After getting excellent response to our SSB Interview Master article, we are back with SSB Interview Psychology preparation where we master Story Writing (which is considered as the most difficult and misunderstood part of SSB Interview.) Preparation strategy for SSB PPDT, TAT, and WAT will be provided in this article which will definitely add value in your SSB Preparation.

Before beginning with this article, I would like to tell you that this article is in continuation with yesterday’s article on SSB Interview (A to Z preparation of SSB Interview). So, before beginning with this article, have a look at 2 initial articles so that your preparation for SSB Interview can be completely done with Self-Preparation. 

• SSB Interview Procedure and All Basic Terms Explained in Detail: Click Here
• SSB Interview A to Z Preparation (Imp): Click Here

Let us see some basic concepts related to SSB Interview which will be necessary to understand today’s article.

Full form of PPDT  “Picture Perception and Discussion Test”. In this SSB test, you will be shown a picture on screen (which will be Vague & confusing) for just 30 seconds, and later you have to think a story based on this characters and situation shown in the image and write story in 3 minutes. Later you will be divided in group of 17-18 members where each member should narrate his individual story followed which will be followed by group discussion among these 17-18 group members.

Full form of TAT is “Thematic Apperception Test” in which you will be shown 11 pictures on screen (Last one will be blank) and you need to write a story on each shown picture in limited time. You will be shown 1st picture for just 30 seconds, then you will get 4 minutes time to write a story. Same process will be followed for 11 slides / Pictures.

Full form of WAT is “Word Association Test”. This is also a challenging test where you will be shown 60 back to back words, in which each word will remain on the screen for only 15 seconds. You are supposed to write a sentence that comes in your mind first. Generally double meaning words are chosen to get the real person out of aspirant. Our original thinking and psychology is reflected through the answers we give in this test. (Because we write first thing that strikes to our mind in those 15 seconds)

Suppose there is a picture where a girl is crying and is depressed, then why do you assume that is you? You can bring the main character from outside and help that girl to come out of her problems! Getting a character outside in these situations is important because you shouldn’t associate yourself with depression. Suppose in a story there is a person lying on road and has met an accident, so obviously, you are not the person who has met an accident and waiting for help.

Rather you are the hero and will save him! So, you can imagine yourself in these negative pictures to come out of the picture and help. Like suppose only graveyard is shown, then you don’t assume yourself to be a dead person. Rather raise the problem say related to graveyard’s space etc. DON’T FALL IN THE TRAP TO CONSIDER YOURSELF AS THE NEGATIVE CHARACTER.

For e.g., if two thieves with a gun in hand are opening up a lock, then you aren’t the thiefs! But someone who will catch hold of them! Coming out from the negative picture shows your mind’s capability! So, solve the depressed girl’s issues, but don’t be that depressed girl!

Choosing Character:

Many candidates write that “RAHUL WAS A POOR VILLAGER OR DIDN’T HAVE GOOD FINANCIAL POSITION AND SOLD HIS HOUSE AS MORTGAGE TO PAY FOR OPENING A CYCLE REPAIR SHOP”. THIS SHOWS THE LACK OF CONFIDENCE THAT YOU HAVE IN YOU (THROUGH THE WORDS IN BOLD). Why cannot he be a SARPANCH? AN IIM GRADUATE?  THINK OVER IT!

Also, suppose a person in uniform is shown, but a person who makes this character a “Havildar” or “Sepoy” and NOT AN OFFICER, has a very low confidence because his mind still feels comfortable to be at a low position and for him being an OFFICER seems unachievable (even in a story). So, Choose your character something good financially, morally, socially. YOU CHOOSE WHAT YOUR ATTITUDE CHOOSES!

Don’t Break the Circuit:

Suppose someone copies the WAT like “stranger is a friend” without actually feeling it from inside that in reality a stranger is your friend, then, you are bound to write a story which will involve “trust deficit” with other characters or in SRT you will write (if the SRT is (say) HE was in Nagaland and he saw Nagas approaching. He?) “He ran away from them”. Now, you didn’t write “he greeted them with smile and noticed their attires and made friends” because from inside you somewhere feel that strangers are danger! THIS IS CALLED BREAKING THE CIRCUIT – WHEN YOU LIGHT UP SAY WAT, BUT PUT OFF THE STORY AND SRT OR COPY THE STORY, BUT IN WAT AND SRT YOU DON’T SHOW COHERENCE. Thus, to lighten up your psychology tests, these THREE (STORY, WAT AND SRT) must be in coherence.

