As the previous posters have said it's probably a bit of both, although there is only so much you can learn. I firmly believe most successful controllers have their brains 'wired' the right way. Look at the percentage of left-handed controllers against the percentage of left-handers in the general population.
A guy on my course had an honours degree in advanced mathamatics, an exceptionally intelligent guy. He worked hard and got through. Ultimately, he was a marginal controller at best and did not last long in the job. Some of the most gifted controllers I've seen come from simple backgrounds or are not well educated, however, just seem to have 'the knack'.
As you're probably aware males are typically better at spatial awareness than females (for throwing spears at sabre-tooth tigers and all that) and females are typically better at multi-tasking and multiple inputs (monitoring the kids whilst tending the fire, cooking dinner and keeping the cave clean). It's a draconion analogy, however, it's what the Darwinian theorists would have you believe.
With the above in mind, practice what you are pre-disposed to be weak at. Try dividing your attention by maintaining a conversation whilst watching TV, or read a book whilst watching the news. If you use a calculator, whiz-wheel, nav computer, GPS etc to complete simple arithmatic or speed/time/distance calculations then stop now and practice approximations in your head. When I tested for ATC I was at university doing engineering and had become that reliant on my calculator, that if wanted to know what 32 + 17 equalled, I used my calculator. This was almost my undoing during testing.
There is plenty of information out there on the type of psychometric testing you can expect.
Most guys I've seen that try ATC coming from a flying background, seem to do OK.
Hope that helps.
Last edited by Green on, Go!; 27th October 2007 at 13:05.