The SSB screening is Stage I of the Services Selection Board. It has two parts, the Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests and the Picture Perception and Description or Discussion Test, called PPDT or PP&DT, and it takes place on the first day. Candidates are shortlisted on a combination of their performance in the two. Those who are shortlisted go on to Stage II. The others are sent back, in the Army’s call-up letter that same afternoon.
Stage I is where a large part of the attrition at the board happens, so it deserves its own preparation. This guide explains what the official documents say, adds a worked PPDT story written by us, and ends with a preparation plan. It sits alongside our SSB interview process guide, which covers the full five days.
What do the services say about Stage I?
The wording differs a little between services, so it helps to see all of it.
| Source | What it says about Stage I |
|---|---|
| UPSC (NDA and CDS notices) | Stage I comprises Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) tests and the Picture Perception and Description Test (PP&DT). Candidates are shortlisted on a combination of performance in the OIR test and PP&DT. Only those who clear Stage I are permitted to appear for Stage II. |
| Indian Air Force (AFCAT notification) | The Officer Intelligence Rating test and the Picture Perception and Discussion test are held on the first day. Stage I is a screening test. Those who qualify then undergo a document check, and candidates who do not qualify, or do not meet the eligibility criteria, are sent back on the first day itself. |
| Indian Navy | Stage I: Intelligence Test and Picture Perception and Discussion test. Stage II: psychological testing, group testing and interview. |
| Army (call-up letter) | Stage I starts early on the first day and comprises an Intelligence Test and a Picture Perception and Discussion Test. Candidates rejected in Stage I are returned from the Selection Centre in the afternoon of the same day. No one may leave the premises on the day of the screening test. |
You will notice that UPSC writes ‘Description’ and the Navy, Air Force and Army letters write ‘Discussion’. They refer to the same test, and the second spelling better matches what happens in the room. Whatever name your call letter uses, prepare for both the narration and the group discussion.
Sources for the SSB screening
- UPSC: NDA and NA Examination (II) 2026 notice, Appendix I
- UPSC: CDS Examination (II) 2026 notice, Appendix I
- Indian Air Force: AFCAT 02/2026 notification (AFSB testing)
- Indian Air Force AFCAT portal: guidelines, six-day schedule
- Indian Navy: selection procedure for officers
- Army: example call-up letter (PDF)
What does Day 1 look like?
The Air Force publishes the most detailed Day 1 schedule. On Day 1 the AFSB holds the OIR test, the Picture Perception and Discussion Test, the document check of candidates who passed this first phase, the filling in of the Personal Information Questionnaire (PIQ), and, after a rest of two to three hours, the psychological test. The Army and Navy follow the same Stage I logic, with their own timings.
- Report and settle in. Reach the reporting point named on the call letter on the date given. Free boarding and lodging are provided during testing.
- OIR. A set of intelligence tests, taken first.
- PPDT. A picture is shown, you write a story, narrate it and take part in a discussion.
- Results of Stage I. Candidates are shortlisted. Those not shortlisted leave, and those who qualify continue.
- Documents. The AFSB checks the documents of Stage I qualifiers on the same day, and anyone who does not meet the eligibility conditions is sent back.
- PIQ and next tests. Qualifiers fill in the PIQ and move to Stage II.
Because screened-out candidates leave the same day, bring your luggage with you on the day of reporting, as the Army letter advises, and keep your original documents together in one folder.
What is the OIR test?
The services call this the Officer Intelligence Rating test. The official papers do not publish its format, number of questions or timings, so any figure you see on a website is not from the services. In preparation circles it is described as a set of verbal and non-verbal reasoning questions, which is why a student with good school marks can still do badly if they have never practised reasoning questions under time pressure.
Preparation is therefore practical. Work on series, analogies, classification and pattern questions in short timed sets. Check your accuracy, not only your speed, and note which kind of question slows you down. A regular routine of twenty minutes a day is more useful than a long session once a week. Our SSB practice tools provide timed practice.
