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ISSB Group Obstacle Test

What is an Obstacle?

An obstacle in G.T.O. tests is an obstruction that hampers or impedes the free movement of the candidate. This is brought about by the introduction of the Out of Bounds rule. The ground or floor area between two boundary lines is declared as out of bounds area. it means that neither the candidates nor the equipment they carry whether they be materials or load should touch the out of bound area. Then how to proceed from one boundary line which we may call as the ‘start line’ to the other which we may call as the ‘finish line’9 To facilitate the movement across the out of bound area without violating the rule, certain wooden or other type of structures or fittings have been erected on the ground. The candidates should cross the out of bound area, lying between the start line and the finish line, by making use of these structures or fittings.

Progressive Group Task

The Group Obstacle Tests include the Progressive Group Task, the Group Obstacle Race, the Half Group Task and the Final Group Task. These are all leaderless group exercises of the outdoor type. The candidates will find them to be very interesting and exciting. En the Progressive Group Task, a group of 8 to 10 candidates are required to cross 4 obstacles in 40 minutes as a whole group This exercise can be termed as the most important task of all G.T.O. test. The G.T.O. comes to tentative conclusion regarding the suitability of the candidate after observing his performance in the Progressive Group Task.

The Group Obstacle Tasks resemble to some extent, the obstacle races conducted in the schools and colleges. The main difference is that the 1.S.S.B. obstacles cannot be negotiated by single individual all by himself. A group of people will be required to negotiate and get through these obstacles. They have beck purposely designed in this manner to test the candidates in group situations.

This is way it is termed as a group task. The adjective progressive’ in the Progressive Group Task indicates that the task becomes progressively more and more difficult. The first task will be rather easy and perhaps a number of candidates may be able to get across the obstacle at the same time. The second obstacle will be a little more difficult and perhaps only two or three can get across at one time, in each stage. The third one will be really difficult and may be only one or at the most two can proceed first and the others may have to follow the leader one after another. The fourth obstacle will be still more difficult.

The candidate, however, must remember that each obstacle will have a number of solutions. They can be negotiated in a number of ways. En that sense, no obstacle is really very difficult. The aspirants should also bear in mind that these obstacles are attempted and cleared by a number of candidates appearing before the board in each batch. The initial difficult level should not baffle the candidate and make him to give up hopes. On the other hand, a little imaginative thinking, appropriate use of the helping materials, active co-operation amongst the candidates and proper planning will easily provide the solution to each obstacle.

The object of the group obstacle tasks is to test the practical ability of the candidate to solve certain concrete problems as a group within a give time. The candidate must remember that he cannot tackle the task independently as a single individual, all by himself. The task can be cleared by him only with the help of the other candidates in the group.

Therefore the candidate’s ability in three spheres ability to find a quick solution to the problem facing the group, ability to influence and sell his ideas to the group and ability to organize the men, materials etc. and execute the plan successfully assumes special significance in these exercises. As this task involves team-work. Co-operation among the candidates will be another important factor. The candidates while tacking the obstacles should reveal these three important abilities and show a co-operative attitude.

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