Hello Everyone, I am Ayush Yadav and I am sharing my SSB interview experience in this blog. I have got recommended in two SSB interviews, first one is 10+2 tech entry in Navy on 25 Aug’12 at NSB- Naval Selection Board, Coimbatore and another in NDA-AF on 22 Oct’12 at 11 SSB board Allahabad.
Also Read: My Experience at 11 SSB Allahabad
I passed my 10+2 this year from No.1 Air Force School, Gwalior and always its been a dream to be an Officer. Here I am telling about the first SSB experience of my life. The SSB interview was scheduled from 21 Aug’12 and I had to report at 6 a.m in the morning at MCO Coimbatore. I reached there after a train journey of two days at 5:45 a.m. I was amazed to see a huge crowd of boys and parents accompanying them. Soon the Navy buses came and after checking our call-up letters and loading our bags we sat in the bus that took us to Naval Selection Board, INS Agrani, Coimbatore. The campus was like every other defence establishment, next to perfect. We were addressed by one of the personnel there and were asked to take out all our documents for verification since the call up for SSB interview in this entry is based on board PCM % and soon I came to know all the candidates were having the PCM aggregate of over 89% ( My aggregate is 91.33%). This is where your test of patience starts, you have to wait in a long line for your turn. After verification ,a chest number was assigned, I was allotted with no.75. We were given the identification form and the TA form to fill up and later we were also served with breakfast containing bread jam ,butter, egg tea. A Total of 161 candidates reported on that day.
Day-1 : Stage-1 Testing: Screening
We were then asked to settle down in the Testing Hall for Stage-1 testing. I started talking to other candidates sitting near to me and made a couple of friends who also belonged to defence background same as me. At around 8:30, an officer briefed us about the tests we were to undertake. First was the Intelligence test which consisted of two tests of 50 questions each and time 30 mins each .The question booklets were distributed and we had to solve some sample problems first to get familiar to the questions. Then the test started, questions were of logical and mathematical reasoning (same as in Arihant ). I finished quite early within 20 minutes and did all the questions. The second intelligence test paper was a little tough and took me 25 minutes or so, I could do 48 questions in it.
Our booklets were taken back and then we were briefed about the PPDT or the Picture Perception and Discussion Test, where we are supposed to observe a picture for 30 seconds , identify the characters , mention their age sex and mood in the box provided in answer sheet, write about the action they are doing(like in a conversation, two people playing etc) within a minute and then write a story in the next 4 minutes. The story should contain 3 parts : What Led to situation, What is happening now and the Outcome( Please do not explain the picture ). The picture shown to us contained three men with only upper body visible and hands in the air.The image shown is always roughly drawn.Write a short and effective story where you show a central character who is young almost of your age solving an issue. Don’t worry too much about expressions but good English is a Plus Point. Then sheets are taken back and the groups were divided ( 8 ,10 ,12 or 15 candidates )depending on the number of candidates for the discussion test. We had group of 15 candidates, I was in the group of 61 -75. We had to wait for our chance to come for the Discussion Test. We were taken to a hall and made to sit on chairs in semi circle facing 3 officers. One of the officers then explained us about the procedure of PPDT. Our story sheets were given back to us and he asked us to have a look at our stories for 30 seconds and then narrate the story individually within one minute in preferably English and then have a discussion over it and come to a common story. Please narrate the story addressing the group and not the officers, be confident and maintain eye contact and narrate story with proper English in time.In my group some people wrote about celebration of a victory while some wrote on a boy drowning or group of friends saving a boy in water. I wrote a Story related to water but on disaster management. As the discussion started , it looked like a fish market, but I asked the group members to come to a consensus by taking up all important points from different stories. My story was soon taken up as a common story. We then had to wait for the result. The screening results were declared at 2:30 pm. A total of 39 candidates were screened in from 161. I was given fresh chest no.17. The screened out people were sent back to railway station after giving them TA. Screening is easy if you perform well in intelligence tests, speak good points in GD. You might see people getting screened in who did not even speak anything in GD, this is only because they performed exceptionally well in intelligence tests. We were then allotted rooms and taken to another hall for filling up of PIQ forms. Make sure you fill only correct information in the PIQ form. After filling forms, we were addressed by a GTO who briefed us about the rules of stay and other important points that we had to follow during our stay for the entire period. We were then served Dinner (The food at NSB is AMAZING). After a tiring day, we talked to each other for sometime and then went off to sleep early as we had the Psychological tests the next day.
