SSR MAY

Indian Military's Service

Selection Board (SSB) Interview at
a glance
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License:

SSB Guide by http://gopal1035.blogspot.com/2007/08/service-selection-boards-ssb-some.html is

licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 India License.
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REPORTING DAY ------------DAY 1

--Checking of documents and Call-Up letter and Candidates are
assigned their Boards.
--Filling up of the FIRST Personal Information Questionnaire (PIQ)
form.
--Assigning of Chest Nos.
SCREENING TESTS: ------------DAY 2
Filling up of the OIR(Officer Intelligence Rating) card.
1. Intelligence Quotients Tests (Written) (IQ):
-- Verbal Test (Basic Knowledge of English)
-- Non- Verbal Test (Basic Knowledge of Logical Maths and
Numbers)
2. Picture Perception and Description Test:
--Write a story on a given picture:- describe the situation ,
characters,
what led to the situation,
a problem with a possible solution with no fantasies
3 major things,
---marking of a person/s in the picture with age(nearly as
that of yours),sex(same as yours),mood(+/-).
--- write the action he is performing in the picture(what

you can see).

--- write a story on this action with a positive note,
easy/difficult problem where the main character is not
a cause but a remedy for the problem.
-- Narration of the story in front of the group one by one and the
assessing officers viz., one
interviewer, one psychologist, one GTO.
[Put your story forward with the best of your knowledge, fluency and
command over voice and
while narration or discussion never look at any of the assessing
members, look at your group].
--Discussion and drawing of a common story from the group.
Put your story forward with the best of your knowledge, fluency and
command over voice.
Never oppose anybody instead appreciate and give chances with a
JOVIAL face.
In the whole span of time of about 15 mins. Even if you speak for 2025 secs. continuously
and everyone listens to you quietly, YOU ARE IN. It is not necessary
that you take a starting
gallop in the discussion, wait for the chance but not too long and
when you take your chance
make sure that everyone listens.
It is possible that your story may not be the group story but you
should be with the group and
never make any amendments in the final story.
Wait for results after these tasks.
SCREENING RESULTS:
--Interviews Starts in the Afternoon.
--Filling up of the SECOND Personal Information Questionnaire (PIQ)
form.
--Assigning Of NEW Chest Nos.
ACTUAL SELECTION PROCESS STARTS:

3. Psychological Tests (Only Written Tests)(Why not Tasks?)

-----------DAY 3
HAVE A GOOD HAND-WRITING AND PRESENTATION.
1. Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)(Basic Confirmatory Test)
This test consists of writing story on pictures shown for a span of 30
sec. and write the story in 4
mins. In a similar fashion 12 clips are shown out of which 11 have
picture and 12 one is
blank(the story for this can be already made in advance).
th

Always make margins for the story on the psyche booklet test and
keep it in presentable form.
The story should be POSITIVE, NOT Fantasy, Central character of a
similar age and sex as that
of the candidate. Central character should be a solution and not a
cause for the problem.
When no one in the picture seems to be the central character
generate one and assume his
presence. When view is clear and there is no blur in the picture write
the story right away and
write some of the stories and blank story on your principle hobby.
The assessing officer should see some resemblance in your picture
perception attitude and your
PIQ (hobbies ,activities, NCC) and a spark of you bearing the Officer
Like Qualities (OLQs). Never
imagine yourself as some women or an old person or anything else
other than you yourself .Do
not describe the picture and story length must be 110-120 words.
When all stories are seen at a
glance the whole artwork should be JAM-PACK. Do not give awards
to the central character,
and give him an uncommon name. Never praise the character with
direct adjectives like he was a
leader and a courageous man, the quality should be seen from his
action and deeds performed

in the story.
Do not please anyone in the story and it should be socially and
morally acceptable.
Divide the story in introduction, a mature situation/problem, multiple
solutions, conclusion.
The full duration of this task is 54mins.
2. Word Association Test (WAT)(Confirmatory Test)
In this test 60 words are flashed one by one at a time interval of 15
secs. In respect to the 15
(OLQs)*4=60. And the candidate has to write an OBSERVATIONAL
sentence on the word
and the thought that instantly comes to his mind on seeing the word
in the 15 secs. itself.
NEVER WRITE: Proverbs, Negations, Advice, Wrong facts, Egoistic
& Absurd sentences
ALWAYS WRITE: Observational sentences (try not to leave a blank).
A good piece of work should contain:
Advice 10-15
Egoistic 5-10
Proverbs 5-10
Wrong facts and absurd NIL
Negations NIL
Observational 40-25 (Best is to have 50 observational and balance
rest)
Make sentences which have a high level of mature thought,
grammatically and semantically
correct and may or may not form a part in the sentence.
Only write the first observational mature thought that comes to your
mind when you saw theword.
This task is completed in 15 mins.
A break of 10 mins. is given after this.

