The Self-Description Test (SDT) in the Services Selection Board (SSB) is a psychological test that assesses your self-awareness, personality, and perspective on relationships. It involves writing about yourself from five perspectives within a specified time frame. Here’s a detailed guide to prepare for it effectively:
What to Expect in SDT
You’ll need to write about yourself based on the following aspects:
- Your parents’ opinion about you.
- Your teachers’ or bosses’ opinion about you.
- Your friends’ opinion about you.
- Your own opinion about yourself.
- Qualities you would like to improve.
Preparation Tips
1. Reflect on Your Life and Personality
- Take time to think deeply about your strengths, weaknesses, values, and habits.
- Recall feedback you have received from parents, teachers, friends, and colleagues.
- Make notes about how these opinions align with your own perception.
2. Seek Honest Feedback
- Ask your parents, friends, and mentors to describe you in a few sentences. Compare their views with your self-assessment.
- This will help you understand the alignment or discrepancies between your perception and others’ views.
3. Identify Key Traits
- List positive traits like leadership, punctuality, sincerity, and empathy.
- Be honest about weaknesses and show awareness of areas for improvement, e.g., time management or handling stress.
4. Practice Writing
- Write concise and focused responses for each category. Avoid flowery language; be clear and to the point.
- Time yourself (15 minutes) while writing to simulate test conditions.
- Practice using everyday examples to make your responses relatable.
5. Maintain Positivity
- Ensure your tone is optimistic, even when discussing areas of improvement. Highlight your efforts to overcome challenges.
6. Keep It Balanced
- Avoid extremes (self-glorification or excessive criticism).
- Present a balanced view that reflects your personality authentically.
Sample Framework for Responses
1. Parents’ Opinion
“My parents see me as a responsible, caring, and independent individual who supports the family and values relationships. They sometimes feel I can be overly focused on work and advise me to balance personal and professional life better.”
2. Teachers’/Bosses’ Opinion
“My teachers appreciate my dedication, discipline, and curiosity in academics. They have encouraged me to be more vocal in group discussions and share my ideas confidently.”
3. Friends’ Opinion
“My friends describe me as friendly, trustworthy, and dependable. They admire my ability to stay calm under pressure but often joke about my tendency to overthink.”
4. Self-Opinion
“I see myself as hardworking, adaptable, and goal-oriented. I strive to improve continuously and learn from experiences. While I am confident in my abilities, I aim to work on my decision-making skills.”
5. Areas of Improvement
“I would like to become more decisive and improve my ability to delegate tasks effectively. I am working on these aspects by reading, practicing mindfulness, and taking on leadership roles.”
General Tips
- Stay authentic; the assessors value honesty over perfection.
- Avoid memorizing fixed answers as they may sound artificial during your interview.
- Ensure your SDT aligns with the other tests in SSB, like TAT, WAT, and your personal interview.
By practicing regularly and maintaining self-awareness, you’ll be able to handle the SDT with confidence!