UPSC CDS (Combined Defence Services) SSB Interview and Personality Assessment Syllabus

SSB Interview and Personality Assessment syllabus — full chapter and topic list

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

1. 1

   Stage I: Screening Tests

   3 topics

   • Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) Tests
     • Verbal reasoning
     • Non-verbal reasoning
   • Picture Perception and Description Test (PPDT)
   • Group Discussion on the Perceived Story
2. 2

   Stage II: Psychological Tests

   4 topics

   • Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)
   • Word Association Test (WAT)
   • Situation Reaction Test (SRT)
   • Self Description Test (SDT)
3. 3

   Group Testing Officer (GTO) Tasks

   4 topics

   • Group Discussion and Group Planning Exercise
   • Progressive Group Task and Half Group Task
   • Individual Obstacles and Command Task
     • Individual obstacle course
     • Command task leadership
   • Lecturette and Final Group Task
4. 4

   Personal Interview and Conference

   4 topics

   • Personal Interview with Interviewing Officer
   • Officer-Like Qualities (OLQs) Assessment
   • Conference and Final Recommendation
   • Medical Examination and Standards

SSB Interview and Personality Assessment flashcards for UPSC CDS (Combined Defence Services)

19 of 54 cards from the SSB Interview and Personality Assessment deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What are the two stages of the SSB (Services Selection Board) selection procedure?

   Stage I is the Screening Test (OIR Test + PPDT and discussion), conducted on Day 1; Stage II comprises the Psychology Tests, Group Testing Officer (GTO) Tasks, the Personal Interview, and the Conference, spread over the following days.

2. What does OIR stand for, and what does it assess?

   OIR stands for Officer Intelligence Rating Test. It assesses a candidate's verbal and non-verbal reasoning ability through objective questions, giving an indication of general intelligence.

3. In the SSB screening, what are the two components combined to decide whether a candidate is screened in or out?

   The OIR Test (intelligence) and the PPDT (Picture Perception and Description Test) performance are combined; candidates rated high on both are screened in to continue to Stage II.

4. What two broad categories of questions make up the OIR Test?

   Verbal reasoning (analogies, synonyms/antonyms, coding-decoding, blood relations, etc.) and non-verbal reasoning (figure series, mirror images, embedded figures, pattern completion).

5. What does PPDT stand for?

   Picture Perception and Description Test.

6. Describe the standard timing sequence of the PPDT.

   A hazy picture is shown for about 30 seconds, then candidates get about 1 minute to note characters and around 4 minutes to write a story based on the picture.

7. In PPDT, what particulars about the main characters must a candidate note before writing the story?

   The number of characters, and for each the age, sex, and mood (positive/negative/neutral) — recorded in a small box before writing the story.

8. What is the role of the 'hero' (central character) in a PPDT story?

   The hero is the character a candidate identifies with; the story should show the hero taking constructive, goal-directed action, reflecting the candidate's own personality and Officer-Like Qualities.

9. What follows the writing of the PPDT story in Stage I?

   A Group Discussion (Narration and Discussion) where each candidate first narrates their individual story, then the group discusses to arrive at a common story.

10. In the PPDT group discussion, what are the two phases the group goes through?

    First, individual narration where each candidate reads out their own story; second, a free-flowing group discussion to reach a common/consensus story.

11. What does TAT stand for and to which test battery does it belong?

    TAT stands for Thematic Apperception Test; it is part of the Psychology (Psychological) Tests conducted by the psychologist in Stage II.

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

    Eleven (11) pictures are shown in total; the 11th is a blank slide on which the candidate must imagine and write a story of their own choice.

13. What is the standard timing for each picture in the TAT?

    Each picture is shown for about 30 seconds, followed by about 4 minutes to write a story — roughly 4.5 minutes per slide.

14. What is the projective principle on which TAT is based?

    Apperception — that a person projects their own inner needs, motives, feelings and personality onto an ambiguous picture, revealing their true nature through the stories they create.

15. What does WAT stand for and what does it measure?

    WAT stands for Word Association Test; it measures spontaneous thinking and reveals a candidate's attitude and personality through the immediate sentence they form on seeing a word.

16. How many words are shown in the WAT and how long is each shown?

    Sixty (60) words are flashed, each for about 15 seconds, during which the candidate writes the first thought/sentence that comes to mind.

17. What is the recommended approach to writing responses in the WAT?

    Write the first natural thought as a short, positive, action-oriented sentence reflecting your real personality, rather than rigid definitions or rehearsed lines.

18. What does SRT stand for and what does it assess?

    SRT stands for Situation Reaction Test; it assesses a candidate's practical intelligence and spontaneous reactions to everyday and challenging real-life situations.

19. How many situations are given in the SRT and in how much time?

    Sixty (60) situations are given in a booklet, to be answered in about 30 minutes — roughly 30 seconds per situation.

See more SSB Interview and Personality Assessment flashcards →

Planning SSB Interview and Personality Assessment for UPSC CDS (Combined Defence Services)

SSB Interview and Personality Assessment (UPSC CDS (Combined Defence Services)) FAQ