NATS interview process
Join Date: Feb 2010
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Hi all, first post on the forum. I've read several of the previous 274 pages of post on this topic and couldn't find my answer.
I'm had my initial application approved and started reading the ATC training sample test document, but wondered to what degree of detail knowledge of this document is expected to be -are specific dates important, e.g. when the first phase of NOTA was established), or the designation of airspace classes? I'm not complaining or anything, just need to know from someone that's sat the test whether they're looking for a general overview of the text or exacting information.
Many thanks!
I'm had my initial application approved and started reading the ATC training sample test document, but wondered to what degree of detail knowledge of this document is expected to be -are specific dates important, e.g. when the first phase of NOTA was established), or the designation of airspace classes? I'm not complaining or anything, just need to know from someone that's sat the test whether they're looking for a general overview of the text or exacting information.
Many thanks!
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Joey,
Last time I was paying attention people were generally being put on the August course, though I think I did see a post from someone the other day who said they were on the October course, so you may have just missed the August one. Personally I'm really hoping they are still putting people on the August course as after 3 months of complications with my medicals there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel and I really want to be able to get on with it all now without further delay! It will also depend if you want to go area or aerodrome, I think the aerodrome courses are a little oversubscribed (partly due to several recent aero courses being cancelled as NATS didn't have need for the controllers at that time, or something along those lines) so you might have a longer wait if you want to go that route. I wouldn't be suprised if they aren't even offering aero at the minute, but don't have up to date info on that - anyone who has passed recently care to comment?
Regarding pass rate: my understanding is that there isn't a fixed pass rate, there is a benchmark standard and if you reach it you pass, so in theory all of your stage 3 group might pass or none of them might pass. I think statistically the pass rate for stage 3 is somewhere in the region of about 50%, but thats just based on hearsay. When I sat mine one of the assessors said that roughly the top 5% of total candidates make it to stage 3 and according to the NATS website about 3% pass the whole selection process, which does support a statistic of around a 50-60% pass rate for stage 3.
I presume you have your stage 3 coming up? Best of luck
Last time I was paying attention people were generally being put on the August course, though I think I did see a post from someone the other day who said they were on the October course, so you may have just missed the August one. Personally I'm really hoping they are still putting people on the August course as after 3 months of complications with my medicals there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel and I really want to be able to get on with it all now without further delay! It will also depend if you want to go area or aerodrome, I think the aerodrome courses are a little oversubscribed (partly due to several recent aero courses being cancelled as NATS didn't have need for the controllers at that time, or something along those lines) so you might have a longer wait if you want to go that route. I wouldn't be suprised if they aren't even offering aero at the minute, but don't have up to date info on that - anyone who has passed recently care to comment?
Regarding pass rate: my understanding is that there isn't a fixed pass rate, there is a benchmark standard and if you reach it you pass, so in theory all of your stage 3 group might pass or none of them might pass. I think statistically the pass rate for stage 3 is somewhere in the region of about 50%, but thats just based on hearsay. When I sat mine one of the assessors said that roughly the top 5% of total candidates make it to stage 3 and according to the NATS website about 3% pass the whole selection process, which does support a statistic of around a 50-60% pass rate for stage 3.
I presume you have your stage 3 coming up? Best of luck
Join Date: Feb 2010
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Glasgow trainee
Hi, i see the last post made here was in 2007 so i hope this will still be read.
I was wondering if there were any A.T.C trainee's or Time served A.T.C 's from Scotland on the forum who could give me any info about how the colege works.
Im 26yrs old and married with 2 kids, ive been an hgv mechanic for 10yrs and im now looking to change careers and become an a.t.c which would be my dream job.
I was wondering how people manage to balance home life while training at the college and living so far away from family? Does the college provide accomadation and also would i be living down at the college for the full duration or would it be in weekly blocks (like when i was training to be a mechanic).
Hopefully one of you can explain some of this to me and give me an example of life as a trainee.
Thanks
I was wondering if there were any A.T.C trainee's or Time served A.T.C 's from Scotland on the forum who could give me any info about how the colege works.
Im 26yrs old and married with 2 kids, ive been an hgv mechanic for 10yrs and im now looking to change careers and become an a.t.c which would be my dream job.
I was wondering how people manage to balance home life while training at the college and living so far away from family? Does the college provide accomadation and also would i be living down at the college for the full duration or would it be in weekly blocks (like when i was training to be a mechanic).
