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SSB Interview - Psychological Tests - How to practice Thematic Apperception Test - TAT Guidelines by Hosla Academy

PSYCOLOGICAL TESTING- or the psychometric testing is based on the principles of projective testing. In this, there is a series of tests like THEMATIC APPERCEPTION TEST (TAT), WORD ASSOCIATION TEST (WAT), SITUATION REACTION TEST (SRT), and SELF DESCRIPTION (SD). It is believed that the responses to these tests are an outcome of the candidate's personality traits and thus an estimation of his/her traits can be made by going through the candidate's response to various stimuli.
Personality is defined as, "particular combination of emotional, attitudinal and behavioral response patterns of the individual." From this, it is evident that it has more to do with the internal sate of a person than his external appearance. Thus when a candidate is shown stimuli and asked to respond, his emotional, attitudinal and behavioral patterns emerge very clearly. Since the tests are conducted under the constraints of time, the candidates are unable to mask their response or to give a more desirable response and there lies the strength of this technique. 

THEMATIC APPERCEPTION TEST (TAT)-  In this , 12 pictures are shown one by one and you are supposed to write stories based on these pictures. The first picture will appear for a 30 seconds and thereafter 4 minutes are allowed to write the story. After 4 minutes again a picture will be flashed for 30 seconds and the series goes on until the 12th slide is shown.

Preparation
The most important thing here is your perception. The whole test is based on that only. To clear this test, sheer practice and only practice will help you. Download the set of sample pictures for your practice. Now, when you start with it, you don’t have to go with the time limit. For first one week, you need to calm down your mind and just observe the picture for one minute and then write a story taking 5 minutes. Do this carefully. Observe the picture; Try creating a positive outcome of your story, no

matter how negative the image is. However if the image is neutral or normal, no need to create a negative scenario by yourself and then try to solve it, showing your qualities. If the picture doesn't demand such scenario then why not respond to it in a normal manner? The stories here should have three different parts- Past, Present and Future. Each of your stories should have a description- 10% past, 80% present and 10% future. When you write the story, try not to mention directly that 'he/she' is brave, courageous, punctual.... instead write in such a way that it is evident in their action, indirectly.

For example-
•    Incorrect - He was courageous and brave, and saved the drowning child.
•    Correct- He didn’t even blink for a second, jumped into the water and swam the child across the river and saved his life.

In the above mentioned example, it is made clear that your action should speak for you and not mere words should describe you. The qualities should be reflected in the stories and not mentioned directly.

Bottom line is- ACTION SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS.

 After one week, start practicing this test with time restriction. Firstly observe the picture for 25 seconds, think about the story which will take about 0ne minute. Then start writing your story. Most of them make the drastic mistake of writing the story immediately the picture is shown. If you do so, there will be no proper flow of thoughts and you might not be able to present your story in a systematic manner. Also it will lead to scribbles and poor handwriting. Remember, don't leave anything to chance, give it your best shot. Observe the picture, think about the story, frame it in your mind, and then just go on writing it, which will take just two minutes. Your handwriting must be legible. Hence you have to practice a lot to be able to write the story properly. Write 2 sets of TAT daily.

Blank slide-

Following are the points to be kept in mind while writing the blank story:-

1. Write down a happening of your life, like the marriage anniversary of your parents, a picnic with your family, an adventurous outing with your friends, a birthday party that you organized etc.

2. Do not create a problem or a situation all by yourself and then go on solving it, describing about the officer like qualities in the story.

3. It is a blank slide and when the assessors haven't shown you or given you a situation then why do you want to create it and give your solutions? Just write a simple story, a happy one with a joyful conclusion.

4. Many of us have this doubt that should we prepare a story beforehand or we just go with the flow and think about the story on the spot and write in down there in the TAT test?

5. You have the power of deciding it. But what I would suggest is, nothing is to be left to chance. You should prepare a nice story, yet a simple one and write it down at the time of your testing in the SSB.

6. However, do not prepare a story wherein you use book language. Do not try to use difficult words in the story. The language and the wording should be so normal that when the assessors read it, they should find it gelling with all the other stories that you have written in the answer sheet. It should go with the flow. Hence, you should practice to write such a story first, and then decide which one to choose, so that you can write it down in the actual test.

7. One second thought about it is that what if the 12th story which you have already prepared beforehand, does not fall in line at all with the rest of the stories you have written in the test? What to do in such cases. The answer is , your rigorous practice for months will automatically help you in creating up a good story n the actual test.

8. That is why I emphasize on practicing the tests. Write and write as much as you can. It will give you the power of expression. Also, it will improve your handwriting and your speed of writing.
Practice about 200 stories.

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Regards
Hosla
Director
Specialist of SSB GTO Tasks
Ambala Cantt, Haryana.
Mob: 7015202663, 95411 85701, 9034228060

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