Day-2 : Stage-2 Testing: Pysch Tests
The day started off really early as we had to report at 6:30 a.m. in the morning. We woke up at 4:30 am , and were ready in formals at 5:30 am. We had our bed tea and then went for breakfast at 5:45 am. After enjoying the breakfast and sharing some light laughter with the new friends we moved in a line to the testing Hall. The Psych. Explained us about the tests we were to undergo. Pysch testing consists of four tests i.e. TAT ,WAT ,SRT & SD. An answer sheet containing 16 pages is given where first six pages are for TAT, next three for WAT, next four for SRT and rest for SD.
TAT or the Thematic Apperception Test is a test of the sub conscious mind. A total of 12 slides were shown to us one after another and we had to write stories on them much similar to what we did on day one . A picture flashes for 30 seconds and then four mins were given for us to write the story of about 100 words followed by the next picture. The last picture is blank and we had to write story of our own. Prepare a good blank story well in advance. Just after TAT comes WAT.
WAT or Word Association Test, 60 words are displayed one after the other for 15 seconds each and we had to write a sentence on it within the time limit. The words are common and the test is easy. Try doing as many words as you can, I did 58.
After a short break next test is the SRT or the Situation Reaction Test where we have to write reactions to real life situations. A total of 60 SRTs are given time given is 30 mins. Try to do them quickly but make sure you write a complete and logical action (You are a normal human not a superman, so think and write a possible solution). Don’t worry even if you could do less SRTs, the thing which matters more is a good and effective reaction. I could do only 41 SRTs but properly.
The last test is the Self Description where we have to write half para each about:
1. Parents Opinion
2. Teachers Opinion
3. Friends Opinion
4. Your Opinion about yourself .
5. Qualities you want to improve/Aims.
Write whatever you feel like, all your good qualities and few of your bad qualities as no one is perfect.
three mins were given to write for each point i.e. total 15 mins.
Thus, the Psychological Testing is over. Some of the candidates have their interviews the same day while rest can visit the city, sleep, use the canteen or do whatever they feel like.
Day-3 : Stage-2 Testing:–GTO & Interview
Group Testing Officer spends the most time with the candidates. He looks the individual’s performance in a group.The day starts off early again. At NSB only 3 GTOs were there and so our entire GTO was scheduled to be held the next entire day and so we were called for interviews. The other three groups went for the GTO testing and one of the groups had to finish off the same day as the GTO had to take our tests next day.
Personal Interview: My interview was scheduled at 9:40 am. I waited for my turn as another candidate was being interviewed, after he finished off, I was called in after sometime. I entered the room confidently with a smile, stood besides the chair and wished the interviewing officer a very good morning. He asked me to have a seat and began some informal conversation about the pysch tests and my stay at NSB. He then gradually began asking me some serious questions. He asked about my city, why do I want to join the force, have I taken any coaching about my school etc. He then asked a series of questions in continuation i.e. the rapid fire questions. The questions were, Since you are from defence background how do you find the life in the defence forces, tell me about the Navy, also tell about the rank structure, what will be your duties after becoming an officer, coastal cities, naval commands etc. Questions in one go. I managed to answer almost all of them. He further asked about studies, girls, friends, and General knowledge questions. So please be attentive all the time, be smart while answering, always maintain an eye-contact while answering and sound confident. Don’t try to FAKE at any point and be natural, sit in a comfortable position and maintain good posture throughout. If you don’t know any answer then tell him you’ll find it out and tell it later(He might ask you the same question in conference). Don’t get nervous at any point. A good GK is a big positive, issues like Syria, Indo-China, US etc. are asked frequently.
During my interview another officer came in and began talking to my IO but I kept answering. This usually doesn’t happen. My interview lasted for 1 hour 10 minutes. The time flies by if you enjoy the interview. Its a great experience. Leave the Hall with a Smile. 😀
I discussed my interview with my friends and all others who had gone through the same shared their experiences. By then you have many friends and you enjoy your time. We went outside to a mall and enjoyed at McD, we came back in the evening had out dinner and went off to sleep.
