The Inter Services Selection Board (ISSB) is the premier testing organization for the selection of commissioned officers in the Pakistan Army (PMA), Pakistan Navy, and Pakistan Air Force (PAF). The 5-day ISSB process is designed to test a candidate's mental agility, leadership potential, and psychological fitness.
Before reaching the ISSB, candidates must clear the Initial Test at the Army/Navy/PAF selection centers. Both the Initial Test and the ISSB feature heavily computerized MCQs that determine your success. A candidate must demonstrate rapid decision-making and strong basic knowledge.
ISSB & Initial Test Syllabus Breakdown
To help you prepare comprehensively, this practice test covers the three most critical components of the Armed Forces selection tests:
- Military General Knowledge: Facts about Pakistan Armed Forces, Nishan-e-Haider, Ghazawat, and national history.
- Mechanical Aptitude Test (MAT): Basic physics questions regarding gears, pulleys, speed, and levers to test your practical understanding.
- Situation Reaction Test (SRT): Psychological questions where you are given a crisis situation to check your Officer Like Qualities (OLQ).
Interactive ISSB Mock Test (100 MCQs)
Step into the shoes of an officer! Attempt the 100 crucial MCQs below. Click "Show My Result" at the end of the test to get an instant evaluation and see the detailed explanations for the psychological and mechanical questions.
📝 Interactive Practice Test (100 MCQs)
Exp: Nishan-e-Haider is the highest military award of Pakistan, awarded for extraordinary bravery in the face of the enemy.
Exp: The General Headquarters (GHQ) of the Pakistan Army is situated in Rawalpindi, Punjab.
Exp: Defence Day is celebrated on 6th September in memory of the sacrifices made by the Pakistani armed forces in the 1965 war.
Exp: Air Force Day is celebrated on 7th September to mark the achievements of the Pakistan Air Force during the 1965 Indo-Pak war.
Exp: Navy Day is celebrated on 8th September in commemoration of Operation Dwarka during the 1965 war.
Exp: General Sir Frank Messervy was the first Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army from August 1947 to February 1948.
Exp: General Ayub Khan became the first native Muslim Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army in 1951.
Exp: A Major in the Army is equivalent to a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy and a Squadron Leader in the Air Force.
Exp: A Colonel in the Army is equivalent to a Group Captain in the Air Force and a Captain in the Navy. (Wait, let's fix options). Let's use Wing Commander vs Group Captain. Actually, Colonel = Group Captain. So A is correct. Let's make it simpler. Correct Ans: A Colonel (Army) = Group Captain (PAF) = Captain (Navy).
Exp: Eleven personnel have been awarded the Nishan-e-Haider. The 11th is Naik Saif Ali Janjua (awarded Hilal-e-Kashmir, declared equivalent to Nishan-e-Haider).
Exp: PMA Kakul is located near Abbottabad in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It is the premier training institution for Army officers.
Exp: The Pakistan Air Force Academy Asghar Khan is located in Risalpur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Exp: The Pakistan Naval Academy PNS Rahbar is situated at Manora, Karachi.
Exp: The Al-Khalid tank was jointly developed by Pakistan and China (where it is known as MBT-2000).
Exp: The PAC JF-17 Thunder is developed jointly by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) and China's Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC).
Exp: The Siachen Glacier, located in the eastern Karakoram range, is known as the highest and coldest battlefield in the world.
Exp: The motto of the Pakistan Army is "Iman, Taqwa, Jihad fi Sabilillah" (Faith, Piety, and Struggle in the path of Allah).
Exp: Agni is a series of ballistic missiles developed by India. Shaheen, Ghauri, and Ghaznavi are Pakistani missiles.
Exp: Captain Sarwar was the first recipient of the Nishan-e-Haider, martyred during the first Kashmir War in 1948.
Exp: Major Raja Aziz Bhatti was awarded the Nishan-e-Haider for his gallantry in defending the BRB Canal in Lahore during the 1965 war.
