Group discussion and personal interview
Practise exchanging ideas with a group and explaining your own experiences in a personal conversation.
The short answer
TAT involves writing stories in response to pictures. Practise observing the scene and building a coherent account of the people, their situation and their actions.
01
What to expect in TAT
The Army’s public SSB film describes pictures shown on a screen and stories written around the characters and situations. Listen to the instructions for the actual exercise. A preparation guide should not be treated as a substitute for those directions.
02
Build a story from the scene
Start by separating what you can observe from what you infer. A story needs a plausible situation and connected actions. In practice, ask whether the central character’s choices make sense given the setting. You do not need to turn every scene into a crisis or a military operation.
- Name the visible people, objects and setting before interpreting them.
- Choose a plausible problem or purpose.
- Connect actions to the situation instead of listing admirable qualities.
- Give the story a believable ending without inventing unlimited resources.
03
An original story-planning exercise
Scene brief: Three students stand beside a noticeboard in a college corridor. One holds a notebook; another points at a timetable. A classroom door is open nearby. This text brief is a planning exercise, not a picture-based simulation of the actual test. Imagine a reasonable context and write a short story.
04
Review the connection between observation and story
After writing, identify which details came from the scene and which you added. Check whether the actions follow logically and whether the outcome follows from those actions. For visual practice, use an unfamiliar everyday photograph you own or have permission to use. Notice how different images change your account.
05
TAT and PP&DT are different exercises
Both can involve a picture and a narrative, but do not use the names interchangeably. PP&DT belongs to the Stage I screening context and includes discussion. This TAT guide concerns written story practice within psychological testing. Read the separate Stage I guide for the screening setting.
06
How March Ahead Academy can help
A discussion of your original stories can focus on observation, coherence and concise expression. Bring the prompt and your unedited draft so feedback addresses your actual writing habits. No story template can guarantee recommendation.
March Ahead Academy illustrative practice
Try a short practice session
Use the prompts in this article. Review your work for clarity and realistic detail; these review questions are learning aids, not an SSB marking scheme.
- • Use the scene brief above for one original story.
- • Summarise its situation, actions and outcome in one sentence each.
- • Remove details that contradict the scene.
- • Try a different photograph next time instead of memorising the story.
Created by March Ahead Academy. This is not an official, recalled or predictive SSB/AFSB question and is not a model answer.
Common mistakes
What gets in the way of useful preparation
- Using the same plot for every picture.
- Ignoring what is visibly happening.
- Listing virtues instead of telling a coherent story.
- Confusing TAT preparation with the PP&DT group discussion.
Candidate questions
Frequently asked questions
What is TAT in SSB?
TAT means Thematic Apperception Test. Candidates write stories in response to pictures.
Is the exercise here an actual TAT picture?
No. It is an original text scene for practising story planning. Actual picture practice requires a visual stimulus.
Does every story need a dramatic rescue?
No such requirement is established here. In practice, focus on a plausible account that fits the scene.
Official sources used
Official sources describe the process. They do not provide a public bank of live assessment material or a formula for recommendation.