SSB Interview : A General Guide

Introduction

SSB or the Service Selection Board interview is a decade old process used to select Officers in the Indian Armed Forces. If selected, the candidate undergoes medical tests and after getting medically fit, he/she becomes eligible for training and serve as Officers in the Indian Armed Forces. 

It is a 5-day process in which a candidate is tested in various ways. The test is based on the concept of Mansa (mind), Vacha (speech) and Karmana (actions). So, a candidate is judged on what he thinks, what he speaks and what he does. There is a Screening test on the first day. The candidate selected on the day undergo further testing. The next tests are broadly divided into 3 parts:

• Psychological Test 
• Group Tests
• Personal Interview

Candidates have to stay in the SSB Centre during these 5 days. The food and stay during these 5 days if free and are provided by the government. 

SSB in Brief

Day 1 - Reporting and Screening Test 

• OIR (Officers Intelligence Test)
• PPDT (Picture Perception and Discussion Test)

The selected ones undergo further testing while the other leave.

Day 2 - Psychology Test

• TAT (Thematic Apperception Test)
• WAT (Word Association Test)
• SRT (Situation Reaction Test)
• SDT (Self-Description Test)

Interview will start from Day 2 and continue till Day 4

Day 3 and 4 - Group Tests

• Group Discussion 
• GPE (Group Planning Exercise)
• PGT (Progressive Group Task)
• HGT (Half Group Task)
• GOR (Group Obstacle Race)
• Lecturette
• Individual Obstacles
• Command Task
• FGT (Final Group Task)

Day 5 - Conference

After conference, results are declared. The recommended candidates stay for medical tests while the others leave. 

Screening Test

After reporting to the center, candidates undergo Screening Test. It consists of 2 OIR (Officers Intelligence Rating) tests, followed by the PPDT (Picture Perception and Discussion Test).

OIR Tests 

The OIR tests are basically IQ tests. The 1st OIR consists of verbal reasoning, spelling and grammar, etc. while the 2nd OIR is numerical, and more pattern based. The format is similar to IQ tests found on the Internet.

PPDT

After the OIR tests, the students are shown a black and white picture for 30 seconds. They have to perceive the characters shown in the picture, and write their ages, genders, and moods. Then 4 minutes of time is given, and one has to write a story around that picture. After this, the candidates are divided in groups of 8-10. Each group is taken to a room and made to sit in a semicircular manner. Then each of them narrates their story one by one in around a minute. After that, the group has to discuss and arrive at a common story.

This test may seem simple, but it has a major role in deciding who will stay for further tests and who won't.

Psychology Test

Psychology Tests are used to assess the minds of the Screened in candidates. While they may look easy on the surface, these tests are incredibly powerful and can reveal a person's true personality. These tests are taken in a very short span of time and to complete the test, the candidates write whatever come to their mind at first and thus, reveal their true personality. 

These include TAT (Thematic Apperception Test), WAT (Word Association Test), SRT (Situation Reaction Test) and SDT (Self-Description Test).

TAT

Candidates are shown a picture for 30 seconds and then they write a story around the picture in 4 minutes. After 4 minutes, the next picture is shown for 30 seconds and again 4 minutes is given for writing. Like this, the cycle continues and 11 slides with pictures are shown. After the 11th slide, a blank slide is shown, and candidates can write any story in the blank slide. 

This is the most important test in Day 2 and carries more than 50% weightage of the entire Psych test.

WAT

Candidates are shown a word for 15 seconds, during which he has to think of a sentence from that word and write it. After 15 seconds, the next word comes. Like this, 60 words are shown. Speed and clear thinking are an important part of this test.

SRT

Situations will be given in this test and the candidates need to give their reaction to those situations. The situations are simple and based on things that can happen in real life. 60 situations are given, and a total of 30 minutes is allotted. A candidate's personality is revealed based on the reactions given.

SDT

In this test, candidates are given 15 minutes to write about the following things in paragraph:

• What my parents think about me
• What my teachers think about me
• What my friends/colleagues think about me
• What kind of person I am
• What kind of person I want to be

One must write about his/her qualities truthfully in this test. 

Group Tests

Group Tests are a long series of various tests. The candidates are divided in groups 8-12. The majority of the tests takes place with your group. It assesses what the candidates do and how they behave individually as well as with the group. There is a close inspection of how a candidate talks, how he/she behaves, their body language, their behaviour with others, etc. However one must not feel overwhelmed and should remain calm and friendly. 

Group Discussion 

The candidates are made to sit in a circle and the GTO (Group Testing Officer) gives 2 topics for discussion. One of them is usually a national level topic and the other is international level. The candidates are required to discuss and choose one of them. The discussion then starts and continues for 10-15 minutes. 

After that the GTO gives another topic related to social issues. No other choice is given this time and another 10-15 minutes of discussion starts. Good general knowledge and cooperative behaviour helps in the discussion. 

GPE (Group Planning Exercise)

In this activity, the candidates are shown a model and then narrated a story around the model, with certain problems in it. They are required to solve the various problems given, write the solution and then discuss the solutions are arrive at a common conclusion. There are no high level stuffs but basic problems that one might encounter in real life. 

The story has a common format where there are 8-10 friends who are visiting to some place for some purpose. The friends are the candidates themselves. On the way, they encounter 4 problems with different priority levels. The 1st priority is usually an injured person needing immediate help. Likewise, the 4th priority usually involves rescuing a calf who is lost/drowning. 

It is required to solve all the problems logically in a fixed time and also reach the original destination. 

