The full form of SSB is the Services Selection Board, one of the most challenging and lengthy interviews, or we could say that it comprehensively examines you. However, the SSB is not merely a test but a 5-day procedure in which your personality is evaluated in various ways.
The respective military commissions invite candidates who pass written examinations such as CDS, NDA, TA, INET, and AFCAT to the SSB Interview. One may also be asked to the SSB Interview if they have been shortlisted for direct entries such as TES, TGC, UES, SSC Tech, etc.
The selected students must take an Intelligence and Personality Test before a Service Selection Board.
The full form of the SSB is the Services Selection Board
Full form of SSB: SSB Interview Method
Day 0 (Reporting):
- Candidates are typically met at the station by a board officer or officers and then transported to the selection centre.
- After the candidates have settled in, there is an ‘Opening Address’ in which a board member instructs them on their stay for the next five days.
- The next step is Document Verification, where the candidates’ original documents are examined and confirmed.
- In some boards (particularly the Air Force), the reporting day is considered Day 1 of the SSB, and testing begins on the same day.
Day 1 (Screening) of the SSB consists of three tests:
Test of Visual Perception and Discussion (PP&DT) and Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) Examination
The ‘Officer Intelligence Rating Test’ consists of Verbal and Non-Verbal Tests on the first day. Each candidate receives two booklets containing 40 questions. The allocated time for each pamphlet is 15 to 17 minutes.
Test of Picture Perception and Discussion (PP&DT):
This examination can be further classified as:
Picture Perception: An image is displayed for 30 seconds, and candidates must record details such as the sexes, ages, emotions, and actions conducted by the characters. The candidates then have four minutes to construct a narrative based on the image.
Group Discussion: A group of 10 to 15 candidates is formed from the cohort, and each candidate must tell his or her story before the group reaches a consensus.
Following the announcement of the results, the finalists are retained for the next round of testing.
Day 2 (Psychological Test):
A Psychological Test is administered on the second day of the SSB. The following examinations occur on this date:
The full form of the SSB is the Services Selection Board
Thematic Apperception Test (TAT): Candidates are shown 12 images (one of which is vacant) and have 4 minutes to write a narrative for each. The time limit is imposed to assess each candidate’s natural response.
Word Association Test (WAT): 60 words are shown to candidates for 15 seconds each, and they must write down the first sentence that comes to mind when they see the word.
Situation Reaction Test (SRT): Candidates are given a booklet containing 60 real-life scenarios and must write their responses to these scenarios. This activity will last a total of 30 minutes.
Self-Description Test (SDT): Candidates must write a few paragraphs describing themselves within the provided context. For example, writing the opinions of their parents, teachers, and acquaintances and the qualities they wish to cultivate. 15 minutes are allotted for this examination.
These exams are designed to assess a candidate’s psychological fitness for the military.
Day Three (Group Test I):
SSB Day 3 consists of Group Testing. Multiple outdoor group exams are administered to candidates in this location. This day consists of the following group examinations:
The group discussion is on two concurrent topics about current events or social issues. Typically, each meeting lasts between 20 and 30 minutes.
Group Planning Exercise (GPE): Here, 10 to 15 candidates are grouped together and given a scenario based on a model with specific issues. Candidates must identify the problem and provide a workable solution.
Progressive Group Task (PGT): Candidates must collectively surmount four obstacles, for which they are provided with aiding materials and a burden with regulations.
Group Obstacle Race (GOR): In this event, also known as the Snake Race, each group must compete against another group for six obstacles.
This exercise is similar to the PGT but is conducted with a smaller group over a solitary obstacle.
The full form of the SSB is the Services Selection Board
Day 4 (Group Testing – II)
It is dedicated to Group Testing once again. On this day, the following exams are conducted:
Lecturette: Each candidate is presented with four topics from which he must select one and speak for three minutes.
Individual Obstacles (IO): In 3 minutes, each contestant must overcome 10 obstacles that are graded from 1 to 10 based on their degree of difficulty.
Command Task (CT): Each candidate assumes the role of commander and is tasked with overcoming an obstacle similar to the HGT with the assistance of his subordinates.
Final Group Assignment (FGT): The entire group is reassembled and must complete a similar assignment to the PGT within the allotted time.
Personal Interviews are typically conducted on Days 2, 3, and 4, following the completion of the respective daily duties. Typical interview topics include everyday experiences, work, education, family, interests, academic achievements, general knowledge, etc.
Day 5 (Conference):
The assessor delivers a closing address on the fifth and final day before the candidates’ conference begins.
All the officers who evaluated the candidates in the preceding days are at a board meeting. Regarding a candidate’s qualifications, each evaluator confers amongst themselves. Then, each candidate appears individually before the panel, where their overall evaluation is recounted, and the panel makes a recommendation based on this information.
Certain situations are presented to candidates on the fence, and a collective decision is made.
After the results are disclosed, the finalists are retained for additional medical examinations. And once you’ve passed the medicals and made it to the merit list, you earn the right to don the stars of pride due to your rigorous training.
SSB – Grounds for Disqualification
The SSB will not consider candidates if they have any of the following medical conditions:
- Knock Knee
- Kidney Stones
- Flat Foot
- Pigeon Chest
- Sweaty Palms
- DNS
- Defective Color Vision
- LASIK Surgery
- Piles
- Over/UnderWeight
- Veri-Cocele
- AIDS
The full form of the SSB is the Services Selection Board
Besides these medical conditions, the candidate must have a color vision standard of CP-III and a minimum of 14 dental points with sound teeth.
Conclusion
The full form of SSB in the Indian army is the Service Selection Board, which is an organization that evaluates candidates for officer positions in the Indian Armed Forces. The Indian Defense Ministry creates it to conduct officer recruitment interviews. It is specifically designed to assess candidates’ officer-like qualities.
