Rex W.O.M.B.A.T test

[Karze]

I've got an interview next week, they have me doing a 2 ½ hour W.O.M.B.A.T test. Anyone done one and know what to expect?

[Lasiorhinus]

Is that the one where you dig a hole and eat grass, then sleep all day?

[go_soaring]

This might help answer some of your questions..

Presentation of WOMBAT (http://www.aero.ca/e_W-Presentation.html)


go_soaring! instead

[KRUSTY 34]

Quote:

"Users of the WOMBAT test worldwide have consistently reported more than 100% return on investment during the first few months from the reduction in tranee attrition alone,..."

P.R. bullsh!t! Some of us may have also believed in the tooth fairy once. The problem is, the reduction in trainee investment doesn't extend beyond the first 12 months. REX had a 60% attrition rate last year, and are on course to match that this year! You'll need more than a bloody WOMBAT test to hang on to your "superior" candidates once the reality of substandard T&C's sinks in.

Sorry Sailplane. Great link by the way. Very informative.

[Karze]

Thanks for that link. It had exactly the information that I wanted

[wesky]

Karze,

I did the same test several months back.

You will walk out with a headache.

Do as many bonus games as possible while monitoring the controls - so to speak.

Accurate manual control also gets you a few extra point but it's the bonus games that gets you the money.

This wouldn't be for the cadetship would it? I'd find it a bit odd if they were using this on their DE FO/Cpts.

[Wyle E Coyote]

Do airlines still do these things? Bloody hell. I did one years ago, and it has no relivance to flying a plane at all. There's no correlation between doing anything in this test (good or bad) and doing anything in an aircraft (good or bad).

Some Bulls*it test invented by uni students and tested on glider pilots in NZ from what I remember.

Some one in Rex's HR dept trying to validate their position me thinks.

[flyby]

A WOMBAT ,Sounds like most of Rex's management. Spends a majority of its life with its head underground, and nights foraging for excuses as to why it cant renumerate it's hard working staff properly.

[Mr. Hat]

oh!- flyby - what gold

[Cypher]

Wonderous
Original
Method of
Basic
Airmanship
Testing


No joke.. thats what the people who invented it said it stood for..

Can't say that it works.... out of the 12 people in my intake who sat this test and passed before basic flight training, only 3 of us are still flying...

[Ixixly]

Been through these WOMBAT tests twice now and i'll tell you what, if it lasts for almost an hour like mine you'll definitely walk out feeling pretty drained. Its essentially there just to test how well you multi-task and deal under some stree and it does a pretty good job of this.

Lets face it, there are a lot of people who get up in the air and can do the basics but fall apart when it comes to flying and navigating or flying, navigating and receiving input at the same time for example as they can't do them all adequately at the same time!!

So i personally disagree with those stating that it does nothing at all and i wouldn't underestimate it either.

[Wyle E Coyote]

:hmm:

By that argument, being able to rub your belly and pat you head at the same time means you'll be a good pilot.

The only thing you can tell from a WOMBAT test is that the person is good/bad/average at the WOMBAT test. Trying to suggest there is any correlation between being good at the test and able to fly a plane is pure advertising propaganda. It has never been proven. The test on the pilots in NZ produced usless data at best, yet it is still claimed by it's creators to work.

[KRUSTY 34]

Yes, but with the average REX candidate now barely out of flight school it at least gives the H.R. department a warm feeling that they are doing something positive!

Who says there's no substitute for experience?

[Eastern2217]

Very simple test, however, massively boring. Real challenge is keeping the mind on the job. Looks like a computer game from 1984.

[Zoomy]

ah the wombat test, wasn't that the one they tested in NZ on sheep.:ok:

[Peter Fanelli]

Are we allowed to mention New Zealand and sheep in the same thread?

[kingRB]

Are we allowed to mention New Zealand and sheep in the same thread?according to this woman, most definitely not!

