SSB consist of 2 stages, the first stage is called as the screening test and the second stage consists of 3 important test knows as Psychology test, Group Testing Officers (GTO) Test and personal interview. This post is regarding screening, yes screening seems very difficult for those who got screened out many times. The screening test is indeed a difficult test because of the competition level, the screening test result is on the basis of your Intelligence tests [verbal & nonverbal] and PPDT [Picture Perception and Discussion test].
How To Pass Screening Test In SSB [PPDT]
Verbal and nonverbal is not difficult to crack because it’s just to test your OIR [ Officer’s Intelligence Rate ], try to attempt all the questions because time is very limited if they say 15 mins for a test take it as 10 mins and attempt most of the questions because no “negative” marking.
Now the most famous picture perception and discussion test, what you need to do are write a story according to the picture shown to you for 4 mins only and later you have to discuss about the picture and make a common story in group discussion.
What are the mistakes candidates do generally? Firstly you write a good story which has head and tail and matches with the picture shown to you, for god’s sake don’t write Ram, Mohan, Sohan,..do all of you have friends with this name only? if not use your friend’s name, I am sure every second person writes “RAM” as his hero, so choose a good name for your character. Also, some of them write totally different stories like if they see a “village scene” then the hero wanted to work for his village as an engineer !! Really you want to do that ?? At least write something which has quick action and not future plans kind of things. Some of you give rewards at the end of your story just for social work, getting a reward for good work is not that easy in Indian ( kidding)please avoid this reward system and just make a happy ending with some twists and turns in your story, Assessors should get some interest and attention while reading/listening to your story but again do not make detective type and superman type stories be normal and practical. Okay, you must be good at writing a story so where is the fault ?? let us talk about group discussion, a very tense situation isn’t it ??
Tips while narrating: Be loud enough while narrating the story, be confident about your story, look at everyone while narrating except looking at assessors, try to convey the message of your story instead of going deep into the story content { do not take much time to finish}. Sometimes we get stuck in between during narration, do not worry about that try to come back on track as soon as possible, and keep your story simple during narration so that you don’t stick in between and also don’t bug others as well. On the whole, your story narration is easy and attractive because all you need to get is attention from assessors, again do not try to gain attention through odd means. What are the odd means ?? okay you must have seen a candidate saying ” gentleman I agree with chest number xyz story ” and that candidate keeps on saying this throughout the whole discussion, what is this? fine it’s good if you like others’ story but it didn’t mean that saying such lines let you in for 5 days, why are you there? you also have a story, did you put your point even once? did you contribute to the story making? did you convince others regarding few points which you think are correct?
All you need to do is to make a story with the help of others, so contribute some points during discussion and try to find out the common point in the story which others also observed and add it to the story because no one objects in something which he/she also observed. Suppose if most of you have seen a village environment then say that keep the village environment only and make a story around that instead of making something odd. All you need is to convince others and also agree with others, supporting your story is good but forcing others to take the whole part of your story as a common story is never gonna work for you. Sometimes GD becomes “Fish Market” and yes it’s not your fault because you are not getting involved but still, you didn’t get selected, why? because you didn’t say a single word, if you try to stop such stupid stuff in GD by convincing others then you have a good chance, try your best to convince them, tell them not to argue, and let’s try to make a good story. If you keep quiet under such a situation it’s difficult for you to get selected and yes people who are shouting may get selected because they were trying to do something to make a story.
Who is your best friend? What do you see in someone to make him/her your friend?? you must be facing this question in your personal interview in Services selection board, although this question looks simple but makes lot of sense . Now what is the need of asking such type of question by an interviewer, do he wants to know what kind of friends you have and what kind of qualities they possess , I don’t think an interviewer wants to know about your friends and their qualities but it is all about you.
Here your answer matters and shows your maturity level, how? Armed forces are related to very confidential matters and someone who makes friends without knowing about them can create problems for the organization . Here we are talking about your friends qualities , take a simple quality as an example mmm say ” honesty” if you say a person should be honest then its good that you make a person who is honest but honesty with whom and in what ??? also how do you check someone’s honesty ? this is next question you will face …:)
But if you take your personal life encounters with a stranger did you every try to know about your ….classmate or bench mates honesty level , Yes or No ? I guess most of you don’t think of such things because we trust our friends and we never judge a person on honesty level and then make him/her a friend . Whenever you answer try to think first or close your eyes and think now, if your answer something which is correct and not just pre- planned lines then it will make interviewer more attentive and interested towards you and your life incidents.
Suppose if you like someone who makes you laugh and a cool guy/gal looks different from others , not selfish , don’t have bad habits , dosto ka dost yaro ka yaar wali baat, don’t you see all these stuffs ?? So probebly this is not the answer for everybody but what I mean is, try to be more open and correct while answering such questions . Hope you will react to this post and this post badly needs your comments so post your comments and answers in the comment box below .
