Day -1(SSB)

What happens in first day of SSB Interview

Day 1 - Screening Test 

Screening test is a stage-I testing procedure which decides the stay of number of candidates for stage II testing in SSB center.

It consists of OIR* test prepared by DIPR* which consists of two sets of verbal & non verbal reasoning questions with about 25-30 minutes duration of each. 

After this, comes PPDT* - a test which consists of a partially blur picture shown on a screen through a digital projector for 30 seconds and within this time, every candidate has to note down the characters, age ,gender and mood in given A-4 sheet and next 4 minutes are given for writing a story related to it or describing the picture such as what led to the situation?, what is currently going on? and what will be the final outcome?

As the timer stops, invigilators start  collecting sheets and everyone is supposed to put their pen down.After a short break each group is made to sit in semi-circle in a hall for individual story narration, group discussion, concluding to a common story. This testing is assessed by a Psychologist, Interviewing officer and Ground-Testing officer.

# Did I get Screen In?   

On 17th August evening, we interacted with some of the candidates, as till then we were not divided into groups, and became good friends with Utsav and Archie later went to cafeteria for snacks, there we came to know more about each other.

After snacks, we went to our beds for a short nap. In evening, we went to play volleyball, some of them played indoor games as well while others started clicking photos to capture these moments. That night everyone was tired because of tight schedule so lights were out at 2100 hours.

Next morning all candidates woke up at 0430 hours took bath,dressed smartly in formal attire and went for breakfast at 0630 hours.The food mess was full of candidates wearing different chest number indicating SSB board.

Then after we all reported at Captain MANOJ PANDEY (PVC)* building at 0730 hours for OIR test, the questions were very easy, it went pretty well. I attempted all questions as no negative marking scheme was there, after a short 2 minute break the PPDT test started, a picture showing 1 male and 2 females eating meal was shown on screen.

I wrote down characters' details, age and mood and assigned title to it. My story was based on how a boy suggest and help her mother and other ladies to start tiffin food service for paying guests in the local area, with the help of his friends. Most of us were able to complete our story within 4 minutes.

After testing got over, everyone had started discussing with each other about story and how to avoid fish-market in Group Discussion. After this all 50 candidates were divided into groups of 10 each. My chest number was 6. 

My individual story narration went pretty well and I also actively participated in group discussion but unfortunately our group failed to arrive at a common story, after this finished ,we were told to go in waiting area till rest of the groups finish the test. All the candidates were now called in hall for results, heartbeats were fast.

After a 30 minutes wait, a Colonel ranked officer arrived with a list of chest number of screened-in candidates. Now he started calling the chest number-Utsav was called, Archie then Tanuj and finally my chest number was called out ,I confidently went to podium and joined the line of selected candidates.

screened in candidates

Total 36 out of 50 candidates got screened in and rest of them were made to leave the SSB center quickly with their luggage. Colonel congratulated all of us, we were allotted new chest number mine was 20.

We were very happy, but have to fill PIQ* forms and re-verify our 10+2 educational documents which almost took 2 hours. Finally we got time to inform our parents about screening test results thereafter we went for lunch at 1300 hours.

Abbreviations

*DIPR- Defence Institute of Psychological Research- By DRDO.

*OIR- Officers Intelligence Rating.

*PPDT- Picture Perception & Description Test.

*PVC - Param Vir Chakra.

*PIQ- Personal Information Questionnaire.