PGT (Progressive Group Task)

This task consists of a series of obstacles which are to be crossed using the helping material along with the group. The obstacles consist of a series of man made structures on the ground with colours on it. The helping material usually consists of a plank, a balli (wooden log) and a rope. There is also a heavy load which you need to carry during the task. Then there are certain rules to be followed:

1. Group Rule: To move to the next obstacle, the group needs to ensure that all the members of the group have crossed the previous obstacle. Without that, you can't move to the next obstacle.
2. Distance Rule: A distance which is more than 3 feet must be bridged using the helping material. It can't be jumped across.
   
3. Colour Rule: The structures have colours on them. White means you can stand on it and put your helping material+load on it. Blue means you can stand on it but you can't put your helping material+load on it. Red means out of bound area. You can't stand or keep anything. The ground is assumed to be red.
   
4. Rule of Rigidity: Two rigid objects (plank, balli) can't be tied together to increase their length.
   
5. Rule of Infinity: The starting and the finishing line are assumed to be extending till infinity and they can't be crossed sideways. 

Everything inside the starting and finishing line except the structures is out bounds. There are 4 obstacles with increasing difficulty and the time limit is 45 minutes. The obstacles are based on the principle of cantilever. 

Logical reasoning and coordination in seen through this task.

Cantilever 

GOR (Group Obstacle Race)

Also called the Snake Race, this task assesses your physical fitness, coordination and leadership skills. All the groups come together and race through a series of six obstacles. Each group also carries a rolled tarpaulin also called the snake during the entire race. It includes various obstacles like single ramp, double wall, spider web, etc. It is recommended to check out the obstacles from Internet to get an idea. 

HGT (Half Group Task)

This task is exactly similar to PGT except that the group will be divided in half and there will be only one obstacle. One half will tackle the obstacle while the other half will seated somewhere else. The rules will be the same. The obstacle will be based on the cantilever principle. The main reason for this task is that those who couldn't give ideas in PGT will get adequate opportunity to prove themselves.

Lecturette

In this task, the group is made to sit. The first candidate picks a card from the GTO with four topics on it. One topic is a high level topic, two are average level and the last one is of easy level. He/she goes a little away and prepares on any of the topics for 3 minutes. Then he/she has to give a short 3 minute speech on that topic. Meanwhile the 2nd candidate get his/her card and starts preparing. After 2.5 minutes, the GTO rings one bell indicating the candidate to conclude his speech. After 3 minutes, the GTO rings two bells, and 1st candidate will sit while the 2nd candidate starts speaking. The cycle continues.

This task assesses the general awareness, organising ability, confidence and courage of the candidates.

Individual Obstacles 

This task consists of a series of ten obstacles numbered from 1 to 10. The number indicates the points you get for completing that obstacle. Time limit is 3 minutes. You cannot repeat one obstacle without completing all of them once. 

Pictures of the obstacles - Check here

This task assesses the physical fitness, courage and organising abilities of the candidates. 

Command Task

The nature of this task is similar to PGT and HGT. The rules are the same. There is only one obstacle. The candidates will be called one by one. You will be made the commander. You are allowed to choose 2 candidates as subordinates.

The subordinates are there to carry the load or help in doing the task. However the commander should be the one giving ideas and tackling the obstacle. Never take ideas from the subordinates. 

FGT (Final Group Task)

The entire group comes back for one last obstacle. It similar to PGT and HGT with the same rules. 

The GTO gets a final look at all the candidates as the 2 days long Group Tests conclude. 

Interview 

The interview starts from the second day after the Psychology Tests and concludes on the fourth day. So a candidates can have their interview on any of the three days depending on their roll number or chest number. It is basically a one to one conversation with the Interviewing Officer (IO) and it takes around 45 minutes to an hour. It begins with rapid fire rounds where the IO ask about 8-12 questions at one go. The 1st rapid fire comprises of basic questions like:

1. Marks from class IX to XII
2. Strong and weak subjects
3. Favourite teachers
4. Career choices
5. Participation in co curricular activities and sports 
6. Other achievements
7. Any financing problems faced or not
8. Closest friends

The 2nd round usually revolves around family and society and has questions like:

1. Family info
2. Father's and mother's occupation 
3. Brothers and sisters 
4. How do you spend time together
5. Whom do you approach during problems
6. How do you help your family 
7. How do you meet your monetary requirements
8. Friends in neighbourhood

After that they ask some more basic questions. The questions are usually about:

1. Your hobbies
2. Defence knowledge
3. Current affairs
4. Your strength and weaknesses
5. Basic physics and maths questions

There can be some tricky questions as well. Candidates are advised to not be tensed. Do not tell lies at all. The IO assesses your honesty, confidence, general and personal awareness through the interview.

Conference 

The last day of SSB concludes with the conference. The purpose is to have a final look at the candidates and to ask some more questions to the marginal candidates. 

Candidates are called one by one in the conference hall. There, they come across all the GTOs, IOs and the Psychologists. The President of the SSB board asks some basic questions like your stay at SSB, friends made during the stay, nearby places visited, whether you want anything to be improved in the centre, etc. It takes around 5-10 minutes per candidate. It is advised that candidates stay calm and disciplined.

After the conference, the candidates proceed for lunch and after lunch, the awaited results come in. 
Some are recommended while others are not. The recommended candidates stay for the medicals while the others leave. The 5 day long journey comes to an end. So if you are selected, brace yourself as you have a big journey ahead. And if you aren't, do not lose hope because if you believe that you can make it, you definitely will.

Best Books for SSB

1. SSB Interview by Dr. (CDR) NK Natarajan
2. The Practical Guide to Become an Officer by Col. MM Nehru

Note: This is not any kind of promotion. These are the books which genuinely helped me a lot during my SSB journey.