Friends today I am going to tell you about my first experience to SSB in ALLAHABAD and what all happened there…… I hope this will help those who are going to have SSB or preparing for the same.
DAY 1: SCREENING
My SSB was on 31-aug-2015 in SELECTION CENTER EAST- ALLAHABAD. So I was to reach MOVEMENT CONTROL OFFICE (MCO) at 6:00 in the morning at the ALLAHABAD JN. My journey started on 30-aug-2015 from NEW DELHI RLY STN at 6:30 in the morning. Train took around 13 Hours and I reached ALLAHABAD JN at 7:30 pm. After reaching there I took an auto for HOTEL which I have already booked online. Rested there for the night and prepared a while for the SCREENING TEST. The next morning (31-aug-2015) I wake up at 4:00 am and after getting ready in formals I checked out the hotel at 5:00 am. I reached MCO and what I saw there was really surprising scene for me, a large crowd of around 400 was already there. At that time I thought that this is the first and the last day of my SSB. We all were received by the army men and were dropped at the SELECTION CENTER at 7:00 am. There we first had the breakfast and after that the document verification. Then the SCREENING TEST came. We around 360 were seated in a huge hall and were given the CHEST NUMBERS. I got CHEST NO 35. Then the test started. First we have INTELLIGENCE TEST consists of VERBAL AND NON-VERBAL TEST. I attempted 38 out of 45 in VERBAL and 45 out of 45 in NON-VERBAL in given allotted time of 22 min and 19 min respectively. Then we had our PPDT (Picture Perception and Discussion Test) in which we were shown a picture which was very blur. I wrote a story on what I perceived in the Picture and then we had our DISCUSSION TEST where we were divided in a group of 20. Before GD we all have to narrate our written story. We all narrated but there were some aspirants who completely narrated in HINDI. The three officers sitting before us were observing everything. In my group only I was the one whose story was listened completely by the officers and it was only my story which was carried out as a concluding story of GD. I gave only 1 point in the GD and remained silent for the rest of the time because in SSB only QUALITY matters rather than QUANTITY. After this we were asked to have lunch. After lunch result of SCREENING TEST was announced and the first CHEST NO the call was “CHEST NO. 35”. “YES THAT IS YOU MOHIT” I said to myself and shouted “CHEST NO. 35 MOHIT RAWAT SIR” and I was given “CHEST NO 1” after that they called “CHEST NO. 75”. That means that I was the only one who got SEREENED IN in first 74 aspirants. There was another level of my happiness. On the Same day I had my interview, as Getting Screened in boost up my Confidence and helped a Lot during the Interview. My Interview lasted for 1.5 Hour. Confidently I answered all the questions with a Smile. Most of the questions were related to my personal Life, friends, family, teachers, achievements, academics, sports and all others which I filled in the PIQ, some Situations Reactions were also asked which I answered boldly. Overall my first day was fantastic and I enjoyed a lot with my new friends.
DAY 2: PSYCHOLOGY TEST
I woke up at 4 am, shaved and got ready for the psychology test. This test comprises of TAT(Thematic Apperception Test) or story writing test, WAT(Word Association Test), SRT(Situation Reaction Test), and at last SD(Self-Description) test. We all got ready, had breakfast in mess and reached the testing hall with all our documents that were to be further verified. People think that they can really perform well in psychology test because there is nothing to be prepared, but no my friends psychology is the trickiest test where every aspirant thinks that he is doing well but no one knows because it is the test of imagination and imagination varies from individual to individual. Starting from TAT, in this we were shown 12 pictures one by one for 30 sec and we have to write a story of about 70-100 words in 4 mins. In TAT you have to be optimistic for example if in a picture there is a scene of accident and you write that Ram is a civil engineer who constructed a road for increasing the accidents cases then sorry my friend you are going to be out. Last slide is blank slide where you can imagine a picture of your own and write on that. After this there was WAT in which 60 words one after the another were shown and we have to write a related sentence that first comes to the mind because there is only 15 sec after that next word will be shown. Then we had a 15 min break and after that SRT in which we were given 60 day to day situations which were to be completed in the allotted time of 30 min. I was able to complete 51 SRTs. SRT’s require practicality. Always think what you would really do in that situation rather than writing a copied response because every person is unique. You may be having a better solution for the given situation. Here also quality matters rather than quantity. If you attempt 30 SRTs then there is no problem but all 30 must have some logic and meaning. Then the SD in which we were to write 5 different paragraphs on “parents opinion, teachers opinion, friends opinion, own opinion and the qualities that you would like to inculcate in future”. Or all you have to do is to self-introspect yourself. I was able to complete all 5 paras in time.
DAY 3: GTO TEST 1
GTO tasks check your group skills and practical thinking so always work with the group. Follow the proper dress code and look well groomed. As said the first impression is the last impression. Our GD topic was related to RESERVATION: ADVANTAGES AND DRAWBACKS. The second topic was E-COMMERCE. I took a fair participation in the GD. The key is to come with 3-4 good relevant points which contain FACTS AND FIGURES because generally candidates do not know about them and if they know they won’t oppose your points. PGT (Progressive Group Task), HGT (Half Group Task), Snake Race went normally. I stood in the first position and gave 2-3 ideas to move ahead. I just tried to work in a group. I did all 10 INDIVIDUAL OBSTACLE in allotted time of 3 minutes.
Before INDIVIDUAL OBSTACLE there was Lecturette. The GTO asked my name, father’s name, mother’s name, native place and my hobbies and then to proceed with the Topic. My topic was RIGHT TO EDUCATION. I spoke for 3 minutes and completed in time, I was very confident and gave some good points. You always have to remain confident, no single task is important. You have to be consistent throughout the tasks.
DAY 4: GTO TEST 2
COMMAND TASK
It is very important. Here the GTO actually checks your potential and finally decides whether he will 
recommend you or not. My CT was to cross an area and to carry a so called LCD TV from a white starting line to finishing line. He increased the difficulties continuously and I gave the ideas every time. He looked impressed, and said “Commander I’m really impressed and was looking for that idea, you carry out the responsibility in effective way, very well done commander”. I thanked him and my subordinates. In CT you should always be motivating and cheerful so that your subordinates also participate effectively with you.
FGT
I think it is just a formality sake thing. The GTO doesn’t even look what you are doing as he has already made up his mind. But as an aspirant you have to participate with full confidence and put up your 100%.
DAY 5: CONFERENCE DAY
I entered the room and wished President and sat on the chair. He first asked me that what all will I tell my friends about the SSB, then about the places I visited then at last any suggestion. I said NO SIR.
Ok, Thank You MOHIT.
After leaving the room, I thought, “saala ye kya hua, ek min bhi nahi betha aur bhaga diya”.
And then the results were announced, the first chest number the officer said was mine as I was the chest no. 1. Everyone clapped. I thanked God and my parents. It was the best moment of my life. It was my dream to earn that medical chest number with the PLUS Sign on it. I again got chest no. 1 with plus sign on it.
I was highly determined to join Indian army. I worked hard, prepared, did introspection, and finally made it.
BELIEVE YOURSELF and NEVER GIVE UP.
