Stage Two of SSB starts with Psychological test.

It is a great opportunity for the successful candidates to prove their potential, capability and display their confidence for the next four days in the three techniques Psychology test, GTO and Interview. In this stage PIQ plays a very important role. So concentrate and remember your PIQ in detail.

One very important thing to note in this stage that all the assessors of the three techniques are psychologist and evaluating the candidate's psychology by three different methodologies and conclude the candidate personality fit for the defence force. So consistent performance in all three techniques is must. So it is very important to understand the concept of Psychology, GTO and Interview in detail as below.

Psychological Tests:

This is a very important test conducted with an aim to study the mental functions and behaviours of the candidate with a series of test with different time pressure and evaluate the candidate by his/her answering approach. Candidate has to react to the different condition and situations and capture their logical response in the answer booklet provided by the centre. Consistent performance is must in these series of test.

It is very well possible that of the candidate can be called for the interview just after this test is completed, so be mentally and physically prepared. Accordingly maintain Proper dress code so that you don't come into any unwanted pressure. However proper dress code will give confidence and positive feeling which is very important in these tests.

Psychological tests consist of various tests conducted in a sequence and without any break details are below:-

Thematic Apperception Test:

Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) is the first test in Psychologist Test Series. This test is not the story writing competition but evaluation of your personality. Be practical, logical and organised in your thoughts and present very neatly and clearly. Every Story must have the following points.

1. What is the Objective / Aim / Goal / Target of the picture.
2. What is the logical/practical approach to achieve Objective / Aim/ Goal/ Target.
3. How to organise the logical /practical approach to achieve point 1.
4. Result / Outcome / Message

You will be shown 12 pictures and for each of the picture you have to write a story in 4 Minutes. In this test a set of provocative yet ambiguous pictures are shown to you, as you are required to interpret a story from the picture hence the test is sometimes also called as picture interpretation technique. 11 pictures will be having some theme behind them but the 12th will be blank. You have to yourself imagine a picture and write a story on it. The pictures will be shown to you for 30 Seconds and 4 Minutes time will be given to you for writing the story. There will be no time gap between the pictures and as soon as the 30 seconds are over your time for writing the story starts so you must not do any delay.

Thematic Apperception Test

Word Association Test

Word Association Test (WAT) is the 2nd important test in Psychologist test series. In continuation with TAT to evaluate your personality by knowing your emotion, feeling, approach and attitude with your response to each word captured in the booklet provided by the board.

So simply don't write sentence but think of displaying your personality with respect to your PIQ with each words.

Every word must have the following points:-

1. Logical Approach
2. Message
3. His / Her Behaviour.

On seeing a word there might be different ideas in your mind related to that word but you must write the first spontaneous reaction in your answer sheet. The Time limit is restricted to 15 Seconds so that candidate is not confused with subsequent thoughts and gives his first thought only.

No. of Words - 60

Time of each Word - 15 Seconds

Word Association Test

Situation Reaction Test

Situation Reaction Test (SRT) is the third important test in Psychologist test series. In continuation with TAT and WAT, SRT is also to evaluate your personality by putting the candidate in various real life situation and know the candidate reaction captured in the booklet provided by the board.

So it is very important to understand the each situation from your heart and give the best possible, practical, logical and complete solution to each situation within the stimulated time of 30 minutes. This time limit has been intentionally shortened as to ensure that the candidate gives the first reaction which comes to his mind without thinking much over it.

You must answer the situation as a normal person and not like a Superman, write quickly and in telegraphic language as the time given to you is less.

don't leave any situation in between, only in case you don't understand the particular situation

No. of Situation - 60

Time - 30 minutes

Situation Reaction Test

Self-Description Test

Self-Description test which is also known as Self-Appraisal or Self Story Writing, is the last test in Psychologist test series but very important as TAT, WAT and SRT. This test is conformity test for the Psychologist to evaluate and conclude about a particular candidate by comparing the evaluation done by him in previous tests like TAT, WAT and SRT.

