Service Selection Board Interview Vacancy

The number of vacancies to be filled by the SSB Board depends on the vacancy in the respective institution. The vacancies in NA, NDA, OTA, AFA, etc are fulfilled on merit-basis. There is no specific pass percentage in SSB Interview as sometimes many candidates make it through, while sometimes none of the candidates pass the interview. It depends on the Board’s satisfaction if they find all the required qualities in a candidate.

Service Selection Board Eligibility Criteria

The interview is conducted to choose candidates who will be commissioned as Officers in Army, Navy, and Air Force. The SSB aspirants have to clear the respective written exams like NDA, CDS, or AFCAT as the first step. The candidates who join through NCC Special Entry Scheme, SSC Tech, or JAG Entry Scheme directly appear for SSB Interview.

After clearing any of the above exams, the candidates receive a call letter intimating them about the SSB Interview. To prepare for this five-day interview, candidates must join the Best Service Selection Board Exam Coaching in Kolkata.

Service Selection Board Exam Dates

The date of interview is intimated to the selected candidates through the call letter. After you have cleared the exam, you must wait for the intimation from the board for the Interview. If you do not receive the intimation within the reasonable time, you must contact the Board.

Service Selection Board Interview Process

The interview has two stages- Stage I and Stage II. Stage I is the Screening Test which takes place on the first day and Stage II lasts for the next four days. Only the candidates who pass the Screening Test qualify for the Stage II. Rests are sent back to their homes the same day.

Day 0- Reporting Day

This is the day when you have to report to the centre. It may also be the first day of your five day interview, depending on the reporting time notified in your call letter. The following facilities are provided to the client at the SSB centre-

• Pick-up and drop facility to and from railway station
• Mess
• Furnished rooms
• Medical facilities
• Newspaper, games, magazines, and everything which will make the candidates feel comfortable.

Candidates are required to report at the selection center with their documents. The original documents are verified at this stage. You must keep a set of photographs, original documents and photocopies ready. Then you are given a form called PIQ form. It is a detailed questionnaire about your personal information, your education, your life in general, your family, interests, friends, etc. You must fill this form very carefully as it is used in Psychology Test.

Day 1 Screening Test

This is the day when the actual SSB exam starts. Though it starts from the time you report to the railway station. The way you walk, the way you talk, how you treat people around you, and other things about you are monitored.

Screening Test involves two tests- Intelligence Test (OIR) and Picture Perception and Description Test (PP&DT).

Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) Test is a set of questions which are required to be solved in a given period of time. It is conducted to assess a candidate’s problem-solving skills. The problems contain pictures, patterns, letters, words, etc.

It is also divided into two tests- Verbal Test and Non-Verbal Test. Verbal test is mostly about English grammar, analogies, synonyms, antonyms, etc. The questions in verbal test are asked from-

• Completion/ Continuity of the Series
• Jumbled Spellings, Sentence Completion
• Antonyms
• One Word Substitution
• Relationship
• Coding and Decoding
• Synonyms
• Sentence Reconstruction
• Absurdity
• Spot The Error
• Common Sense Test
• Alphabetical Test, etc

Non Verbal Test contains questions with figures and patterns. You must identify the relation between them and select the right answer. The questions require a reasoning ability to answer them quickly.

Both the tests contain 30-60 questions to be solved in a limited amount of time. It requires good speed and accuracy to solve these questions and pass the test. You must join the best training institute for SSB in Kolkata to prepare you for these tests. It requires lots of practice.

Picture Perception & Description Test is a story writing test which depicts the candidates’ mindset, their way of thinking, their thought process, etc. In a large auditorium, a hazy picture is shown on the screen for 30 seconds and candidates are required to assess the basic characters of the picture like Character, age, sex, mood, their past, present, and future. A candidate is required to weave a positive story with a message in it, which involves all the characters from the picture. The President, GTO, and Psychologist are also present during this test.

On the basis of marks obtained in the Screening Test, the candidates are declared qualified and unqualified. Those who fail the test on day 1, return their homes while the rest stays for another four days.

Day 2 Psychological Test

Every person is different and each one has a different psychology which is reflected in the way they react to a situation or problems. Psychological Tests aim to bring out the real personality traits of a candidate, to understand his character, attitude, habits, distinct identity, etc. These tests are conducted by a psychologist. It involves four tests-

Thematic Apperception Test- The test involves a projection of 12 hazy pictures on the screen and the candidates are supposed to write stories based on them. The answer to TAT differs from candidate to candidate. The psychologist forms his opinion based on these answers.

Word Association Test- This is another test with projection technique where 60 words are displayed on screen and candidates are required to write the first thing that comes to their mind. It helps the psychologist to understand the personality traits of the candidate and judge whether he possesses the Office like Qualities or not.

Situation Reaction Test- This is another test that follows WAT. In this test a candidate is provided a question paper and answer sheet with 2-3 lines for each answer. The paper contains various situations which a person faces in normal life. The candidates are supposed to write their reaction to the situations. They must be logical and must show a positive attitude.

Self- Appraisal Test or Self Description Test- It is the last test in a Psychological test series which lasts for 15 minutes. It involves writing about yourself from your point of view and other’s point of view such as your friends and family.

Day 3 &4- Group Tasks

The two days are dedicated to various group tasks and individual tasks with an aim to assess your physical fitness, leadership qualities, team work, etc. The tasks are conducted both indoors and outdoors. It contains a total of nine specific tasks-

• Group Discussion- Indoor Group Task
• Group Planning Exercise or Military Planning Exercise- Indoor Group Task
• Progressive Group Task- Outdoor Group Task
• Group Obstacle Race or Snake Race- Outdoor Group Task
• Half Group Task- Outdoor Group Task
• Individual Obstacles- Outdoor Individual Task
• Command Task- Outdoor Individual Command Task
• Individual Lecturette- Indoor Individual Task
• Final Group Task- Outdoor Group Task

The personal Interview of some candidates starts on Day 3 and Day 4.

Day 5- Interview and Conference

The Personal Interview round is very crucial as it is a face-to-face examination to make a final impression if the candidate is suitable to join the Armed Forces. The candidates are asked certain questions; their body language, their confidence, their attitude, their mindset, and whether they possess Officer-like Qualities are assessed in this Interview by the President or Vice-President.

The results are declared on the same day and those who pass it are sent for medical examination. Rests go back to their homes. SSB is an examination that judges a candidate’s personality trait and the qualities of an officer. The SSB board also believes that a candidate can develop these qualities over time. Thus, candidates are allowed to appear again in the SSB exam even if they have failed it in the past.