Selection Capsule For JKSSB Examination

In 2013 I qualified written test of SSB examination for the post of teacher but I poorly performed in an interview, hence was not selected. However, I recently got selection in the Department of Animal husbandry for the post of veterinary pharmacist through SSB recruitment process. The selection for such post was determined by a screening test that comprised a written test and an interview (viva voce).  What is the nature of selection process for almost all SSB Examinations and how I cracked the examination, I would focus on these two issues in this article. I hope that the article may provide help to unemployed and well qualified aspirants who are wandering on the lanes of unemployment and are athirst to drink by the fountain of Government Job. The article is meant to prescribe a capsule to the jobless youth that may well protect and cure them from the adversity of Private Job and idleness.
        The selection criteria of SSB examination is measured within two scales: one is written test and another interview or viva voice. Between these two tests you will find an interview toughest and challenging one. There are some certain reasons behind this fact that I would briefly put to your disposal in final paragraph. Let me describe first the nature of written test that is the foremost part of selection in which a candidate is short listed for the final part of selection by a verbal test.
        The written test is more controlled and smooth than interview. Before the announcement of date and time of written examination, the Board prescribes a fixed syllabus for which an examinee can well prepare and practice for the test. Moreover He or she gets sufficient time for the preparation of exam. The best and honest approach to qualify the test is to use daily two hours of time for the complete preparation of syllabus. There is no shortcut method by which an aspirant can get the full hold over the syllabus. Most of the examinees buy books from the market prepared by different publishers like R Gupt’s, Vinod’s publications or Arihant etc. and prepare only objective questions which is completely an innocent approach for the preparation of written examination. The objective questions of those books are meant to test the conceptual knowledge and memorization of the topics prescribed in syllabus. To read and memorize only objective questions is an unsuccessful attempt to qualify the test. Therefore it is better to read the topics in detail. In other words, one needs to study the topics of syllabus in depth. Each and every information regarding the topic should be concerned. Large numbers of questions are often asked from the text books. Therefore first preference should be text books than the books sold at market. However the best antidote is to consult both the pattern of books. Time is another important factor for a written test. There are four options in multiple choice questions. You have to choose the most appropriate option among the four and that too in a single minute. So time plays a vital role in the examination. The best way to care time in the examination is to appear with a watch. Keep vigil over it repeatedly throughout the session of test and try to get your answer in a single minute. If you would do the error of spending five or ten minutes on a single question, it may spoil your other questions, hence would not be able to go through all the questions of question paper. It is therefore better to reach on each question than half and this mistake can be only solved by using a watch.
           Most of the readers forget what they read. No doubt, they read everything and each topic of the prescribed syllabus but they remember only small portion of information among these topics. I want to share my personal experience regarding the problem of forgetting. Topics that are read in detail and depth take their eternal place in our mind than those topics that we read through surface reading. Therefore to read and remember, one needs to explore the things. Consulting only one book may not give you entire detail and depth about the topic.
        I have already mentioned that an interview is the core part of selection. What is an interview? Dr. B.R. Kishore has written a small book named Practical Guide to Success in Interviews, in which he defines interview as: “The word ‘interview’ means ‘sight between’ or ‘view between’. It is an encounter or meeting between parties, the employer and the candidate. In the academic world it is known as viva voce. It is a spoken examination in which the student’s personality is put to test. Questions are asked to test his knowledge of the subject, depth of learning, presence of mind, self-confidence, mental alertness, general awareness, power of analysis and judgement, manners, logical exposition etc.” Therefore an interview is not only an encounter of questions and answers but it more than that. The most vital part of an interview is how you behave before the panel of experts and professionals. An interview is always a challenging task than written test. It does not contain syllabus and time like a written test. Besides, you can not wholly control it by yourself, there is a panel of experts who direct and drive the process of interview. Therefore it is a two way traffic in which information is exchanged.
   For the post of Veterinary pharmacist, I was asked sixteen questions in about twenty minutes of time. In an interview board there were four members and all were panel of experts and knowledgeable persons. The chairman of the board was an KAS officer.  The success of my interview does not only lie on my answer to questions. I used formal language throughout my interview. I remained alert and sensitive when I was asked any question. They checked my confidence by arguing and repeating few questions twice. However I replied the same answer that I gave at first time without any doubt and boldness, thus proved my confidence level. All the members of the board except one asked me question after question within fractions of time in order to make me nervous and anxious but I handled the situation comfortably. I put my answers with calm and bold attitude. My behaviour was highly formal in entering, sitting and leaving from the interview room. In short I highly impressed them in each way and made my selection possible. I am postgraduate in English and bulks of the questions were asked in my own subject. Most often the interviewers dig deep on a same topic and same approach was provided to me. Most of the questions were asked from the same topic that is comparative study of English language. I would like to share all those sixteen questions with you:
 


Why your village is called Behrampora?
Expand the full form of M.L.A?
Which is the largest word in English?
What is the spelling of word committee?
What is phonetics?
Explain some unique features of language?
Which languages are called Dravidian languages?
Give the name of some German languages?
Which languages are called Celtic languages?
Give some examples of words that have their origin in Sanskrit and German languages?
 Which famous scholar of India studied acoustics in different languages?
Is language only found in humans? Animals do not speak any language, then which language is used by them?
 Do plants use any language?
 How are plants sensitive to outside environment?
 Some plants move towards light. Is it not a sign language like animals?
 Which animals are called mono-gastric animals? Is cow a mono-gastric animal?


The author by occupation is a veterinary pharmacist, post graduate in English literature and can be opined at: urwithshahid@gmail.com