Just completed my stage 1 at Prestwick today and thought I'd share my experience and thoughts of the day.
Hope everyone did well and respect to the guy who called it quits after the 2nd test (Spatial reasoning test, cubes) you raised your hand and said you'd like to leave. Takes stones to admit your out of your depth, especially in front of 30 people..
1st test was based on the literature NATS provides. Did well, answered the lot. Two questions were devoted to aircraft and despite being asked something simple on them both I'm glad I revised the lot (otherwise I'd have dropped two marks). One question was asked about distance between two european capitals and I got it too (so swat up everyone) The others were questions on seperation, stacks, comm equipment all easy to remember if you've swatted. My only criticism is "give me more", all that info absorbed and so little asked about it... I can explain mode S backwards, seating details of the 737 next gen no problem, 6 classes of Airspace, easy.
2nd test was the cubes. 40 questions 20 minutes. Did very well here, all that practice payed off, answered 36 and confident on my accuracy.
3rd test was operations. 50 questions 20 minutes. Did well, answered 34 and pretty sure I got the lot. Know when to use the scrap paper!
4th test was Distance, speed, time and capacity. 20 questions 15 minutes Struggled here, only answered 11 questions and felt as if I'd shot myself in the foot. Really swatted up on my maths but If I don't make it to Stage 2, I'll know why. I'll be gutted as I did so well everywhere else.
Hope eveyone else did well. It's been emotional....