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Dear defence aspirants and future officers of the Indian

Armed Officers, this e-book is made to give you an insight

into the Services Selection Board (SSB) and the various

nuances involved in order to succeed in them.

I have compiled this e-book in a generic yet methodological

manner to help you broadly dissect the process of SSB.

It has been deliberately designed in that way so that you get

to understand the rules of interview involved.

An interview gives the interviewer an opportunity to select

that candidate who meets all his QRs for the job involved. In

the case of SSB the QRs are the OLQ (Officer Like Qualities).

Interviews have become a very important and essential part

any selection process for a job. The interview process has

taken its roots so deep in our system that even a 3 year old is

not spared, who is expected to perform well in the interview

in order to join a play school.

Today selectors have numerous candidates to select from

and an interview becomes the means of differentiating one

candidate from the other.

We would naturally like to, put our best foot forward in an

interview. But what perhaps prevents us from achieving our

goal/ mission in spite of our best efforts is the pressure

combined with lack of knowledge against seemingly heavy

odds.

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Suddenly, the goal that we have been striving for becomes

unattractive and impossible. Our uncertainties and

nervousness make us wonder what is going to happen in the

interview. We look for somebody or some book that will

answer the question that crowds our mind.

This e-book may not be the complete guide to excellence at

the SSB but it is one of the steps towards success. (Visit

http://www.SSBStudy.com for our advanced SSB Training

Material.)

What Is An Interview

The Oxford Dictionary defines an interview as a face to face

meeting, especially for the purpose of obtaining a statement

or for assessing the qualities of a candidate. ‘Interview' is

derived from the French word entrevoir which means

‘glimpse'. This, therefore, indicates a physical meeting of

people with two possible objectives:

a) To obtain a statement or opinion

b) To assess a person for selection.

Preparation Before Interview

One of the most fundamental factors that contribute to the

success of an interview is the time and quality of preparation

made by you.

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The degree of preparedness before an interview helps reduce

the uncertainty and anxiety prior to the interview.

The amount of effort you wish to put into preparation is

directly proportional to the importance of the interview.

Simply put, if the reason for giving the interview is important

enough the more would be the effort required. Let us

consider some of the things you must do to prepare yourself

for an interview.

It is prudent to say that a person applying for a job in the

Armed Forces better know the nature of the job.

Learn About The Organisation

It is important to have a thorough knowledge of the job you

apply for. Selectors will never forgive a person who says he is

keen in joining the particular job but he knows little or

nothing about the organization and job involved.

People apply without bothering about the nature of the

organization and the job involved.

All they want is a good job. However, from the interviewer’s

point of view a good and capable applicant is one who has

done some amount of homework about the organization.

What you must know is

(a) A brief history of the organization.

(b) Its main divisions/sub-divisions.

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(c) Location of its other units /locations,

(d) Nature of the services.

(e) Any important news of the organization that has

been news worthy.

(f) The nature of job applied for.

The sources from where the above information can be

obtained are:

(a) Internet. Lot of literature on the Armed Forces is

available in open source.

(b) Year books and military journals enhance your

knowledge about military power.

(c) Discussion with serving officers/ retired officers

/personnel.

Refresher On The Subject

It is only natural that interviewers would quiz you on your

field of specialization. Hence, if you have studied electrical

engineering, management, office administration or

whatever, you must go back to your books and refresh your

knowledge definitions, formulas, concepts and other related

issues. An interviewer judges your ability to grasp and retain

what you will be taught by the organization in future on the

basis of how you did it in the past with your past education

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and experience. The interviewer also ascertains your

knowledge and intelligence by this.

Certifications And Thorough Knowledge Of Claims

Made

You must always strive to list your achievements, academic

qualifications, prior experience and extra curricular

activities. Such achievements, or claims, must be

authenticated by certificates or photographs if available. The

important ones may be photocopied and attached with the

bio-data while the originals of all certificates should be

neatly catalogued in a folder and kept at hand for reference

should the interviewer ask. Through this process

interviewers ascertain your authenticity, honesty and

achievement orientation. If you claim to have achieved a

particular level of competency in a field you better have the

adequate knowledge to present answers when you are fired

questions at.

Don’t Make The Preparation Known

It is important not to let the selection panel know the efforts

made by you towards preparing for the interview through

your responses. You don’t have to flaunt your preparation

involved during the SSB interviews. More likely than not it

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will bring you negative points. By gradual discovery of your

knowledge of the organization the interviewer will judge your

commitments, keenness and sincerity.

