Day1: Screening

Details about Screening

The SSB is marked by screening where everyone who qualify and get the call letter is tested . In Screening round the following things are conducted:

• Aptitude test also known as OIR
• PPDT (Picture Perception and Discussion Test)

Those who qualify day one are requested to stay for four/five more days and they would only undergo the remaining process of SSB. Rest are requested to leave immediately. The aspirant selected at this juncture are called Screened in candidates. Please remember that the major elimination happens at this day itself and it is believed that the remaining lot which stays have some basic qualities and will to become the officer.

Now my readers would be wondering that what all is looked in screening test and what are the essential requirements to qualify this first day. Accepted that first day is the most essential for everyone as each of us would like to stay in the whole process to see what is the magic of that place. Believe me its really magical and things happen like anything there. You will be given full opportunity to  revisit your life and tell about yourself. You will be only concerned of yourself and the group. Things take place collectively, You are not there to win the battle of SSB all alone but you are there to tale actions collectively. Selected or not on final day but five day stay at SSB gives a full learning experience and a lot of knowledge about oneself. So its urged to all to prepare well and go to that place. Dont believe in myths that are there in the surroundings. Now lets discuss what happens at Day 1.

Reporting at the SSB Center on Day 1

The eligible candidates are issued a call letter and they are given a designated center and a date on which they need to report to the center as per the instructions given in the call letter. They need to report to the station MCO where they are received in the defense vehicle. The officer treatment actually starts from the station itself. Once the group reaches the center they need to give attendance and keep their luggage at the designated portion. After this the actual process starts. In some cases for few entries the basic document verification happens and then the process starts.

Written Aptitude test or OIR

Round 1 is of OIR which stands for Officers intelligence rating and this consists of the following:

• conducted in two shifts where each shift will consist of a booklet having 50 questions that needs to be solved in 30 minutes.
• Consists of basic questions of reasoning, aptitude, basic English language, quantitative ability, logical resoning, pattern based,etc. A sample question can be seen in the picture below.

Sample question for OIR

Click here to read: Importance of OIR in screening

Also read: Syllabus of OIR at SSB

Believe me the questions asked in OIR test are really very basic and need no special preparation. They are just to check your basic intelligence level and are easy to solve. So the preparation is needed all-together for the next round that happens at screening .

Picture Perception and Discussion test (PPDT)

This round consists of story writing and GD after that on the same. the process is as follows:

• A picture is shown which is usually hazy to bring out the real perception of the person . 
• The picture is shown for 30 seconds only in which it is expected out of the aspirant to analyse few details of the picture and prepare the mindset as to what he or she intends to write.
• Then four minutes are given to write the story based on the picture along with the following in the answer sheet provided:

            1) Create the replica of the picture in the box given in the sheet.

           2) Mark all the characters in the box and write their age, gender and mood as perceived by the candidate.

            3) Action for the given story that the candidate is about to write.

            4) A complete story. 

PPDT Sample picture

How to write the story can be seen in details with tips and tricks on the blog. The story should have a hero who will be the main character of the story and there should be an appropriate action. there are few basic things that are expected in the story, so aspirants should ensure that they deliver things accordingly. Please remember that this is not a story writing competition , but its a place where every thing will be psychologically judged, so write appropriately. After this everyone is moved out from the hall and they are divided into small sub groups and every group waits for their turn for the GD.

Group discussion in progress after writing stories

Every group is given basic set of instructions before the process starts and then every member of the group gets a chance to individually narrate their respective stories. The best part of PPDT is that because of the hazy picture stories written by every member can differ and then the GD starts and every group is expected to deliver a common story and they should come to conclusion. What are the expectations from the story and how to perform well in GD will be posted on blog. Please subscribe for email from below , so that you can receive regular updates from the blog.Any query can be posted directly to me through mail or in the comment section.

Click here for Practicing PPDT stories and getting them evaluated
Also read: Sample stories for PPDT and tips and tricks to do well

After conducting these rounds the results for screening are announced and the candidates who are selected need to stay there for 4 more days. The are provided with set of forms known as PIQ form which would be one of the important document that will help in analysis and would be used by the assessors to evaluate the candidates.

Click here to read: How to fill PIQ form and its importance

Screening is a special place where the aspirants need to reveal the Officer potential to prove that they are worthy for further testing and post this, after getting recommended one needs to get their personality test for 15 OLQ's in the SSB. Prepare easily from your home through Mentorship program. Click here to know more.