ISSB Call Letter & 4-Day Schedule 2026
Once you clear the initial test and medical, the next milestone is your ISSB call letter. This page explains where the call letter appears, what your reporting instructions mean, exactly what happens on each of the four days at Kohat, Malir, Gujranwala or Quetta, and the kit you must carry.
At a glance
ISSB testing
ISSB is a service-wide board used by the Army, Navy and PAF. Your entry (PMA Long Course, AFNS, LCC, GD Pilot, Navy) changes the vacancy competition, not the testing format.
How you reach ISSB
The call letter is the fourth step, not the first — everything before it must be cleared.
Clear the initial test
You must pass the written intelligence and academic test at an Army Selection & Recruitment Centre (or the equivalent PAF/Navy centre) before any ISSB call is generated.
Clear physical & preliminary interview
The centre records your physical fitness result and a short preliminary interview. Both must be marked fit before your file moves forward.
Clear the medical
A military hospital medical checks height, weight-for-height, vision, hearing, dental and general fitness. Temporary rejections can sometimes be re-examined within the same cycle.
Receive the call letter
The call letter appears in your online account on the recruitment portal with your board, batch, chest number and reporting date. Print it and carry it with your original documents.
The 4-day ISSB schedule
What actually happens each day, in order.
Arrival & screening day
Documents are verified, you are allotted a chest number, and you sit a screening test: intelligence tests plus a written 'Sentence Completion' and personal information form. A portion of candidates is screened out and returns home the same day.
Day 1 — psychological tests
Full psychological battery: verbal and non-verbal intelligence, Thematic Apperception Test (picture stories), Word Association Test, Sentence Completion and a self-description. Write naturally and consistently — the psychologist compares your written self with your behaviour in group tasks.
Day 2 — GTO series (part 1)
Group Testing Officer tasks outdoors: Group Discussion, Group Planning (military planning exercise), Progressive Group Task and Half Group Task. You are assessed on cooperation, initiative and practical reasoning under time pressure.
Day 3 — GTO series (part 2) & interview
Individual Obstacles (usually 10 obstacles against the clock), Command Task where you lead two subordinates, Individual Lecturette and Final Group Task. Most candidates also have their formal interview with the Deputy President on this day.
Day 4 — conference & result
The board conference reviews every assessor's notes. Some candidates are called in briefly. Results are declared as Recommended or Not Recommended; recommended candidates then wait for the final merit list and GHQ approval.
What each ISSB test is really measuring
Three assessors score you independently — psychologist, GTO and interviewing officer.
Speed-based verbal and non-verbal reasoning. Practise the same way you did for the initial test — this is the one purely trainable ISSB stage.
TAT stories, word association, sentence completion and self-description. Assessed for consistency, realism, responsibility and social maturity — not for dramatic answers.
Clear speaking, listening, contributing a workable plan and accepting better ideas. Dominating the group scores worse than cooperating with it.
Practical outdoor obstacles with planks, ropes and load. Effective physical contribution and teamwork matter more than shouting instructions.
Around 10 timed obstacles for stamina and courage, then a task where you command two helpers. Plan aloud, brief clearly, and stay calm when the plan fails.
A 3-minute talk on a chosen topic after brief preparation. Structure it as opening, three points, conclusion, and speak on current national topics you actually follow.
Personal history, family, studies, hobbies, why you want to serve, current affairs and situational judgement. Honesty is checked against your written forms.
How to prepare for ISSB in the weeks before reporting
You cannot cram a personality — but you can arrive fit, informed and coherent.
Keep intelligence practice alive
The screening test is the same style as your initial test. Twenty verbal and twenty non-verbal questions a day keeps your speed sharp until reporting day.
Train for the obstacles
Build upper-body strength, grip and stamina: running, push-ups, chin-ups, rope climbing and jumping. The individual obstacle group is where unfit candidates visibly struggle.
Rehearse speaking aloud
Practise 3-minute lecturettes on ten current topics and speak in front of family or a mirror. Fluency under mild pressure is a trainable skill.
Write out your own story
Prepare truthful, specific answers about your family, school, results, hobbies, strengths and weaknesses. Your written forms and interview must agree.
Practise planning exercises
Work through military planning problems: read the situation, list the problems, prioritise, allocate resources and give a clear time-bound plan.
Pack and settle logistics early
Arrange travel, documents and kit days in advance. Candidates who arrive late or with missing originals start the board under avoidable stress.
Walk into ISSB prepared, not surprised
Tabir Academy's Armed Forces course covers the ISSB screening intelligence tests, planning-exercise practice, lecturette topics and interview preparation alongside initial-test drills and full-length mocks.
Have a voucher? Redeem it on the course page.
Join Pak Army guide
Initial test pattern
PMA Long Course guide
PAF GD Pilot guide
ISSB kit list
Boards provide accommodation and meals for the duration of testing. Keep valuables and electronics to a minimum.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check my ISSB call letter?
ISSB call letters are issued through your account on the official recruitment portal you registered on (for example joinpakarmy.gov.pk for Army entries). Log in with your registration credentials and open your dashboard or 'call letter' section; the letter states your board, batch, chest number and reporting date. Selection centres also inform candidates by SMS or phone.
How many days is ISSB?
ISSB testing runs for four days after an arrival and screening day, so plan for about five days at the board including travel and departure.
What is the ISSB 4-day schedule?
Screening day: document check, chest number and screening intelligence and written tests. Day 1: psychological tests. Day 2: GTO group discussion, group planning and group tasks. Day 3: individual obstacles, command task, lecturette and the interview. Day 4: board conference and result declaration.
Where are the ISSB centres in Pakistan?
ISSB boards operate at Kohat, Malir (Karachi), Gujranwala and Quetta. Your call letter tells you which board you are assigned to; you cannot choose it yourself.
What should I bring to ISSB?
Your printed call letter, original CNIC or B-Form, original and copied academic documents, passport-size photographs, sports kit (shoes, shorts, T-shirt, tracksuit), formal clothes for the interview, toiletries, and any prescribed medicines with documentation.
What does 'Recommended' and 'Conference' mean at ISSB?
'Recommended' means the board considers you suitable for commission and your name goes forward for the final merit list and GHQ approval. 'Not Recommended' ends that attempt. Being called to the conference simply means the board wants to see you again before deciding — it is neither good news nor bad news on its own.
How many attempts at ISSB are allowed?
Candidates are generally allowed a limited number of ISSB attempts across their eligibility period, and a repeat attempt must be for a fresh entry within the age and education limits. The exact attempt policy is restated in each advertisement.
Is ISSB harder than the initial test?
It is different rather than harder. The initial test rewards speed and syllabus revision; ISSB assesses personality, communication, teamwork and physical courage over four days, which is why consistency matters more than memorised answers.