The SSB interview is incomplete without group testing, in which you perform in cooperation with other candidates. These include a range of tasks at hand, but did you know that some tasks determine your impression on the assessor? These are called the four most essential GTO tasks, which decide whether you are a recommendable candidate or not. If you are new to this concept, this blog is just for you.
What is GTO Testing?
Let us first understand what GTO testing is. GTO stands for group testing officer, who is an assessor assessing you to determine the presence of 15 OLQs in your personality. To do so, all stage two candidates are divided into smaller groups of 6 to 10 members each, and the GTO conducts nine tasks over two days to determine their suitability to become officers. These tasks include:
| DAY I | DAY II |
| Group discussion | Individual obstacles |
| Group planning exercise | Command task |
| Progressive group task | Final group task |
| Group obstacle race | |
| Half group task | |
| Lecturette |
GTO tasks are unique because here, their performance is influenced by that of others, and the assessor is interested in seeing their working in a group, not individually. This is where most of us lag at times, as a cooperative group can help you perform well, but a non-cooperative one can cause a washout.
Categorization of Candidates
Depending on their performances in the four most essential GTO tasks, the GTO categorizes candidates into three categories, that is,
- Yes: Candidates who perform fairly well in the confirmatory tasks, and are clearly recommendable in GTO testing.
- No: Those who do not manage to impress the GTO, and fall out of the race.
- Doubtful: Candidates whose performance is inconsistent, that is, good in some, okay in others. They are tested in-depth by the GTO in the upcoming tasks.
Hence, if you are going for your SSB, you should always avoid falling in the “No” category, by giving your 100% in each of the most essential GTO tasks. Let us now delve into what these tasks are.
Most Essential GTO Tasks
When we speak about the GTO testing, out of the nine tasks, four are most essential GTO tasks. These are the day one tasks, and must be understood carefully. The tasks are:
I. Group Discussion
The group discussion is the first one of the most essential GTO tasks. Here, there are two discussions of about twenty minutes each, wherein the candidates have to do a healthy discussion on the given topics, which are generally related to current affairs or social issues.
For the first round, the GTO gives candidates a choice between two topics. Each topic has three leads, and the candidates can choose their choice of topic by consensus. Once decided, the candidates can choose any of the three leads and share their perspective on the same.
After twenty minutes, the GTO introduces the next topic, and this time he gives them no choice. Here too, candidates have to speak on any of the three leads that they consider suitable and exchange views. Remember that this is not a debate, but a discussion, so you don’t have to come to a conclusion here.
II. Group Planning Exercise
The second test of the most essential GTO tasks series is Group Planning Exercise. In this task, the GTO shows candidates a map and reads out a situation to them. This situation is like a story, having 4-5 problems, generally, of varying degrees. Candidates are then given five minutes to go through the situations themselves, after which, they get ten minutes to write their individual solutions.
Soon after the given time is over, they are expected to discuss the situation and come up with a common plan of action as a team. Unlike GD, GPE can be chaotic because it requires consensus among the members. Hence, one should focus more on taking the group forward. You may check how the GTO assesses your solution in GPE here.
III. Progressive Group Task
After a lot of indoor tasks, the GTO introduces the first outdoor task of the day, which is PGT. It is the third of the most essential GTO tasks because candidates function in an outdoor environment for the first time in the day.
In PGT, there are four levels of increasing difficulty that candidates need to clear together. Each level has certain structures that must be bridged using helping material like a plank, a log of wood, and a rope. In doing so, they must also follow the five GTO rules.
The GTO gives about 40 to 45 minutes to complete the task, and most of the time, you may not be able to complete all the four levels of the task, but this is fine, as he is only assessing your working in a group, and now completion of the task alone.
IV. Half Group Task
This is the fifth task of the day which happens after the group obstacle race, and is the last of the most essential GTO tasks. It is similar to PGT, but here, candidates have to cross only one level with half the group.
HGT is conducted for a very obvious reason. Many a time, we cannot perform well in a larger group, of say, 10 people because others may be dominant or other reasons. Hence, the GTO halves the group to give the silent members an equal chance. It is a golden opportunity, and honestly, the last one to come in the good books of GTO. If you fail in it, no matter how well you do in the remaining tasks, he will not recommend you.
Final Thoughts
Please know that the most essential GTO tasks are not the end of the assessment. This means that you need to keep performing in the remaining tasks as well to be recommended by the GTO as his initial assessment is never final. Therefore, whether tasks are essential or not, always put your best foot forward.
