Join Armed Forces (CDSE): Crack written test & 5-test series!
THE Armed Forces are always looking for enthusiastic, committed young men and women who can lead and manage as officers. Candidates short-listed after the initial selection, go through a rigorous training regimen at one of the Air Force/ Army/ Navy training establishments.
Thereafter, they are commissioned as officers and posted at any of the Air Force/ Army/ Navy Stations. As a graduate, you can apply during your final year for the UPSC (CDSE), both for permanent and short service commission.
Here are some guidelines for those taking the CDSE exam in September 2010. The exam has three papers for Permanent Commission and two for candidates applying for Short Service Commission at Officers Training Academy, Chennai (OTA). The OTA candidates do not attempt the Mathematics paper.
The written test
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The tests include Psychology Tests, Group Testing and a Personal interview. |
1. The exam starts at 9 a.m. and winds up at 5 p.m. on the same day. Most college students lack mental stamina. So, build it up and be prepare for long hours!
2. A very large number of candidates tend to take the exam without even knowing the syllabus! Understand the syllabus before commencing preparation. Log on to the UPSC website, to view the syllabus.
3. Identify the topics in each paper and work out your strength and weakness. It may be advisable to work harder on your strength to increase your percentage with reasonable efforts. The topics in which you are not too good at could be dealt with in a manner to secure sufficient marks. Going about it the other way round, is not such a good idea.
4. The syllabus for the general knowledge paper is very vast and generic. Hence, you must identify what exactly you need to work on. Analysing the past five year’s papers would help. Or else, you may focus on unnecessary, bulky that is, difficult to comprehend and remember. For example, in History one needs to drastically cut down effort on Ancient and Medieval History.
5. The English paper is often ignored by candidates who speak reasonably good English. They however, forget that spoken English is quite different from the Pure Application of Correct Grammar In Objective Type Questions. Those candidates who revise and practise the Basic English grammar sufficiently can secure almost 100% marks in the grammar section, which is almost 70% of the paper. A complete reading of Wren-Martin would be of help. UPSC gets innovative and at times asks you to identify the wrong statements too. So be prepared for surprises.
The remaining 30% paper comprises comprehensions, antonyms, synonyms, analogy .The candidates usually spend a lot of time on this section. It is very difficult to mug up antonyms and synonyms; this is something that one builds over a period of time. Learning some innovative techniques is a good idea.
6. For the Mathematics paper, a candidate should spend more time on geometry, trigonometry and mensuration, these chapters account for almost 40-45% of the entire paper. The remaining marks are almost equally divided between all other remaining chapters.
7. A candidate must understand that there are no cut-off marks to qualify the UPSC exam. About top 10,000 students pass the exam based on the total vacancies available, so it almost works like percentile.The candidates must plan to get high percentage of marks to ensure overall position in merits. One must also be aware that the candidate has to secure a minimum amount of marks in each of the subject.
8. The final merit is based upon equal weightage of marks allocated for written exam and SSB interview. Since the marks obtained in a SSB interview are generally in a very narrow band between all passing candidates, the difference in merit is created by the written exam in which there can be a big gap between the highest scoring and lowest scoring candidates declared passed in the UPSC exam. So the candidates who secure higher marks in UPSC exam will always stand to benefit in final merit list.
Some examples of GD subjects:
1.The recent improvement in the relashionship between India and China is opening new avenues of cooperation and growth for both countries. Re-opening of silk route is one such example. What in your opinion would be the most gainful outcome for both?
(a) Resolving of long outstanding bilateral issues
(b) Giving impetus to economic co-operation.
(c) Easing out tension and terrorism in eastern states of india.
(d) Any other fallout you deem fit
2. Student politics is an important aspect of overall growth of students in the universities. However, of late students politics is getting politicised. JM Lingdoh Committee Report has given some measures to improve the system of student politics. Which step according to you, would best help to improve the existing problems?
(a) Banning political parties from participation in students politics.
(b) Better education of student politics to students.
(c) Controlling the expenditures on students elections.
(d) Any other recourse you deem fit.
The SSB Interview
After clearing the written exam, candidates are called for an interview conducted by various Service Selection Boards (SSB). Ideally, you must start preparing for the SSB as soon as you make up your mind to the give the written exam. Don’t wait for the results to be declared! It normally takes 90 days or more for UPSC to declare results.
1. Read newspapers regularly, listen to news and watch Current Affairs discussions on television. Communication skills need to be improved and candidates must practise this on their own by making small speeches on different subjects and practising the same in front of a mirror. For more comprehensive preparation, they can also join some good institute.
2. At the SSB Centre, candidates are first put through a Screening Test. This consists of Intelligence and Reasoning test, Picture Perception and description Test and a Group Discussion. Those who pass the Screening Test are held back and put through five days of tests. A candidate is tested by making him/ her participate in various tests like their behaviour, contribution and communication.
3. Psychological Tests include:
a. Thematic Apperception Test. Candidates are shown a picture for 30 seconds after which they have to write a story on it in 4 minutes. A series of 10-12 pictures are shown and the stories are evaluated by a professional Psychologist.
b. Word Association Test. A word is shown on the screen and Candidates get 15 seconds to write a sentence expressing their idea or thought related to word. A series of 60 words are shown and candidates’ response evaluated.
c. Situation Reaction Test. A set of 60 situations are given in written form. Candidates get 30 seconds each to write their response to every situation.
d. Self-description. A candidate is required to write about himself as viewed by him/herself, parents, teachers/employer and friends.
4. Group testing includes:
(a) Group Discussion (GD). Two rounds of GD are held. In the first round, candidates get the choice of option for anyone of two given topics. GD lasts for about 20 minutes. In the second round one topic (no choice) is given and discussion allowed for about 15 minutes.
(b) Group Planning Exercise. A situation is created on a sand/cloth model having 3 to 4 problems which is also written in the form of a short story. Candidates are required to write their own plan as to what would they do in such a situation. Thereafter they are required to discuss as a group and arrive at a common group plan.
(c)Lecturette. Each candidate is required to speak on a topic of general interest from a choice of four topics. Preparation time is 3 minutes, and thereafter a lecturette of three minutes.
(d) Outdoor Tasks. Candidates work individually/ groups/ half-groups. They are judged on practical intelligence and team work.
5. Personal Interview. Each candidate goes through a one-to-one interview with an Interviewing Officer who assesses candidates for their OLQs. You will be asked about your hometown, family, education, sports, extra curricular activities, achievements, hobbies, situational and general awareness questions.
Col. SK Chabbra is Director, The Cavalier (training academy).