Exp: Rashid Minhas is the only PAF officer to receive the Nishan-e-Haider, martyred in 1971.
Exp: Captain Karnal Sher Khan fought bravely and embraced martyrdom during the Kargil Conflict in 1999.
Exp: The ISI, Pakistan's premier intelligence agency, was founded in 1948 by British Army officer Major General R. Cawthome.
Exp: The SSG is the elite special operations force of the Pakistan Army, often referred to as the "Maroon Berets".
Exp: The LoC is the de facto border dividing the region of Kashmir between India and Pakistan.
Exp: In gears, speed is inversely proportional to the number of teeth. Since Gear B has twice the teeth, it will rotate half as fast as Gear A.
Exp: A large gear driving a small gear increases the rotational speed (RPM) but decreases the output torque (force).
Exp: A seesaw is a first-class lever, where the fulcrum (pivot point) is in the middle, between the effort and the load.
Exp: A block and tackle system uses multiple pulleys to increase mechanical advantage, significantly reducing the effort needed to lift a load.
Exp: According to the principle of continuity in fluid dynamics, as the cross-sectional area of a pipe decreases, the velocity of the fluid must increase.
Exp: At the lowest point (the bottom of the arc), all potential energy has been converted to kinetic energy, making the speed and kinetic energy the highest.
Exp: When identical springs are in parallel, the total load is distributed equally among them. So each holds half the weight.
Exp: Torque equals Force times Distance from the pivot. A longer handle (distance) gives greater mechanical advantage (torque) for the same effort.
Exp: A triangle is rigid and stable because its angles cannot change without changing the length of its sides, unlike squares or rectangles.
Exp: Keeping the work closer to the pivot (your hand/shoulder) gives you better control and reduces the resisting torque against your muscles.
Exp: With a standard (straight) belt drive, both pulleys rotate in the same direction. A crossed belt would make them rotate in opposite directions.
Exp: To balance a lever, Force1 × Distance1 = Force2 × Distance2. A heavier force requires a shorter distance to the pivot to equalize the torque.
Exp: Car brakes rely entirely on friction to convert the car's kinetic energy into heat, thereby slowing down the vehicle.
Exp: Earth's gravity pulls objects towards its center, causing them to accelerate as they fall.
Exp: A short, steep ramp provides less mechanical advantage. It requires more effort over a shorter distance compared to a long, gentle ramp.
Exp: The pattern multiplies each number by 2. (24 x 2 = 48).
Exp: A book is used for reading, and a fork is used for eating.
Exp: The letters are coded by their alphabetical position: C=3, A=1, R=18. So, D=4, O=15, G=7 -> 4157.
Exp: Potato is a vegetable, whereas the others are fruits.
Exp: Starts North, turns right (East), turns right again (faces South).
Exp: Yesterday = Monday, so Today = Tuesday. Tomorrow = Wednesday. Day after tomorrow = Thursday.
Exp: "Only daughter of my mother" is the woman herself. So, the man's mother is the woman. She is his mother.
Exp: These are the squares of consecutive numbers: 1², 2², 3², 4², 5², so the next is 6² = 36.
Exp: A doctor provides professional services to a patient; a lawyer provides services to a client.
Exp: A circle has no straight sides or corners, unlike the polygons.
Exp: ISSB looks for empathy, responsibility, and quick decision-making. Saving a life takes priority over personal goals. An officer takes charge.
Exp: Shows leadership, crisis management, resourcefulness, and care for the men under command.
Exp: Shows conflict resolution skills, maturity, and team-building capability. An officer resolves internal conflicts.
Exp: Shows extreme honesty and civic responsibility, core Officer Like Qualities (OLQ).
Exp: Shows obedience, determination, and practical problem-solving. An officer attempts the impossible before giving up.
Exp: Shows moral courage, loyalty (true loyalty means preventing a friend from ruin), and adherence to discipline.
Exp: Shows presence of mind, practical knowledge, and keeping cool under pressure.
Exp: This tests the "Lead by Example" trait. An officer inspires his men rather than just commanding them.
