NATS Interview (Changes) - [Merged]
Join Date: Sep 2005
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For the record, i have done 3 assessment centres and interviews for NATS, and i also know people in the HR dept. The reason they do not give feedback has nothing to do with 'national security' (possibly the bizzarest excuse ever) and 100% o do with the fact that they have hundreds of applicants and do not have time. (Cant be bothered). You can quite easily get feedback through data protection (people have used that excuse before) but all you will get is 'you did not meet requirements for (either/or) numerical reasoning, motivation etc etc... it will not be specific.
If you failed assessment centre then yuo really have only to think of the fact that you either didnt get enough questions right on one of the papers or you did not get the 'right' answers on the personality questionairs-although i have been told that if you dont pass that you are a complete nutcase (or lying).
most likely either the maths or the motivation paper (what they are most concerned about) which, for the motivation paper you need about 70% to pass.
dont worry about feedbak, the questions you got asked in assessment will be EXACTLY the same next time round (have been for years) so take the experience and learn.
If you failed assessment centre then yuo really have only to think of the fact that you either didnt get enough questions right on one of the papers or you did not get the 'right' answers on the personality questionairs-although i have been told that if you dont pass that you are a complete nutcase (or lying).
most likely either the maths or the motivation paper (what they are most concerned about) which, for the motivation paper you need about 70% to pass.
dont worry about feedbak, the questions you got asked in assessment will be EXACTLY the same next time round (have been for years) so take the experience and learn.
Guest
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Hmmm, all these changes...getting me a tad worried - and I havn't even sat the initial selection tests yet!
I have my initial selection tests on the 31st March - if I were to pass how large is the time gap between getting my results and having an interview.
Kirk
I have my initial selection tests on the 31st March - if I were to pass how large is the time gap between getting my results and having an interview.
Kirk
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If a candidate got all papers correct except one or possibly two such as all correct except spacial and motivation - would they still get through and all other combinations?
Also, if you were to answer half the questions correctly out of each test, but answered each would you pass - in other words is it accuracy or who is quickest to do all questions?
Also, if you were to answer half the questions correctly out of each test, but answered each would you pass - in other words is it accuracy or who is quickest to do all questions?
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261A
Each test has a pass mark which must be reached, if you fail one test you do not get through. The percentage pass mark varies with each test. For example. I believe in Basic Checking the passmark is 66/80, so if you attempt 65 and get 65 correct you will fail.
I am assured that you cannot fail the personality test, it is purely for HR's benefit to work with the answers you give for any interview you get to.
Each test has a pass mark which must be reached, if you fail one test you do not get through. The percentage pass mark varies with each test. For example. I believe in Basic Checking the passmark is 66/80, so if you attempt 65 and get 65 correct you will fail.
I am assured that you cannot fail the personality test, it is purely for HR's benefit to work with the answers you give for any interview you get to.
Guest
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I heard there were only 40 data checking questions...no?
66/80 is a pretty high mark needed to pass. I think I've nailed how to do any question they will throw at me from the 4 categories...I just need to work on speed without losing accuracy now...Still a month and a half to go though so...
Kirk
66/80 is a pretty high mark needed to pass. I think I've nailed how to do any question they will throw at me from the 4 categories...I just need to work on speed without losing accuracy now...Still a month and a half to go though so...
Kirk
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Feedback
Hi Darkhorse
that is a fair call that was my third and final chance when i passed last week, i get where you are comming from i found that it wasnt my ability in question it was my maturity and lack of position of responsability to get real time experience of managing real situations as they arise ,having the ability to be reactive as well as pro active.Not sure what you do at the moment but a year of something diferent may help.
As for the new style interview you still have 60 Q's without any extra info on them from the interviewer.
cheers
that is a fair call that was my third and final chance when i passed last week, i get where you are comming from i found that it wasnt my ability in question it was my maturity and lack of position of responsability to get real time experience of managing real situations as they arise ,having the ability to be reactive as well as pro active.Not sure what you do at the moment but a year of something diferent may help.
As for the new style interview you still have 60 Q's without any extra info on them from the interviewer.
cheers
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I am assured that you cannot fail the personality test, it is purely for HR's benefit to work with the answers you give for any interview you get to.
