SSB interview process spans 4-5 days during which the panel of assessors assesses the candidates who are officers in the Indian Armed Forces and have their specialisation as Psychologist, GTO (Group Task Officer), and Interviewing Officer.
Services Selection Board (SSB) is an organisation that assesses the suitability of the candidate for becoming an officer in the Indian Armed Forces (Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force) using a standardised protocol of evaluation system that constitutes personality, intelligence tests, and interviews.
5 Days SSB Interview Procedure
The tests are of both types, i.e. written and practical task-based. The entire 5-day SSB interview process is discussed in detail:
Reporting Day
Based on the Call-up letter issued by the Service Selection Board (SSB), you will be called to one of the SSB centres mentioned. The candidate should report to the Movement Control Office (MCO) located at the railway station as per the dates mentioned. The timely arrival at the Reception Centre established by the Service Selection Centre on the day mentioned in the call-up letter is mandatory. This timely arrival can avoid the initial adjustment problem in a new place and environment. The staff of the Service Selection Centre will arrange your conveyance from the Railway Station to the Service Selection Centre.
STAGE – 1
Day 1, Screening test
On the very first day, the screening test is conducted, consisting of an OIR (Officers’ Intelligence Rating) test and PPDT (Picture Perception & Description Test).
OIR Test: It is a Verbal and Non-verbal Test. If you are preparing for the OIR Test and PPDT, you can get the best OIR Test book here. OIR Test is a basic aptitude test, 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 with PPDT.
PPDT: This consists of story writing and group discussion. You will be shown a picture for 30 seconds, later you will have 3 minutes to write a story based on the picture shown, and after that, you will be divided into subgroups of 14-15 members. Firstly, each candidate will narrate his/her story, which is followed by a 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 the screening and takes you to stage-2 testing.
STAGE – 2
Day 2, Psychological test
TAT (Thematic Appreciation Test): In this test, the candidates are shown 11 hazy/blurry pictures on the projector one by one, and the candidates need to write a positive story about the shown pictures. The 12th picture will be blank, and the candidate needs to write a Self-Description on the same.
WAT (Word Association Test): This test is to determine the candidate’s psychology. Candidates will be shown 60 words on a projector consecutively, and they have to associate these words with some positive events.
SRT (Situation Reaction Test): SRT is conducted after WAT, and 10 minutes will be given to the candidate to answer these questions. The total number of questions will be 60, and the candidates have to write 2-3 sentences in each situation.
SDT (Self Description Test): You are required to write opinions about yourself from your parents, friends, teachers, yourself, and things you would like to develop in the future. This will also help you with writing the Personal Information Questionnaire (PIQ). The time allotted will be 15 minutes.
Also Read- SSB Interview Dress Code for Male and Female Candidates
Days 3 & 4, GTO
After the restless psychological testing exercise in Stage II, the candidates were given a series of outdoor tasks. The Group Testing Officer (GTO) conducts this stage of the selection process. There are a total of nine tasks on the basis of which the candidates are to be selected.
1. Group Discussion (GD): The candidates are tested in two phases:
i. In the first phase, the GTO gives two subjects to the group, and the group is asked to discuss one subject
ii. While in the second phase, the GTO gives them one subject. It is discussed for about 15-20 minutes, and the aim of GTO in the group discussion is to understand the candidate’s potential.
2. Group Planning Exercise (GPE): A situation is given to the group, in which there may be four or five problems. These problems are to be solved using the available resources, which should be practical and reasonable. It is conducted in two phases:
i. In the first phase, the candidate has to write out their solution.
ii. In the second phase, the group has to discuss the situation amongst them in about 15-20 minutes.
They have to arrive at a commonly accepted group plan. Once, having arrived at a group plan, the group has to choose a spokesperson who will give out the group’s solution. The exercise is meant to find out the candidate’s ability to solve day-to-day problems in which a certain amount of risk is also involved and to assess their general awareness.
3. Progressive Group Task (PGT): The PGT is the first outdoor task. This is a set of four obstacles fixed serially on the ground, which the candidates have to cross in a manner of a certain fixed time (45 minutes) decided by the GTO. A few restrictions, like group rule, color rule, rigid material rule, and distance rule, are applicable while planning for group activities.
4. Group Obstacle Race / Snake Race: The group obstacle race is basically a group activity, and each member’s contribution to planning & execution is important. Some color rule restricts or facilitate each group member’s work together as a team.
During this activity, GTO will closely monitor the candidate’s team spirit, involvement, attitude, and patience to achieve the successful end of the task or race. A sincere, accommodating, and cooperative individual can enjoy this teamwork test very much.
5. Individual Lecturette: The GTO will invite candidates to speak about a given subject (general knowledge related) for two to three minutes. He will be given at least one minute to choose and prepare a subject. It is a very simple and normal subject. However, the candidate should try to speak according to their educational background.
6. Half Group Task (HGT): It is a close, interactive session of five candidates to identify and solve a problem within the group. This will give a fair amount of time for GTO to assess Individual candidates. Individual performance & activities can be easily assessed by GTO. All rules of PGT apply to the half-group task. Hence no major difference in conducting part except members of the group will be a maximum of five.
7. Individual Obstacles: The candidate has to go through 10 obstacles during the time period of 3 minutes. The obstacles are numbered from 1 to 10. The number of obstacles denotes two things:
i. The serial numbers.
ii. The marks you score, if you do it successfully.
8. Command Task: This system is an individual task of the SSB Interview Process. Here, each candidate is given an assignment. In this, you are responsible for planning, executing, and completing the given task within the given time of 15 minutes. So you can take 2-3 colleagues as subordinates from the group to do the task. The rules governing the task are the same as in other outdoor tasks but the group rules do not apply here since there is only one obstacle, and it is done by an individual.
9. Final Group Task (FGT): It is the same as PGT, just another chance to show your potential.
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Personal Interview
A personal interview is conducted for 35-40 minutes. The selected candidates’ list is forwarded to the Medical Board. After clearing, the Medical candidates will be in the merit list. Then the candidates join the Medical Board.
Day 5, final assessment and results (Conference)
On the 5th day of the SSB interview process, all the officers in proper uniform will attend a conference with each candidate. They will also have a conversation with a panel of assessors. The assessors will look for confidence and expression when speaking; a positive attitude in adversity and in life; and honesty. Following this, the final results are announced. Successful candidates will remain for an intensive medical examination, which takes four to five days at a military hospital.
Note: A personal interview round is also organised on any day between the second to the fourth day. The interviewing officers are top senior officers, like a Colonel or a Brigadier. A personal Interview is an integral part of the SSB interview process in which the details in the PIQ (Personal Information Questionnaire) form are matched with your personality, so they need to be correct.
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