Introduction to the SSB (Service Selection Board) Interview

Indian army SSB interview is conducted by the army for the selection of male and female candidates who apply for the officer cadre of the Indian army.

Lets first know the full form of SSB: Service Selection Board

Aim of SSB: To Select A Balanced Personality.

In this article, we will be talking exclusively about the interview process of SSB.

The 5 Day Process In Short

SSB is a five-day interview process which is conducted in two phases and is a mandatory process to go through if you aspire to join Indian defence forces.

The first phase consists of an OIR (Officers intelligence ratings) test and picture perception and discussion test or the PPDT, while the in second phase interview, psychological as well as ground testing is done.

SSB, in short, is a personality-based test. Male candidates can apply for it either after 12th (NDA or technical entries based on 12th class percentage) or graduation while female candidates can apply after graduation.

Various ways to appear for an SSB after graduation is through CDSE, AFCAT, TGC entries.

The 5 Day Process In Detail

• Day 1

SCREENING :

( A ) Verbal / Non Verbal(figure) Aptitude Tests.

(i) Test No 1 — Ques- 50 Nos, Time — 27 Minutes

(ii) Test No 2- Ques- 40 Nos, time — 17 Minutes

(iii) It Is A Time Pressure Test And Score Should Be >80%.

( B) Picture Perception Test.

(i) Observe Picture On Screen -30 Seconds.

(ii) Fill Up Technical Details -01 Min(age,gender,action)

(iii) Story Writing -04 Minutes(75–90 Words).

( C ) Screening: Picture Perception Test- Technical Details.

(a) No. Of Characters

(b) Central Character, Age And Gender.

(c ) Mood Of Central Character.

(d) Action / Type Of Situation / Title.

(d). Discussion Test (based On Ppt)

• Day 2

PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS:

(A) Filling Up Of Personal Particulars In Form Provided.

(B) Thematic Appreciation Test(TAT) /picture Story Test.

(i) Pictures — 12.

(ii) Time To Observe Each Picture — 30 Seconds.

(iii) Word Limit — 75–90 Words.

(C ) Word Association Test(WAT).

(i) Total Words — 60.

(ii) Time To Observe A Word — 15 Seconds

(iii) Time To Make A Sentence — 15 Seconds

(D) Situation Reaction Test(SRT).

(i) Number Of Situations — 60.

(ii) Time To Write Reactions — 30 Minutes.

(E) Self Description Test(SDT)/ Do You Know About Yourself?

(i) What Is Your Teacher’s, Parent’s, Friend’s And Sibling’s Opinion About You?

(ii) What Are Your Strong Points?

(iii) What Are You Weak Points?

• Day 3 and 4

GTO TESTS & INTERVIEW:

Group Testing Officers’ Tests (GTO Tests).

(a) Indoor Tests :

(i) Group Discussion

(ii) Lectures.

(iii) Military Planning

(b) Outdoor Tests :

(i) Progressive Group Tasks And Command Tasks.

(ii) Individual Obstacles.

(c) Individual Tests Are Those Which Judge Capability Of Candidate In His Individual Capacity.

(d)Group Tests Are Meant To Judge The Group Behaviour Of Candidate As How He Behaves In A Group :

(i) How He Mixes Up With Others And Gets On With His Juniors, Equals And Superiors?

(ii) Whether He Cooperates With Other Members Of Group

(iii) Whether He Is Sympathetic Towards His Juniors And Whether He Will Be Able To Win Cooperation Of His Men And Able To Lead Them.

(e) Interview:

(i) Some Candidates Are Interviewed By President, And Some Are Interviewed By Vice-president.

(ii) If Required, some Candidates Can Be Interviewed In The Evening.

(iii) Be Prepared For Interview On Third / Fourth Day As Per Serial Order Of Chest Number.

(iv) Interview May Last From 30 Minutes To 60 Minutes.

• Day 5

CONFERENCE

1. Conference And Result.
2. Selected Candidates Will Undergo Medical Examination.

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