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Originally Posted by Kirk Biddlecombe
Hmmm, all these changes...getting me a tad worried - and I havn't even sat the initial selection tests yet!
I have my initial selection tests on the 31st March - if I were to pass how large is the time gap between getting my results and having an interview.
Kirk
I have my initial selection tests on the 31st March - if I were to pass how large is the time gap between getting my results and having an interview.
Kirk
Still no one who can tell us a bit more about the new interviews/group exercise??? That's what this topic is all about isn't it?? Maybe Bettyboop can answer the question, since she's the one that started this thread and meanwhile attended the interview. It's not very helpful to read about people that did attend the new-style interview and only say not to worry about it. Just tell us what exactly it is all about. It's not "top-secret" is it?
Thread Starter
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Certainly - you only had to ask
Basically, the same format is relatively still there that you've already read about on here. The only main differences are:
only 1 interview (1hr 30mins), an ATCO and some-one from HR. They'll ask you the HR questions first and the Technical stuff after (could be different for you though). I can't really help you on the content as it'll be totally different depending on which ATCO is interviewing you but the HR stuff is the same as what's on this website.
The group exercise is a board game, where you just sit around and play for half an hour following rules they give you and then are asked to discuss your strategies and where you went wrong. They sit around and watch you interacting with eachother. The game is easy,the talking about it after is the hard part as you have to fill the whole time up, 10 minutes.
As for everything else its pretty much the same.
If you want to know anything else ask me. I'm more than happy to help other people out for sure!
Betty
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How do you current trainee ATCO applicants prepare for the selection tests?
Other than the sticky and various threads throughout this site, I assume you buy books, visit other websites etc. so what titles, sites do you use?
Other than the sticky and various threads throughout this site, I assume you buy books, visit other websites etc. so what titles, sites do you use?
Guest
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I have the following books which I am currently using to prepare for the selection tests:-
- How To Master Psychometric Tests Mark Parkinson
- How To Win At Aptitude Tests Iain Maitland
- Test Your IQ H.J Eysenk
- Abc Of Air Traffic Control Graham Duke
Hope this helps,
Kirk
- How To Master Psychometric Tests Mark Parkinson
- How To Win At Aptitude Tests Iain Maitland
- Test Your IQ H.J Eysenk
- Abc Of Air Traffic Control Graham Duke
Hope this helps,
Kirk
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Motivation Test
Is the new 'Motivation Test' in the new style interview day simply the technical interview renamed or is it a test along the lines of the motivation test that we all did at the initial assessment day?
Guest
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Spatial Reasoning Practice
For those of you that find Spatial Reasoning tricky...
'How To Win At Aptitude Tests' Iain Maitland
This book contains numerous examples of the folding cube exercise.
The Psychometric Test book by Parkinson is fantastic and well worth the money.
In general there isn't a huge amount of practice you can get on spatial reasoning but here are a few sites that Parkinson recommends for practice papers etc...
http://www.profilingforsuccess.com
http://www.shldirect.com
http://www.faststream.gov.uk
http://www.ase-solutions.co.uk
http://www.morrisby.com
http://www.ukcoursefinder.co.uk
http://www.testingroom.com
http://www.allthetests.com
http://www.psychtesting.co.uk
My friend has recently been given an offer as an Investment Banker in the City with ABN. He had similar selection style tests, and gave me some practice papers. SHL are widely used by many recruiting companies. My friend told me to look on the JP Morgan website too.
McKinsey & Co. a high-end consulting firm also offer some guidance at http://www.mckinsey.com - This might be going a bit too advanced but it gives you an idea.
Hope this helps,
Kirk
'How To Win At Aptitude Tests' Iain Maitland
This book contains numerous examples of the folding cube exercise.
The Psychometric Test book by Parkinson is fantastic and well worth the money.
In general there isn't a huge amount of practice you can get on spatial reasoning but here are a few sites that Parkinson recommends for practice papers etc...
http://www.profilingforsuccess.com
http://www.shldirect.com
http://www.faststream.gov.uk
http://www.ase-solutions.co.uk
http://www.morrisby.com
http://www.ukcoursefinder.co.uk
http://www.testingroom.com
http://www.allthetests.com
http://www.psychtesting.co.uk
My friend has recently been given an offer as an Investment Banker in the City with ABN. He had similar selection style tests, and gave me some practice papers. SHL are widely used by many recruiting companies. My friend told me to look on the JP Morgan website too.
