The NDA/NA examination is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The NDA Exam is typically held twice a year in the months of April and September. This exam is designed for individuals who seek to join the National Defence Academy (NDA) and the Indian Naval Academy. The NDA Exam Pattern 2023 comprises a written test followed by an SSB Interview. This article particularly focuses on the SSB Interview Process for NDA Exam 2023.
The written test consists of two papers: Mathematics and General Aptitude Test (GAT). Both papers are conducted on the same day in two separate sessions. The NDA written examination carries a total of 900 marks. The Mathematics paper holds a weightage of 300 marks, focusing on mathematical concepts at the Class 12 level. On the other hand, the NDA GAT paper carries 600 marks and covers subjects such as English, General Science, and General Knowledge. Candidates are also advised to check out the latest NDA Syllabus 2023 and accordingly prepare for the exam.
Candidates who clear the NDA written examination become eligible to participate in the NDA SSB interview process. The SSB interview process is divided into two stages: Stage I and Stage II. SSB Interview Stage I consists of Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests. While SSB Interview Stage II incorporates various components such as Interviews, Group Testing Officer Tasks, Psychology Tests, and a Conference.
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NDA 2023 SSB Interview Process Explained
The SSB Interview process is divided into two stages: stage I and stage II. Only the candidates who clear stage I will be eligible to appear for stage II.
NDA SSB Interview Day I: Screening Test (Stage I)
Upon your arrival at the SSB Interview Centre, the subsequent day will mark the commencement of the Stage I phase, known as the Screening Test. During this stage, participants will undergo the Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) Test, encompassing both Verbal and Non-verbal assessments. Following the OIR test, candidates will proceed to the Picture Perception & Description Test (PP&DT) as part of the assessment process.
NDA SSB Interview Day II: Psychology Test
On Day II, candidates will have to appear for various psychological tests which are listed and explained below:
Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)
The Thematic Apperception Test is often referred to as the Picture Story writing test. During this test, participants are provided with distinct and easily comprehensible images, which they have to observe for a span of 30 seconds. Subsequently, they are required to draft a descriptive narrative within a time limit of four minutes. A total of 12 slides are presented, with 11 being displayed consecutively. The twelfth slide remains vacant, providing candidates with the freedom to construct a storyline of their preference.
Word Association Test (WAT)
As a part of the SSB selection procedure, the Word Association Test (WAT) stands as the second psychological evaluation. Within this test, candidates will be shown a word on the screen for 15 seconds. Within this timeframe, participants are expected to pen down the immediate thought or impression that the word evokes in their minds. This process continues sequentially, with a total of 60 words being exhibited. Each word is followed by a 15-second interval before the next word appears. The vocabulary of the words shown is of everyday usage as the test doesn’t assess the candidate’s mastery of the English language.
Situation Reaction Test (SRT)
Candidates will receive a set of 60 scenarios, presented individually on paper. They will be required to give answers in a subjective format. Candidates will be given 1 hour for this task. This task aims to encourage the candidates to exercise thoughtful consideration before giving the answers.
Self-Description Test (SD)
In the Self Description Test, candidates are required to write about their self-perception from various viewpoints, including those of their parents, teachers, friends, and themselves. Additionally, candidates are expected to elaborate on their future aspirations and areas they wish to improve within themselves.
NDA SSB Interview Day III & Day IV: Group Testing Officer Test
On Day 3 & Day 4, the Group Testing Officer will conduct the following tests: Group discussion (GD), Group Planning Exercise/Military Planning Exercise (GPE/MPE), Progressive Group Tasks (PGT), Half Group Tasks (HGT), Individual Obstacles (IOT)
Group Obstacles Race/Snake Race, Command Task, Lecturette & Final Group Task (FGT)
NDA SSB Interview Day V: Conference
On the fifth day, the SSB Interview Process culminates with the conference phase. During this final stage, both assessors and candidates meet for an extensive discussion. The objective of this discussion is to assess the candidate’s suitability for admission into the National Defence Academy or the Naval Academy.
Candidates must note that during the SSB interview process, three different assessors will evaluate a candidate’s personality. These include the Interviewing Officer (IO), the Group Testing Officer (GTO), and the Psychologist. There is no specific weightage for each test in the SSB interview process. Assessors will only award marks after considering the candidate’s overall performance across all tests. Furthermore, marks for Conference are assigned on the basis of the candidate’s initial performance in the three approaches and the Board’s judgment. All of these are weighted equally.