This test gives an idea to the Psychologist regarding how deep the candidate knows himself, whether he knows his Qualities and Shortcomings or not. So be honest and analyse in detail about your personality before writing.

No. of Paragraphs -5

Time -15 minutes

In this test the candidate is required to write on following 5 paragraphs:-

1. What is your Parents opinion about you or what your parents think about you?.
2. What is your Teacher / Employer opinion about you or what your Teacher / Employer think about you?
3. What is your Classmates/Friends opinion about you or what your Classmates/Friends think about you?
4. What is your own opinion about yourself or what do you thing about yourself.
5. What qualities you would like to develop / improve for the future or What are your negative qualities.

You must write some positive and negative qualities in each paragraph as those pointed out by your Parents, Teaches, Friends or you yourself noticed.

You must start preparing on it well in advance before going to SSB to avoid last moment confusion and don't write for the sake of writing think from your heart and write. This will be one of the inputs for the INTERVIEW technique.

Following are the points on which you have to describe the details.

Parents/Guardians Opinion:Write what your parents think about you. If you don't have both parents alive then you can mention Guardians opinion.

Teachers/Employers Opinion:Mention your Teachers opinion if you are a student and employers if you are working in a profession.

Classmates/Colleges/Friends Opinion: Write your friends opinion or classmates or colleagues opinion in this paragraph.

Your own Opinion:Here write your own opinion about yourself.

Qualities you would like to develop for future:Here you are required mention your future goals and ambitions and any other qualities which you wants to gain in your future.

Group Testing Officer (GTO)

Group Testing Officer commonly known as GTO is the second assessor out of the three. GTO the second technique in the SSB and a very important test. In this test the candidate has to be mentally and physically alert in the ground for 2 days with the GTO in 9 different tasks.

Instruction in the GTO is very-very important. So listen each and every instruction carefully and stick to it.

GTO is the only officer who will be in touch with you for such a long time and will evaluate your personality by putting you or making you play 9 different task / games. Honestly play each and every game and be a good team player.

GTOs are fun loving but at times some are strict too. But ultimately you will enjoy the company with GTO, at least till result is not declared. Repeater, who is Conference out, will never have the same GTO who was in your previous attempts.

Now, let us discuss the 9 GTO's task / games in brief. You can get the detail of each and every task by clicking on the name of that particular task.

1. Group Discussion

Group Discussion (GD) is the first test in GTO Tests. It is a friendly and informal opinion on the topics of common / current /social interests but of controversial nature. GD is similar to what you do sitting with your friends in canteen of your school/college or units of your regiment etc. So it is very important to be an active participant and a good listener.

Generally there is confusion between Debate and Group Discussion but unlike Debate there is no chair person, you are permitted to say what you like, when you like and as many times you feel like, and No Conclusion is to be reached, there are no restriction except that not more than 1 Person should speak at a time. Speak logical and respect each other's view and moreover behave as a gentleman.

Group Discussion No.1

Gentlemen this GD is very important part of the GTO. GTO will start identifying the leaders from the group based on your performance in the group. So try to be cooperative and logical in giving your points.

So the group will be given 2 topics out of which the group will have to choose one topic for discussion (your group will be given approx 15-30 Seconds time to discuss and select the topic. Mind it this is also an pre GD from here only you're noticed and evaluated.) Selection of the topic plays a major role here.

Once the topic is decided then GTO will Repeat the topic and your group will discuss for approximately 15 Minutes and thereafter GTO will interrupt you saying that "it was a nice discussion" even if your group members were selling their fish in the market.

Group Discussion No.2

After the First GD you will be given another topic for Discussion but this time there will be no choice, the topic will be decide by the GTO himself on the basis of performance of your group in the first GD. Again the group will discuss it for approx. 15 Minutes as done in the first case.

Now he is confirmed with the capability of the group and accordingly selects his priority list of candidates and keep verifying them in next series of test and keep on updating his priority list by changing the position in the group till he conclude his final list.

2. Group Planning Exercise

Group Planning Exercise (GPE) or sometimes called as Military Planning Exercise. This is similar to SRT test of psychology. But this task has been designed with 3D model placed on ground, it consists of certain problems which are given to you to react and solve it.

