The SSB lecturette is a crucial task in the interview process that tells a lot about the candidate than they can imagine. However, a lot of times, you may not know any of the topics and speaking for even a minute becomes a tough nut to crack. In this blog, we tell you how the lecturette can become a cakewalk for you in SSB.
What is SSB Lecturette?
The lecturette in SSB interview is the sixth task conducted on the first day of GTO assessment. In this task, all candidates sit in a semicircle, and each one is given a card having four topics. These topics range from international relations to personal experiences.
Candidates can choose any one of the four topics to speak on, and get three minutes to prepare the same. Once the time is over, they are given another three minutes to deliver the lecturette.
Generally, the first two topics are high-level topics, and require prior knowledge. The third is a middle-level one, whereas the last topic is related to your personal experiences. These can be about your favourite teacher, role model, or even best friend.
What Qualities GTO Looks for During Lecturette?
Each task in SSB carries the motive of ascertaining certain Officer Like Qualities or OLQs in the candidate. Likewise, in SSB lecturette, the GTO is looking for certain innate qualities. Some of them are:
- Power of expression: How confidently you deliver the lecturette with minimal hand gestures, clarity of thought, and strong body language.
- Organizing ability: Structuring your lecturette into subtopics and adding examples. It should not sound messy.
- Self-confidence: Do you jitter while talking or is your body language too stiff? Confidence is less about what you speak, and more about how you speak.
- Mental stamina: Can you recall what you practised recently?
Other than these four areas, the GTO also looks for your knowledge about the topic (if it is a high-level one) and how you utilize your resources such as time, facts, and experiences effectively.
How to Prepare for SSB Lecturette?
Now that we know what the lecturette in SSB is, we must delve into its preparation, Remember that this is an easy task, and it only requires a little effort on your end:
Build confidence
You must be confident and work on your communication. Stand in front of the mirror and start speaking about any topic of your choice. You may start with a basic introduction, or describe your day. Once you’re comfortable, you can start moving to high-level topics, such as a news you read recently.
Be thorough with current affairs
Knowledge of current affairs shows your seriousness in SSB. Keep tabs of the major events in the world and India before you report to the centre. This information is useful during the group discussion, interview, and lecturette. You can always substitute a few facts to add weight to your argument.
Research major topics
There are a wide range of topics that get repeated in the SSB lecturette task. You can learn about them from online platforms and friend circles, and prepare them beforehand. If you’re lucky enough, you may land on the same topic. Some popular ones are:
- Bilateral relations
- Women in armed forces
- International organizations like BRICS, SCO, and G20
- Organic farming
- Defence-related like BRAHMOS, theaterisation
- India’s nuclear or missile programme
How to Speak on a Topic I Barely Know?
Despite preparation, a lot of times you may see a card with topics you barely know. It’s a war-like situation and your presence of mind will save you from casualties here! Firstly, breathe. It is okay to not know a topic. Choose any one that you feel you can relate the most to.
Once you have decided on the topic, break it into chunks. Please remember that the SSB lecturette isn’t a test of how many facts you know; rather it is a test of your thought clarity and how you address your jawans, when required.
In one of my attempts, I got “One Nation, One Election” as the topic and I hardly knew about it. So, I structured it as follows:
- India is the largest democracy in the world, and the most important part of this status is regular elections.
- Then, I explained the meaning of elections and their importance. This can be very basic, such as representation to all.
- Next, I introduced the shortcoming of having elections with such a large population (high costs) and finally introduced my topic.
- I built on the only information I knew at that time (The committee was chaired by Dr. Kovind), and spoke about the pros and cons of having all elections together. I made these up based on my understanding.
By the time I reached the last point, only thirty seconds were left. These were enough to wind up my topic. I took a bow and sat down. This is how I spoke for three minutes on a topic I barely knew.
SSB Lecturette: Mistakes to Avoid
Finally, here are a set of mistakes you must always avoid while delivering your lecturette. Do not:
- Make a lot of hand gestures, move a lot like a college professor, or be too stiff while talking.
- Choose a high-level topic only to impress the GTO. It is not about your knowledge but personality.
- Finish before your time is over. This shows poor utilization of given resources.
- Smile unnecessarily or look at the GTO.
The idea is simple: utilize the time in explaining the small details like the meaning, pros and cons of your topic. You are an SSB candidate, and this is the least that can be expected out of you. Be natural and if you follow the same approach, no topic will be difficult to speak on.
