Group Testing Officer Test:
This test is held to discover the qualities of a candidate in a group. As opposed to testing individuals in isolation group testing attempts to evaluate individuals in the context of a group. The role of group testing in the Service Selection Boards is to determine an individual’s ability to function in a group and based on this functional capacity, to ascertain his actual and potential level and to assess his suitability for the Armed Forces. Group testing as a technique of assessment differs from other psychological groups tests, like Intelligence Tests administered to a group while the former promotes interplay and interaction in a group in order to facilitate the assessment of the individual, the latter prohibits such interaction at the time of testing even though the tests are administered to a group. The group testing technique therefore assesses an individual in the context of an experimental group, which is subjected to a considerable physical and mental stress. From this, one seeks to observe and evaluate an individual’s group effectiveness or in other works the sum total of an individual’s contribution to the group and to the task.
The Test Scene:
Test under GTO technique is held in two ways. They are
INDOOR TASKS
Let us see the procedures, rules and objectives of all these tests individually in detail.This test is held to discover the qualities of a candidate in a group. As opposed to testing individuals in isolation group testing attempts to evaluate individuals in the context of a group. The role of group testing in the Service Selection Boards is to determine an individual’s ability to function in a group and based on this functional capacity, to ascertain his actual and potential level and to assess his suitability for the Armed Forces. Group testing as a technique of assessment differs from other psychological groups tests, like Intelligence Tests administered to a group while the former promotes interplay and interaction in a group in order to facilitate the assessment of the individual, the latter prohibits such interaction at the time of testing even though the tests are administered to a group. The group testing technique therefore assesses an individual in the context of an experimental group, which is subjected to a considerable physical and mental stress. From this, one seeks to observe and evaluate an individual’s group effectiveness or in other works the sum total of an individual’s contribution to the group and to the task.
The Test Scene:
Test under GTO technique is held in two ways. They are
INDOOR TASKS
- Group Discussion
- Military Planning Exercise
- Individual Lecturette
1) GROUP DISCUSSION:
First of all we have to focus on what a group discussion is. Group discussion is a sharing of thoughts and ideas among a group of persons resulting in a common thought ,idea or a solution.The most important thing we must understand here is that the group discussion is entirely different from a debate where each candidate try to prove himself correct. In discussion candidate has to give their own ideas and the reasoning of why they think so.
The Test Scene:
For this test,The group of candidates are allowed to sit together at U-table in a hall along with the the GTOs who will be noting the performance of each candidates.Once all the candidate is comfortable and settled one of the GTO will give a list of topics out of which candidates have to select a topic to be discussed.In this scenario the candidates have to discuss within themselves to choose the topic which most of them are agree. After telling the chosen topic to the GTO, he gives time to think about the topic for few minutes(usually 3 to 4 minutes). Then after that he orders the candidates to start the discussion.
Once the discussion is over,the GTo will give another topic which will be the compulsory one.Here also,some time will be provided to think about the topic.
Each discussion goes for about 10-15 minutes.
What are the objectives of Group Discussion?
There is a need of group discussion to discover a group behavior of a person.No one in this world is perfect, but few of tending to perfect may together be the perfect.This forms the for this test.In a defence career there will be many situation where officers have to thin,discuss and decide the action plans.At that time,there arises a need of suitable and healthy discussion. So the candidates are checked here for their suitability in this regard.
so the GTO is searching for following qualities in you,
- Communication Skill:This is the most important thing at G.D since the heart of the G.D is
effective communication. To be an active member of the group, he should
be able to put his points before the group and should make the group to
agree his/her points. For this the candidate communication should be
effective(able to influence the group).
Effective communication results in getting the attention of the group member. If you communicate well, then your point will be given a weightage and everyone will discuss around your point. So you are becoming the center of attraction.
The main thing after becoming the center of attraction is, After the group seems to conclude about your previous point, try to give a new point in relevant to the previous one so that the group tries to hold that point and start to discuss. - Listening Abilities: As i told how important the communication is equally important
to patient listening. A patient listener gives more quality point
rather than the continuous speaker. Since it is easy to give quality
point if we are an active listener rather than talking continuously. In
the whole process, the quality only matters and not the quantity. How
much we speak is not a matter, how much depth we speak about the subject
is the matter.