Initially the Candidate is required to give his plan of action to solve the given set of problems with help of the group and then discuss within his group and come to a common group solution.

So, unlike the Group Discussion where no conclusion was to be reached but in this exercise the candidates have to reach a definite conclusion that is mutually agreed group solution.

This exercise is conducted in 5 stages which are as follows.

Stage 1: In this Stage GTO explains only once various features of the model laying on the ground, he will tell you about the marks, direction, scale and other features of the model like roads (Metallic or non-metallic road), dams, nalas, river, railway lines, police posts, jungle or any other features, doubts if any are to be cleared at the end of this stage. But don't ask stupid doubts, GTO get irritated. Use your common sense and put yourself in this situation in a realistic manner and get the best solution with help of the group. Listen each and every instruction honestly.

Stage 2:In this stage GTO reads a story connected with the model laying on ground, the story has certain problems in it like a person who is injured or any unsocial element mixing poison in water tank and so on. Doubts are to be cleared at the end of this stage.

Stage 2:In this stage GTO reads a story connected with the model laying on ground, the story has certain problems in it like a person who is injured or any unsocial element mixing poison in water tank and so on. Doubts are to be cleared at the end of this stage.

Stage 3: In this stage you will be given the story card (same from which GTO read the story in Stage 2) to read for 5 Minutes and thereafter the card is collected from you, doubts if any are to be cleared at the end.

Stage 4:After collecting the Story card from you, you will be provided with a sheet of paper and in that sheet of paper you have to write your individual plan / solution in10 Minutes and thereafter the sheet will be taken back from you.

Stage 5: In the Final Stage the candidates are required to discuss among them self for the group solution for approx. 15 Minutes, And after reaching the group plan / making a group plan.

GTO will instruct "Any one of the candidates among the group may stand up and give the group plan or the group has to discuss and nominate any one from the group to give the group plan". So act according to the GTO instruction.

The candidate who stands up or nominated by the group must ensure to give the mutually agreed group plan only to the GTO with the help of a pointer.

3. Progressive Group Task

Progressive Group Task (PGT) is the first out door task after your GD and GPE. In this test GTO wants to see your approach on the ground in a team. It is just like playing a game / tournament. So be a good team member/ player, keep giving inputs, respect each other ideas and keep motivating your team mates like you do while playing.

Progressive Group Task (PGT) is the first of the GTO task in which all GTO Rules apply, this task consists of 4 obstacles in a straight line. It is known as a group task because all of you will be working as a group to achieve a common goal. The task is called progressive because the first obstacle is very simple, the second obstacle is bit difficult, the third obstacle is more difficult and the fourth one is most difficult, this means that the level of difficulty increases with obstacles and hence the name Progressive.

In Service Selection Boards there are no natural obstacles like Ditches, Nalas and rivers so what is done is that a set of parallel lines are drawn and the area between them is placed out of bounds for candidates. So these becomes obstacles to you, to help you cross the obstacles certain structures are placed which the candidates can touch, you will be Provided with helping material in form of planks, Ballies and Ropes. You will be also carrying a load with you which is a sensitive black box whom you have to carry carefully.

4. Snake Race

In this task the GTO wants to evaluate your approach when you're in josh. The concept remains same as PGT. Snake Race or mostly known as Group Obstacle Race (GOR) is one of the interesting but some time painful tasks in SSB. So plan well in coordination with your team to avoid any short of injury.

It is interesting because you have to cheer a lot and you will enjoy as you will compete with other groups and may be painful because your group coordination may fail and result in injury, so be cool an charm take your team member inputs on regular basis to avoid such injuries. Do not bother about the injury as generally it will be some scratch on your knees or elbows however at times this task results in serious injury also, but your aim should be to perform well in the race rather than thinking about those injuries.

Your Group have to decide a War Cry (a slogan) which you have to continuously shout to cheer your group.

5. Lecturette

Lecturette is one of the most important tests in the GTO Process. Here the candidate gets the chance to display his/ her confidence as an individual. GTO in this test evaluate your knowledge, clarity of your thought, self-confidence to express yourself in front of the group.