Exp: Shows courage balanced with logic and civic sense. Courage doesn't mean foolishly getting killed; it means taking calculated, effective action.
Exp: Shows honesty, self-awareness, and confidence. Bluffing is a highly negative trait in the armed forces.
Exp: Each number is multiplied by 2. 40 * 2 = 80.
Exp: A collection of trees is a forest. A collection of soldiers makes an army.
Exp: A leap year is generally divisible by 4. 2024 is divisible by 4.
Exp: Brass is an alloy (mixture), whereas the others are pure elemental metals.
Exp: 3 cats catch 3 mice in 3 minutes. This means those same 3 cats catch 1 mouse per minute. Over 100 minutes, the same 3 cats will catch 100 mice.
Exp: Turning 180 degrees means facing the exact opposite direction. The opposite of East is West.
Exp: A is the brother of C (since they are siblings). C is the father of D. Therefore, A is the uncle of D.
Exp: The series skips one letter backward in the alphabet. Z(y)X(w)V(u)T(s)R.
Exp: Run, Walk, and Jump are active physical movements. Sleep is a state of rest.
Exp: B=2, A=1, T=20. C=3, A=1, T=20 -> 3120.
Exp: A screw is an inclined plane wrapped around a central cylinder.
Exp: Hydraulics multiply force. The pressure remains the same, but the larger area of the second piston results in a larger total force.
Exp: Thermal expansion causes the metal to expand outward in all directions, so the hole in the middle also gets larger.
Exp: Copper is a highly conductive metal, widely used in electrical wiring.
Exp: Shock absorbers dissipate the kinetic energy of the suspension springs (converting it to heat), stopping the car from bouncing uncontrollably.
Exp: Gravity accelerates all objects at the same rate (9.8 m/s²), regardless of mass, in a vacuum.
Exp: Bevel gears are conically shaped and transmit motion between intersecting shafts, typically at a 90-degree angle.
Exp: Rolling friction is significantly less than sliding (kinetic) friction, making wheeled transport efficient.
Exp: Saltwater is denser than freshwater. Objects float higher in denser liquids due to greater buoyant force.
Exp: Train wheels have an inner lip called a flange that keeps them guided along the rails.
Exp: Shows extreme presence of mind, immediate action, and practical thinking to prevent a massive disaster.
Exp: Highlights discipline, professional ethics, and respect for the chain of command while still offering constructive input.
Exp: Shows adaptability, leadership, and care for troops/equipment without abandoning the mission.
Exp: A core principle of military leadership: A leader takes the blame for failure but gives the credit for success to the team.
Exp: Shows absolute dedication to duty and the principle that "Service comes before self".
Exp: Paris is the capital city of France.
Exp: These are the cubes of consecutive integers. (1³, 2³, 3³, 4³). The next is 5³ = 125.
Exp: Mumbai is a commercial city, while the others are capital cities.
Exp: A pen writes using ink; a pencil writes using lead (graphite).
Exp: Subtract the mirror time from 11:60 to get actual time. 11:60 - 3:15 = 8:45.
Exp: The pivot point of a lever is scientifically termed the fulcrum.
Exp: An engine is a complex machine made of many parts. The others are classical simple machines.
Exp: Initiative, courage, and social responsibility.
Exp: The difference between numbers doubles each time (+2, +4, +8, +16). Next difference is +32. 33+32=65.
Exp: See, Hear, and Taste are physical senses. Think is a mental process.
Exp: Bernoulli's principle states that faster-moving air over the curved top of the wing creates lower pressure, resulting in upward lift.
Exp: Integrity and zero tolerance for unfair means. An officer must be honest and enforce rules.
Exp: Let son=x, mother=2x. Equation: (2x-20) = 10(x-20). Solving gives x=22.5. Mother is 2x = 45 years old.
Exp: Horse is a domesticated animal, while the others are exclusively wild animals.
Exp: A long handle provides greater leverage (torque) for the same amount of applied force.
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