Picture Perception and Discussion Test (PPDT) in SSB is held on the first day and is the second objective of Stage-I tests. PPDT is defined as a screening test which is almost an elimination test of the candidate. It is conducted to assess the imagination power and descriptive ability of a candidate within a specified time limit as prescribed.

Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) is one of the psychological tests conducted on Day 2 of the SSB. It is one of the Stage-II tests; candidates who get screened, are held back for Stage 2 testing. This test is conducted to know about the intellectual, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral aspects of the candidates and test their intelligence, personality, interpersonal relationships, and adaptability skills.

To conclude, these tests are held to understand and assess the characteristic patterns of thoughts, feelings, attitudes, and behavior of a candidate in a given situation and time period. The candidates are shown a picture for 30 seconds (stimuli) and asked to write a story in 4 minutes (response).  Therefore, it’s essential to perform well in these tests. The following tips are effective ways to get screened in, and how to perform well in PPDT as well as how to successfully attempt TAT.

1. Since you know that you will be shown a hazy picture for 30 seconds, you need to mentally prepare yourself for the same observe the picture with full concentration, and patience, and use those 30 seconds wisely, carefully, and effectively without being distracted.

2. Observe at the background and see the setting of the story; it maybe a scene of a garden, a hospital, a playground, a market, etc. and try figuring out the number of characters that have been shown and what purpose are they serving.

3. While creating the hero/heroine (the main character) from the characters you observed in the picture shown, choose the character you identify and are most familiar with.

4. The hero of your story must be empowering and the one around whom the entire story revolves around, i.e. he should be able to overcome and solve some problematic situation or improve its standards.

5. Prepare the jist or outline of the story using three questions, what led to the situation, what is the present condition or what is being depicted, and how to overcome the situation. Do it in a sequential manner and logically keeping the story compact and crisp. Write the story in the past tense without fail.

6. Give an optimistic, encouraging, empowering, and reasonable stance to your story. The ideas you portray or depict give an insight into your social viewpoint and interpretation in the perspective of things and depict your level of harmony with the social upliftment of individuals around you and your attitude towards indicating a possible help to others.

7. Do not unnecessarily depict a problem when it is not shown in the picture. For example, a scene of two people talking happily or a scene of a marketplace, do not show gunfire attacks, bombing, snatching, robbery, etc. If you do so; it represents the pessimistic and negative tendency of your mind.

8. If you do not know or are unsure of the job of the central character, you cannot justify and explain the course of action taken by him. For example, if you do not know the nature of the job of a social worker, do not portray your central character as a social worker. Do not write a fancy or pretentious story depicting an unrealistic life from poverty to riches. It must be authentic, and written in a positive frame of mind, the main character must be an achiever and work for the common good of people and not just be selfish for himself/herself.

9. Always remember to write an outcome or conclusion of the story, the central character should not be depicted as a reward-seeking person or looking for self-appraisal. A simple sense of satisfaction or acknowledgment by others would do enough to end the story. You may not be able to write more than 8-9 lines in a timestamp of 4 minutes. So, give 2 lines for what led to the situation, 4 lines for what is the current condition in the scene that you have perceived, and the remaining 2-3 lines for the outcome of the story.

10. When it comes to the last blank picture in TAT, it is always advised to prepare the story beforehand as a priority because it will be easier for you to write an already drafted story in the allotted time.

11. Work on the handwriting. Writing 12 stories back-to-back is a tiresome task, and completing them too in a time frame of 4 minutes can make your work look clumsy, uneven, and untidy. Writing stories with neat and clean handwriting will give a winning edge. Practice writing stories beforehand as that will open the creativity and imagination of your mind. It will also elevate your speed to write well in time.

12. Stay calm and relaxed maintaining your composure because stressing your mind would stripe off the creativity. Though these tests are pressure-oriented tests you need to focus your energy towards originality and imagination without feeling confused.

Centurion Defence Academy offers a comprehensive 21-day SSB course designed to equip candidates with the essential skills and knowledge to excel in their SSB interviews. This intensive course is crafted to cover every aspect of the selection process, ensuring holistic preparation for all stages of the interview, from the screening test to the final conference.

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