SSB INTERVIEW

The SSB interview is a mandatory interview process which a

candidate desirous of joining the Armed Forces needs to pass

in order to join any of the Armed Force of our country

including Coast Guard. The SSB interview is common to all

three services and is conducted in various places in India.

Some SSB centers are:

(a) Allahabad

(b) Bangalore

(c) Mysore

(d) Bhopal

(e) Coimbatore

Apart from these there are a few other centers which are

specialized in conducting the PABT (Pilot Aptitude and

Battery Test for Pilots in the Air Force) and some new

centers being established.

The SSB interview is conducted over a period of 5 days,

subject to clearing the preliminary Screening test on day 1.

Only the candidates clearing the Screening Test on the 1st day

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move further to the rest of the tests. All those who do not

clear the screening test are sent back the same day.

The SSB tests can be broadly classified as:

(a) Psychology tests conducted by the Psychologists

(b) Group Tasks conducted by the GTO

(c) Personal Interview by Interviewing Officer

On successful completion of the 5 day SSB interview process

the successful candidates are to undergo a complete medical

checkup in the respective military hospitals attached to the

Command which may extend from 4 to 5 days.

The various tests conducted at the SSB are enumerated

below very briefly to help you get an overview of the SSB

process.

IQ TESTS

As officers of the Armed Forces whether you will fly fighter

aircrafts or manage capital expenditure in buying a Rs.2000

crore stealth frigate or teach soldiers on maintenance of a

battle tank, an above average level of IQ is expected. So the

SSB conducts an IQ test on the very first day of SSB. The IQ

test is an important part of the Screening tests. The IQ test

will be both Verbal and Non-verbal tests. Even after

screening in, there will again be an IQ test conducted. I hope

you can understand the amount of importance attached to

these tests now. An officer with poor IQ is a recipe for

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disaster. So at no point will the board clear you, for a below

average performance. These tests will be of the multiple

choice type. Since these tests are time bound, it is essential

that you practice for these tests with some sample questions

if you are not very confident of your IQ level. But for all those

who are confident of an above average IQ then there is

nothing to worry about.

PSYCHOLOGY TESTS

Psychology tests form the backbone of Services Selection

Board. In a sense that the psychology of the candidate is

assessed at all points in time throughout the duration of the

SSB. But the psychology tests like Thematic Appreciation

Test, Picture Perception and Description Test, Word

Association Test, Situation Reaction Test all in totality

enable the SSB to study in detail the psychology of the

candidate and to determine if he is fit to be in the Armed

Forces or not. The PPDT is a part of the Screening Test.

These tests are strictly time bound and bring out the natural

behavior of the candidate to the psychologists. They carry

out a detailed analysis based on the response sheets

submitted by the candidate. These tests are carried out on

the 2nd day. A total of 60 words for WAT, 60 situations for

SRT and 11 pictures for TAT will be conducted. The

psychology test will help determine the psychologist the

attitude and kind of person you are. The Officer Like

Qualities (OLQ) will be assessed during these test.

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GROUP TASKS

Throughout the schedule of the SSB interview a number of

group activities/ tasks are planned. These tasks start right

from the screening day and go on till the final selection day.

These group tasks range from group discussion to group

tasks. These tasks aim to assess following in the candidates

during group activities:

(a) Ability to take and give orders

(b) Ability to listen to others

(c) Power of expression

(d) Ability to convince others

(e) Ability to make his point across clearly

(f) Helping others

(g) Ability to lead a team

(h) Team spirit

It is pertinent to mention that these qualities cannot be

imbibed in a short span of time. These qualities are to be

developed over a period of time and practiced to perfection.

Tasks like group discussions needs practice and above

average command over English language. To sum it up, all

these tasks need a serious self study of own potential and

weaknesses.

.

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COMMAND TASKS

Command task is a group task which is conducted on

completion of screening in on the 3rd day of the SSB.

Command task is aimed at assessing the following:

(a) Lateral thinking

(b) Ability to find solutions to a problem

(c) Ability to work under stress

(d) Ability to follow rules

(e) Optimum utilization of resources

(f) Control of a team

(g) Ability to work as a leader

Command task involves the accomplishment of a certain task

using a few objects and a team of candidates selected by you.

The final objective is the success of the task. The GTO will

monitor your decision taking ability and command over your

team. If you are selected in the team of other candidates, you

must give your best.

PROGRESSIVE GROUP TASK AND HALF GROUP

TASK

The Progressive Group Task and Half Group Task are

conducted on completion screening tests on the 4th day. Both

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the PGT and HGT are similar tasks with the number of

participants reduced in HGT and the area of the task being

different. The PGT and HGT are very much similar to

command tasks.