In this task GTO has a set of Lecturette cards with him. Each card has four topics written on it. Each one of you has to pick up a card and move to some distance and prepare on any 1 topic among the four topics for three minutes and then come in front of the group and deliver the talk for 3 minutes. Selection of the topic plays a major role here.

Time - 3 Minutes

The candidate wearing the first Chest No. (let's say Chest No. 1) in your group will pick up a card move to some distance and start preparing, after 2.5 minutes GTO will give a single Bell (or any other signal) to tell the candidate that half a minute is still left and as soon as 3 Minutes are over, GTO will give double bell and the Chest No.1 will move to the GTO give him the card, tell him the topic on which he is going to give talk and then come in front of group and start delivering the speech, at the same time the next chest no. Let say Chest No.2 will pick the top most card and move a little distance away and start preparing...

6. Half Group Task

Half Group Task (HGT) is another important test in GTO series, in which your complete group will be divided into two half's, the reason behind this division is that as there will be few dominating candidates in your group, who will not allow other to perform due to their nature. So, HGT gives others a chance to showcase their potential with less no. of candidates. Some time the two half might not have equal candidates if you have odd no. of candidates in your group.

So here also the concept should remain same as PGT.

Difference between PGT and HGT : The main difference between PGT and HGT is that in PGT your complete group will perform together(8-10 candidates), while in HGT your group will be divided in two sub groups (4-5 candidates). And another difference is that HGT is not as long as PGT. In PGT you have to cross finish line 4 times while in HGT you have to do that for once only.

7. Individual Obstacles

In this test GTO evaluate your planning organising approach, confidence, physical and mental stamina towards each obstacle

In this task GTO has a set of Lecturette cards with him. Each card has four topics written on it. Each one of you has to pick up a card and move to some distance and prepare on any 1 topic among the four topics for three minutes and then come in front of the group and deliver the talk for 3 minutes. Selection of the topic plays a major role here.

Individual Obstetrical are the set to 10 Obstacles placed in a zigzag manner which each candidate has to do individually as the name suggest. The Time assigned is 3 Minutes. Each obstacle has a Number written against it which denotes the marks that will be awarded for successfully completing the obstacle. For example if there is a number 7 written on a certain obstacle then you will be given 7 marks if you completes the obstacle in proper manner.

Total number of obstacle - 10

Total Marks - 55

Time -3 minutes

GTO will take you around each and every obstacle and will make you to shout the number written against each obstacle, while he takes you around the obstacle you will find that the obstacles are not arranged in a proper sequence and hence you can start from wherever you fell like may be it is Obstacle No.1 or No.10 and you can finish anywhere you like.

But analyse and plan your route in a very effective manner so as you complete the task in the given time of 3 minutes. Always start from simple to toughest so as to boost your confidence as you keep moving.. If you gets struck on a particular obstacle just give one more attempt if failed move ahead to complete the remaining task and come back and complete it in the available balance time.

In case you have successfully done all the 10 obstacles then you are at the liberty to repeat the obstacles but repetition over an obstacle can be done only once. Let say you completed your Ten obstacle on obstacle No.8 then you can do obstacle 8 once only and come back to do it again only if you completes all the other obstacles. In case if you completed all obstacles then rather than thinking for marks do the repetition of those obstacle which is close to you. If you completed all obstacles successfully then you will be awarded 55 Marks and if you repeated any obstacle then you marks will increase let say you repeated obstacle No.10 and No.5 the you sum will 70(55+10+5=70).

Procedure

The candidate bearing first chest no. in your group will be called first and he can stand near to any obstacle from where he wants to start, GTO will instruct him to start by blowing his whistle, after 2.5 minutes GTO will again blow his whistle which is to indicate the Candidate who is currently doing the obstacle that half a minute is still left and the next candidate will stand near to the obstacle from where he wants to start as soon as the full 3 minutes gets over then GTO blows his whistle twice to indicate the first candidate to stop doing the tasks as his time is over and to next candidate that his time starts now. So, there will be no gap between two candidates doing the task. If GTO blows his whistle twice and you are still doing the task then leave the task as it is and move out of ground or as instructed.

