The main aim & objective of the SSB test is to test the Officer Like Qualities in candidate. For this he/she goes through so many types of test. The selection system in the SSB is planned to finds out an individual, who can become an effective and well adjusted leader with potential to function in both in peace and war, after training.
There are 15 types of Officer Like Qualities (OLQs). These can be categorised into four different part :
1. Planning and Organising
2. Social Adjustment
3. Social Effectiveness
4. Dynamism
1. Planning & Organising
(a). Effective Intelligence
It is different from basic intelligence which is related to abstract thinking & assessed by the use of intelligence tests like verbal or non verbal test, on the other side effective intelligence is used to meet practical challenges of varying complexity. Effective intelligence has two aspects :
(i) Practical Intelligence is the ability of each individual to develop independent solutions to challenging problems and situations.
(ii) Resourcefulness is the ability of each individual to make optimum use of the available resources.
(b). Organising Ability
It is the ability to arrange the resources in a planned & systematic way to get effective & maximum results. Here, management of resources means men, material & time. This is necessary to obtain desired output in given situations
(c). Reasoning Ability
It is an ability to understand essentials of the given situation correctly & arrive at conclusion with rational & logical thinking. Reasoning abilities includes receptivity, inquiring attitude & logical reasoning. Receptivity means to understand & absorb new condition, for this candidate must have an interest, attention & grasping power. Inquiring attitudes means curiosity for surroundings & the meaning of logical reasoning is the ability to arrive at result through the process of rationality without affecting from emotional factors.
(d). Power of Expression
This is the ability to adequately & correctly present your thoughts & ideas to others. Power of expression should be clear, precise & effective.
2. Social Adjustment
(a). Social Adaptability
It is the ability of an individual to adapt in his surrounding or in his social environment. It is necessary to adjust with one’s colleagues which includes his superior, equal and subordinates. Social adaptability includes social intelligence, attitude towards others & facts.
(b). Cooperation
It is the attitude & ability of an individual to participate completely in a group & give his contribution to achieve desirable result. It includes, collective effort & team work. To work in a team, your loyalty should be on aim & objectives of the group. Individual aim has no value to cooperate in a team work.
(c). Sense of Responsibility
It means individual willingly discharge his duty & obligation on his own. It includes sense of responsibility/duty & discipline. Sense of duty is related to faithfully & firmly doing their assigned work. Whereas discipline is related to sense of acting, strictly in accordance with rules & regulations. Sense of responsibility also means doing your best regardless of the situation or condition, it means one can't blame others for his responsibilities.
3. Social Effectiveness
(a). Initiative
It is the ability to originate meaningful actions. It means the ability to take first step in a untested situation, with right direction & continue this action untill you don't get desirable results.
(b). Self-Confidence
It means the faith in one’s ability & move forward with positive attitude to meet the challenges & utilise the opportunities that come in his way.
(c). Decision Taking Ability
It is the ability to carry out a given task quickly, appropriately & in a cost-effective manner. Feasibility & practicality are also important factors to include in quick decision making.
(d). Motivational Ability
It means the ability to influence the group. This influence is the main cause of cooperative & willing effort of a group towards achieving the desirable goal. One must have the qualities to lead the group.
(e). Liveliness
It is the ability of an individual to always maintain a cheerful environment around him. To have liveliness, a person must be optimistic, vivacious, spirited & smiling even under pressure conditions. One must accept every situation cheerfully & spread positive vibrations among his group.
4. Dynamism
(a). Determination
It is the ability to sustain an effort to achieve goals in the spite of difficulties. It includes physical & mental toughness & will power. It is the capacity to force oneself even in a under pressure & urgent situation.
(b). Courage
It is the ability to overcome, one’s fear & take purposive risk to complete his task. It includes spirit of adventure, an enterprising spirit & capacity to keep oneself cool & compose in adverse to adverse situations.
(c). Stamina
It is the ability to stand with protected physical & mental strain. It also includes endurance which means to maintain one’s physical & mental strength over a long period of time. Physical stamina means running some distance & carrying the physical material, while performing the task without getting tired, also the meaning of mental stamina is the ability to remain cool and calm. It means facing & managing each situation cheerfully, willingly & intelligently in a given time constrain.