McKinsey & Co. a high-end consulting firm also offer some guidance at http://www.mckinsey.com - This might be going a bit too advanced but it gives you an idea.
Hope this helps,
Kirk
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Kirk,
The book title you quote - I looked it up on amazon and the review says the book tests are very bad and full of errors? Can you confirm this or is the book good to practice spatial tests?
Have visited all the sites you listed and most of them are useless as they are asking for registration and don't work in one way or another.
Thanks for the titles and sites though - some are good so every little helps!
On the same topic, can an ATCO confirm or anyone what the current tests at selection stage are?
The book title you quote - I looked it up on amazon and the review says the book tests are very bad and full of errors? Can you confirm this or is the book good to practice spatial tests?
Have visited all the sites you listed and most of them are useless as they are asking for registration and don't work in one way or another.
Thanks for the titles and sites though - some are good so every little helps!
On the same topic, can an ATCO confirm or anyone what the current tests at selection stage are?
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Cwmbran Training College
Hi 261A,
Looks like we are in the same boat! My NATS application got accepted which I'm particularly excited about!
I don't know if you have tried these people yet but I've been in contact with the Cwmbran Training College, i had a horrible feeling about the aptitude tests so I thought I could find extra training somewhere.
The head of the ATC training is Steven Ward. He has been an excellent help to me and even offered for me to take a look round the college and have a chat with the students and instructors there just to get an idea and feel for the tests. He gave great advice! Don't know if that helps though?
Wish you luck for the 31st though!
Nicki
Looks like we are in the same boat! My NATS application got accepted which I'm particularly excited about!
I don't know if you have tried these people yet but I've been in contact with the Cwmbran Training College, i had a horrible feeling about the aptitude tests so I thought I could find extra training somewhere.
The head of the ATC training is Steven Ward. He has been an excellent help to me and even offered for me to take a look round the college and have a chat with the students and instructors there just to get an idea and feel for the tests. He gave great advice! Don't know if that helps though?
Wish you luck for the 31st though!
Nicki
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Help!!
OK, having looked around the forum and posting my own (Help!!!) thread, im getting particularly worried about my assessment day, do I really need to go out and buy books just to pass a recruitment test? Or will a hunt round the internet for info and some practice tests suffice?? I'v been put in touch with an ATCO who is going to try and get me into the Manchester center for a day, so obviously I will be able to discuss the job and get pointers from people, but as for the tests! I'm what could be construed as being a wee bit nervous!
Join Date: Oct 2005
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Don't worry about being nervous - I am in process of writing my application same age as you roughly (18 in March).
I do however, think that you should do quite a bit of preparation but then I am just a mere applicant (nearly) so what would I know!
I would like to know the list of tests so I can find relevant revision, practice tests etc. in books or online.
I do however, think that you should do quite a bit of preparation but then I am just a mere applicant (nearly) so what would I know!
I would like to know the list of tests so I can find relevant revision, practice tests etc. in books or online.
Guest
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The aptitude book is slightly dated but neverless offers good practice for all the arithmatic and spatial reasoning questions we'll be tested on...
I don't sit my tests until the 31st March but I believe the type of tests we will sit are as follows:
- Numerical Reasoning (30 questions in 10 mins)
- Spatial Reasoning (40 questions in 20 mins)
- Diagrammatic Reasoning (40 questions in 20 mins)
- Data Checking (40 questions in 5 mins)
- Motivation Paper (30 questions in 20 mins)
- Personality Questionnaire (248 questions)
Just get as much practice as you can...and as for books, look on Amazon pre-owned or eBay for the cheapest prices.
Good luck!
Kirk
I don't sit my tests until the 31st March but I believe the type of tests we will sit are as follows:
- Numerical Reasoning (30 questions in 10 mins)
- Spatial Reasoning (40 questions in 20 mins)
- Diagrammatic Reasoning (40 questions in 20 mins)
- Data Checking (40 questions in 5 mins)
- Motivation Paper (30 questions in 20 mins)
- Personality Questionnaire (248 questions)
Just get as much practice as you can...and as for books, look on Amazon pre-owned or eBay for the cheapest prices.
Good luck!
Kirk