CDS (Combined Defence Services) Exam Intelligence and Personality Test (SSB Interview) Syllabus

Intelligence and Personality Test (SSB Interview) syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Intelligence and Personality Test (SSB Interview) in CDS (Combined Defence Services) Exam, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Stage I - Officer Intelligence Rating and Screening

   3 topics

   • Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) Test
     • Verbal reasoning
     • Non-verbal reasoning
   • Picture Perception and Description Test (PPDT)
     • Story writing from a hazy picture
     • Narration and group discussion
   • Screening Outcome
     • Selection for Stage II
2. 2

   Psychological Tests

   4 topics

   • Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)
     • Story construction on shown pictures
   • Word Association Test (WAT)
     • Spontaneous sentence response to words
   • Situation Reaction Test (SRT)
     • Responses to everyday situations
   • Self Description Test (SD)
     • Perception of self by parents, friends and teachers
3. 3

   Group Testing Tasks (GTO)

   4 topics

   • Group Discussion and Group Planning Exercise
     • Discussion on topics and case studies
     • Military planning exercise
   • Outdoor Group Tasks
     • Progressive Group Task (PGT)
     • Half Group Task and Command Task
     • Group Obstacle Race (Snake Race)
   • Individual Obstacles and Lecturette
     • Individual obstacles course
     • Lecturette on chosen topic
   • Final Group Task
     • Concluding cooperative task
4. 4

   Personal Interview and Conference

   3 topics

   • Personal Interview
     • PIQ-based questioning
     • Current affairs and personal background
   • Officer Like Qualities (OLQ) Assessment
     • Fifteen OLQs framework
   • Board Conference and Final Result
     • Closing board conference

Intelligence and Personality Test (SSB Interview) flashcards for CDS (Combined Defence Services) Exam

21 of 51 cards from the Intelligence and Personality Test (SSB Interview) deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is the full form of OIR in the context of the SSB Stage I screening?

   Officer Intelligence Rating Test, which measures verbal and non-verbal reasoning ability of the candidate.

2. What two components together make up Stage I (Screening) of the SSB interview?

   The Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) Test and the Picture Perception and Description Test (PPDT).

3. What are the two broad categories of questions in the OIR Test?

   Verbal reasoning and Non-verbal reasoning questions.

4. What is the full form of PPDT?

   Picture Perception and Description Test.

5. For how many seconds is the picture shown to candidates in the PPDT?

   30 seconds.

6. After the 30-second picture viewing in PPDT, how much time is given to write the story?

   4 minutes (approximately) to write the story based on the picture.

7. What three characters' details must a candidate note while observing the PPDT picture?

   The number of characters, their age, sex (gender), and mood, plus the action taking place.

8. In PPDT, what is the central figure usually called whose actions the story revolves around?

   The hero (main/central character) around whose positive action the story is built.

9. What are the two phases of the PPDT after writing the individual story?

   Individual narration of one's own story, followed by the group discussion to arrive at a common story.

10. What is assessed during the PPDT group discussion phase?

    Communication, social adaptability, cooperation, leadership and ability to influence others toward a common consensus story.

11. What is the outcome of the Screening (Stage I) test for a candidate?

    Candidates are either screened in (recommended to continue to Stage II) or screened out (sent home) the same day.

12. How are screened-in candidates identified and what do they receive after screening?

    They are given chest numbers and continue to Stage II testing; screened-out candidates leave the same day.

13. How many stages does the complete SSB interview consist of and over how many days?

    Two stages conducted over roughly five days: Stage I (Screening) on Day 1 and Stage II (Psychology, GTO, Interview) over the following days.

14. What is the full form of TAT?

    Thematic Apperception Test.

15. How many pictures are shown in the TAT and what is special about the last one?

    12 pictures are shown; the 12th is a blank (white) slide on which the candidate writes a story of their own imagination.

16. For how long is each TAT picture displayed and how much time is given to write each story?

    Each picture is shown for 30 seconds, followed by 4 minutes to write the story.

17. What is the TAT designed to reveal about a candidate?

    The candidate's subconscious personality, attitudes, motivations and dominant traits projected through the stories.

18. What is the full form of WAT?

    Word Association Test.

19. How many words are shown in the WAT and for how long is each displayed?

    60 words are shown, each for 15 seconds, during which the candidate writes the first thought/sentence it evokes.

20. What does the WAT assess about a candidate?

    The candidate's spontaneous thinking, attitude and personality traits revealed through immediate associations with each word.

21. What is the full form of SRT?

    Situation Reaction Test.

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