Page 24 - Failure to Triumph - Journey of A Student

My Target Service Selection Board (SSB)

Common Mistakes in TAT

TAT skills are very important in SSB, it’s a main part of psychology test and also PPDT requires
perfect skills of writing a story. Earlier we have discussed about "How to write a story in TAT",

now this post is regarding the common mistakes done by a candidates while attempting TAT.
Conditions Responsible to Make a Story Undesirable and Psychologically Weak

Let’s look into a story, which would put light on the common stories made by the aspirants at the
SSB’s.

Story:
Mahesh hailed from a remote area. He was a

hardworking and sincere student, who always thought
about the development of his village. Mahesh
completed his studies and became an engineer.
Mahesh got posted to his district. He saw that his

village lacked the basic infrastructure and because of
the

Funds, the village could hardly progress. Mahesh along with villagers approached the
administration and requested the roads and bridges on the river. Soon, the Govt. sanctioned a
bridge and a road to the village. Mahesh being the engineer was made the engineer of the
construction work. Road and bridge was constructed, which brought prosperity to the village.

Village became a modern village.

Line-wise Interpretation of the Above Story by the Psychologist

o Mahesh hailed from a remote village area – The first requirement of the TAT is the Hero

identification and not the introduction. Here, the Hero identification is not complete. Another
point here is, you should name the village, district, state etc.
o He was a hardworking and sincere student – Please note that, no unwanted details,

impression management is required and even no adjectives like hard-working, sincere,
national-champion, honest, brave etc. These qualities should be revealed through your
action and through your problem solving behavior.

o He always thought about the development of his village – Was there no one in the village
to think about the development except him? For this, the Hero in the background should not
necessarily be from an engineering background; rather he should be have been introduced

as a social worker.