PFO'd after stage 3.
Never mind, was dead chuffed to have gotten through the aptitude testing, so at least the £165 wasn't all in vain.
For those who are looking into hours, about half the people on my stage 2 had significant hours (ie more than a couple of trial lessons), but who got through to stage 3 was not governed by this. We had 5(out of 14), of which one had PPL and about 120 hours TT, one had about 40 hours TT, and the others had about ten hours between them. I'm one of the latter, with not a single (logged) hour to my name, so don't let that put you off. One point though - if you haven't got any hours and you do make it to stage 3, make sure you've got a good excuse...
We were all either graduates or undergraduates, by the way. It didn't seem to matter whether you were just starting, almost finished or a couple of years post-graduate.
As for why NZ - cos it's cheap to live and train there. PPL will be NZ, converted during the CPL training.
Medical forms are no issue - I had no medical certificate. Some had their PPL certificate, I think a couple had a class 1 already. Like most things, if you've got it, great - if you don't, not a problem.
Computer based mathematics is harder than the paper-based stuff, make sure you can remember how to do long multiplication and division. You get notepaper, and a countdown timer on-screen. I had 24 questions.
Hand/eye/foot coordination - didn't find particularly sensitive. Slip-ball/ILS test and "racetrack" tests, using standard computer pedals & joystick. "Racetrack" test made harder because of springing on joystick - you have to be very smooth with movements. Try using two hands - worked for me.
Inputting data to the "autopilot" - well, I've never used a real one, so I have no idea on the realism question. However, it's not meant to be easy. That test uses scrolling, so you don't need to type the numbers - nor does it rely on your memory. You need to cancel warning lights which come on in one of two postage-stanp-sized black boxes, and use the numerical keypad to cancel the light depending on where in the box it is shown - ie, red light in top left of black box, use number 7; red light in middle of black box, use number 5, and so on.
As for anyone who wants to know how to get past stage 1b, all I can suggest is put some effort into it. Demonstrate some knowledge of what you're getting yourself into, and (for the sake of repeating previous posts) type it out, edit, when you're happy, write it on a draft, edit typed work, repeat. When you're happy it'll fit and sounds good, write out
very neatly, using pencilled in lines. After all, why should they be bothered to train you if you can't be bothered to fill out a form?
Lastly, remember - we can tell you all about it, but it won't help you - these are aptitude tests, and harder to cheat than IQ tests.
PS: Good luck to all those who have yet to get to stage 2, comiserations to all those who flunked it, and a pox on anyone who gets through.
