I woke up on Day 2 at 5:30 AM, my body aching from the first day, my mind racing with anxiety. The guy on the bunk above me was already dressed, pacing the room. Nobody had slept well.
Day 1 had been about introduction — the GTO's welcome, the first psych tests, the group discussion, the lecturette. But Day 2? That's where things got real.
Day 2 is known among candidates as the "mental marathon." You'll face the heaviest concentration of intelligence tests and psychological assessments. By the end of it, your brain feels like it's been through a blender. But if you know exactly what's coming, you can pace yourself and perform better.
Let me walk you through every hour, every test, and every tricky moment I experienced — plus what I learned from candidates who passed.
The Morning of Day 2 — Waking Up to Pressure
The first thing you'll notice on Day 2 is the silence. Everyone is nervous. The jokes from Day 1 are gone. People are eating breakfast quietly, staring at their plates.
I remember checking my watch multiple times before 7 AM. The GTO hadn't even arrived yet, but I could feel the tension in the room.
What I learned: Don't skip breakfast. Your brain needs glucose for the IQ tests. I forced myself to eat two chapattis and an egg even though I felt nauseous. That decision probably saved my performance later.
Hour-by-Hour Breakdown of Day 2
| Time | Activity | Key Things to Know |
|---|---|---|
| 6:30 – 7:00 AM | Morning assembly & roll call | Same routine as Day 1. You'll be gathered in the hall. Names checked again. Any announcements about schedule changes. |
| 7:00 – 7:15 AM | Instructions by GTO/Psychologist | They explain the format for today's tests. Listen carefully. Some centers start with psych tests, others with IQ. The order can swap. |
| 7:15 – 9:00 AM | Psychological Tests (Second Battery) | Usually includes another TAT set (6-8 new pictures), WAT (50-100 words), and SCT (30-50 sentences). The stories and words are different from Day 1. The psychologist is testing consistency — are your responses genuine or rehearsed? |
| 9:00 – 9:30 AM | Tea Break | Short break. Use it to stretch and reset your mind. Don't discuss the tests with other candidates — it only increases anxiety. |
| 9:30 – 11:30 AM | Intelligence Tests – Verbal IQ | Verbal analogies, synonyms/antonyms, sentence completion, reading comprehension, arithmetic reasoning. Speed is critical. You'll have around 50-60 questions in 45-60 minutes. |
| 11:30 – 12:00 PM | Break (brief) | Water and restroom. Don't exhaust yourself mentally. |
| 12:00 – 1:30 PM | Intelligence Tests – Non-Verbal IQ | Pattern recognition, figure matrices, odd one out, coding-decoding, paper folding, cube counting. These test your visual-spatial reasoning. Again, speed over perfection. |
| 1:30 – 2:30 PM | Lunch Break | Eat a balanced meal. Avoid heavy carbs that make you sleepy. Protein and vegetables are good choices. |
| 2:30 – 4:00 PM | Self-Description Check & Additional Psych Tasks | You'll be given your self-description form from Day 1. The psychologist may ask you to expand on certain points. Sometimes they ask you to write a second self-description to check consistency. Be honest and consistent. |
| 4:00 – 5:00 PM | Group Planning Task (GPT) – Indoor Briefing | The GTO explains the Group Planning Task scenario. You'll get a map or diagram and have to plan as a team. No action yet — just planning on paper. Practice taking initiative but listening to others. |
| 5:00 – 6:00 PM | Free Time / Preparation for Day 3 | Some centers allow you to rest. Others may have a brief session on the obstacle course layout. Use this time to mentally prepare for physical tasks on Day 3. |
| 6:00 – 7:00 PM | Dinner | Again, eat smart. Tomorrow is physically demanding. Carbohydrates are okay now for energy storage. |
| 7:00 – 8:00 PM | Briefing for Day 3 | GTO explains the outdoor tasks: obstacle course, Progressive Group Task (PGT), Command Task. Listen carefully to rules. Ask questions if unclear. |
| 8:00 – 9:00 PM | Personal time & lights out prep | Pack your sports shoes and track suit for tomorrow. Set your alarm. Try to sleep early. Physical tasks require energy and focus. |
| 9:00 PM | Lights Out | Sleep. Even if you can't sleep, rest your body. Day 3 will test your physical endurance. |
The Psychological Tests on Day 2 — What's Different?
Most candidates think the psych tests are done after Day 1. They're not. Day 2 often has a second battery — and it's designed to catch inconsistencies.
Why a Second Battery?
The psychologist compares your Day 1 and Day 2 responses. If your stories are wildly different in tone or values, it raises a red flag. For example, if on Day 1 you wrote stories about helping others, but on Day 2 your stories were all about personal ambition and winning at any cost — that inconsistency suggests you're not genuine.
What the Second Battery Includes
- TAT (6-8 new pictures): Same format as Day 1, but the pictures are different. Stick to your honest narrative style. Don't try to "improve" by making stories too heroic.
- WAT (50-100 new words): Some words might be repeated. If your response to "success" on Day 1 was "Success comes from hard work" and on Day 2 you write "Success means nothing without family" — that's inconsistency. Remember your general themes.
- SCT (30-50 sentences): Same pattern. Be consistent. If you wrote "When I am angry, I take deep breaths" on Day 1, don't write "When I am angry, I shout" on Day 2.