- Leadership and Coordination with the group members:This is the heart for an Army officer. Since he will lead the group, so
he should have good leadership quality i.e. able to coordinate with the
group.
In G.D leadership quality is analyzed by the G.T.O by noticing the- Listener of the group,
- Helping the weak member to talk,
- Supporting to the good point of the group member,
- Able to analyze and prioritize the good point from the members,
- Explaining others point by giving his own example,
- Able to overcome his equally competent candidate with his depth of knowledge and communication skills.
- Who is the real Leader : A real leader is not the person who is initiating first by fighting
with others.(i.e. starting the discussion in an urge mentality).A real leader is the person who keeps himself cool, and he will
start if no body of the group does not have knowledge about the topic to
start or guts to start. He will volunteer himself to start the
discussion by giving his valuable points and start the discussion. He
is the real leader in G.D. The board also likes this leaders only.
- Depth of Knowledge in the given topic:while talking in discussion as i told earlier the quality is matter and not the quantity. To be a good participant in GD we should have a depth, sound knowledge in the given topic. To get these depth knowledge see various discussion at national news channels such as NDTV, CNN IBN etc. Also read national daily news papers such as the Hindu etc. So you will increase your knowledge day by day. It is a long term process but results good in GD. Also be crispy in putting the point. Clarity of thought is important.
- Sharing of knowledge to the group members:In GD, to make the discussion in a smooth manner sharing of knowledge plays a important role. Since every candidate will give a point and expects that the group should stick over his point. So it will be a non-co operative discussion. So to make it fruit full, give supportive points to the members such as motivating them by sharing our knowledge i.e. giving our own examples to their point. By these activity we are becoming active member of the group, supportive and helping nature, showing our deepness of knowledge and making the discussion interesting.
- Running the group parallel to the given point:If you were in the first three of the discussion by giving a good point with an example. Also any of the group member agree your point and talk means, At that time you should run parallel to that person by giving more supportive points to him. So if both of you are in the same stream the weak members will automatically stick to both of you. In this scenario all are talking around your point. So it is also an important thing.
- Initialization
- Conclusion
Initialization:-
Initialization gives either two things in GD. It will be a King Crown in your head if you start/initiate the G.D very well. i.e. Everyone will agree to your initialization. Else it will be a indelible remark over you if you stammer at the starting point of G.D. So if you know very well about the topic just start the discussion confidently. Else listen to others and summarize your point then trigger it to the group.
But what i suggest you friends is not to speak first. If you have a very depth knowledge of the subject and you have a very clear insight of the topic then you surely go for first to speak but in other case never rushy to the discussion and speak first for the sake of speaking. Why i am saying this because if you start speaking without thinking about the topic you will surely find yourself stuck some where and that will surely go against you and also you will loose your hold over the discussion.So what i suggest is that let the others start the discussion and listen to them very carefully and at the same time make your points and decide which side you have to speak only after listening to the both sides of the subject.
Always keep in mind that speaking much without strong point will do nothing but speaking strong points will take you in.
Now if you are strong in the subject and confident about your side, then how should you proceed?
There are several techniques in the initiation of group discussion. They are as follows:-
In day 3 of Group Discussion they dont expect to conclude the G.D. The conclusion is expected only in M.P.E i.e. Military Planning Exercises. So to conclude the G.D. dont stick with your points till the end. Instead of that try to summarize all the important points of others by mentioning their chest numbers and also add your view with that. Also try to add your own solution for the issues which you discussed in the Group Discussion Session. As it shows your leadership qualities.(since the person finds the solution for the problem is the real leader).
TIPS FOR GROUP DISCUSSION:
Initialization gives either two things in GD. It will be a King Crown in your head if you start/initiate the G.D very well. i.e. Everyone will agree to your initialization. Else it will be a indelible remark over you if you stammer at the starting point of G.D. So if you know very well about the topic just start the discussion confidently. Else listen to others and summarize your point then trigger it to the group.