What is the PPDT, and how does it work?
In the PPDT you are shown a picture for a short time. You note what you see, write a short story about it, and later narrate your story to a group and take part in a discussion. The official papers do not publish the timings or the number of words, so we do not quote any, and the instructions you receive at the board are final. The assessors are not marking your story as literature. They are watching how you think, how you express yourself and how you behave in a group.
A worked illustration, written by us. Suppose the picture shows a man and a young woman standing at the edge of a flooded lane while a crowd watches from a shop front. A strong story is practical and positive: it names a main character, says what he is doing and why, gives a believable action and ends with an outcome. A weak story is vague, dramatic or hopeless.
| Element | A weaker story | A stronger story |
|---|---|---|
| Main character | A man who is scared and waits for someone to help | Ravi, a teacher, who lives nearby and notices a stranded family |
| What he does | Nothing happens; he looks and leaves | He brings a rope from a shop, asks two bystanders to help and takes the family out one by one |
| Outcome | A disaster that nobody could prevent | The family reaches the shelter, and the lane’s shopkeepers agree on a plan for the next monsoon |
| What it shows | Passivity and a negative view of the world | Initiative, organising ability and concern for others |
In the group discussion that follows, the same traits show up. Listen to others’ stories, add a point that moves the group towards a shared story and avoid cutting people off. The board is looking for someone who helps a group decide, not someone who wins an argument. Free counselling is available by phone or WhatsApp on +91 70170 31757 if you would like us to look at your approach.
Why do candidates get screened out?
The services do not publish cut-offs, the number of candidates screened out, or reasons for individual decisions, so nobody outside the board can tell you precisely why a candidate was not shortlisted. The official texts say only that the shortlist is based on a combination of OIR and PPDT performance. That means a weak OIR score cannot be rescued by a good story, and a good OIR score cannot hide a hopeless story. Both halves matter.
Honest self-checks are possible. Time yourself on reasoning sets and track accuracy. Write PPDT stories to a timer, then read them as a stranger would: is the hero active, is the outcome realistic, and does the story sound like you? Have a friend read them and tell you the first word they think of about the writer.
How to prepare for Stage I in four weeks
- Week 1. Practise reasoning questions in short timed sets every day, and note the types that slow you down.
- Week 2. Write one PPDT story a day. Keep each one short, with a clear hero, a believable action and a positive outcome.
- Week 3. Practise narrating stories aloud and join a group discussion with friends. Watch whether you listen as much as you speak.
- Week 4. Run a full Day 1 rehearsal with a timer, including the narration and group discussion, and review it the next morning.
SSB screening: common questions
FAQs
Questions parents ask us.
Can't find yours? Ask on WhatsApp; a counsellor usually replies within working hours.
Ask on WhatsAppWhat is the SSB screening test?
It is Stage I of the SSB, held on the first day. It comprises the Officer Intelligence Rating tests and the Picture Perception and Discussion Test. Candidates are shortlisted on a combination of performance in both.
What happens if I am screened out?
You are returned from the board on the same day. The Army letter says rejected candidates are returned in the afternoon of the first day, and the Air Force says the same, on the first day itself.
What is PPDT?
The Picture Perception and Discussion Test, called Picture Perception and Description Test in UPSC notices. You write a story about a picture, narrate it and discuss it with a group.
What is the OIR test?
The Officer Intelligence Rating test, which is the intelligence test of Stage I. The services do not publish its format.
Is the OIR the same as the AFCAT paper?
No. AFCAT is an online written examination held before the board. OIR is a test taken at the board on Day 1.
Can I leave the centre on the screening day?
The Army letter says no one may go out of the Selection Centre on the day of the screening test, so bring your luggage with you.
To rehearse Stage I with a group before you travel, see our classroom SSB training in Dehradun page, or call or message us on WhatsApp at +91 70170 31757.
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