Australian should take New Zealand seriously, says historian | World Breaking News | News.com.au (http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25181170-23109,00.html)

[Blindflyer]

Hey guys,

I just had my Wombat test today (waste of time really, but as long as you've got a play station or similar, or just a general gamers mind: that of a problem solver and fast learner, you should be fine).
I was just wondering what an attractive score would have been (i.e. position of the greeny yellow bar on the right at the end of the test)? Or, if this isn't the way that they mark you, how do they/is there any way to know how you did? I started off really slowly and was stressing, but by the end I was doing really well (just keep your head I guess), which from my research is what the general consensus is.

Cheers,
Blind

[raafhornet]

Great so it sounds like they are still running the course. I passed this test. When I finished I thought I may not have as the bar wasn't that high on the right of the screen (not that much over half way if I recall correctly). I also wonder if the bar is truly representative of your score.. it would be interesting if its not. It would be a good method to apply pressure which is what a lot of the test is about.

By the sounds of things you found it easy (waste of time hey?) so you should get called up again for an interview hopefully. good luck to you.

[Black Snow]

Blindflyer by the sounds of things you did well like raafhornet explained.
I think the green bar is only indicating the total points you have scored and not assessing the test in its entirety, the test is broken down into '9' 10 minute intervals. (the point of this I believe is to assess the performance of the testee over the entire 90 minute period in more detail and assess the consistency and how fast they learn whilst displaying 'situational awareness')

Though I think the question is after reading this -

http://www.linklearn.com.au/redflag/2%20IPT%20Selection.pdf

-would be if the company 'fully assess the entirety of the results in their 10 minute intervals over the 90 minutes' or 'only that of the final "score" there after'?

I scored just on or under 'I think' 3/4 the way up the scale, however I only had a brief glace at my final score before it shut off! finger's crossed I'm yet to hear back. (just a note to everyone, assume REX read this forum also)

raafhornet - its good to hear some feedback from a successful applicant, thanks for posting.:ok:

[mikewil]

Sorry to dig up an old thread...

Just wondering if anyone has ever failed their WOMBAT test but then re-applied after the 6 month waiting period and been invited back to sit the test again?

[Horatio Leafblower]

What does WOMBAT stand for?

Worrying letters,
Ordinary
Money
But it's
A
Turboprop job

:}

[Fris B. Fairing]

I was hoping that this thread would explain to me how WOMBAT worked, that is the navaid WOMBAT which was fitted to the RAAF P2V-5 Neptunes in 1960. Google tells me that WOMBAT was also RAAF slang for:

Waste Of Military Budget And Time

Maybe it's not thread drift after all.

[peterspare]

Hi guys, I was wondering if anyone out there regardless of their stance on the rec Cadetship good or bad, could take the time if they don't mind to explain how the WOMBAT testing for REX went for them if they did it recently (2016 or end of 2015).

I will be applying for REX and have read the WOMBAT manual but insider and first hand knowledge is and could be major advantage for me with the test.

Also, any information on the whole recruitment process (interviews, questions and any general advice) would be much highly and greatly appreciated.

Thanks very much in advance.

Pete!

[tail wheel]

Hi Fris.

The aeronautical Wombats I remember were on the side of Ansett freighters!!

:}

[Stanwell]

Umm .. yeah - Eats roots and leaves....
"I've got an early start, sweetie."

(I really don't know. It's just what my flatmate at the time told me - she never did get him, anyway.)
.

[Sunfish]

Ah Yes, Wombat squadron. Those Electras were known as the "golden geese" by Ansett LAMES who spent an inordinate amount of time keeping them airworthy. The wing planks were always a major issue. All in all, it was a very sophisticated aircraft for the 1950's.

I never did discover what the dreaded "negative torque switch" was all about.

[propsmear]

Hi Mike,

The idea behind the WOMBAT test is to provide a platform which can simulate a multi-tasking environment. The objective is to be able to test different sets of abilities which are understood to be important in maintaining situational awareness in stressful situations.

It has been a long time since I have done the test, so I can't remember specifics. From memory, there are two joysticks and you run through multiple exercises, including vertical and horizontal tracking where you need to keep cross-hairs on a target (be careful the joysticks revert planes of motion mid test). Number sequences with 4 boxes filled with numbers where you need to select each box in sequence as quick as you can. An maybe one or two other tests in there.