3. Situation Reaction Test (SRT)(Confirmatory Test)

This test contains 60 situations given in a booklet where 4 situations
correspond to 1 OLQ.
Make it appear in a presentable form and never skip any situation as
if you were not able to
respond to it.
Explain your reaction in 2-3 sentences precisely and to the
satisfaction of assessing officer.
On an average 45-55 situations can be attempted giving an
appropriate response to your
situation reaction.
About 30-45 mins. are assigned to this test.
4. Self-Description Test (SD)(Final Confirmatory Test) Interviews
Starts in the Afternoon.
The Self-Description test is a test which resembles the character of
the candidate by the way he
puts himself in the format as provided by the assessor.
The format contain a descriptive passage by the candidate covering
the points on how his
1. parents
2. teachers
3. friends
4. and he himself think about him as a person.
Listen to the briefing by the psyche officer carefully as to what he
wants in the content.
Go according to his instructions.
Write about yourself in 5 paras consisting of parents, teachers,
friends, yourself and your future
plans and strategies to overcome your shortcomings in the near
future.

Include 2 positive and 2 negative points about yourself in each para

except the last one.
Give solutions and remedies which you can attain and not anything
that is permanent and not
correctable.
This test is assigned 15-20 mins.
Interviews are held in the afternoon.

4. GROUP TESTING OFFICER

1: (Confirmatory Tests ) -----------DAY 4
(Basically group activity testing day)
1. Group Discussion (GD)
It is an indoor group activity and assessed by a Group Testing Officer
(GTO).
The GTO gives two topics out of which the first one has options and
the second one is compulsory.
In the first one, two current subjects are given to the candidates by
the GTO from which one is to be
chosen and that topic has to be discussed by the group for a span of
10-15 mins.
The second topic is compulsory and same time is allotted for this one
also.
Speak on the subject on which you are quite confident and sure
about it. Never misguide the group
with any fake statistics and absurd knowledge about the topic. Keep
a brief idea of the current events
and the root cause of such problems, this will help in establishing a
good base in the discussion and
also help in enhancing your performance. Always start late in the
discussion after listening to

some of the candidates and then put forward your own ORIGINAL
point in the way that everyone
revolves around your point and discuss it. If this is not possible then
put up new contributions to the
group .
Speak to the point which you yourself feel justified for and can
explain it completely to others
even if you are the only one to be at that point. If the group does not
take you in participation even
then do not leave your point and never take another candidates point
to elaborate and leave your own
point. In the whole affair keep yourself cool and have a jolly face, do
not abuse others and deny
anyones thoughts. If you like someones thought acclaim his thought
and connect your points to his
by some means. Keep giving new ideas after a proper thought over it
and simultaneously listening to.
the group also
Assigned time duration; 20-30 mins. Be JOLLY and PLEASANT
overall.
2. Group Planning Exercise (GPE)
This is also an indoor task where the group is given a situation which
contains a set of problems and
the candidates are required to solve the problems one by one by
using the given resources and in a
fashion to solve the most problematic condition first or the one to
which they are near and then
approaching the other concerned problems.
On the briefing given by the GTO the candidate has to write his
solutions on a sheet of paper.
As this is the only part of written task for the GTO keep it very
organized, clean, curios and
interesting for the GTO to read.
After this a discussion follows to chalk-out the most appropriate way
to solve all problems in

stipulated time.
Always keep the time and distance factor in mind and solve the
problem to which you are near and the
one which are at a distance divide your group and use
communication media as phones, lift on
highway etc., to reach the destination.
Do not make any amendments in the final group plan and be the one
to give the group plan to the
GTO.
While writing your plan put them in points and a possible solution to
each problem in stipulated time
and not forgetting the distance factor.
Be the centre of discussion and be fluent and dominating in this
activity as it gives ALL OLQs.
Allotted time 25-30 mins. Be JOLLY and PLEASANT overall and
dont get angry at anyone.
3. Progressive Group Tasks (PGT)
This is the first ones of the various outdoor tasks.
Here a maximum of 3-4 continuous tasks are laid out which are to be
crossed by the whole group
with the assistance of helping material such as planks, ropes, some
bamboos, a load for making the job
tough and to generate the feeling of responsibility amongst the
candidates.
Every task has to be completed and the other one to be started only
when the whole group along with
the helping material have reached the end point of the previous task.
Always carry the helping material except the load and be the one to
make and execute plans and
solutions. Never dominate others ideas and if you feel that someone
has a good plan and not getting

