by being yourself, its simple, perform more than your ability but without changing your “unique” way to do the things, do not hold a mask.
What is the job of SSB Board:
1. They should provide the best men in the forces, and there is no scope for error. So they are very selective and they have unique methods to find the ” right fit “.
2 Also they should select the one who can utilize his/her ability in the Organization, and do not feel that he/she is in wrong place.
“One wrong person selected for a given job can cause a host of problems in an organization. Therefore, an rganization should ensure that suitable people are recruited, even if it involves some investment. There is a difference between the selection system between the corporate / private enterprise and the Armed Forces. The selection at the entry level in the private world is done on ‘as required basis’ and has the ‘best fit’ philosophy,meaning that the best of the lot is selected. The Armed Forces has a ‘right fit’ philosophy, wherein the Selection Centres are not aware of the vacancies and they recommend aspirants for selection, whom they find fit for the services.”
” If you are in uniform and someone says that you are not a good officer, how will you feel, it will be a very bad feeling , that’s the reason why SSB board tells you earlier that you are no meant for this organization and you may do wonders somewhere else”
But again it gives you chances to comeback and prove yourself again !! Hardly you will get such chances in other sectors. Yes you can develop certain qualities with time which are required in a person to become an officer. Remember as I said there is no scope for error, if they find any doubt regarding you; they will not gonna select you, so do not hold a mask until unless you know how to hold it properly.
Also SSB needs a person who is good in his attitude , the way he/she act and react to the situations , someone is gentle and clever . Because you can change someone physically but its hard to change the mentality and attitude of someone in the training duration, that it the reason Psychology test hold so much of importance in SSB.
So practice hard for your SSB, don’t think much , behave in your normal way, think with a free mind , put your best effort , and you will be in sooner or later.
NDA and CDSE are conducted by UPSC twice every year . Here you will get previous question papers for NDA and CDS examinations, all questions papers are taken from upsc.gov.in website.
Hi All, AFCAT syllabus has changes over the time, now Indian air force do not conduct EKT [Engineering Knowledge Test] in AFCAT for recommended candidates. AFCAT syallbus consist of 100 questions with 3 marks for each questions.