Understanding ISSB Psychological Tests
The psychological assessment at ISSB is designed to evaluate your personality, mental health, leadership potential, and psychological stability. Many candidates who pass the screening test fail at the psychological stage because they don't prepare for it properly.
1. Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)
You are shown 11 pictures (plus one blank slide). For each picture, you have 4 minutes to write a story.
How to Write a Good TAT Story:
- Identify a character: Make the main character a young person (similar to you)
- Create a situation: What is happening in the picture?
- Show positive action: The character should take initiative and solve a problem
- End positively: The story should have a successful, constructive ending
TAT Tips:
- Your stories should reflect leadership, determination, and positive thinking
- Avoid writing about death, violence, or negative themes
- Keep stories realistic — don't write fantasy or superhero stories
- The blank slide is important — write about your own ambitions and goals
2. Word Association Test (WAT)
You are shown 40 words one by one. Each word stays on screen for 15 seconds. You must write a sentence for each word.
WAT Examples:
- Courage: "A soldier showed courage by saving his teammate under fire."
- Failure: "Failure teaches us valuable lessons for future success."
- Mother: "My mother inspires me to work hard every day."
- War: "Our forces defended the nation bravely during the war."
WAT Rules:
- Write positive, constructive sentences
- Show action and initiative in your sentences
- Use first person ("I") for some sentences to show personal involvement
- Never write negative, passive, or violent sentences
3. Self Description Test
Write what your parents, teachers, friends, and you yourself think about you. You get 15 minutes.
Template:
- Parents: "My parents consider me a responsible and hardworking son/daughter who always supports the family."
- Teachers: "My teachers appreciate my dedication to studies and my active participation in class."
- Friends: "My friends see me as a reliable person who is always ready to help."
- Yourself: "I consider myself a determined individual who learns from mistakes and strives for excellence."
Golden Rule
All your psychological responses should show that you are: positive, action-oriented, responsible, a team player, and mentally stable. This is what the assessors are looking for.
Start practicing with our ISSB preparation quizzes!