Service Selection Board (SSB) and Special Selection Tests

After the UPSC written examination for NDA and CDSE or after the scrutiny and short listing of applicants by the respective headquarters all candidates are put through relevant tests before being sent for medical examination. What are these tests? Here is a description of the selection procedure of the Service Selection Board (SSB).

Personality tests - These tests are as follows :Situation Reaction Test (SRT) - Sixty situations (familiar/unfamiliar) are given and the candidate is required to give reactions on an answer book in 30 minutes.Word Association Test (WAT) - Sixty words are projected and the candidate is required to make a sentence, in 15 seconds for each word.

Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) - A set of 12 pictures are shown (each for 30 secs) and the candidate is required to write a story in 3 minute for each picture.

Group tests - Group Test is conducted on batches of 8-10 candidates. The test comprises of indoor and outdoor activities e.g. group planning, group discussion and lectures.

Interview - This is to test the personality of the candidate. This includes general awareness. Finally the selection board interviews the candidate.

Special Selection Tests

Pilot aptitude test

Pilots have to undergo a pilot aptitude test which includes Instrument battery tests - This test requires annotation of the correct answers in an answer sheet for each problem which is given in a booklet. Those qualifying in this test have to take the machine test comprising of control velocity and SMA.

Intelligence test

Pilot, Engineers and other ground duty applicants also go through the officers intelligence rating test. This test is designed to find out the basic intelligence level of the candidates. Only those who achieve a minimum acceptable level and grade are required to undergo the Personality Test which is common to all candidates.

Engineering knowledge test

Engineers take the engineering knowledge Test which is a test of basic knowledge in various fields of Engineering. This test has to be cleared before taking the personality test.

Selection procedure for Paramilitary Services

Selection Test for the Paramilitary Services

Both male and female candidates are eligible for appointment to CRPF. However, only male candidates are eligible for appointment to BSF, ITBP.

For training as Sub officers, entry to National Fire Service College, Nagpur the eligibility is 18-23 years and the applicant should have passed Class XII. The test is of the objective type.

Assistant Commandant’s Selection

Graduates (age 20-25 yrs on 1st Aug of the year of application) are eligible to take the written exam which is a selection test for recruiting cadets. The entrants also go through a physical efficiency test (PET). Those who qualify face an interview board and take the medical test.

Selected candidates undergo rigorous training before taking charge. Technical graduates too go through the PET and medical examination.

Age : 20-25 yrs

The written paper has two parts - Paper I of 250 marks is a test of general awareness, basic intelligence and reasoning and numerical ability. Paper II of 150 marks is an assessment of ability to read and understand serious discursive prose and also the ability to express the ideas clearly and correctly. This comprises essay (in Hindi or English), precis writing and comprehension of a given passage, (in English only).

Physical efficiency test - This is a test to ensure physical fitness. It comprises of 100 meters (16 sec men, 18 sec girls), 800 meters races (3 min men, 4 min. girls), long jump 3.5 meters men, 3 meters girls, high jump 1.05 meters men and 0.9 meters girls and shot-put for men only (4.50 meters, 7.26 Kgs). Three chances are given for long and high jump.

Interview - Beginning with questions pertaining to the bio data, the interviewers move on to hobbies, subjects of study, general awareness and general intelligence. The candidate’s psyche, aptitude, mannerisms and etiquette along with the dedication to the cause of the nation are also assessed by the Board. Preference in selection is given to outstanding sports men & NCC cadets who have outstanding record.

Physical Standard - Height 165 cms. for men & 157 cms. for women, Chest 81 cms. with 5 cms minimum expansion, weight 50 kg. for men & 46 kg. for women.

Physical/mental health should be good. Knock knees, flat foot and squint in eyes are not permitted. Perfect colour vision/corrected vision J-I/J-II permitted/corrected distant vision 6/6 (Better eye) and 6/12 (worse eye) or 6/9 and 6/9.

Pay & benefits - Pay Rs. 8000-275-13500 plus other benefits like DA, House Rent allowances, City compensatory allowance.(revised as per the latest pay commission report)

Central Police Organisations (Sub-Inspectors) Selection

Age limits : 18 to 25 years.

Upper age limit : relax-able 3-5 yrs.

SC/ST, OBC category, Age concession for Ex-Servicemen and departmental candidates

Educational Eligibility - Degree of a recognized University or equivalent.

Desirable Qualification - NCC ‘B’ or ‘C’ certificate or outstanding sports or athletic certificate (For BSF, NCC ‘B’ certificate only is acceptable)

Scheme of Examination - The examination consists, of two parts, written examination, carrying 500 marks, and Personality Test (Interview) - 100 marks

Paper No. Subject Maximum Marks Duration

Paper I is objective-cum-multiple-choice type as detailed below

Paper I General Test

(a) General Intelligence and Reasoning (50 Q.) 400 2 hours

(b) General Awareness (75 question)

(c) Numerical Ability (75 question)

Paper II English Language

(a) Language Comprehension 100 1 hours

(b) Communication Writing Skill

(a) General Intelligence and Reasoning is a test of verbal and non-verbal type and includes questions on analogies, similarities and differences, space visualization, problem solving, analysis, judgment, decision making, visual memory, discriminating observation, relationship concepts, arithmetical reasoning, verbal and figure classification, arithmetical number series, non-verbal series, etc. The test also includes questions designed to test the ability to deal with abstract ideas and symbols and their relationship, arithmetical computation and other analytical functions.

