The real truth about assessment
Over the past three years i have looked at assessments for a career in aviation principally flight deck training.
Its very subjective depending on the training establishment, ranging from can you afford the course, your in ! syndrome, to jump through 20 hoops then 20 more, its our reputation at stake attitude.
The top and bottom end speak for themselves, yet in the middle there is a wide variance on how the selection takes place.
The ATPL course is not rocket science but does require total application for ground school, and dedication for the flying side.
Now the tests try to find out if the individual has the commitment and the ability to succeed within the time frame of an integrated course, usually between 14 to 16 months.
The schools try to obtain a snapshot of the candidate to see if that individual can achieve a minimum of 80% in ground exams and to pass the flight tests at the first attempt.
This covers schools like Oxford who offer a money back scheme, and protect the student from excessive resit costs and examination / examiner fees.
All this has to be done at an early stage, and like all tests is subjective on how the candidate performs on the day.
There is not a perfect set of tests, so there are those who fail who might have got through and those who pass and who fail the course although these are rare.
Testing is a guide to aptitude and academic ability, its the final results that are considered by long time professionals in the field that matter most, so the major schools have the most experience and their assessment is usually correct.
Testing can give the individual areas for improvement, and those who return after a knock back usually improve their scores and show the motivation for the future.
Most airlines today require 85% average at ground school, plus first time passes at progress flight checks and CPL skills test, plus a first series Instrument Rating pass.
If you dont achieve these the chances of a good job after training diminishes significantly.
Would you be prepared to take this great financial risk, if there was a significant indication that you might fail ?
The financial investment is too great to take risks, so the testing prior to being offered a course, should be as accurate a picture of you as possible, for your sake and that of the school.
Adios i agree with your statement on getting more than one assessment, but not the piece about putting the beam unrealistically high for the sake of supply and demand, or refund checks.