A stat for you though, 90% fail stage 1.
That's an interesting stat! Out of interest, where did you hear it?
I read on the NATS website that only 3% of applicants make it through selection, which had me worrying a bit for stage 2. But if 90% of applicants fail at stage 1 that means the odds of passing stages 2 and 3 are actually not that bad once you're through to them.