executed then make it sure that it is done and do not sit idle without
any remedies. Dont shout or
abuse others and do not let anyone do it to you even.
Listen to the GTOs instructions carefully and do not violate any rules.
Use colloquial terms instead
of the actual terms for the helping materials like plank= phalli,
balli=bamboo/danda,rope=rassi,
load=dabba.
Keep the rules in your mind and keep reminding it to your friends by
using the colloquial terms and
not the actual rule statement. Assigned time 20-30 mins.
Color Rule
Group Rule
Distance Rule
Rule of Rigidity Dont panic and keep SMILING.
4. Group Obstacle Race (Snake Race)
This is another outdoor task where the whole group has to compete
against other groups for reaching
the finish line in first position over a number of obstacles and an
additional rope or snake which has to
be held by each member while traveling from one obstacle to another
and held by a minimum number
on the obstacle as provided by the GTO.
Always try to have an initiative and hold the snake in front or last to
guide the group. Try and give
demo of whichever obstacle the GTO asks. Be the first one to cross
any obstacle in case of violation
as guided by the GTO.
Give your full JOSH and listen to the briefing by GTO carefully. Never
abuse anyone and boost the
morale of your group by saying all sorts of JOSHFUL things.
In any way dont act dumb to any of the proceedings in any of the
group tasks.

This activity is to test the ability of candidate in times of immense

stress and his working capacity in
time bound situations. Keep your mind cool, body in full JOSH and
go with the flow and with the
group.
Duration is about 30 mins. Keep SMILING as this will be a bit destressing for your team-mates.
5. Half Group Task (HGT)
Another outdoor task similar to the Progressive Group Task but the
group is divided into 2 halves and
hence called so. Here also dont loose ground and give chances to
someone who was very inert in the
above tasks to show your generosity.
Be in full command and have knowledge of your task to a very
fine perspective. The number of tasks maybe 1or 2-3. Make proper
use of given resources and your
knowledge and take concern of your team-mates. Ask them for
suggestions but in a way to approve
your own idea.
Be creative and look for a venture where nobody is looking. Take
care of speaking as
this task is followed after Snake Race and your voice will be fully
gone out of order.
Duration 10-15 mins. Remain JOLLY.
6. Lecturette
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.
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
FATHERS NAME
FATHERS OCCUPATION
FAMILY BACKGROUND
SCHOOLING AND EDUCATION
CURRENTLY WHAT ARE YOU DOING
WHERE ARE YOU FROM and
HOBBIES
Cover all these points in 45 secs. 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.

Dont get tense and panic while delivering lecture instead keep a
SMILING face..
Duration is per candidate = 3 mins, total about 30 -35 mins.

Interviews in the Afternoon.

5. GROUP TESTING OFFICER
2: (Individual performance day) -----------DAY 5
(Final Confirmatory Tests)
1. 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 1 , but it is left to the wish
of the candidate where does he
want to start from.
st

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 1 ditch with the help
of a rope and the second one
with ease ,just by proper leg work..)
st

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, dont 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.
2. Command Task (CT)
The command task is a task where every candidate is assigned a
typical task according to his performance level and the degree of
toughness depends on his prior performance and ability to
communicate with the group.
Every candidate is called one by one and the GTO has a pep-talk
with him about his ongoing current activities and future plans etc.
This task is alike the PGT but only one task is given here and the
candidate has to guide his way out of the task to reach the other end.
The candidate is allowed to call 2 of his colleagues as his helpers in
the task .
The task is explained by the GTO and asked to proceed.
The first thing is to see what all is your helping material and where it
can be placed. First see only for one solution and when sorted out
GO for it. Meanwhile keep talking about your plan to your helpers and
assign them some work, dont keep them idle.

