Written and Intelligence Test in ISSB

Intelligence Test
The mode of these written intelligence tests for the selection of suitable officers for the Defense Forces of Pakistan at the ISSB is not very difficult. The candidate is required to make use of his acquired knowledge and his own inborn intelligence to solve problems. The questions set in these tests do not require long answers, but they are required to reply in “yes” or “no” or put a tick around the correct answer or to write the serial number of the correct answer out of a few suggested answers on the given sheet of paper, which usually begin from easy to lengthy questions. Although, question set in these tests are not so difficult but the time of answering these questions is short. The candidate has to make up his high speed in answering these numerous questions.

” There are two kinds of intelligence tests, Verbal and Non-verbal.
Verbal Tests
In Verbal Tests, the items are expressed in language forms. These tests are of various types, like;

• Inserting of missing letter
  Example: Day is to night as truth is to “Falsehood”. (In this sentence the missing word falsehood has been inserted)
  Example 2: Man is to run as bird is to ———
  Answers: Fly, Run, Weak (correct answer is Fly),
• Inserting of missing number or figure
  Example: Complete the series:
  2, 6, 9, 13, 16, –, –In missing figure questions, a series of drawing or patterns or designs are arranged in the particular pattern and the candidate is asked to choose the required figures out of the choices indicated, which will come next in the series. These are the non-verbal types of tests.
• Words Forming
  This test measure the ability of the candidate in word building. Here, the words are built either by prefixing (before) or suffixing (fixing at the end) new letters or taking off from or adding new letters to the body of the words.Example: Imagine a single letter which when added to the body of the following words forms entirely new words;
  FIST, TICK, HEAT, BUST
  Solution: The candidate will see that if the word R is added to each of the given words then new words will be; FIRST, TRICK, HEART, BURST
  Hence the answer is R
• Jumbled Words
  The word jumble means to be mixed together without order.
  Example: Which choice mentions the last letter of the word from the following jumbled spelling?
  Choices: L, B, F, T
  Answer: L (the correct word is Football)
• Formation of correct sentence
  Example: Rearrange the following jumbled words to form a sensible sentence.
  
  • (1)The bud nipped must be evil in the.
    (2)All cats are not cats but all animals are animals.
    (3)One of the foretell to shape things cannot come.
  Answers:
  
  • (1)The evil must be nipped in the bud.
    (2)All cats are animals but all animals are not cats.
    (3)One cannot foretell the shape of things to come.
• General knowledge tests
  This is a test of general knowledge where the candidate is required to keep his general knowledge up to date.
• Alphabetical test
  This test is based on alphabets. If a candidate has sharp memory then this question becomes quite simple.
  Example: It takes 3 minutes to boil an egg. How much times will it take to boil 6 eggs together?
  Choices: 18, 6, 3
  Answer: 3
• Completion test
  In this test, some letters of the words, whose meaning are given against them are missing, the candidate is asked to fill in those missing letters.
  Example: Insert suitable letters in the following:
  
  • (1)-ar-e (big)
    (2)quick-y (fast)
    (3)-h-rt (not tall)
    (4)-m-ll (not big)
    (5)-LL-H (creator)
  Answer: (2) L G (2)L (3)S O (4)S A (5)AA
• Synonym test
  The word synonym means “a name or word having the same meaning with another”
  Example: Write the number of the pair of the words which do not possess the same kind of meaning as the others?
  
  • (1)Honesty and Integrity
    (2)Bondage and Freedom
    (3)Risk and Danger
    (4)Pain and Agony
  Answer: (2)
• Direction test
  This test required a keen sense of section. The candidate must remember the distance covered in the direction. This will help him to answer the question correctly.
  Example: If you start from point A and walk 5 miles towards the west, then turn right and walk 4 miles towards the north, then turn right again and walk 3 miles, then which choices mentions the direction in which you are going?
  Choices: North, South, West, East
  Answer: East
• Spotting the stranger
  The candidates are supplied a group of words or numerical values in this test. Some of the words in group relate to one particular class but one or more words do not belong to that class.
  Example: Write the number of the subject which is dissimilar from the other subjects;
  Choices: Principal, Professor, Headmaster, Teacher, Students
  Answer is ‘Student’
• Coding and decoding
  Giving code or artificial values to letter of alphabet. The word code means “a collection of digit of law or a system of rules and regulations” . Letters of alphabets in this test do not stand for themselves but for some other letters.
  Example: if Y C V G T means W A T E R then what does H K T G mean?
  Solution: In this question;
  
  • Y stands for W
    C stands for A
    V stands for T
    G stands for E
    T stands for R
  A careful observation brings out that each letter in the alphabets stands for the letter two paces preceding it. Using the same principle, the letter H K T G will stand for F I R E.
• Commonsense test
  This is a simple and easy test and it required only a common sence.
  Example: 5 years ago, khalid was 10 years older then ali. What is the difference between their ages at present?
  Choices: 10, 5, 15
  Answer: 10
• Multiple choice test
  In this test, an incomplete statement is followed by some alternative choices as answers. The candidate is asked to chose one or more suitable choices of answers that complete the question or the statement.
  Example: Which choice answers the following question?
  Islamabad is famous because;
  
  • (1)It is very clear city.
    (2) Numerous foreigners live in it.
    (3) The president lives in it.
    (4) It is the capital of Pakistan.
  Answer is (4)
• Arithmetic test
  These type of tests involves some arithmetic values which are added, multiplied, divide, subtracted by some other numerical values.

Non-Verbal Tests
The non-verbal intelligence tests comprise of;

• Matrix test
  In these tests a series of designs are displayed. The candidate is required to complete the series or delete any particular design which does not relate to the series.
• Word association test
  The word association means, free association in which a word serves as the stimulus object. Candidates are advised that while using a word as stimulus, not to write lengthy sentences. Meaningful and brief sentences are very helpful.
• Thematic apperception (Picture story) test
• Physiological situational test (the story of Theo or Mr. “X”) etc..

Analogy Tests

One word substitution, Insertion of missing letter, Insertion of missing number or figure, Word association, Jumbled words, Sentence completion test, Letter distinction, General Knowledge Test, Alphabetical test, Completion Test, Synonym test, Direction test, Spotting the stranger, Code test, Coding and decoding, Commonsense test, Multiple choice test, Arithmetic test etc.Word association test : This test give an idea to a psychologist whether a candidate can perfectly understand and initiates or originates new ideas in his mind. In ISSB, there are only 50 words which are to be tested. Each word is kept before a candidate in a printed form on a car board. In some cases hand written words may also be displayed. The candidate is given only 15 second for each words for using as a stimulus. i,e. Love, Fortune, Power, Father, Stop etc.

Self Description test
This test is very important test in the series of psychological tests. In this test the candidate is asked to give a pen picture, giving all the good and bad points of himself. This test is also studies by the interviewing officer who first form an opinion regarding the candidate in his mind without seeing or talking to him. Generally, the interview is based on the information given in the self description of the candidate, so as to confirm as to how far the information given by the candidate is correct.You should not conceal your weak points and mention only good points. You should make a free, frank and bold confession of your weakness and faults if any. You should discuss different aspects of your personality separately to make it easier for the psychologist to assess your personality. These aspects could be;

• Physical aspects
• Social aspects
• Educational background
• Parentage and economic status of the family
• Morel and religious practices
• Interest in cultural and co-curricular activities
• Who are your best judges, like what your parents, friends or enemies think about you.