There are a lot of questions I am asked around preparation for SSB. Somebody has 15 days to go, someone else would have 30 days, there would be someone who would appear in an SSB one year later or has been there but not recommended 1, 2, 3…n number of times.
There is no templatized answer to above scenarios. There are people who have been recommended with absolutely zero preparation, at the same time there are many who have been preparing for a while without any success. The amount of preparation required actually depends on where you stand currently. Based on that, every individual requires a focused approach.
Unfortunately, it's hard to know exactly where each candidate stands without direct interaction. However, to help as many as possible, here are 5 must-haves—key areas to focus on—for every candidate appearing in an SSB, regardless of entry type or service:
1. Stay Informed
It always leaves a good impression if an aspiring officer is aware of what is happening in India and across the globe. You need not be an expert in current affairs. But you must know in detail about 5-6 most important topics going around in newspapers and news channels. So, start reading any of the national English daily newspaper and start watching English news channel. Make it a habit.
2. Maintain Physical Fitness
Try to keep yourself in good physical shape. Again, you need not be a super athlete. Spend 45 mins daily in playing a sport (football, badminton, tennis, hockey, squash, basketball, volleyball), or go for jogging/swimming. You can also be at the gym or do anything else that helps you achieve this. Make it a daily habit. Dance/Zumba classes are also an option that many female candidates have adopted.
3. Focus on Turnout
Prepare 2-3 pairs of smart formals for yourself along with a matching tie. Nice black formal shoes as well. Be well groomed (smart haircut, no shabby nails, no beards etc.). It should be clear to everyone at the SSB that you have come prepared and you are giving the right respect to the occasion. Specially during the screening test and during the interview, you must look like an officer. Even your turnout for the group testing must be neat and clean.
4. Understand the SSB Process & Practice
Buy an SSB guide, download some SSB apps, read SSB blogs (Quora answers as well) and talk to people who have already been there. Get a hang of what you are going to be put through. It helps in mental conditioning. Practice writing as many stories, as many sentences, reactions etc. Try and do it as per time limits: a story in 4 mins, a sentence in 15 secs and a situation reaction in 30 secs. Apps and SSB guides would help here. Write 2 stories, 15 sentences and 15 reactions everyday. Before going for the SSB, you should have written 30 stories, 200 sentences and 200 reactions at the bare minimum. Remember- They are not looking for script writers or authors. It is just to check your thought process. Keep it simple. Don’t try and flatter people with your vocab. Make small and clear sentences. Handwriting plays an important part. Give proper space between words, proper commas and full stops; it must be clear and easily readable. Handwriting reflects on the clarity you have in terms of thought process. It may not be beautiful, but it has to be neat and clean.
5. Prepare for Basic Interview Questions
Think about answers to these 6 basic questions:
- Why do you want to join Army/Navy/Airforce?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses? What are you doing to improve on your weaknesses?
- What would you do if you are not recommended? Why were you not recommended last time (in case applicable)?
- What is your daily routine? What is your routine on a Sunday/holiday?
- What are your responsibilities towards your family on a daily basis?
- What are your hobbies and interests? How do you get time for them? You must know quite a bit about your hobbies and interests.
One last input: extraordinary academics, extraordinary extra-curriculars, extraordinary English, extraordinary sports achievements, being from RIMC/Military School/Sainik School, or being from a Defence background—any of these is not a guarantee of getting recommended in SSB. If you have such people in your SSB group, respect them but do not get dominated by them. You may be good enough with what you have, and it may be none of the above.
All the best. Hope this helps.