Day-4 : Stage-2 Testing:–GTO
The final testing day started. We had our entire GTO testing to be done in a single day. We started of with a brief talk with the GTO, he then explained about the tests and we sat on chairs for GD. The GTO gave a choice of two topics and we had chosen the topic Naxalism. In the second GD, GTO gave the topic Women Security in India. Everyone tries to jump into the discussion and put their views. Try to speak at the right time and put VALID points. I spoke 4 times and gave points about history of it, the measures being taken etc. Listen to what others are speaking and appreciate their points if you find them good and stay involved. Don’t show uneasiness. After GD, we had the GPE or the group planning exercise where we had to solve a few problems and write the solution on a sheet and then discuss to give common group solution. Being in a group, we have faced with problems and a layout of an areas was shown to us.
Points to keep in mind:
- Always save the Human first, then a disaster and then a small problem.
- Write fast and think logically.
- During discussion adopt a story that is the best or come to a common conclusion.
- One person who explains doesn’t get any extra preference.
Then comes the most interesting group activity i.e The Snake Race or the Group Obstacle Race. There are few obstacles which the group has to cross carrying a snake made out of jute or some other material. Listen to GTO’s instructions carefully. Do not fear, show JOSH, keep cheering, take initiative, help other members and do well. Our group did very well in it.
In PGT, four obstacles are to be crossed using material provided like the rope, fatta and balli. Give ideas and explain what you are trying to do to your group. Be with the group and use your brain. I was leading my group as I had ideas and was implementing them successfully. Also listen to other group members ideas and stay involved in tasks. We crossed all obstacles.
The next is HGT, which is similar to PGT, but only half the group has to do it and only one obstacle is there. This is easy. After these comes the Lecturette. You have to pick a card containing 4 topics, choose one topic, prepare for next 3 mins and then deliver a lecture for 3 mins. Choose a good topic on which you have sufficient knowledge. I spoke on the topic, The Future of one-day Cricket. Speak Loudly and confidently, give good and interesting points. Stand in a proper manner. Even if u get stuck, carry on with the topic and don’t be nervous and manage time properly.
Next comes the individual obstacles. I did all 10 in three minutes. If u have a good fitness level it helps a lot. Even if you don’t perform well in it, doesn’t matter much if you have performed well in other tasks. Any normal person can do at least eight tasks. Many repeat the obstacles also. It is interesting but be careful about injuries.
Command Task can give you the hint about your performance in GTO. If you are given a tough obstacle, that means you have done well. You are the commander and instruct the two men you choose from group to help you cross obstacle. The GTO also talk for few minutes with you individually, answer smartly to him. I had a very complicated obstacle which I managed to clear with a little hint from the GTO. I was also called by four of my group members as a subordinate to help. So I could judge that my obstacle was way tougher than theirs.
The last task of the GTO series is the Final GroupTask i.e. FGT where entire group has to cross only one obstacle using plank, rope and balli/log. It is very easy, GTO then debriefed us and wished good luck for conference.
Day-5: Stage-2 Testing:–Conference
The main aim of the conference is to make you familiar with the officers where you see them in uniform and they see you. All the three assessors then discuss their results and the president of the conference board then decide whether to recommend you or not.
There are some 12 /15 officers sitting around a round table in a conference and then candidates enter one by one and are asked general questions about stay, facilities and suggestions if any. I entered with a smile, wished them, they asked me questions about my stay and if I made any friends.
Declaration of Results:
It was a very tensed moment, everyone was silent. The officer then comes and gives a brief speech and then announced the results. I could feel my heart in mouth, the moment he called up my chest no. 17, I was delighted. It was a great feeling, I exchanged hugs n handshakes from other recommended candidates and called up home and friends. I also cleared the medicals at INHS Sanjivani.
SSB is an experience of a lifetime, but you must have fire in you. It’s indeed a proud feeling being a boy of 17 and a half years. I will share my experience at Allahabad in the next testimonial. Sharing my Allahabad pic now 😀 Cheers !!
Jai Hind
Author: Ayush Yadav: He is 17 year old and got recommended in 10+2 Tech entry for Navy, from Coimbatore and also in NDA-AF from 11 SSB board Allahabad.
