I believe most of the young-ones in our society possess potential to do well. The what are the reasons for a higher percentage of the candidates failing at ISSB. I feel poor results are attributable to incorrect direction and wrong perceptions about the tests. Since official data on various aspect of the tests at ISSB is not publicly available, all we hear is gossiping, therefore, a mystery surrounds these tests. The purpose of this short article is to describe some of the (possible) key reasons for failure at ISSB and guidelines for prospective candidates. The information and advice contained in this article are personal opinion of the author and ARE NOT OFFICIAL VERSION of ISSB .
Reason of Failure at ISSB and Solutions
Most of the candiates possess abiity to pass get recommendation letter from ISSB. However, overall context of the test needs to be understood and suggested solutions must be implemented with clarity.
No Syllabus | Testing Parameters
Guidance by ISSB lacks clarity. Youtubers become ISSB trainers.
Result: A confused candidate, fear of the unknown, and lack of confidence.
Solutions
⮞ Rely on upbringing, faith, and intelligence.
⮞ ISSB must provide A to Z of testing procedures.
Lack of Formal Guidance
Guidance by ISSB lacks clarity. Youtubers become ISSB trainers.
Result: Incorrect understanding of the ISSB system and compromised candidates' personality.
Solution
⮞ Candidates must rely on instincts and understanding of life.
Lack of Career Counselling
Young candidates are unclear about career direction.
Result: Candidates behave like job seekers "trying their luck", lacking genuine purpose.
Solutions
⮞ Seek formal career counselling before appearing at ISSB.
⮞ Understand clearly why you want to join the armed forces.
Poor Communication Skills
Candidates cannot express ideas eefectively. ISSB is conducted in English.
Result: Candidates cannot say what they want — difficulty in selection.
Solutions
⮞ Write articles on social topics; get feedback from family and friends.
⮞ Discuss national issues within family for 15–30 minutes daily.
Guess Paper Approach
Candidates look for "guess papers" and fixed answers for every sub-test.
Result: Candidates stop using their brain and rely on turnkey guides.
Solutions
⮞ Understand the advantage of originality — your own answers win.
⮞ Discuss originality with family, friends, and mentors.
Perfection Syndrome
Culture of not accepting mistakes forces candidates to appear perfect at ISSB.
Result: Hyperness, hiding weaknesses, slow decisions, overcontrolling, overtrying.
Solutions
⮞ Don't try to be super and best of all — be yourself.
⮞ Be human, not an angel. Shun fears, be simple. You will be selected.
Over-Positivity Mindset
Mentors advise candidates to avoid all criticism and negative words entirely.
Result: Toxic positivity makes candidates defensive and superficial — a laughingstock for selectors.
Solutions
⮞ Be realistic. Don't paint a happy picture of everything.
⮞ Balanced, honest self-presentation is what selectors value.
The Damaging Academies
⮞ Academy "personality development" is a major damaging factor.
⮞ Some channels are run by ISSB-failed persons and civilian mentors.
⮞ Over-emphasis on positivity; masking personality; misleads candidates.
Solutions
⮞ Candidates must never go to academies.
⮞ ISSB should provide adequate online resources instead.
Mad Rush for PDFs
Candidates accumulate extensive unverified "solved" reading material.
Result: Serious damage to analytical thinking.
Solutions
⮞ Rely on own judgment and upbringing.
⮞ ISSB to provide comprehensive guidelines.
A Puppet Not a Real Person
Candidates rely on youtubers, acadamies and notes, instead of using own mind.
Result: They become puppets whose string are being pulled remotely.
Solutions
⮞ Learn idependant decision making.
⮞ Learn to pick and reject instead of adopting to every info.
Lack of Faith — Major Cause of Failure
⮞ Fear of failure forces candidates into all the mistakes listed above.
⮞ Lack of faith in Allah — candidates resort to dishonesty to pass.
⮞ Candidates seek a short, all-encompassing trick to get through.
The Way Forward
⮞ Have faith, confidence, and self-belief.
⮞ Believe in Allah the Almighty.
⮞ Work hard to learn and improve — and have belief in yourself. It's done.
Watch: ISSB Failure Reasons — Video Lecture
Twenty Individual Mistakes to Avoid at ISSB
Avoid these mistakes to improve your chances of getting recommended. These are individual traits which become reason of failure at ISSB
FAQs — Why 85% Candidates Fail at ISSB
Common questions answered. Ask further questions in the comments or at our ISSB Forum.
- 35 candidates in one class receive identical dictation on strengths and weaknesses — producing robotic, uniform responses at ISSB.
- Academies teach how to pass, not how to be a better person. ISSB selects better persons, not test scorers.
- Many channels and academies are run by persons who failed at ISSB or were never assessed there.
- Candidates coached on what to say about their father, friends, and hobbies lose all personal authenticity.
- Academies train candidates to reframe weaknesses as positives — making them artificially over-positive.
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