If the character is a good planner, then automatically in WAT and SRT planning will be shown and of the same quality. Otherwise, the psychologist will doubt your real intention and is bound to catch you. Even a single loop hole creates doubt in mind of psychologist. Thus, the best way is to develop a personality which has OLQs in it. Think that you are a good planner, read stories of people who planned out, plan your own activities at home. Make new friends. You will see, that your mind, body and soul improving day by day.

“WHAT YOU THINK, YOU BECOME”- BUDDHA

1. FEW PEOPLE SITTING AROUND A TABLE AND DISCUSSING 

Rahul was the CEO of his company named BISCUIT, which dealt mainly in cookies and other bakery items. He noticed well in advance that Diwali festival was coming near and he had to raise the supply of his products and also do product diversification. Thus, he decided to hold a meeting with his board members. He made a presentation ascertaining the amount of cookies to be produced and also gave an idea to collaborate with Lays and make a package in which many items were to be boxed and packed for the season. For this, he made  teams of three members each. Team A looked after production and packaging, Team B looked after sales and Team C looked to contact Lays company.  He looked after all the team and solved their issues. He also, with his last year’s savings bought new machine for production. He then invented some new flavours of biscuits and gave free samples to workers to give to their children and get feedback. He and his team mates convinced lays to collaborate. He contacted wholesalers of whole India and abroad and told them to get in touch with his team mates and gave them assurance of high profits. His Profits surged, sales expanded and he delivered more than demand, so some he gave to the workers along with diwali bonus and some for further sales in godown.             

2. Village Scene

Rahul was an engineer in BHEL. To meet his relatives after many years, he went to his village. While he was discussing family matters with them, suddenly electricity went and on asking, he was told that electricity came only for few hours. So, Rahul decided to provide his village 24×7 hours electricity. He held a small meeting with sarpanch and other villagers and told about his idea to which they all agreed .He first ascertained the main dark spots of his village and the number of households on which the solar panels had to be installed. He took out his phone, searched for good solar panels and contacted the distributer and also convinced him to provide it in minimum profit and as soon as possible. He then received all the panels and with help of villagers installed them especially in washroom and kitchen first. He also told sarpanch to get them repaired and maintained whenever required. He after spending some more days with relatives and new friends, went back and joined work.

3. BOY DROWNING

Rahul was doing genetic engineering course from DU and as a research project went with his classmates into the Yamuna river to collect genes of various organisms so to study them and decode the genes and publish  papers. As he approached the floodplains, he heard a loud noise of help. He quickly got to know that person was drowning and planned to save him. For this, he jumped into the river signaling his friends about the plan. He went upstream by swimming, caught hold the boy, took him onto his back, got him to the plains. He removed water from his body and asked where the boy lived and took him to his house and explained situations to his parents and also suggested boy to learn swimming. He came back with friends and collected samples and published paper.

Given below are some sample “WORD ASSOCIATION TEST (WAT)” which will give you a rough idea on how you should write sentences (please do not copy, just take idea from it)