When the GTO allows you to move ahead, you and one helper be the
people to move keeping forward.
Always make it sure that you, your helpers and helping material will
get out the way you are about to follow.
Do not violate any rules which have been listed above in the PGT.
Single task, Duration: 10-15 mins.
3. Final Group Task (FGT)
This also a PGT like task where the group again comes together to
finish 1-2 tasks laid down serially and all the rules are applied here.
Generally the GTO does not assess any performance here but he
may do it for some special cases.
Rest the rules are same and the amount of efforts to be given should
not be less since it is the last task for the day and for the SSB, just in
case some candidates may have their interviews in the afternoon.

NEVER VIOLATE ANY RULES, REMIND IT

TO FELLOW CANDIDATES, KEEP
YOURSELF COOL, JOLLY AND SMILING.
WHILE GIVING ANY IDEAS LET THE
PERSON FINISH WHO IS TALKING AND
INTERRUPT ONLY WHEN THE DISCUSSION
IS GETTING MISGUIDED.
Last Spell of Interviews in the Afternoon.

INTERVIEWS:
Get to know the name and rank(if he is deputy prez or prez
of the board) of your interviewer.

Q. What is your name, meaning of your name, meaning of

other members names in your family, compare yourself with
them, name of place you come from, currently what are you
doing?
Q. Family: How many members, since when living at the
same place, description and sort of relationship with each
member, closer to whom, why closer, whom you admire.
Compare yourself with any of your brother/s or sister/s. If
alone what would you prefer to have an elder/younger
brother/sister? Occupation of working members in the
family, if you are working what is your job profile, salary etc.
Q. Education: Institution where you had your education,
since when, any achievements, any responsible post held
during your education at the institution, represented
institution at what levels, subjects you liked most and those
you did not like at all, why, teachers you liked most and
those which you did not like at all, why (here include the
teacher and subject till all these years of education and not
only school), name and specialty of institution where studied
and a brief description about it namely its location, crowd,
cultural and other heritages it carries. What are you currently
doing ,what are further options (if not army),why,
Why ARMY, since when liked army?
Q. Friends: What type of friends you like, what type you do
not like, where have you gone and where would you like to
go with your friends, why are these people your friends,
describe your best friend, compare him with you
(appearance ,height, texture, thinking, something common
in both of you), their hobbies and interests, their way of
living life and what do they want to achieve in life.
Q. Why do you want to join the defense forces, if not
defense other options, how did you come to the conclusion

that you want to join the forces. Did you try for NDA, why not
succeeded? Why not proper efforts were given?
Q. Your hobbies and interests, how do you pass your time,
which task did you find most interesting in psyche and GTO
series, which books have you read, why did you not score
well enough in 12 as you scored in 10 , NCC knowledge,
Scouts, RSP, MCC, etc., knowledge.
th

th

Q. Your life in college, any memories, what is the difference

between your friends at Pune and SSB center .If given
chance what would you like to change in Pune
( Geographical, economical, agricultural, tourism, traffic etc.)
Compare your hometown and hometown friends with friends
in Pune and Pune as a place itself. Have you ever come
before to the SSB centre previously. Which places did you
visit at the SSB place
Q. Give 5 current national and international political news.
Q. Give 5 current national and international sports news.
Q. Some international matters, international organizations,
their working procedure and a
good knowledge of your specialized subject.
Q. How would you organize a football match /hike/cycle
race/ local festival /trek/swimming competition.
Q. Why were you weak in some specified sphere, how did
you cope up with it.
Q. Have you taken coaching, why, what sort of?
Give examples for any incidences that you are going to
explain.
Speak in relevance to your Self-Description test and PIQ
and do not give fakes.

Speaking is an art, whatever you speak give proper

punctuations, gestures and emotions as necessary in your
speech
SPEAK CLEARLY AND MAINTAIN EYE CONTACT.
Hesitation at the time of answering will cause a bad
impression, never tell lies and give a full explanation of
your family, friends, education, current life, future
scope, and with an example for each.

OFFICER LIKE QUALITIES which they are

looking for:
1. * Effective intelligence - head
2. REASONING ABILITY - head
3. ORGANISING ABILITY - HEAD
4. POWER OF EXPRESSION - HEAD
5. * SOCIAL ADAPTIBILITY - HEART
6. *CO-OPERATION - HEART
7. *SENSE OF RESPOSIBILITY - HEART
8. INITIATIVE - GUT
9. SELF CONFIDENCE - GUT
10.SPEED OF DECISION - GUT
11. ABILITY TO INFLUENCE THE GROUP - HEART
12. LIVELINESS - HEART

13. DETERMINATION - LEGS

14.*COURAGE - LEGS
15.*STAMINA - LEGS
Note: * resembles that these qualities are inevitable and much more
important than the others.