This post is regarding GPE which is known as Group planning exercise conducted in GT [ Group task ]. Here we will post a model and the situation in front of you can write your response in the comment section below.
Group Planning Exercise Modal 1
Read the situation and write your response in the comment box below.
Well through this post I just want to put some light on importance of SRT (Situation reaction test) in Psychology Test. This is one of the SSB interview test in which candidates need to write their response for 60 situations within 30 mins of time duration,you are suppose to write your idea and reaction to tackle the situation.
Repeaters knows the kind of situations comes in SRT and Fresher can just go through this post to get more idea what to do or what not to do. Situations are common but rarely happens to someone in other words the most common situations can happen to you but rarely. Simple example ” you lost your ticket while travelling in train” this is common but happens rarely to someone.
Okay, above situation is very normal when compare to other situations, situation like ” you saw two gunmen forcing a lady on road in the middle of the night, what will you do ??” this situation is very rare but it very common nowadays. Everybody has their own tactics to tackle some problem and the way of tackling a problem is also considered in SSB. Your response must be practical , practical ? what do you mean by practical?
It must be Practically possible, I mean, you must write something which you will actually do under such situation, after thinking wisely. Please do not say you will go towards gunmen and kick them with your kung-fu this is not practical even when you know kung fu, because gunmen having Guns which is much faster than your kicks.. okay jokes apart…:) Okay I will give you one more example and please do not ask what I will do with those gunmen, because everybody has their own way to tackle situations, as I said above and I don’t want to make you confuse.
Below is the comment on SRT by one of the recommended candidate:
You are waiting for a relative at railway station. The train has arrived and suddenly you hear a loud explosion around. You see some people dead and some people badly injured or bleeding. People are running here and there. You will…….
Here the first reaction is to keep YOURSELF safe. If you yourself gets injured then who will help others? Ensure that you are standing at right place(open space) where probability of explosion is low. Then call the ambulance, Police, Bomb Squad etc and help the injured people.
To sum up:
In all SRT’s we need to think a little bit. In this case some people write ” I will run to the spot , call the ambulance, …”lekin spot pe bhag k jake karoge kya? On the spot pe jake ambulance ko call karne se accha hai ki you move away from the crowd, look around for empty space,and then call..and so on..”
Do comment on this post below for more interaction and queries about SRT.
The TAT (Thematic Apperception Test) of SSB Interview is popularly known as the picture interpretation technique because it uses a standard series of provocative yet ambiguous pictures about which the subject is asked to tell a story.
The subject is asked to tell as dramatic a story as they can for each picture presented, including the following
Word Association Test is not a sentence making test, otherwise, it would have been named so. In WAT or Word Association Test, the aspirants are given some words and they have to evaluate the qualities or ideas that are associated with the given word.
There is nothing ‘negative’ in this world. It is just your perception that makes you see things the way you want it to be. While attempting the test, the words and ideas that spring to your mind are more important that the expression itself. Every word in the WAT is designed to invoke some feeling or thought in the reader. The reader goes beyond the word and will find many relations to the word from different areas and fields.
Getting the idea from a particular field and writing it down is the main objective of the WAT. The test is designed to help the analyzer find the depth or level of the aspirant’s thinking.
The idea behind this test is, if you are capable of appreciating the word and its meaning, then your projection of the word will also fall short of an acceptable level.
Let’s see an example
Word: Cooperation
Response: Good cooperation between teammates is vital to the success of a company
Interpretation: Here the word was cooperation and your response to it was about teamwork. This shows that you go above and beyond the word. You have also associated your team with success, which may give you extra points in the eyes of the assessor.
Candidates who are preparing for SSB Interview in 2017 can download the latest SSB interview study material from SSBCrack. This SSB interview study material consist of free and paid source of preparation, these study materials are liked by many aspirants across the country, we are getting an overwhelming response from aspirants and we hope these materials would help you as well.
SSB Interview is known as one of the toughest interviews in the country, but some candidates find it easier and don’t find need any preparation or coaching necessary for SSB interviews. Apparently, there are only a few candidates who make it without any preparation or professional coaching. Practice makes a man perfect, indeed it got some meaning in it, if you are feeling lazy to prepare for SSB interviews then you will also feel lazy while coming back on the very first day or after 5 days.
If you are a serious defence aspirant and ready to do some smart and hard work to join the Indian defense forces, then start your preparation from scratch. Here is a few goods and recommended ssb interview books which are going to be helpful for your ssb interview preparation. You can buy these books online with huge discounts from the links mentioned below.
