NATS interview process
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 82
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From: Colchester
Stage 1 Nats
I read what you wrote about Stage 1, really helpfull. I've got mine next week. Also wondering if they do any one on one interviews or is it just tests that day? I have been sent some test material to learn, a document 24 pages long. I get the impression we will be tested on that, does that need to be thoroughly learnt or is it just for my information?
Seb
Seb
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 39
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From: kirkcaldy
RyanEdin
The ATC related questions are almost all from the 24 page document they send you in an email, the couple that aren't are pretty easy and really only require common sense to answer them correctly. Only a couple of questions relating to the information on aircraft at the back of the document, all i'm saying is speed and destinations
. This test also(sneakily) has a couple of D/S/T questions in it, but same format as the mental arithmetic paper you get later, so if you've practiced your maths they shouldn't be a problem!
SebbyK
Read the 24 page document! As i said to RyanEdin this is what the motivation paper is based on. Stage 1 is only the four tests lasting approx 2 hours. No interview. As far as I know there is no interview at stage 2 either, just the FEAST tests and a NATS test, both on computers. Stage 3 is the only stage where you have an interview, along with a group exercise. Oh and best of luck for next week
, put a post up afterwards telling us what you thought of the tests!
The ATC related questions are almost all from the 24 page document they send you in an email, the couple that aren't are pretty easy and really only require common sense to answer them correctly. Only a couple of questions relating to the information on aircraft at the back of the document, all i'm saying is speed and destinations
. This test also(sneakily) has a couple of D/S/T questions in it, but same format as the mental arithmetic paper you get later, so if you've practiced your maths they shouldn't be a problem!SebbyK
Read the 24 page document! As i said to RyanEdin this is what the motivation paper is based on. Stage 1 is only the four tests lasting approx 2 hours. No interview. As far as I know there is no interview at stage 2 either, just the FEAST tests and a NATS test, both on computers. Stage 3 is the only stage where you have an interview, along with a group exercise. Oh and best of luck for next week
, put a post up afterwards telling us what you thought of the tests!
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Devon
The one on one interviews aren't 'til stage 3.
And the 24 page document is tested on, but only a small amount. Some people say not to bother learning all of it, but if you get into college you're going to have to learn it anyway, so may as well get an early start.
And the 24 page document is tested on, but only a small amount. Some people say not to bother learning all of it, but if you get into college you're going to have to learn it anyway, so may as well get an early start.
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Devon
Even the one to one interviews don't ask you directly what you can bring to NATS. The interview will be competancy based, meaning they will ask you when you've shown certain skills in the past, or managed difficult situations etc.
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 24
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From: Devon
Nope, I've got my stage 3 coming up on the 21st and so I've obviously been looking into it.
The way I'd look at it is that if you've got the skills to do it then you should be OK in the tests, I found S1 easy, but S2 was a nightmare, passing it was a huge relief. I've just gotta hope that I'm the sort of person they're looking for, and that I can do myself justice in S3.
Best of luck to you and everyone else applying. Anyone on here going to be taking S3 on the 21st?
The way I'd look at it is that if you've got the skills to do it then you should be OK in the tests, I found S1 easy, but S2 was a nightmare, passing it was a huge relief. I've just gotta hope that I'm the sort of person they're looking for, and that I can do myself justice in S3.
Best of luck to you and everyone else applying. Anyone on here going to be taking S3 on the 21st?
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: Paisley
Ffaf
Firsty, good luck for your S3.
I just found out I passed on Thursday
, it's a major relief and well worth the hard work!
I just wanted to let you know that I did get asked a very similar question in my interview as to what I could bring to Nats, I doubt all the interviews ask the same questions but just be aware that there is questions like that in the interview.
Hope this helps.
Andy
I just found out I passed on Thursday
, it's a major relief and well worth the hard work!I just wanted to let you know that I did get asked a very similar question in my interview as to what I could bring to Nats, I doubt all the interviews ask the same questions but just be aware that there is questions like that in the interview.
Hope this helps.
Andy
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From: Devon
Moravcik25
Congratulations on passing S3, hopefully I'll be joining you with that news soon!
Thanks for the heads up on the question, although that does suprise me a bit really having looked into competancy based interviews, I guess it just means that they can spring anything on you, but nothing could suprise me after S2.