6. CONFERENCE DAY: ------------DAY 6

---Deputy Presidents Talk and Brief description about the
whole selection procedure and the listing of qualities they
seek.
--- Individual Conference of each Candidate.(Here is the
only place where the candidate can see all the assessing
officers, deputy president and the president of the respective
SSB.)
7. RESULT (By any of the Psyche Officers.)
8. MEDICAL BOARD -------------DAY 7-14
--Candidates are recommended for the Medical
Examinations at the Military Hospital (MH) for a period of
about 6-7 days.)
--Assigning of Medical Board Chest Nos.
-- Medical Examinations
9. MEDICAL CONFERENCE
--Candidates who are found fit by the Medical Board are
SELECTED and rest are given Temporary Rejections (TR)
over some medical problems by the Special Medical Board,
(SMB)

-- Those Candidates who are given TR are asked to appear

for a Appeal Medical Board (AMB) conducted by a nearby
Command Hospital or Base Hospital and under the
supervision of its Officials.
--If candidate is still found unfit after the findings of the SMB
and AMB he can opt to appear for Review or Re-appeal
Medical Board (RMB). Hence after the candidate is not told
about the result but it is conveyed to DGAFMS who conveys
it to ARMY HQ for further formalities. In case the candidate
has been cleared from RMB he is been given the Joining
Instructions otherwise he is disqualified for that attempt.
Related links:
1. Article on SSB on Wikipedia

The following pages are on Orkut.com, and require

login/registration to read, the pages are written by in-training
Gentleman Cadets, and Aspirants-worth a discussion
Participation here is suggested by Author for info and lapping up a
few contacts too
2. A very detailed guide for SSB-must read for freshers
3. Is it necessary to attend coaching for SSB interview
4. Going to SSB

Disclaimer: All content is provided on "as is" basis in good faith. The
author, and person(s) and company(s) involved in this blog take no
responsibility for accuracy of the information provided and are not
responsible for any consequence of this service. Thanks.
Exam Details
1. NDA & NA Exam 2014
Date of advertisement: 21st December 2013
Last date of application: 20th January 2014

Date of Exam: 20th April 2014

2. IES/ISS Exam 2014
Date of advertisement: 8th February 2014
Last date of application: 10th March 2014
Date of Exam: 24th May 2014
3. Geologists Exam 2014
Date of advertisement: 15th February 2014
Last date of application: 17th March 2014
Date of Exam: 24th May 2014
4. CISF AC (EXE) LDCE 2014
Date of advertisement: 1st March 2014
Last date of application: 31st March 2014
Date of Exam: 1st June 2014
5. Engineering Services Examination 2014
Date of advertisement: 15th March 2014
Last date of application: 14th April 2014
Date of Exam: 20th June 2014
6. Combined Medical Services Exam 2014
Date of advertisement: 22nd March 2014
Last date of application: 21st April 2014
Date of Exam: 22nd June 2014
7. UPSC RT/Exam
Date of Exam: 6th July 2014
8. Central Armed Police Forces Exam 2014
Date of advertisement: 4th April 2014
Last date of application: 5th May 2014
Date of Exam: 13th July 2014
9. UPSC RT/Exam
Date of Exam: 17th August 2014
10. Civil Services Preliminary Exam 2014
Date of advertisement: 17th May 2014
Last date of application: 16th June 2014
Date of Exam: 24th August 2014
11. Indian Forest Service Preliminary Exam 2014
Date of advertisement: 17th May 2014
Last date of application: 16th June 2014
Date of Exam: 24th August 2014
12. N.D.A. & N.A. Exam (ii) 2014
Date of advertisement: 21st June 2014
Last date of application: 21st July 2014
Date of Exam: 28th September 2014
13. UPSC RT/Exam
Date of Exam: 12th October 2014
14. CDS Exam (ii) 2014
Date of advertisement: 19th July 2014
Last date of application: 18th August 2014
Date of Exam: 26th October 2014
15. Indian Forest Service Main Exam 2014

Date of Exam: 22nd November 2014

16. Civil Services Main Exam 2014
Date of Exam: 14th December 2014
17. S.O./Steno Departmental Competitive exam
Date of advertisement: 20th September 2014
Last date of application: 20th October 2014
Date of Exam: 27th December 2014