Being able to serve one’s own country by joining defence forces is indeed a blessing to those who are able to achieve it by clearing SSB. Everyone who aspires to undergo training in NDA to join the most revered Armed Forces of India (Army, Indian navy, Air Force) have to do extremely well and clear the SSB interview. The young aspirants are allowed to make any number of attempts to crack SSB interview.
The primary focus of the SSB interview is on the intelligence as well as the personality of the candidate and is conducted over a five day period in the campuses of SSB at various locations throughout the country such as Bangalore, Allahabad and Bhopal. The tests comprise of a series of projection tests that portray a particular candidates various qualities and characteristic behavior, by putting them through psychological tests, group tasks and a personal interview. The reason why the SSB interview is conducted over five days is to give the interviewing officers’ ample time and enough information from the various tests so as to be to pick out the most appropriate and deserving candidates to undergo training at the National Defence Academy.
The Tests Included in SSB Interview
In order to clear SSB interview, the candidates will have to excel in the various psychological tests, group tasks and personal interviews that they are put through as part of the SSB interview. The various tests include:
Day1: Intelligence Test (Verbal and Non-Verbal), Picture Perception Test
Day2: Psychology Tests such as Thematic Appreciation Test, Word Association Test, Situation Reaction Test and Self Description Test.
Day3 and Day4: Group Testing Officers (GTO) Tests such as Group Discussion, Group Planning exercise, Progressive Group Tasks, Group Obstacles, Command Task, Lecturette topics and Final Group Task.
Day5: Final meeting with the Assessor.
These various tests have a wholesome approach and their results enable the interviewing officers to completely comprehend the candidate’s ability and potential to become a great leader.
Tips to Clear SSB Interview
The SSB interview seeks to bring to light the candidates who exhibit Officer Like Qualities (OLQ’s) the most. The interviewing officers are on the lookout for candidates who are able to strike a lasting impression through their abilities to lead a group, work well as a team member in a group and also boost the team’s confidence and determination through their conversations. The intention of the SSB interview is to scientifically analyze the psychological potential and outlook of the candidate. In order to clear the SSB interview, the candidates should develop certain traits and characteristics that will enable them to easily clear the SSB interview. They are:
- Augment their ability to be responsible and take ownership of a situation.
- Improve the efficiency and effectiveness of delegation and execution of initiatives.
- Develop their level of expertise in reasonable and sound reasoning/ judgment.
- Strengthen their organization and management skills.
- Expand and grow the command and fluency of the English language and being able to communicate their thoughts effectively.
- Intensify leadership traits such as self-confidence, level of determination.
- The candidates are continuously observed and gauged by the interviewing officers during the five days they are in the campus. Therefore, it is very important to maintain good manners, courtesy, discipline and decorum even while not taking up tests or interview.
- The psychological tests are conducted in order to bring to light the true personality and natural responses to a situation. The candidates have to keep this in their mind and make sure to not imitate and depict an artificial character. This will cause them to lose points.
- Professional guidance and training will definitely contribute tremendously to clear the SSB interview. There are a number of well recognized institutes such as Lt. Col. Deol’s Minerva Academy which has been in the line providing coaching to young aspirants and offer training in all psychological tests, outdoor and indoor group tasks as well.
- The candidates will also have to make sure that they are properly dressed and look presentable at all time. It is important to maintain a positive attitude and be cheerful and not express any negative feelings to the group.
- The candidates should also look to develop their qualities of remaining assertive and being able to convince other team members in the group about their ideas and solutions to tackle an issue without causing any negative feelings or offending them.
Quick Take
In a nut-shell, the SSB interviews are used as a means to portray and reflect the true persona and attitude of an applicant through the varied tasks they are made to perform. It is an attempt to comprehend their character and thought process. Therefore, to be able the SSB interview, it is not sufficient to be proficient in book intelligence alone. Rather, it depends a lot on the candidate’s ability to strengthen their Officer Like Qualities (OLQ’s) which will help them clear the SSB interview.