Hopefully one of you can explain some of this to me and give me an example of life as a trainee.
Thanks
Join Date: Jan 2009
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Lubo,
I was at the college last year, I left my wife and 3 young kids back home in Edinburgh and stayed in a B&B for the duration of my course, visiting home every couple of weeks or so.
Some people bring their families with them but I think we did the right thing, I was able to study in a child free environment (And could enjoy the social life
)
PM me for more info if you need it.
I was at the college last year, I left my wife and 3 young kids back home in Edinburgh and stayed in a B&B for the duration of my course, visiting home every couple of weeks or so.
Some people bring their families with them but I think we did the right thing, I was able to study in a child free environment (And could enjoy the social life
)PM me for more info if you need it.
Join Date: Jul 2008
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We were told at stage 3 that it was going to defiantly be October when we start though if there are drop outs on earlier courses and you were able to get on you may be asked to go on one of those. I have picked to be on aerodrome course and there is one running in July so I may get on that but if not I may have to wait longer then October because they cancel quite allot of aerodrome courses.
Oh they also said that in stage 3 you are not against each other if you all get through then there are places for you all.
Oh they also said that in stage 3 you are not against each other if you all get through then there are places for you all.
Join Date: Feb 2006
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@ Miss_Mia83
I am doing my ST1 in Prestwick Friday 26th Feb. As far as revision time goes I booked my interview yesterday so I only have 2 days! I hope to learn enough in that time to get through, the aptitude tests should be fine but the ATC paper will be more difficult. There seems to be some mystery as to how much detail we need to know... do you guys think I'm not leaving enough time? As a veteran student I'm relying on my ability to cram!
I really want this but I'm currently in my final year of a Bachelors degree in Civil Engineering and this is the most strenuous time of year (at the minute I am participating in 5 projects running concurrently including a 20,000 word dissertation!
) so I just have to hope I can learn enough to get through.
Are you attending the same date as me?
I am doing my ST1 in Prestwick Friday 26th Feb. As far as revision time goes I booked my interview yesterday so I only have 2 days! I hope to learn enough in that time to get through, the aptitude tests should be fine but the ATC paper will be more difficult. There seems to be some mystery as to how much detail we need to know... do you guys think I'm not leaving enough time? As a veteran student I'm relying on my ability to cram!
I really want this but I'm currently in my final year of a Bachelors degree in Civil Engineering and this is the most strenuous time of year (at the minute I am participating in 5 projects running concurrently including a 20,000 word dissertation!
) so I just have to hope I can learn enough to get through.Are you attending the same date as me?
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I was at the college last year, I left my wife and 3 young kids back home in Edinburgh and stayed in a B&B for the duration of my course,
Join Date: Feb 2010
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Hi,
Its my first time on here so apolgies if I do things wrong
I have got my intial stage with NATS on friday and was just making sure that at thids stage, it is only the aptitude tests and a test on that booklet recieved by email and no actual interview?
Some one please get back to me asap
Thanks
Its my first time on here so apolgies if I do things wrong
I have got my intial stage with NATS on friday and was just making sure that at thids stage, it is only the aptitude tests and a test on that booklet recieved by email and no actual interview?
Some one please get back to me asap
Thanks
Join Date: Jul 2008
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You only have an actual interview in stage 3. Stage 1 and 2 are just tests.
Just found out that FlyBe is now doing a direct flight from Manchester to Bournemouth which is excellent news for me being a northerner. It only costs £25 one way or £60 return including taxes and charges. Could be very useful for people going to the college for stage 3, or at the college wanting to pop home sometime. Seems allot cheaper than driving.
Just found out that FlyBe is now doing a direct flight from Manchester to Bournemouth which is excellent news for me being a northerner. It only costs £25 one way or £60 return including taxes and charges. Could be very useful for people going to the college for stage 3, or at the college wanting to pop home sometime. Seems allot cheaper than driving.
Join Date: Nov 2009
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My first post, hello everyone.
Just wanted to ask if anyone else has shared my experience when applying to NATS?
I completed my online application in January and received that standard email saying that they were considering my application and should expect to hear back in the near future. After about 10 days I emailed them back, just as a follow up. I received no reply.
I emailed another follow up recently and as yet I have received no reply.
EDIT - Got reply, they want me for Stage 1 Selection Test
Just wanted to ask if anyone else has shared my experience when applying to NATS?
