QUATRAE PREPARATION GUIDE
SSB Screening Preparation Guide: OIR and PPDT Strategy
Screening combines individual reasoning performance with a group task. Prepare OIR and PPDT as separate skills, then practise the transition between them.
Reviewed by the QUATRAE Editorial Team · Updated 8 October 2026
Build OIR accuracy before speed
Learn the common verbal and non-verbal patterns, then use timed sets to reduce decision time. Track skipped and guessed questions separately.
Use a fixed PPDT observation checklist
Count characters, note broad age and mood, locate the setting and identify the central activity. This reduces invented details when the picture is unclear.
Practise narration on the clock
Record yourself. Check opening clarity, sequence, pace, eye contact and whether the outcome is reached without rushing.
Train group contribution
Practise listening, entering at a useful moment, summarising common ideas and helping the group move toward one story.
Frequently asked questions
Is OIR alone enough to clear screening?
Screening considers the complete Stage I performance; prepare both OIR and PPDT.
How should I structure screening preparation?
Alternate OIR drills, PPDT stories and spoken narration, then combine them in timed simulations.
Explore Screening preparation
How this guide was prepared
QUATRAE’s editorial team reviewed the current timed practice format, official test structure where publicly available, recurring learner errors in the platform’s aggregate practice data, and the representative material shown in product previews. Guidance is educational, avoids selection guarantees, and is revised when the practice format changes.