Hey, there young guns. This is me, Dikshant Pandey, pursuing B.Tech in CSE from Amity University Jaipur. I’m writing my own success story of SSB. I knew one day would come when I would be writing this thing, but never knew would have to wait for one whole year. I’m a repeater candidate, got recommended in my third attempt gentlemen. Only repeater’s would be able to understand the pain of getting conference out, that too twice.
Well, what’s the past is past. I was recommended for the NDA-134 course by 24 SSB Bangalore on 26th march 2015, medically fit for all type of aircrafts, for AF. I would like to share my views, and there would be a few tips too, in case you need them.
First and foremost, never lose hope. There would be times in life when you’ll feel what’s happening and why this is happening to me. Never say, “Why me. Say try me.”
Ok over with the ‘gyaan’. I’ll start now.
We had to report to Selection centre south, Bangalore on the 21st march by 2 PM. I reached on time there and found only 2 people besides me sitting there. The remaining candidates arrived by 5 o’ clock and then we were asked to fill the forms.
DAY 1: Screening Test
Our screening started with OIR tests. We were given 2 test booklets with different no. of questions. I was able to complete all of them in the stipulated time, and if you haven’t been able to do so till now, there’s no negative marking people. Write any option out of the blue, who knows maybe by gods grace it may be correct. After that we had our PP&DT, in which we were shown a picture where 2 people were discussing things over a cup of coffee. I wrote a story that Ram is a student who wishes to be a pilot and therefore he’s talking to a Wg. Cdr. for guidance. My narration was good, full of confidence, but then came the GD time. Ours was a group of 13 repeater’s. I think you can guess the scene, it was complete chaos. All 13 of us wanted to initiate the GD. The GTO had to divide us into 2 subgroups and I was in the first subgroup. There, 2 of us were the main speakers. One was me and the other was chest no 58. We just spoke for 2 mins, where I said let’s take up the topic on a social issue. After that the GTO didn’t allows us to speak and moved on to the second group. The other groups was all shouting and making it a fish market, then the GTO gave us 30 seconds to conclude and I somehow raised my voice so loud that everyone turned and started listening to me. I then just said we have agreed upon a social issue, take it up on swine flue as it is most prominent now. That was it. End of screening. A total of 24 candidates were screened in out of the 65. 5 repeater’s out of the 13.
DAY 2: PSYCHOLOGY
It all started with TAT. I just had one thing in mind while writing the stories, that each should be unique. When you are writing a story, remember you are the main character of the story. Don’t get way too happy and start writing stories that I’ll become an engineer and build a bridge to avoid accidents in future. This kind of stories should be avoided, according to me.
Then came the WAT. I was able to complete 59 of them, as the last word was something negative and I wasn’t able to make up anything for that. For this my suggestion would be, never learn any answers, I’ve seen aspirants doing that, and, believe me, that’s very bad for you only. Answers should be spontaneous but also do a lot of practice at home so that you can manage time, and in your practice only you would get to know what kind of sentences you form.
Then we had our SRT. I was able to complete all of them, but don’t fear if you aren’t able to complete all, my friend did only 37 and he’s recommended. Quantity doesn’t matter, quality does. Try doing as many as you can, and write the response as if you are the one in that situation. Also, what position the character holds matters. If you are the SP of your area, you exercise a lot of power. Keep these things in mind, and you’ll do good.
About the SD, prepare a very good SD beforehand. But please, don’t put high and mighty things in it which you aren’t. Believe it or not, the interviewer gets to know if you are bluffing. Remember, it can be your 10th attempt, his would be no less than 1000th.
Now comes the main part. The GTO tasks would start the next day, and I had to win him over this time so that I can get recommended. I needed to plan things. I had a plan in mind, I talked to my group mates. We were a group of 8 and I was the only repeater. So naturally they were listening to me. I asked nothing much of them, just that let’s do a GD now only, at candidate’s line. Then after the GD I pointed out a few things. Firstly, if someone has started speaking everyone else would be quiet. If you have a point, you’ll get a chance. Secondly, if you have spoken, let at least 3 other people speak, after that again put your point. Same for GPE, don’t impose your plan, be flexible and take into account other people’s viewpoints too. In PGT, if one has given a solution, let other’s come forward, don’t be the boss every time. Surprisingly, people obeyed me. And out of the 8 of us, 5 got recommended. So yeah, maybe my planning was good, coz out of the other 2 groups only 1 each was selected, and moreover I was the only repeater who got recommended.
DAY 3-4: GTO
It started with 2 GD’s, people performing as I had instructed. Then came the GPE, which also went smoothly, in GD you should try to initiate, but if you can’t, never worry. Just speak normally, put your points 3-4 times, that’s all. Same goes for GPE. In the PGT, be the first one to cross a hurdle when GTO says that 2 of you may cross to the other side, because from there you can work upon better plans. Snake race is just to test your group strength, help your fellow mates as much as you can. Lecturette is easy enough, just speak slow, clear and with confidence, include realistic figures even if you don’t know them, because most of the time the person sitting in front of you won’t.
Command task is performed in a better way if you command your fellows with conviction in your voice, you should sound and act like a commander. Ask your fellows not to speak unless asked by you. GTO isn’t very tough, make a good impression in the GD and GPE only. IO is something that isn’t very important, because my recommended batch mate did only 5, I myself did only 8. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be fit enough, stay fit, it would help you very much.
Interview
The most dreaded thing at the SSB, and which I feel is the most important thing in your recommendation, because the IO would generally be president or deputy president of the board. Prepare PIQ form beforehand, and your SD should be good, but honest. If you know your strength and weaknesses, you are bound to make it. My interview started with this statement or question, whatever you would like to call it, “I got what I wanted to know from your PIQ form, still we’ll talk a little. So Dikshant, you have no time constraint. Tell me something about yourself”.
I started rattling things, about me, parents, hometown and all. I spoke for 5-7 minutes, and in the meantime I told him that sir I represented CAC in inter command quiz competition and we came 3rd .(Brats would understand) At that time my GK was good sir but now a days since I’m in college, I don’t get newspapers, and my college is 40 km out of Jaipur, so I can’t subscribe to periodicals too.
I evaded GK questions this way, but you also don’t try this. Be updated with what’s happening around the world, it helps.
Be calm, composed, keep smiling even if he’s grilling you. Don’t stammer, and look at him while answering. And if you’ve said something, stick to it. Disagree with him, but with respect. “I beg to disagree with you sir, but….”. This can be one of the ways of disagreeing.
Just know yourself, I’m repeating this line, and it won’t harm if you prepare sample questions for interview and cross questions too. It helps, trust me.
D-Day: Conference
You’ll be briefed beforehand how to go in and sit there and all. There would be 14-15 officers there, could be 10 too. Don’t panic, you have to talk to that person only who took your interview.
A hint : If before calling you, a long discussion takes place, either you are recommended or borderline, but yeah, if you are called very quickly, don’t get disheartened. People who are clearly recommended are also called quickly.
In short, nothing can be said about the SSB. You can’t say why you were recommended, or why you weren’t. Just be yourself, be honest, lie only if you can support those lies. Otherwise don’t lie. Any queries, feel free to mail me at [email protected]. I can mail you my PIQ form pics too. I didn’t take any coaching from anywhere, my helping materials were Arihant’s SSB book, www.ssbcrack.com and www.gomilitary.in. Also google and youtube, without which nothing is possible these days. I also took guidance from Retd. Col Prahlad Singh sir, RR. He helped me in filling my PIQ form, and interview tips.
Last thing I would like to say gentlemen, “koshish karne walo ki kabhi haar nhi hoti”.