Thanks for the heads up on the question, although that does suprise me a bit really having looked into competancy based interviews, I guess it just means that they can spring anything on you, but nothing could suprise me after S2.
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Yeovil Somerset
To Adam28!
Hi there mate,
Pretty interesting info you've got there, thanks.
I sat my stage 1 tests last year in September 2008, unfortunately I failed on the cube test (spatial reasoning) & diagramming which I also believe are the hardest of all. As for the time limits they were quite the same as you've stated, the only difference was that we didn't sit a d/s/t test which obviously has replaced last years basic checking test. By the way, did you sit a basic checking test after all?
About the motivation paper, I've noticed that there is some new info added since last years pdf leaflet provided by NATS. Nothing to worry about if read it well enough.
I have some questions I'd like to ask, since you recently sat your stage 1 tests, & would really appreciate your advise. Can you remember some of the pre-defined operators used with the diagramming test, other than ( swap with top box, copy to bottom box, swap with box above, copy to box below, reverse colors, set colors to white & vice versa, turn shape upside down, remove contents of this box, cancel previous command, present all shapes in the column in reverse order ), there were about 8-12 different ones last year.
Any clues about specific publications or internet sites, relevant to spatial reasoning & diagramming that hepled you prepare for the test? To be honest I've been through several psychometric & IQ books only to find 1-2 examples from each book. You must be aware of this. I've already been through several book stores & on the net with no particular luck finding specific examples. How on earth does NATS expect from it's candidates to perform on subjects which are not available out in the market for practice. I believe they must make this stuff by themselves, & with so many questions in very limited time, guess what... anyone could get..confused
.. unless you've got a CPU attached in your brain with the specific program...
duh
I also remember that we didn't sit any personality questionaire at stage 1, that's also new.
Anyway, any kind of help would be greatly appreciated, & please feel free to ask me anything you want.
I'll be applying again sometime towards the end of this year, so, I wish you the best of luck with your results, please let me know if you've got through stage 1. Take care mate, keep posted.
Pretty interesting info you've got there, thanks.
I sat my stage 1 tests last year in September 2008, unfortunately I failed on the cube test (spatial reasoning) & diagramming which I also believe are the hardest of all. As for the time limits they were quite the same as you've stated, the only difference was that we didn't sit a d/s/t test which obviously has replaced last years basic checking test. By the way, did you sit a basic checking test after all?
About the motivation paper, I've noticed that there is some new info added since last years pdf leaflet provided by NATS. Nothing to worry about if read it well enough.
I have some questions I'd like to ask, since you recently sat your stage 1 tests, & would really appreciate your advise. Can you remember some of the pre-defined operators used with the diagramming test, other than ( swap with top box, copy to bottom box, swap with box above, copy to box below, reverse colors, set colors to white & vice versa, turn shape upside down, remove contents of this box, cancel previous command, present all shapes in the column in reverse order ), there were about 8-12 different ones last year.
Any clues about specific publications or internet sites, relevant to spatial reasoning & diagramming that hepled you prepare for the test? To be honest I've been through several psychometric & IQ books only to find 1-2 examples from each book. You must be aware of this. I've already been through several book stores & on the net with no particular luck finding specific examples. How on earth does NATS expect from it's candidates to perform on subjects which are not available out in the market for practice. I believe they must make this stuff by themselves, & with so many questions in very limited time, guess what... anyone could get..confused
.. unless you've got a CPU attached in your brain with the specific program... duhI also remember that we didn't sit any personality questionaire at stage 1, that's also new.
Anyway, any kind of help would be greatly appreciated, & please feel free to ask me anything you want.
I'll be applying again sometime towards the end of this year, so, I wish you the best of luck with your results, please let me know if you've got through stage 1. Take care mate, keep posted.
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Anglesey
Congratulations to all who passed their S3.
I failed my S3 in December, and its now been 12 months since I first applied, so here we go again..
All set for the roller coaster ride of the next 5 months!!!
I failed my S3 in December, and its now been 12 months since I first applied, so here we go again..
All set for the roller coaster ride of the next 5 months!!!