One of the most comprehensive and detailed books for SSB interview preparation is Let’s Crack SSB Interview. More than a million copies are sold now, this book was first published in 2015 and came out to be the most to-the-point book for SSB interview preparation which broke many myths about the SSB interview. This book is an insight into the procedure adapted at Service Selection Boards, for the selection into the Indian Armed Forces. Certainly, if you are reading this, you, or somebody you know, is an Armed Forces’ aspirant. Pick this one, and we promise you won’t regret buying it. This book is unique in many ways. Right from defining the procedure of SSB interview in a different manner, to having exclusive articles, contents and points related to Armed Forces. The book will in all possible ways, guide you in the right direction of glory.
2. Breaking The Code of SSB Psychological Tests [Book]
This book is ideal for people who aspire to pass the psychology tests in SSB interview with flying colors. There are a number of different tests to be covered at each step-in order to clear the psychology test. This book will help you at every level, using the simplest language that is easy to understand and work with. The workflow of the content in this book is such that it caters to even the most novice candidates who are not very well versed with these psychological tests. All thanks to the well-structured outlined methods, it becomes easy for the aspirants to grasp the knowledge imparted. In another light, this book acts as a personality development manual. It has been put together after compiling experiences gathered from different SSB tests. Add to that, the feedback received from recommended candidates and SSB assessors. It presents to you with the perfect set of tools that are required in shaping up your personality for the Armed Forces.
This is just not a book that tells you how to behave in Psychological tests. Instead, it sheds light on your existing personality and choices and provides you inputs with what can be incorporated in it. What does the book contain? It starts with a description of the Services Selection Board and what one can expect at these interviews. The testing procedures are divided into three parts: Screening, psychological testing, interview testing and group testing. While this book is mainly focused on psychological testing procedure contains TAT, WAT, SRT and SD. Each such test is described in details with suggestions on how to deal with these situations. In this book you will read many examples of TAT, WAT, SRT and SD, like always we suggest our readers that these examples are to help you to understand how to deal correctly with these tests so avoid mugging up the same responses.
3. OIR Test & PPDT – SSB Interview Screening Test – Stage 1 Testing
This book by SSBCrack is another evidence of efforts by our authors to provide quality guidance to the ssb aspirants. This book by SSBCrack was started with the purpose to be a torchbearer for the defence aspirants by introducing them to the concepts and testing procedures of stage 1 or screening tests I.E. OIR Test and PPDT. Our books have been known to guide and provide a comprehensive and detailed outlook about the ssb testing procedure that takes place at the services selection board. It is quite evident by the stage 1 rejection ratio of the SSB interviews that most of the defence aspirants are still trying to figure out the in-depth analysis of screening stage testing. This book will cover all the facets of the testing done at the SSB Interview during day 1 and will introduce you to the concepts and significance of all the tests in a way never told before. The context of the book is all in alignment with a comprehensive and methodological approach with regard to the stage 1 testing also known as the screening test. This book has been written in a way that caters to the interests of a fresher as well as that of a repeater candidate as it not only covers the requirements and to-be-done things from the perspective of a candidate but also covers all the avenues of the stage 1 testing in individual parts such as story writing, narration and group discussion. The book steals the perspective from the eyes of a candidate and presents you with the aim to reconnect it in a similar way. The picture perception and discussion test is also known as ppdt is covered in its entirety and has left nothing for the aspirants to dwell upon later.
Why do I need SSB Interview Book for Preparation?
SSB or Service Selection Board is a five-day procedure divided into two stages. There is a myth that the SSB interview needs no preparation, some of us are preparing for SSB since the time we were born, our thinking, our work, our moral and ethical values, our beliefs and our overall personality is what work in SSB interview. Apart from this, there is a lot that you can prepare for the SSB interview. So do not go without preapration.
A candidate who clears the Stage 1 only goes to the Stage 2 and stays for four more days. The two stages are as follows:
Stage 1
This stage is known as Basic Screening Test and comprises of two tests:
In this exercise, the candidate is in direct conversation with the Interviewing Officer and the Interview is conducted for 35-40 minutes. The Interview is conducted on the basis of the Personal Information Questionnaire Form (PIQ) which is filled by the candidate on their arrival to the SSB Board.
This is like the conclusion of the SSB Stay of a candidate. This is the Final day generally (Except for Flying Branch Candidates). On this final day, the fate of the candidate is decided and thus it is an important day. The candidates are required to appear one by one in front of the complete Board Of Officers comprising of the President of the board, Deputy President, Group Testing Officers, Psychologists & Technical Officers. The candidate can be asked following questions also:
How was your stay at the SSB Board?
Did you go out anywhere? Who accompanied you? Where did you go and what all did you find there?
How was the food in the mess?
Any other suggestions?
How to Prepare for SSB Interview at home with SSB Books?
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.
