I'm at AFS at present, it could be managed much better. I have found it to be very very inpersonal. The main issue at present is way too many students, going somewhere like Bay flight or Christchurch Academy where they limit the numbers of students is much more ideal. Bay flight you'd be flying twice A DAY, the AFS you'll be flying everyday if you are lucky, most likely every 2nd - 3rd day. There are students at the school that are flying once a week cause they can't get bookings. With 14-16 C-172's you'd think that there is enough for everyone... but no! Just shop around before you get into investing so much. Real comparisons here, two students both started flying on the same day, student 1 at AFS is only now doing a PPL flight test, student 2 at Bayflight is doing a CPL flight test next month with an instructor rating in the pipeline VERY soon.
As for CTC, those couple of boys that got in to Eagle with low hours, lets just say that they have had some trouble with them because they have NO REAL experience. Staying at a training center then jumping into a situation where decisions need to be made and based from experience is not the best for someone with a fresh new CPL.
The flying school's interview system is to basically see if you are someone who is switched on. The math test is basic, nothing to worry about. Its a filtering system to get rid of those that shouldn't be flying full stop.