ATC IssuesA place where pilots may enter the 'lions den' that is Air Traffic Control in complete safety and find out the answers to all those obscure topics which you always wanted to know the answer to but were afraid to ask.
So read the document, and take a look at the examples - They're not trying to suprise you on the day - whatever they've told you you need to do in preparation that's it. It is that simple.
Also... as you're here y ou might as well read this forum too. It is very very long - but well worth it.
Learn the document, and make sure you have a look at the example aptitude tests so you have an idea what to expect.
When I did my tests the guy next to me was shocked at them - but they were just like the examples (only more of them, and more difficult obviously).
What pages? Read just a few pages back from here and you'll see messages pinpointing specific posts.
Why do people expect stuff handed to them on a plate? Think about it - if you want to succeed in the ATC training course and become a great ATC,you can't just ask someone what page is covered in each test - you have to find and learn this stuff for yourself. So start practicing that now.
Just got email saying passed stage 1, took nearly all 15 working days but who cares, i Passed.
Now just have to do the online test to see if i personality !!!
Anyone else heard from the 18th March how they did, jonathonb etc....
Just done the personality test...... Nasty. 104 questions and I felt like I was contradicting myself all the time - I really hope it's not just based on that, but they take into account achievement in the stage 1 tests as well as kudos_ni suggests!
T250 - OPQs, as I stated are used as an interviewing tool. They throw up suggestions for lines of questioning, I would be very surprised if NATS decided you didn't fit in the right box. They can also be manipulated.
I say this from the perspective of 12 years in recruitment and some experience administering SHL tests.
Just another quick note to say the people I met at Swanwick last week consisted of a variety of personalities: some quiet, some loud; and a wide variety of interests.
YES! Got in my results from my Stage 1 on the 18th in London, and passed!
I just took the online questionnaire and it really is a killer. I sat the test with an open mind and no distractions and really did do my best to answer as honestly as possible, but I still felt on occasion that I contradicted myself because there were some tough questions really. I found it hard to make decisions such as "Am I more ambitious, or do I enjoy an intellectual conversation more?", stuff like this tripped me up. I just hope they don't think I was being dishonest at any point...
There's also questions I think are unfair too. Mainly the ones to do with working with others and being sociable and outgoing. I know I am not a very talkative person and I am not brilliant in social situations, nor do I consider myself a good team leader, but I love to discuss problems, give orders and help others. It just felt on occasion that they would think I was lying, because in some questions I feel i'm making myself seem like a total recluse, and in others I seem like someone who loves to deal with peoples problems, but I strongly feel it is possible to be both those things. I just hope they can tell the difference between being sociable, and being simply interested in people.
There are certain PQ which really stretch one's personality to the maximum, and I'm sure NATS' OPQ will not be an exception! Hence if I pass S1, I am already dreading that moment of having to sit at the pc to take it.
I have done many of these types of questionnaire, and there are many 'test yourself questionnaires' out there on the net, but what I find in most of them, is the entwined way in which they formulate their questions. Many times the same question being asked twice, or even three times throughout the PQ but constructed in totally different ways or from different points of view. I guess the only way of 'doing well' in these tests is being as honest as possible, and at times answering questions in the most intuitive possible way - but yes, this is all easier said than done... especially when you're trying to make a career out of it and we’re supposed to be able to make quick and accurate statements!
Last but not least, from what I have read on previous posts on this thread, I do agree that there is very little one can prepare for and ‘study’ as such for a PQ, but I do think it always will be advantageous to take a few of the many mock PQ which are out there on the net, as they will give a broad view of the type of questions typically asked and a little feedback on how one is assessed.
I took my S1 on the 30th of March, and still awaiting results patiently. But I hear some of you who took it on the 18th have already received your results! Nerve racking stuff! Gluck
ie .. each test ?? Did you feel as though you excelled at one and did poorly in another ?
Just wondering as i hear that you have to pass each section of the test at a pass rate of 70% in order to even have the slightest chance ??
I thought I did alright in the tests (13th Mar) but messed up the motivation paper as I did the last night revision thing.. so people going to do S1 test, don't do what I did!
Got the e-mail yesterday evening (18:00) saying I've passed the personality questionnaire.
I'm really really surprised to pass this stage as I've applied for the retail assistant jobs, McDonald's crew, cleaning jobs which some give a personality test in the application process and getting rejected for every single one of them.
Next hurdle is passing Stage 2, as I don't have much work life examples of the key 'attributes', e.g. working under pressure, etc.
All my job applications so far where I have had an interview (getting a job interview is rare in my case), I've always failed as I wasn't good enough as the other candidates.
Sorry to those whose reading all this negativity, I haven't had much of a career at the age of 26, but am now trying to catch up with my (similarly aged) peers.
So much for my recruitment experience - I just had the access denied email following my OPQ. I fail to see the point in getting me to complete an OPQ when there is no interview forthcoming unless they are simply putting people in boxes. Strange.
Oh well, back to the drawing board - Good luck to all!
Anybody else doing stage one tomorrow at fareham 13:30?
I feel I've done as much as I can and I still don't know fully what to expect!
Spent the day at gloucestershire control tower today and the people there were brilliant, especially Will who showed me around and picked me up and dropped me off again at the train station so if you're reading this Will, I owe you one!
Stage 3 tomorrow at Swanwick. I don't feel fully prepared but there's always a little more you could do. I just hope I've done enough and I give it my all.
Really looking forward to it in a strange way. Although there is definitely a massive pressure. Visiting Swanwick last week was unbelievably helpful. If you can get yourself down there during the recruitment phase I suggest you do so.
JonathanB is see what you mean about the OPQ !!!! It does go on and on and on and on, and then you feel as if you have failed !!!! But i hope not !!! Only time will tell.
Good luck to all taking their tests soon, hope you get through.
I passed my opq... what a relief!!
now bring on stage two!
Do they give you a date to do your stage two or do you get to pick? Its just Ive got my exams coming up so its a bit of a hectic time right now
Nasty. 104 questions and I felt like I was contradicting myself all the time - I really hope it's not just based on that, but they take into account achievement in the stage 1 tests as well as kudos_ni suggests! 
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