I've a degree in Psychology specialising in Psychometric Testing. My final year dissertation was "Designing a battery of aptitude tests that predict success in Air Cadet motorglider training". I have taught people to fly at PPL, CPL/IR level at both small and large Integrated flying schools. I have passed RAF pilot selection more than once and failed BA pilot selection more than once and a couple of others each way inbetween. I have been involved with the introduction of flying school selection tests and I've flown with many new First Officers on B737/A320's who have come from every conceivable background and training route.
There's cock all difference.
Don't be chuffed if you pass. Don't be gutted if you fail.
Where the value of the various selection tests lies is that when you're testing a wide-population of applicants the tests can help exclude the two thirds who would probably struggle or who are a bit weird.
So airlines and large FTO's like them because for the sake of a couple of hundred quid they get rid of two thirds of their training headaches which cost thousands.
What the tests don't do is tell you you're going to be a good pilots or can't be a pilot. There are so many social and environmental factors that a days aptitude testing is meaningless.
I'll give you a top tip. Never ever think you're special because you passed the RAF, Oxford, somewhere, anywhere, GAPAN or anything selection tests because you're not. People hearing your will most likely either hate you, pity you, resent you or one in a million will be in awe of you. The same applies to whichever school you went to. They teach you to pass a test just like learning to drive. That's all you are, a newly licensed driver who had L plates on last week. For Gods sake don't expect anyone to be impressed that you learned to drive with Red, the AA or the British School of Motoring.
They won't be. Its ridiculous.
But because the difference is thousands and thousands of pounds people persuade themselves otherwise.
Really. Its that simple. BSM or the AA charge the top rate for driving lessons and you'll be in a shiny new Mini.
The local driving instructor uses a 3 year old Fiesta and charges a third less.
Do you think you're a better/worse driver as you leave the test centre in the Mini or the 3 year old Fiesta? Do you think I as a lorry driver with 800,000 miles of HGV miles under my belt thinks either of you is anything other than a grossly inexperienced young tyke with a lot to learn? Do you think anybody will be able to tell who trained you to mirror, signal, maneuver? Is your emergency stop somehow superior?
It really is as simple as all that.
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