The following qualities are assessed in the candidates during

the conduct of the task:

(a) Lateral thinking

(b) Ability to find solutions to a problem

(c) Ability to work under stress

(d) Ability to follow rules

(e) Optimum utilization of resources

(f) Control of a team

(g) Ability to work as a leader

PGT and HGT tasks involve the accomplishment of a certain

task using a few objects/ resources and using a team of

candidates. The final objective is the success of the task. The

GTO will monitor your decision taking ability and command

over your team. If you are selected in the team of other

candidates, you must try to give your best.

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SNAKE RACE

Snake race is conducted after screening in. It is generally

conducted on the 2nd day. This race involves a group of

candidates to cross a set of barriers like climbing a wall,

crossing a pit, climbing a ladder etc at the same time

carrying a load of cargo. Now the group while doing this task

must not let the load/cargo down. They are to perform the

task as a team and not leave anyone behind. The candidates

are assessed for the following during this test:

(a) Courage and spirit

(b) Physical Agility

(c) Team Spirit

(d) Leadership Qualities

(e) Ability to motivate team members

This task requires the candidate to present himself as a

leader. A leader must lead from front and when required

must carry the burden/ weight of fellow members of his

team. A leader must motivate and ease the burden of his

subordinates.

MILITARY PLANNING

Military planning exercise is a very interesting and

interactive group test. This test involves a team of candidates

to arrive at a situation for a particular problem scenario

which will be explained on a map/model. Each individual

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candidate is required to write down his/her solution on a

paper and thereafter carryout a group

discussion/brainstorming so as to bring out the best solution

to the problem in hand. It is obvious that everyone will try to

pitch in for selection of his/her own plan to be selected.

However, a candidate with good OLQ will endeavor to collate

solutions from all the candidates and bring out the best

solution. In this test the GTO will try to assess the following

qualities of the candidates:

(a) Commom Sense

(b) Lateral Thinking

(c) Ability to arrive at a solution

(d) Ability to convince others

(e) Leadership qualities

INDIVIDUAL OBSTACLE RACE

The individual obstacle race is conducted after screening in

on the 2nd day. The candidate is required to clear a total of 10

obstacles placed scattered around. There are points awarded

to each obstacle based on the difficulty involved in clearing

it. These obstacles range from crossing a Burma bridge to

jumping over a pit to swinging on a rope. These obstacles are

a fun to do if you have a pretty idea of how to go about it

beforehand. The GTO looks for the following in the

candidate:

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(a) Alertness and reflex

(b) Logical thinking

(c) Courage and spirit

(d) Multitasking abilities

(e) Physical agility

(f) Ability to balance oneself while doing a task

The individual obstacle race does not give importance to

assessing the physical strength of a candidate. As I have

always mentioned PHYSICAL STRENGTH is not assessed

during the SSB. It is our strong belief that at the level of SSB

selection a strong mind is more important than a strong

body. The training in the academy will make the candidate

physically stronger. Hence not much emphasis is given for

physical strength.

LECTURE

This task involves the candidate to give a lecture on a

random topic for about 3 to 5 minutes. The candidate is to

select two random chits from a box containing a number of

chits with topics written on them. From among the two, he

has the freedom to choose the topic of liking. The candidate

will now get about close to 5 minutes for preparation and at

the end of it he is to deliver a lecture to a group of other

candidates. Here the candidate is primarily assessed for his

ability to deliver a lecture.

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The candidates in order to successfully accomplish this task

need to pay attention to the following:

(a) Develop knowledge on various news and other social

activities happening in the country

(b) Develop ability to speak in English on most probable

lecture topics for 3 to 5 minutes

(c) Avoid bizarre grammatical errors

(d) Avoid stammering and tension

(e) Do justice to the topic assigned by speaking sense

related to the topic only

(f) Divide the lecture into subtopics like Introduction, Main

Points, own views and Conclusion for own ease

(g) Maintain eye contact with the audience and speak with

clarity

(h) A confident body language with a loud and clear voice

is a big plus point

The lecture is conducted after screening in on the 3rd day of

the SSB

This e-book is compiled in such a way that anyone planning

to appear for SSB interview will get a fair idea of the entire

SSB interview process. This e-book in totality might not be

the complete preparation guide for SSB interview, however it

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is only a first step towards your preparation towards SSB

interview. And I consider myself fortunate enough in helping

you take this first step.

Jai Hind

Uday Kumar

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