SSB: GPE (Group planning exercise); a main testing tool of GTO

Group Planning Exercise(GPE) or sometimes called Military Planning Exercise(MPE) is one of the early group tests done at the SSB procedure. It is generally conducted on day 3 of 5 days SSB procedure. GPE consists of solving and discussing multiple real life problems given in the form of story; The process/conduct of GPE is given as below

1) The group of 10 candidates are made to sit in-front of a wooden model( map of a town/village will be drawn on a wooden board).

2) Group testing officer will explain the map in detail and he also narrate the problem story.

3) later group will be given the story card and 5 minutes to read the story again and relate it with the map given.

4)you will be given with the blank paper and time to write your individual solution.

5) then 15 mins of time is given to the group to discuss the plan and come to a common plan.

6) Group has to nominate a person to narrate the common story.

How to write GPE solution : General approach

while solving any bunch of problems, we need to consider below constraints;

1) Problems with priority: 

we need to identify number of problems and list them according to severity.

example: imagine there are two problems where one of the guy is profoundly bleeding and second one is a cattle is missing; it is obvious that injured guy needs first and immediate attention.

2)Time constraint: 

This factor is kinda inter-coiled with first one and this helps in prioritizing the tasks/problems; In the problem story generally time constraints will be given. 

for example; a bomb is planted and it is expected to explode at 1500hrs etc.

3)Resources:

To solve any of the problems we will have some or the other kind of resources; some of them will be directly given and some of them we will have to assume sensibly.

ALL THE ABOVE WILL MAKE SENSE ONCE YOU SEE THE SAMPLE PROBLEM GIVEN AT THE END.

Solutions:

Based on above three factors we need to make an effective/ sensible solution to various problems in our way. generally the GTO says the number of people in the story are equal to number of candidates in the group present there at GT. The number of people in the group in generally will be 10.

Split the group effectively and then solve the problems one by one. Make sure the end primary goal in mind.

A sample GPE and solution is given below refer to it write your own solution and compare with the sample solution.

MAP:

PROBLEM STORY:

SAMPLE SOLUTION FOR ABOVE GPE: