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NATS interview process

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NATS interview process

Old 31st Jul 2016, 22:44
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Stage 2- Feast and Dart Tests

Hi I've gotten through to Stage 2 of the application process and I am in the process of learning the booklet for ATC knowledge test but could someone who has just passed this stage beable to enlighten me as to what the FEAST and DART test entail and how can I revise for them?

Thanks guys 😁
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Old 1st Aug 2016, 11:41
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Congrats MNAsantos! I knew on the day that you'd get through. Young guy clearly switched on logically. Nice one!
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Old 2nd Aug 2016, 10:15
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Hi there guys
Just want to say first thank you to everybody on here, have found the information very useful, and congrats to all who have made it through.
I have my stage 2 tests upcoming, and am in the process of studying the provided booklet to best prepare myself. I have a couple of questions if anybody would be able to answer them, the first being how many people (if any) fail at the first testing stage? (which I understand to be based on the information we have been given to study) and if so is there any areas of the document that warrant particular attention?
And the second is simply whether there is anything I can do to better prepare myself for the FEAST and DART tests - I am aware it more of a 'you have it or you don't' scenario but if there is anything somebody could PM me it would be greatly appreciated.
Kind regards
J

Last edited by Dyalikedagz; 3rd Aug 2016 at 13:50.
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Old 2nd Aug 2016, 13:39
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Originally Posted by Dyalikedagz
Hi there guys
Just want to say first thank you to everybody on here, have found the information very useful, and congrats to all who have made it through.
I have my stage 2 tests upcoming, and am in the process of studying the provided booklet to best prepare myself. I have a couple of questions if anybody would be able to answer them, the first being how many people (if any) fail at the first testing stage? (which I understand to be based on the information we have been given to study) and if so is there any areas of the document that warrant particular attention?
And the second is simply whether there is anything I can do to better prepare myself for the FEAST and DART tests - I am aware it more of a 'you have it or you don't' scenario but if there is anything somebody could PM me it would be greatly appreciated.
Kind regards
J

Hey J if you find out anymore info could you give me an insight also?

Thanks
Nic
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Old 2nd Aug 2016, 18:44
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For stage 2 you don't need much preparation. Make sure to study that booklet and play some tetris just to wake up some parts of your brain.
Answering to that question regarding the failure of applicants in previous stages, yes there are people failing, but that will only remind you of how lucky you are reaching stage 2 and that you need to invest time in this, if this is what you want to do!
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Old 2nd Aug 2016, 18:50
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Originally Posted by Dyalikedagz
Absolutely, just savaging away at my desk atm. What date are you down for? I've the 16th.
I haven't booked a date yet too scared cause I don't know how long the preparation is going to take 😓..

How long from receiving the booklet did u book ur assessment date?

Thanks
Nic
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Old 2nd Aug 2016, 18:54
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Originally Posted by MNAsantos
For stage 2 you don't need much preparation. Make sure to study that booklet and play some tetris just to wake up some parts of your brain.
Answering to that question regarding the failure of applicants in previous stages, yes there are people failing, but that will only remind you of how lucky you are reaching stage 2 and that you need to invest time in this, if this is what you want to do!
What sort of questions were there on the ATC test and what was FEAST like? Any pointers at all would be fab!

And congrats on passing stage 2 😁

Nic
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Old 3rd Aug 2016, 12:29
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Originally Posted by NicFrances90
What sort of questions were there on the ATC test and what was FEAST like? Any pointers at all would be fab!

And congrats on passing stage 2 ��

Nic
Giving out any details would kind of defeat the point of the tests. Other than learning the information they send, you are supposed to go in blind. The tests are well explained before starting so you shouldn't have problems understanding what to do.
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Old 3rd Aug 2016, 13:48
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Well they only give the dates around a month or so in advance so you would assume that is sufficient for learning the material. I understand it is more a test of your commitment to actually learning provided information, although I could be wrong.
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Old 3rd Aug 2016, 14:56
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Originally Posted by saisay
Giving out any details would kind of defeat the point of the tests. Other than learning the information they send, you are supposed to go in blind. The tests are well explained before starting so you shouldn't have problems understanding what to do.

Yea I suppose that's true I'm just feeling the pressure and don't know how long I should give myself before booking the test. Any pointers on how much detail is needed on learning the different planes? That section seems slightly in depth.
Thanks
Nic
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Old 3rd Aug 2016, 16:49
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The time frame given if you booked now (i.e. three-four weeks probably) should be more than enough time. Learning the details of a couple of aircraft a day is definitely manageable.
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Old 3rd Aug 2016, 18:59
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Originally Posted by NicFrances90
I haven't booked a date yet too scared cause I don't know how long the preparation is going to take 😓..

How long from receiving the booklet did u book ur assessment date?

Thanks
Nic
Hi NicFrances90,

can you send me a PM?

MC
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Old 3rd Aug 2016, 19:18
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My, possibly percieved by some to be harsh, opinion.
If you need more than a week or two to learn a booklet of, what is it, 10 pages? Then you will not pass the courses.

You will, in particular for the first few weeks, be bombarded with information. I believe the pace is 7 lessons per day (average might be slightly less but expect at least 5 a day for an average of 6). You will be tested on it and although formally you don't have to, most people learn large chunks of manual verbatim.

ATC luckily is not that theory intensive compared to many other things (I used to study engineering and that was a lot worse in my opinion). However there are phases (beginning of a rating course and beginning of validation training) when you will have to absorb a large chunk of material in a very short space of time and apply it in practice. If you need weeks to learn a booklet, you're not going to like learning large chunks of an ATC manual verbatim. In particular not while juggling other subjets as well.

Might seem harsh but that's my take.


TL;DR
Two weeks is by far sufficent to learn the booklet, in all likelyhood one week would do but I realise people want to prepare meticulously so give it two weeks for a bit of margin.
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Old 3rd Aug 2016, 20:21
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The booklet in question is about 30 odd pages now, it was smaller when I went through the application process although that was 14 years ago now. That said, it's very easy to learn it, if you really want to.

Crazy Voyager has it right with the rest of it though, you will get absolutely bombarded with things to learn in the first few weeks and if you're concerned about your ability to learn a few basic facts from the booklet then you will struggle.
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Old 4th Aug 2016, 01:52
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Well, I get frequently get asked about FEAST, DART, ATC Knowledge, MULTI-PASS and Interviews, so once again I will give some tips.
For FEAST, DART and MULTI-PASS you don't need preparation, just play some games like tetris and it will me more than enough (the tests are hard, but remember to remain calm even if you think you are gonna fail.
For the interviews all I can say is that you should have that normal interview preparation. Think about what they can ask you and why are you applying for the position.
Finally, for the ATC Knowledge test you only need a week to learn the booklet. The test is fairly simple for those who study a fair amount of the booklet.

I know I live in Portugal, but I believe that some worry too much about studying the booklet that they forget about essential stuff, for example, how to arrive on time.
Public transportation can have delays, so never catch the last minute train! In my case, I stayed at an hotel near to Southampton Central Station and at 6 in the morning I got the train to Swanwick (I may sound like an old man that likes to arrive one hour before the test, but in the end I get to do the test and those who laugh and manage to be late will not be doing the test, harsh but pure truth).
Remember that IF YOU ARE LATE, YOU WILL FAIL THE STAGE!

I hope I helped those in need and hope to have someone joining me as an Air Traffic Controller Trainee
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Old 4th Aug 2016, 20:08
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Thanks for all the info guys hopefully I make it! 😁

Nic
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Old 4th Aug 2016, 20:10
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Originally Posted by Dyalikedagz
Well they only give the dates around a month or so in advance so you would assume that is sufficient for learning the material. I understand it is more a test of your commitment to actually learning provided information, although I could be wrong.
They gave me dates which were a week later from sending the booklet but I've waited for other dates as I thought that was too soon. Good luck btw 😁

Nic
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Old 4th Aug 2016, 20:12
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Originally Posted by Megamc
Hi NicFrances90,

can you send me a PM?

MC
Hi I'm not 100% on how to send PMs on this.. You can email me on [email protected] if that's any easier.

Thanks
Nic
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Old 4th Aug 2016, 20:16
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Originally Posted by MNAsantos
Well, I get frequently get asked about FEAST, DART, ATC Knowledge, MULTI-PASS and Interviews, so once again I will give some tips.
For FEAST, DART and MULTI-PASS you don't need preparation, just play some games like tetris and it will me more than enough (the tests are hard, but remember to remain calm even if you think you are gonna fail.
For the interviews all I can say is that you should have that normal interview preparation. Think about what they can ask you and why are you applying for the position.
Finally, for the ATC Knowledge test you only need a week to learn the booklet. The test is fairly simple for those who study a fair amount of the booklet.

I know I live in Portugal, but I believe that some worry too much about studying the booklet that they forget about essential stuff, for example, how to arrive on time.
Public transportation can have delays, so never catch the last minute train! In my case, I stayed at an hotel near to Southampton Central Station and at 6 in the morning I got the train to Swanwick (I may sound like an old man that likes to arrive one hour before the test, but in the end I get to do the test and those who laugh and manage to be late will not be doing the test, harsh but pure truth).
Remember that IF YOU ARE LATE, YOU WILL FAIL THE STAGE!

I hope I helped those in need and hope to have someone joining me as an Air Traffic Controller Trainee
Thanks so do I.. I have been wanting to do this job for forever!!

Nic
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Old 5th Aug 2016, 16:16
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Stage 2

The only prep other than learn that booklet I could give is play the NATS games esp the Runway and Gateway ones.

Paying for anything is a total waste of time.
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