1. Mark – Common sense is mark of wisdom
2. Confuse- Clear vision removes confusion
3. Risk- Greater risks give greater rewards
4. Conflict- Conflict is solved through conversations
5. Indicate- A good suggestion indicates improvement
6. Reach- Proper planning helps reaching goals
7. Raise- Consciousness is raised by reading and discussing
8. Support- support is interlinked
9. Weak- working on oneself eradicates weakness
10. Patient- Patience shows discipline
11. Disease- Proper diagnoses vanishes disease
12. Around- solutions are always around us
13. Decrease- thinking ahead decreases pains of today
14. Mistakes- Learning from mistakes helps us improve
15. Down- humility is being down to earth
16. Dull- healthy conversations never allow dullness
17. Depend- Country’s future depend on ignited minds
18. Fall- Rising after falling is strength
19. Exaggerate- exaggerate shows less confidence
20. Express- expressing feelings deepens friendship
21. Fear- fear is removed by will
22. Trust- trust is social capital
23. Rest- determination to complete seeks no rest
24. Fat- running burns extra fat
25. Defend- defending country gives pride
26. Creative- Creative mind searches new things
27. Obey- Obeying boss builds relationship
28. Responsible –Responsibility is for every step
29. Crisis- Keeping clam helps in crisis situation
30. Disagree- Disagreement often improves
31. Darling- country is darling to its citizens
32. Refrain- Caution refrains from mistakes
33. Noise- Noise is indication of situation
34. Rescue- rescue work is humanitarian
35. Pardon- Pardoning people shows great heart
36. Lead- leading others benefits all
37. Relation- Relations grow stronger by trust
38. Confess- Confessing mistakes is honesty
39. Customs- customs are colourful
40. Fast- Fasting keeps body and mind healthy
41. Loyal – loyalty strengthens longevity
42. Worship- worshiping nature is worshiping oneself
43. Dear- dear things are shared with friends
44. Need- donating helps need
45. Judge- listening other’s first is foundation of judgement
46. Warm – feeling one with others gives warmth
47. Alert- being alert avoids carelessness
48. Decline- Proper strategy improves declining profits
49. Leader- Leader shows by examples
50. Dark- light removes darkness
51. Nation – Whole nation is one’s home
52. India- India is known for hues.
53. Politics- Electoral reforms invite clean politics
54. Parliament – Healthy Parliamentary discussions are fruitful
55. Human- Humans cannot live without society
56. Right- Rights added by duties makes a good citizen
57. Special – Everyone is special
58. Pick – Intelligence picks concepts quickly
59. Numbers- Numbers are magical
60. Hurt- Confessing does away with hurt feelings
61. Matters- Every being matters when it comes to nation building
62. Heavy- Heaviness is relative
63. Foreign- visiting foreign countries makes us learn so much
64. Member- Members are one team
65. Review: Reviewing tasks done improvises
66. Society- In society everyone is intertwined
67. Use- using biodegradable items ensures healthy future
68. Water- Conserving water is need of the hour
69. Grow- Learning each day brings growth
70. Manage- Planning properly manages everything
71. Risk- Taking risks bring rewards
72. Fail- failure is a good teacher
73. Culprit- Justice is reformation to culprits
74. Crooks- being crook Is childish
75. Night- Night is regaining strength for tomorrow’s work
76. Aloof- Friendship never keeps anyone aloof
77. Injury- Small injury in big matches doesn’t matter
78. Discipline- Discipline of mind is greater than of body.
79. Lure- Good vibes lures people
80. Power – Using power judiciously can do miracles
81. Temper- Cool temper is always liked
82. Emotion- Emotional intelligence overpowers emotions’ handling
83. Find- What we seek, we find.
84. Constitution- Constitution runs the country
85. Oath- Taking oath is building promises
86. Army- Army is unity
87. Test- Accepting people as they are requires no test
88. Weekends- Weekends are utilized for constructive works
89. Diagnose- Before execution, diagnoses is important
90. Important- Important tasks are given priority
91. Depress- Yoga removes depression
92. Low- lively nature ensures no low
93. Head- Project head keeps things in vigil
94. Permission- Permission is given when asked for
95. Vote- Every vote counts
96. Soldier- Soldier is every ready
97. Blood- Donating blood gives satisfaction
98. Aim- Aiming high increases will power
99. Death- Good life led ensures good death
100. SEE- Seeing through problem sharpens mind
101. Stranger – stranger is a friend
102. Difficult – With team work any difficult can be solved
103. Tired- Tireless effort takes ahead in life
104. Smile- Smile brings enjoyment in work
105. Attack- Sports attack lethargy
106. Give- To give is to human
107. Learn-Learn helps us growing
108. Jump- High jump improves stamina
109. Reject- Accepting rejections is courage
110. Ego- Ego reduces when one looks at nature
111. Emergency- In emergency leaders are born
112. President- President is first under order of precedence
113. Team- Cooperation helps in team work
114. Reform – reformation is becoming new everyday
115. Collect- Information collection brings awareness
116. Under- Under water diving shows a new world
117. Future- Planning for ahead makes future bright
118. Bright- Bright mind is an asset
119. Asset- Every hand is asset in building
120. Cut- Saving for ahead requires cut in present needs
121. Comfort- Out of comfort zone lies growth
122. Sacrifice- Family members sacrifice for each other
123. Encourage- Good work is always encouraged for further improvements
124. Pressure- Pressure is released when thinking of ahead
125. Struggle- Struggle of today is cake walk of tomorrow
126. Guide- One’s intuition guides sometimes
127. Sad- talking to friends removes sadness
128. Bluff- Bluffing is foolish
129. Woman- Woman and men are at par
130. Enjoy- Enjoying each moment keeps one happy for life