You should be able to find a guide and more information on the test by doing a search. Its quite commonly used in testing for military and transportation, amongst other things.

Best of luck to you.

[Jayke]

Hey guys
Sorry this thread is a bit old, but I wanted to know....if anyone knows that is....where does REX conduct the wombat tests??

Thanks in advance!

[DanielGardiner]

Jayke, the test is either held in (Mascot, Sydney) or (Tullamarine, Melbourne).

[Jayke]

Thanks mate! I saw that it was held in Melbourne or Sydney I just was wondering where abouts.

Jayke

[ccoates]

Hi guys, I was wondering if anyone out there regardless of their stance on the rec Cadetship good or bad, could take the time if they don't mind to explain how the WOMBAT testing for REX went for them if they did it recently (2016 or end of 2015).

I will be applying for REX and have read the WOMBAT manual but insider and first hand knowledge is and could be major advantage for me with the test.

Also, any information on the whole recruitment process (interviews, questions and any general advice) would be much highly and greatly appreciated.

Thanks very much in advance.

Pete!
Hi Peterspare.

How did you get on with the WOMBAT test and interview process with Rex, are you now working with Rex?

I have the test coming up this Friday and although I have read up on the test, you can never have enough information. Can I please ask you kindly to share your experience advise on the test and the interview process??

I have also been asked to complete a Maths test after the WOMBAT test, did you do this ?

Many thanks, look forward to hearing from you.

[Centaurus]

It has been a long time since I have done the test, so I can't remember specifics. From memory, there are two joysticks and you run through multiple exercises, including vertical and horizontal tracking where you need to keep cross-hairs on a target (be careful the joysticks revert planes of motion mid test). Number sequences with 4 boxes filled with numbers where you need to select each box in sequence as quick as you can. An maybe one or two other tests in there.


Reminds me of one of my students in the RAAF in 1956 who undertook a similar aptitude test to join the RAAF as a trainee pilot.
He failed the test miserably and was told by the supervising Sergeant it was infallible and that he would never make a pilot. However, the Sergeant added that he knew the applicants father as a wartime colleague and would tick the boxes as a PASS and thus he joined the RAAF as a trainee pilot.

He graduated 14 months later and flew Mustangs, Sabres, Meteors, and became Commanding Officer of a C130 Hercules squadron at Richmond. He eventually left the RAAF with the rank of Group Captain and got into civil aviation as a airline pilot.

At one point in his career he was posted to be CO of the recruiting office at Rushcutters Bay in Sydney where he had initially done the WOMBAT or its RAAF equivalent test where he had failed the test.
One night after everyone had left he crept into the office where he had failed the aptitude test and quietly had another go at the same test. He failed the test again. It proved the fallibility of the test and made him wonder how many excellent would be pilots never got into the RAAF because of this test.

[Slippery_Pete]

Interesting story, Centaurus.

What’s even more amazing is some of the numpties that get through who should never be there.

It’s just a mass culling technique.

[Checkboard]

I did the RAAF aptitude tests for the Sir Richard Williams Scholarship in 1983.
The people who did the RAAF test then went to Qantas, and took the same tests with them.
I did the Qantas tests (exactly the same) in 1989 for a level 4 scholarship.
I did the Qantas tests again (exactly the same) in 1992 for direct entry.

I aced the tests the first time and won the scholarship.
I flunked the tests the second time (and was told I "had a problem with maths", despite a maths/physics major in the Academy and 4 A's and a B in HSC).
I was placed on a hold file the last time.

Three different results for the same person taking the same tests three different times. They are no better than chance IMHO and they might as well save the cash they spend on HR and flip a coin over their candidates.

[peugeotboi]

Hey guys,

Here is an interesting one, I applied as well for the Rex cadetship they rejected my application and just last week I received an email saying they would like to give me another opportunity to be considered, providing I submit documents supporting that I'm an Australian resident and my High school marks. Has anyone experienced this before?