5 Days SSB Schedule :
Reporting Day: The day of reporting at the SSB board, followed by document check and form filling[PIQ forms]. You are suppose to report at the place mentioned in the call letter, mostly you are asked to report at MCQ [Moment Control Office]. You will not find any difficult in doing so because there are many other candidates who reports on the same day, so you may find one or two.
Note: For some entries reporting day and screening[PPDT] are same, when your reporting time is early like 0700 hours then your screening day will be on the very first day(reporting day)
Stage-1 Testing
1. Screening : Screening process is to pick up some potential candidates from all those who have reported for the particular entry. It consist of few activities like:
Verbal and Non-verbal Test: Nothing hard, to be true, doesn’t need any preparation too. But it is always good to go well prepared, you can check some verbal and non-verbal sample questions here. After this test you will get some rest, and later proceed for PPDT.
PPDT: We have already talked so much about PPDT in later posts, this consist of story writing and discussion. You will be shown a picture for 30 secs, later you have to write a story based on the picture you have seen in 3 mins, after that, you will be divided into sub groups of 14-15 members, firstly each candidates will narrate his/her story which is followed by the group discussion on the picture, among the group members. You can find more details here. Keep in mind that PPDT is the most important part which helps you to clear screening and takes you to stage-2 testing.
Results of Screening: After the compeltion of PPDT, you will get some rest for 2-3 hours and lunch too. Your screening results will be declared after it, selected candidates are allotted with new chest numbers. Rest of the candidates gets their TA and dropped backed to the railway station or bus stand.
Stage-2 Testing
Congrats to all who clears first stage of testing, now your real battle starts, loosing the stage-2 battle is very painful for most of us, but a good preparation can fulfill your dream to join Indian defence forces.
2. Psychological Test: It is a battery of projective tests, all tests are used to check the psychological suitability of the candidate to be an officer. Candidates are required to write their responses based on the particular test. Here the time limit is very crucial , so you are required to write your first response in time.
Battery of Test:
Thematic Apperception Test [TAT]
Word Association Test [WAT]
Situation Reaction Test [SRT]
Self Description Test [ SD]
What to do ??
TAT: You will be shown 11 pictures in which last picture is will be a blank slide, each picture will come just for 30 seconds and then disappear, after that you will get 4 minutes time to write the story based on that picture. After 4 mins another picture will come for 30 seconds and same process will be followed till last slide {blank slide }.
WAT: You will be shown 60 words back to back, each word will remains on the screen for 15secs , in 15secs you are required to write a sentence which comes in your mind first after reading that word. Likewise you have to write 60 words continuously without any pause in between.
SRT: You will get a booklet with 60 situations written on it, you are required to write your responses based on those 60 situations, time allotted will be 30 mins.
SD: You are required to write opinion about you from your parents, friends, teachers, yourself and thing you would like to develop in future. Time allotted will be 15 mins.
Its all about your speed of thinking and writing, do not maupaltes much because it may create problem for you in later stage. Write legible and correct.
3. GTO: This is also has a series of outdoor task, the main aim of this task is to judge your qualities during group performance, remember most of the task in this series are group task, you are required to support the group with best of your qualities and not to compete with them in any manner.
Series of Tests:
GD: Back to back group discussion on two topics, mostly current affairs.
GPE: Group Planning Exercise, each candidate has to write his planning for the mentioned problem and map given, later group members are required to discuss on the problem and have to come with a common plan with common consensus. Later one of the group member has to explain the common planning with the help of pointer and map.
PGT: Progressive Group Task, you are required to cross some obstacles with the help of supporting materials like rope, plank, wood log etc. Some rules are required to be followed during this task, it a full group activity.
HGT: Half Group Task, mostly same as PGT but the number of group members will be half, you may get more chance to show your potential.
IOT: Individual Obstacles Task, you are required to attempt 10 obstacles individually, each obstacle consist of some points from 1 to 10.
Command Task: You will be a commander in this task, you are required to cross some obstacles with the help of 2-3 subordinates. You can choose 2-3 candidates from your own group whom you think can help you to clear the obstacles.
Snake race/Group Obstacle Race: All group members will be competing with other groups, members will be holding a snake like rope, they are required to cross certain obstacles with the snake. There are certain rules like all other tasks. It is kind of race among different groups, its a fun.
Individual Lecturette: Each candidate will be giving lecture for 3 mins on a topic selected by him/her. You will get 4 topics out of which you have to select one topic.
FGT: Final Group Task, same like PGT, just like another chance to show your potential.
4. Personal Interview: It is a main key which decides your recommendation in the SSB Interview, SSB Interview questions and answers plays vital role in the assessment of the candidate. How to face the IO[ Interviewing officer] in the SSB PI[ SSB Personal Interview] is the major concern here, one wrong move can tarnish your image and reduce your chances to get recommend.
5. Conference: Each candidates will be facing all SSB board members, he will face few general questions like how was your stay or what did you learn from this, conference is just to decide whether or not to recommend you as an officer in Indian defence forces. All assessors collectively decide your suitability, for some candidates those who are in border line, may face certain questions, which can be decisive one. It hardly goes for 1-2 mins.