(b) General Awareness is aimed at testing the candidates general awareness of the environment around him and its application to society. Questions on current events and matters of every day observations and experience and questions relating to India and its neighboring countries especially pertaining to history, culture, geography, economics, general polity and scientific research are asked.

(c) Numerical Ability has computation of whole numbers, decimals and fractions and relationships between, numbers, order among numbers, ability to translate from one name to another, sense or order magnitude, estimation or prediction of the outcome of computation, selection of an appropriate operation for the solution to real life problems and knowledge of alternative computation procedures to find answers.

Paper – II:

English Language tests the candidate’s understanding and working knowledge of English Language, their Comprehension and their ability at communication skill. There are questions on précis writing, letter writing, paragraph of report writing etc.

Personality Test (Interview)

Physical Standards : Males

(a) Height : 170 cms, 165 cms

For candidates belonging to Hill areas of Garhwal, Kumaon, Himachal Pradesh, Gorkhas, Dogras, Marathas, Sikkimies, Leh & Ladakh, Kashmir Valley and North Eastern States. For Tribals/Adivasis including Mizos and Nagas 162.5 Cms.

Height 155-157 Cms,

Gorkhas, Dogras, Marathas, Sikkimies, Leh & Ladakh, Kashmir Valley and North Eastern States - 154 cms

Constables

This is a Group 'C' service.

Eligibility- Matriculation

Age-18-23 years. For selection of constables the written test has a question paper which is set to assess the general knowledge, elementary mathematics, ability to observe and distinguish patterns. This is followed by the Physical Efficiency Test, medical examination and interview.

Addresses for reference

Deputy Director (Pers) Central Reserve Police Force Directorate General

BSF HQ, Block No.10 CGO Complex, Lodhi Road Indo-Tibetan Border Police

CGO Complex, Lodhi Road New Delhi - 110 003 Block-2, (MHA) CGO Complex,

New Delhi - 110 003 Lodhi Road New Delhi - 110 003

Which Engineering Department - A Guide to Selection

The problem - You are considering studying engineering in the United Kingdom. You contact the British Council or your careers advisor and you are confronted with the UCAS directory listing dozens of universities offering the same or similar engineering courses. How do you choose?

Everybody "knows" the "good" universities for engineering - or do they?

The reputation of many universities has been based upon their research output. This is quantified by the Government through the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). This is useful if you require a research post, but it is NOT a measure of a university’s ability to deliver an effective and high quality undergraduate degree programme.

Fortunately, there now exists an objective measure of how "good" each University actually is in terms of its undergraduate programme as opposed to its research programme. It is this measure which will enable you to make a sensible and informed choice.

The Solution - The British Government, through the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAAHE), is providing an objective measure of the quality of each university’s undergraduate engineering provision. This measure can be used to help you select "Which Engineering Department" to study at. It is a particularly valuable measure because from 1998/9 onwards, you and/or your parents will have to contribute financially towards your course. Clearly, you will be demanding value for money and good job prospects to enable rapid repayment of loans and the best possible career progression.

The QAAHE assessment of the quality of education, grades and reports on 6 areas of undergraduate provision. Each of the areas is graded between 4 (the highest) and 1 (the lowest), which gives a maximum possible overall score of 24. Before making any decisions you should contact the university department of interest and request either a verbal report on its grades, or request a copy of the QAAHE Report. If the department has not yet been assessed then you should ask the university questions related to each of the 6 areas and draw your own conclusions. Each of the 6 areas, together with some of the features you should expect from a good engineering department, are considered below.

Area 1 - Curriculum Design, Content, Evaluation

A good department should offer a range of undergraduate degrees which offer cater for a range of entry qualifications, allowing students to maximise their potential, providing support in areas of weakness and challenge in areas of strength. Courses should be practical and industrially based to satisfy both national and industrial needs. Routes to both chartered and incorporated engineer status should be available.

Additionally, courses should focus on integrated activities, for example, students on automotive courses should design, build and race cars, while students on aerospace courses should design and build aircraft and satellites, etc.

Students should work both individually and in groups on industrially-based design projects such as the Thrust Project and one year industrial training programmes should be strong feature of the department.

Area 2 - Teaching Learning and Assessment

The standard of teaching should be good and appropriate for students of varying abilities. The delivery should be responsive to areas of the curriculum which the students find difficult and the teaching should impart the transferable skills so sought after in industry.

Area 3 - Student Progression and Achievement

A good department should offer a comprehensive portfolio of courses which ensures that students leave with an appropriate qualification. If one course proves to be unsuitable then an alternative can be offered.

The ultimate measure of a department’s undergraduate programme must be the level of appropriate employment of its graduates: a good department should be able to demonstrate good links with industry, high levels of relevant employment and good career progression.

Area 4 - Student Support and Guidance

A caring attitude should be demonstrated with a good tutorial system and student services provision. Facilities to cater for special needs and disability should be available as well as support for students on industrial training. An established tradition and experience of dealing successfully with overseas students should be clearly demonstrated.

Area 5 - Learning Resources

There should be modern, spacious and well equipped accommodation, including lecture theatres, laboratories, equipment, library etc.

Staff should be well qualified, both academically and as teachers, with substantial industrial experience. They should be actively engaged with industrial projects.

Area 6 - Quality Assurance and Enhancement

Good quality assurance procedures should be well established. Course monitoring and development procedures should be clearly defined with student input.

In a recent QAAHE inspection, Kingston University’s School of Mechanical Aeronautical and Production Engineering was awarded the maximum score of 24 out of 24 for the quality of its provision. University departments offering provision of this quality make an excellent choice and offer extremely good value for money, maximising your chances of success and a good career in engineering.