My Mistake on the Second Battery
On my first attempt, I thought I needed to make my Day 2 stories "better" than Day 1. So I wrote more dramatic, action-filled stories. The psychologist later hinted (through a question in the interview) that my stories seemed "inconsistent." That probably hurt my score.
Lesson: Be yourself. Both days. Consistency is more important than perfection.
Intelligence Tests — What You'll Actually See
The IQ tests on Day 2 are split into verbal and non-verbal sections. Here's what I remember from both attempts.
Verbal IQ Test
This tests your language-based reasoning. Typical question types:
- Analogies: "Doctor is to hospital as teacher is to ______."
- Synonyms/Antonyms: "Which word is closest in meaning to 'Benevolent'?"
- Sentence completion: "Despite the rain, the team ______ playing." (continued / stopped / started)
- Reading comprehension: A short paragraph followed by 3-4 questions.
- Arithmetic reasoning: Word problems involving percentages, ratios, averages.
My tip: Read each question twice. The biggest trap is misreading a word like "except" or "not."
Non-Verbal IQ Test
This tests pattern recognition and spatial reasoning. No words involved.
- Figure matrices: A 3x3 grid with a missing piece. Find the pattern.
- Odd one out: Which shape doesn't belong?
- Coding-decoding: A pattern of symbols corresponds to numbers or letters. Decode the next one.
- Paper folding: A paper is folded and holes punched. Which unfolded pattern is correct?
- Cube counting: Count how many cubes are in a 3D stack.
My tip: Non-verbal questions often have time pressure. If a question takes more than 45 seconds, skip it and come back. Don't get stuck.
Common Mistakes on Day 2 IQ Tests
| Mistake | Why It Hurts | How to Avoid It |
|---|---|---|
| Spending too long on one question | You run out of time for easier questions later | Skip after 45 seconds. Mark it and return if time allows. |
| Guessing randomly without elimination | Reduces your chance of correct answer | Eliminate obviously wrong options first, then guess from remaining. |
| Panicking when you see difficult questions | Lowers confidence for entire test | Remember: the test is designed to have questions you can't answer. Move on. |
| Not checking your answer sheet | Silly mistakes like filling wrong bubble | In the last 2 minutes, quickly scan that question numbers match. |
| Exhausting yourself mentally before GTO tasks | Poor performance on physical tasks later | Pace yourself. Use breaks to relax your eyes and mind. |
The Group Planning Task (GPT) Briefing
Late afternoon on Day 2, you'll get a briefing on the Group Planning Task. This is an indoor activity where your group is given a scenario — like crossing a river with limited resources — and you must plan together on paper.
What I observed:
- The GTO gives you a diagram and a problem statement.
- Your group has 15-20 minutes to discuss and draw a plan.
- Everyone must contribute. If you sit silent, you're marked down.
- The plan doesn't have to be perfect. It has to be logical and show teamwork.
My tip: Don't try to be the sole leader. Suggest an idea, but invite others: "What if we use the rope here? Ahmed, what do you think?" That shows leadership through inclusion, not domination.
How I Survived Day 2 — Lessons From Both Attempts
On my first attempt, Day 2 broke me. I finished the IQ tests feeling drained. I had skipped breakfast, so by 11 AM my energy crashed. I made careless mistakes on the non-verbal section because I couldn't concentrate.
On my second attempt, I did three things differently:
- Ate a proper breakfast. Protein and complex carbs. No sugary tea that spikes and crashes your energy.
- Used the breaks wisely. I didn't discuss answers with anyone. I closed my eyes, took deep breaths, and imagined myself performing well.
- Paced myself on IQ tests. I aimed to answer 80% of questions correctly rather than rushing through all 100%. Accuracy mattered more than completion.
The result? I felt in control. Even when a question stumped me, I didn't panic. I moved on. That mental calm carried me through the rest of the day.
What to Pack for Day 2 Evening & Day 3 Morning
By the end of Day 2, you need to prepare for physical tasks. Don't wait until morning.
- Track suit or sports clothes – Lay them out before sleeping.
- Sports shoes – Preferably ones you've worn before. New shoes can cause blisters.
- Water bottle – For the outdoor tasks.
- Small towel – To wipe sweat.
- Extra socks – In case your feet get wet or muddy.
- Energy snacks (if allowed) – Some centers allow dates or dry fruits. Check with staff.
Final Thoughts on Day 2
Day 2 is the brain day. It's designed to exhaust your mental faculties so your true personality emerges — the one that can't hide behind rehearsed answers. That's why consistency in psych tests matters. That's why IQ test speed matters.
If you feel tired or make mistakes, don't dwell on them. The day isn't over. You still have the GPT briefing and the chance to show leadership in planning. Every minute is an opportunity to demonstrate your potential.
And remember: Day 3 is physical. Rest well tonight. Your mind has done its heavy lifting. Tomorrow, your body takes over.
You've made it through Day 1. You're surviving Day 2. One more day to go. Stay strong.
Disclaimer: This breakdown is based on my personal experience and accounts from multiple candidates at different ISSB centers. Schedules and test formats may vary slightly between batches and services (Army, Navy, Air Force). Always follow instructions given by the staff at your center. 🇵🇰
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