But what i suggest you friends is not to speak first. If you have a very depth knowledge of the subject and you have a very clear insight of the topic then you surely go for first to speak but in other case never rushy to the discussion and speak first for the sake of speaking. Why i am saying this because if you start speaking without thinking about the topic you will surely find yourself stuck some where and that will surely go against you and also you will loose your hold over the discussion.So what i suggest is that let the others start the discussion and listen to them very carefully and at the same time make your points and decide which side you have to speak only after listening to the both sides of the subject.
Always keep in mind that speaking much without strong point will do nothing but speaking strong points will take you in.
Now if you are strong in the subject and confident about your side, then how should you proceed?
There are several techniques in the initiation of group discussion. They are as follows:-
- Real time example initiation technique:-
This is the common initiation technique followed by many in the GD.In this technique discussion is started using a well known example of the subject not only focusing the subject strength but also at the same time clearing the side of the speaker.This technique shows the awareness of the candidate about the common issues related to the subject.
- Defining about the topic technique:-
This is very basic initiation technique followed by most of the persons in G.D..I prefer more this technique because this technique shows the knowledge of the candidate of the subject. Not only this, the technique also helps the weak members of the group to understand the subject and since the are little known to the subject the try to circulate around you points which gives you a stronghold over the discussion.
- Interrogatory type technique:-This is very interesting technique followed the few bold candidates in
G.D. i.e. asking interrogatory type things such as what, when, who, how
like question about the given topic. I strongly recommend you not to use this technique because this technique is very dangerous until used at right place in right manner.This technique may give either good or bad impression on the G.T.O.
In day 3 of Group Discussion they dont expect to conclude the G.D. The conclusion is expected only in M.P.E i.e. Military Planning Exercises. So to conclude the G.D. dont stick with your points till the end. Instead of that try to summarize all the important points of others by mentioning their chest numbers and also add your view with that. Also try to add your own solution for the issues which you discussed in the Group Discussion Session. As it shows your leadership qualities.(since the person finds the solution for the problem is the real leader).
TIPS FOR GROUP DISCUSSION:
- The most important thing that candidate should follow is that they should listen to the instruction very very carefully.
- Don't rush into the discussion, be patient and start discussion only when G.T.O is over with his words.
- Start the discussion only if you have a deep knowledge about the subject and you have a good communication skill else be patient and listen to the other speakers and make your decision.
- Don't just try to speak but also try to listen all others.
- You must have proper eye contact with each and every member of the group and never look up or down while saying.
- Never and Never see towards the G.T.O.
- Avoid person to person interaction i.e. dont involve with a particular person during the discussion.You may choose the point of a person but while expressing your view you should be general and adressing to the whole group.
- Never point out a particular chest number while answering and questioning,although i recommend not to question at all.
- Never point out using your fingers. This shows aggressive nature of the speaker.
- Remember the difference between a discussion and a debate.
- Be loud and clear during the discussion.
- Don't loose your temper during the discussion.
- Never change your side in between the discussion.
Some Secrets about the Group Discussion:
- People think that no matter which topic you choose from the given lists of subjects by the G.T.O but i say that plays an important role. From the given list of subjects one subject will always be of utmost importance and you should prefer to that subject.But if then also your group is not willing to discuss that topic you should always try to convince them explaining the importance of the subject but never try to force them.Speak politely and be ready to go with the group because the G.T.O have taken notice of your ability to choose the more important among the important s.
- Once the subject is chosen then comes the matter of deciding the side of the subject you should go i.e. either you should be favor or against the subject.What i suggest my friends is to go with the side to which side is the government as per the controversial subject is concerned.Why i am saying this is the government rules are decided by a panels of experts and also by the representatives of different regions and subjects.So it is expected that must be in favor of the nation.
If the subject is about social issues, then go with the noble side. Never support to the evils while deciding your side.
You should always be progressive in your thoughts and dont be orthodox and decide your side accordingly.
2: Group Planning Exercise:
3: Individual lectures:
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