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
From: Berkshire, UK
I'm not trying to rip anyone off here Sebby- there is a new one coming out, but some people may have a interview coming up this week and want a copy v quickly. Hence my post.
i don't think £15 is unreasonable as that's P&P included, the book is basically brand new, and i can send it out tomorrow morning.
Hope others will see that i'm trying to help, not take the piss!
i don't think £15 is unreasonable as that's P&P included, the book is basically brand new, and i can send it out tomorrow morning.
Hope others will see that i'm trying to help, not take the piss!
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
From: Colchester
I wasn't suggesting that you were going to rip people off. I have mine on the 11th. Your offer is very tempting and i might buy it off you. Could you get it to me for this tue? would you do next day delivery for same price?
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: kirkcaldy
Cavokay7
Hi,
There is no basic checking involved in the tests any longer. Quick question - you say you failed on the cubes, how many did you complete in the test and did they tell you how many you got right?
As for the operations in the diagramming, I think you just about covered all of them! The ones I remember are:
Reverse shape
flip shape
copy to box below
copy to bottom box
copy to top box
swap with box above
swap with box below (i think)
delete next command
delete previous command
swap colours
set colours to black
set colurs to white (i think)
delete contents of this, next or previous box
present column in reverse order
present column in different order eg, 4,1,3,2 (top shape being 1, bottom being 4).(watch out for these little
, i think they must have asked me to do this for the last 10 questions or so!Hence why i did not have time to complete the last two!)
I can't remember any others if there was any.
As for revision or practice for the tests, I concentrated mainly on the ATC info they give you, although I did try and find books, websites etc for aptitude tests. I wasn't successful with finding books, however I used a website called www.psychometric-success.com.
If you go into 'download practice tests' there is a list of different tests you can do. Personally, i printed off and completed the tests entitled 'Abstract Reasoning', 'Diagrammatic Reasoning' and 'Spatial Ability'.
These tests only have a few questions in them that are like the questions NATS give you, however I recommend giving the whole test a go as it really gets your brain working and is after all testing the same things NATS are testing - diagrammatic reasoning and spatial ability. The abstract reasoning paper isn't anything like any NATS test, but i found it interesting and thought it was worth doing as it involved sequences and spotting things that were out of place etc.
Thanks for wishing me luck, thats 5 working days gone by now, only a possible 10 still to wait, not that i'm counting! Good luck with applying later in the year, keep us posted as i will you!
There is no basic checking involved in the tests any longer. Quick question - you say you failed on the cubes, how many did you complete in the test and did they tell you how many you got right?
As for the operations in the diagramming, I think you just about covered all of them! The ones I remember are:
Reverse shape
flip shape
copy to box below
copy to bottom box
copy to top box
swap with box above
swap with box below (i think)
delete next command
delete previous command
swap colours
set colours to black
set colurs to white (i think)
delete contents of this, next or previous box
present column in reverse order
present column in different order eg, 4,1,3,2 (top shape being 1, bottom being 4).(watch out for these little
, i think they must have asked me to do this for the last 10 questions or so!Hence why i did not have time to complete the last two!)I can't remember any others if there was any.
As for revision or practice for the tests, I concentrated mainly on the ATC info they give you, although I did try and find books, websites etc for aptitude tests. I wasn't successful with finding books, however I used a website called www.psychometric-success.com.
If you go into 'download practice tests' there is a list of different tests you can do. Personally, i printed off and completed the tests entitled 'Abstract Reasoning', 'Diagrammatic Reasoning' and 'Spatial Ability'.
These tests only have a few questions in them that are like the questions NATS give you, however I recommend giving the whole test a go as it really gets your brain working and is after all testing the same things NATS are testing - diagrammatic reasoning and spatial ability. The abstract reasoning paper isn't anything like any NATS test, but i found it interesting and thought it was worth doing as it involved sequences and spotting things that were out of place etc.
Thanks for wishing me luck, thats 5 working days gone by now, only a possible 10 still to wait, not that i'm counting! Good luck with applying later in the year, keep us posted as i will you!
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
From: Woking, Surrey
Originally Posted by CAVOKAY7
How on earth does NATS expect from it's candidates to perform on subjects which are not available out in the market for practice. I believe they must make this stuff by themselves, & with so many questions in very limited time, guess what... anyone could get..confused.. unless you've got a CPU attached in your brain with the specific program... duh