I completed my online application in January and received that standard email saying that they were considering my application and should expect to hear back in the near future. After about 10 days I emailed them back, just as a follow up. I received no reply.
I emailed another follow up recently and as yet I have received no reply.
EDIT - Got reply, they want me for Stage 1 Selection Test
Join Date: Feb 2010
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Give me a home...
Hey guys, I'm new here too. (Just kicked off the box; there's packing everywhere...)
Got my Stage 1 on March 12th at 1300. Just wondering if anybody else here will be going?
jking - I was going to ask if there was an interview at this stage, so ta for clearing that up for me too.
Been cramming on the paper this last couple of weeks (being fresh outta uni does help, I gotta say), and I think I'm pretty up to scratch with the material... The SHL test gave me a 93% rating on my psychometric without prep, though I do plan on practising some more just in case.
The S/D/T part is what I'm dreading the most tbh. Setting myself some questions each night, so hopefully it'll all be fine
Good luck to the rest of you going for your stages!
Oh, and for Android users, there's a cube spatial awareness game/app that seems to mimic the one in the NATS preview test paper, so check it out: Cubes spatial reasoning FREE v1.1 Game for Android | Brain & Puzzle
I don't have an Android mobile, so if anybody comes across anything similar please post a link!
Later
Got my Stage 1 on March 12th at 1300. Just wondering if anybody else here will be going?
jking - I was going to ask if there was an interview at this stage, so ta for clearing that up for me too.
Been cramming on the paper this last couple of weeks (being fresh outta uni does help, I gotta say), and I think I'm pretty up to scratch with the material... The SHL test gave me a 93% rating on my psychometric without prep, though I do plan on practising some more just in case.
The S/D/T part is what I'm dreading the most tbh. Setting myself some questions each night, so hopefully it'll all be fine
Good luck to the rest of you going for your stages!
Oh, and for Android users, there's a cube spatial awareness game/app that seems to mimic the one in the NATS preview test paper, so check it out: Cubes spatial reasoning FREE v1.1 Game for Android | Brain & Puzzle
I don't have an Android mobile, so if anybody comes across anything similar please post a link!
Later
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stage 1
hello everybody!!
bulletsamurai, I did my first time stage 1 last September and there wasn't any interview, we did some test 1 of them was spatial reasoning, I think interviews are in stage 2 but I'm not sure, could anybody help us and tell us what are stage 2 and 3 about??
thanks
bulletsamurai, I did my first time stage 1 last September and there wasn't any interview, we did some test 1 of them was spatial reasoning, I think interviews are in stage 2 but I'm not sure, could anybody help us and tell us what are stage 2 and 3 about??
thanks
Join Date: Jun 2008
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hello everybody!!
bulletsamurai, I did my first time stage 1 last September and there wasn't any interview, we did some test 1 of them was spatial reasoning, I think interviews are in stage 2 but I'm not sure, could anybody help us and tell us what are stage 2 and 3 about??
thanks
bulletsamurai, I did my first time stage 1 last September and there wasn't any interview, we did some test 1 of them was spatial reasoning, I think interviews are in stage 2 but I'm not sure, could anybody help us and tell us what are stage 2 and 3 about??
thanks
Or, look around at the previous 10-20 pages or more of this thread if you're feeling enthusiastic but try to use a bit of initiative.
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Seromero,
Stage 2 is a day of computer tests - basically lots of games which test a whole load of things like your reactions, multitasking, performance under pressure etc.
Stage 3 is the interview and a group exercise to assess your team working and stuff like that.
The NATS ATCO careers website through which you applied contains all this information and more so well worth doing a bit of reading
Stage 2 is a day of computer tests - basically lots of games which test a whole load of things like your reactions, multitasking, performance under pressure etc.
Stage 3 is the interview and a group exercise to assess your team working and stuff like that.
The NATS ATCO careers website through which you applied contains all this information and more so well worth doing a bit of reading
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removal of strips
Does anybody know if a removal of strips has to take place immediately or when the aircraft passed the next checkpoint in sdm test in feast test??
thank you for help
thank you for help
Join Date: Jul 2008
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Don’t worry you get an explanation of how it all works as part of the test. No offence but I’m of the opinion that you can know too much for that test as it would kind of defeat its whole object, trying to see how well you absorb new information seems to be a major part of what that test is trying to do.