8. Command Task

In this test the GTO evaluate your individual approach. The logic remains same as PGT, HGT. GTO will test your ideas by putting you in lot of stress, keep trying and keep on giving different ideas. don't take ideas from the subordinate and don't try to give ideas as subordinate.

Command Task is another task in GTO series, as the name suggests you will be made commander. Each candidate from your group will in turn be made as a Commander and also as subordinates.

Time -15 minutes (Generally)

Role as Commander

You must properly command your subordinates; you should behave as a commander but never do the mistake of thinking your subordinates as your servants. You must logically choose your subordinates and should command them to complete the task, if any of your subordinates says or does anything without your instruction then tell him not to do so, or if they are breaking any rule then ask them to go back to previous point and start again from that point.

Role as Subordinate: As a subordinate you must not do or say anything unless your commander asks you to say or do anything, you must not take any action on your own as a subordinate.

Introduction Before CT: Before your Command task starts GTO will take a small interview while proceeding towards your task. So behave in the manner you will be behaving in the interview.

9.Final Group Task

Final Group Task (FGT) is the last task as the name suggest in the GTO series but as important as the first one. So your participation and joss should remain as it was in PGT. In this task your complete group of 8-10 candidates will perform together. The structure will be similar to PGT

Command Task is another task in GTO series, as the name suggests you will be made commander. Each candidate from your group will in turn be made as a Commander and also as subordinates.

Time - 15 minutes (Generally)

Difference between PGT and FGT :As far as difference between PGT and FGT is concerned, the only difference is that FGT is small as compared to PGT and hence less time is allocated to FGT.

Another difference which you will feel is that in FGT a different energy is flowing among your group, now all members will be more cooperative and helping as compared to when you did PGT.

INTERVIEW

Interview is again the individual performance test as it was in psychology. So no external influence is here as in GTO. So these two test Interview and Psychology is totally in the control of candidate and can win the battle if perform his best.

Interview is one to one affair between the candidate and the Interviewing Officer (IO) for around 30 to 45 minutes based on his / her PIQ and psychology test copy. Almost all the question will be related to your PIQ only. So PIQ filling is very important Also candidate presentation while entering into the Interview room and his confidence during the interview, his logical approach and honesty plays major role in his/her recommendation.

There will be one or two Officer taking your interview in SSB. During your whole interview you will be given a chair to sit but the IO will try to pull you from that chair (not physically but by his questions). Unlike other interviews the seating arrangement will be such that all your body movement and your manners will be seen by the IO.

Generally at Service Selection Boards interview is conducted in afternoon and evenings but you might have you interview in morning. So always be mentally active. You must go with a relaxed mind for the interview and you must not be unnecessarily nervous.

You will be made to wait in a room which will be having some pictures/photos and magazines before you proceed for your interview, sometimes IO asks you questions related to that room so you must also make yourself familiar with that also.

CONFERENCE

Conference is the last test but very important so the candidate must give his/ her best performance. Conference takes place on the 5th Day (not the final day as your final day will be on last day of medicals) of your SSB Interview. In Conference all your assessors like Psychologist, GTO, the Interviewing officer and the President of the Board will sit together, they will be in their service uniform and this is the only time in which you will see all of them together in uniform. They discuss your performance of last 5 days and take a call whether to recommend you for Medicals or not. If some of you on whom the Selectors of the Board might have some doubts, this is the time in which they will clear their doubts.

So you will be asked question based on your performance, so don't take it lightly. Questions asked may put in problem to the candidate who was getting recommended so far and vice versa also possible. So understanding of the question is very important to hit the nail at a right place.

Before the Conference starts there will be a closing address given by the Board President or someone else on his behalf, he will tell you what qualities they were judging in you for Last 5 days, he will tell you that they works on right person for right job logic. He will also tell you to think weather you are ready for the Defence job or not as it is quite tough and if you are ready then keep trying hard if you are not selected in this attempt.