Salam,

Group-discussion is not a difficult thing and keep one point in your mind that this is not going to be the test of your knowledge.tHE WRITTEN PORTION OF CSS is predominantly is the test of your knowledge.Psychological-test which includes the IQ test-exercises,group-discussions,command-task and a small interview.I assure you that it is the test of your "OTHER-SKILLS".

These include personality-confidence,decision-making power,articulation,concentration of thinking,cognitive-skill etc.

The principle to take that test is very simple;

a)Never pretend to be what you are not.They put detecters in their different exercices and if any contradiction is observed,you might be billed as a complex personality.

b)Always try to be to-the-point.It is very much important.Sometimes one is asked something and the reply is something else.So do exercises by debating on the things with ur friends where you first discuss a topic,write its points and then determine after the discussion how many points which were discussed were relevant.

c)Be composed.Never try to bully during the discussion and never discuss the idea for which you ve some doubts and you r not clear about it.
d)Use gentlemanly language during the discussion.And during the interview dont get confused.They will not be checking your knowledge but in the disguise of your interview they will be checking your over-all stature and tendencies.

e)Dress up in a reasonable manner.

ASP Ayaz,31st CTP

I think that the path to obtain good marks in interview leads from the psychological tests. The seniors told me that psychological tests are nothing and you don’t need to worry about it, but I will not advise the same to my other CSSian.

For the written part of the psychological test, just browse a guidebook like ISSB Test guide. It will give you an idea that what sort of tests you have to undertake. You MUST complete all the tests.

Then for the verbal portion of psychological test, just speak in English as much as you can with you friends. Have a continuous and meticulous reading of newspapers and watch PTV’s Khabarnama and especially the business news regularly. Do not forget to read the and memorize basic data from the Economic Survey of Pakistan, which is just released. Believe me, it will help you tremendously.

Important: There should be harmony and consistency between what you write about yourself and family in written part, because that three psychologist would ask you about it and if they found any discrepancy, it might cerate negative persona of you.

Another thing, you have to write three books you like most or you last finished reading (apart from academic or religious books i.e. Qur’an). Then they will ask you why you write these three books? So be ready to defend your choice.

Although the psychological test does not carry marks, but logically speaking, the board interview take place immediately after the psychological test so your good performance in psychological test do reflect upon your total marks in interview. That’s what I observed and learned.

Best wishes,

(Thanx Atif )

Aoa,
I need some idea about Psychological test and preparation test(interview, pls. tell me about the main idea and balance of confidence during that test.

AoA

dear hope u b in prosperity

furthering/adding to statement by Muhammad

try to meet maximum people and get their views about certain on going issues and share ur views with them

in this way, think alone about pros and cons of ur ideas and of those people

work out for the best methodology for any issue, make strong suggestions and make discussions with people on that specific issue, and try to convince them with ur views and tel them pros and cons and can give examples, if possible.

so far as psychological behaviour is concerned, again sit alone at end of each day and think about ur daily routines that what u have done wrong and what right, try to make okay the wrongs and this can be done only by you and through ur mode of thinking. try to remain happy and never ever get stress or be tense dont fuss about sayings of other people and done alter ur good ways only by saying of people. try to tolerate several statements of several people etc.

it is only a junk of ideas of mine perhaps some one would guide u in a more better way

__________________
'Thee woh ik shakhs kay tasawar saay - abb woh ranayee khayal kahaan'

aoa, thanks to all for sharing. one thing i want to know is that what should a person do who has no work experience in govt dept?so would a little knowledge be okay for command task. can any one tell me some thing abt da structure of govt depts and da liabilities of officials.my psyc date is 20. jan.so need for an emergency briefing. thanks

Sarah plz relax....i think i can safely say that maybe 90% of the css candidates don't have govt. job experience. The comand task has nothing to do with knowledge about govt. depts. their responsibilities etc. The concept of command task is to see if u possess leadership qualities alongwith confidence. Also how u conduct a meeting. U will be given a write up and will be given 15 minutes to analyze the situation, the problem and think of some viable solutions. U may or may not be given the capacity in which u will be required to act eg. Chairman CBR, DCO IG police etc.The problem may be technical but they r not expecting a very technical solution from u. Very common sensical things also suffice. Then u will be asked to move to the head of table n u will have to bigin. U can start by saying that as Secretary Interior (or whatever ur title is. If no title is given don't say anything) i have called this meeting as we have a problem. Explain the problem as well as u can but in a short time. Then u start asking the other candidates one by one what their views are to the solution of this problem. Then conclude by thanking the collegues n announcing that u will follow the following plan of action: then u can state one i will do this, two i will do this and so on. Conclude n just get up from the head of the table n move back to ur chair.Remember u have to finish within 8 minutes its very important.

Some examples that we had in our group were:
Secretary education is discussing the problems in education sector like political interference in teacher transfer etc.
DCO faces problem that a big feudal lord ofhis district dies leaving behind a very young son. The uncle of the child wants to kill him. DCO has to come up with a solution in which both parties r to be kept satisfied.
Secretary health has the problem of emission of industrial sulphuric gas in the open n it is causing a chaos. He has to give solution to this problem.

Hope these will help u.

__________________
Luck comes to those who Believe!

psy test r as important as other phases of css.it is to determine ur group and off course interview marks.............
if u r most suitable for x group then if ur interview z good u would get elevated to that group if u have low score in written.........if u have good score in written then they would adjust accordingly to give u that x group.

if ur scoring good in written but dnt deserve good group then offcourse u would not b given good marks n intervw.............

thnks

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[FONT="Comic Sans MS"]Engineer Aamer Khattak[/FONT]

My experience was kinda different from what i was expecting. I did some blunders which i thought would cost me dearly but obviously they haven't. I appeared in CSS 2006. I have scored 236 in the interview and i have been told that this is the highest score this year (for the interviews).

For the psychological test, my suggestion to u all is, take it easy. I totally agree with Clock. I havent had a govt job.

The first day of psychological test is all about writing. Just try to be yourself and do not try to project yourself as super human or something.
The second day involves group discussion, command task and an informal interview with the psychologists' panel. In the discussion, you do not have to take the initiative. You can listen to others and then speak. Try to be logical and do not speak for the sake of speaking. You can second your colleagues or differ from them. In the command task, use common sense, that's it. As clock said, initiate the meeting by saying something like " The reason i have called this meeting is cos we are facing a situation.....". Explain the situation and then start taking suggestions from your colleagues. One of'em would be noting down the minutes of meeting, take his feedback and then conclude. You may alter your conclusion if u r given a suggestion which sounds better than your own or you can stick to your original conclusion.
The psychologists observe your confidence and leadership qualities.

I have already explained details of my interview in another thread.

Regards

How long is the duration of the group discussion?

And can some senior please share a bit about the informal interview session?

this year the group discussion have been 15 minute each.

__________________
Mahmood Khattak
Pakistan Customs Service
36th CTP