NATS interview process
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stage 3
I thought stage 3 involved a team-work exercise and the interview however, you guys are talking about a simulator and having stage 3 in bournemouth.
Has something changed? Are there no more team work assessment?
Has something changed? Are there no more team work assessment?
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SKOS,
As far as I know, if your Stage 3 is held at the college in Bournemouth, you get a look round the college afterwards - I was being 'watched' on my simulator a few weeks back and I think the same happened to Jonathan!
As far as I know, if your Stage 3 is held at the college in Bournemouth, you get a look round the college afterwards - I was being 'watched' on my simulator a few weeks back and I think the same happened to Jonathan!
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Sorry if I misled you - the sim is not part of stage 3, I just happened to be doing a run (I'm on an Area course) while some stage 3 applicants were being shown around the college after their interviews.
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SHL Tests
Ah pap.
I've just completed my online tests prior to my S1 on Friday, and while I think I got almost everything right on the first section (except 2 that I know of, cos I was too trigger happy with the mouse :/ ) I think more than half the questions on the second section are going to be wrong.
For those of you with the same gutted feeling, finding Sean's post cheered me up a bit
So hopefully it'll be fine!! Can anybody else who's been successful at S1 confirm this?
Who else has their S1 on Friday 12th at 1300?
I've just completed my online tests prior to my S1 on Friday, and while I think I got almost everything right on the first section (except 2 that I know of, cos I was too trigger happy with the mouse :/ ) I think more than half the questions on the second section are going to be wrong.
For those of you with the same gutted feeling, finding Sean's post cheered me up a bit
The online test doesn't count to your score on the stage 1 test, as far as i can remember it is just to give some feedback on how quickly people can answer the questions, I did terrible on the online test, but managed to pass stage 1 and get right through to passing stage 3 last week. Don't worry about it
Who else has their S1 on Friday 12th at 1300?
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bulletsamurai: I know the feeling!! Also on the 12th at 1300 
I was just doing the practice tests online and the standard/question level seems to be much higher than the sample questions in the NATS documents!
It's not really encouraging me to sit the SHL exam for real
Can anyone who's been through S1 shed some light on this please? IS the standard in the SHL practice tests and online test harder or broadly in line with the S1 exam (I'm specifically referencing the tables of raw data and calculations in the practice test)
Thanks a million
I was just doing the practice tests online and the standard/question level seems to be much higher than the sample questions in the NATS documents!
It's not really encouraging me to sit the SHL exam for real
Can anyone who's been through S1 shed some light on this please? IS the standard in the SHL practice tests and online test harder or broadly in line with the S1 exam (I'm specifically referencing the tables of raw data and calculations in the practice test)
Thanks a million
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hey guys,
sorry to hear that
But look on the bright side: the next time you apply you'll have way more experience than the others. So don't be sad as I've heard loads of guys and gals didn't make it for the first time and now they are atcos/trainees.
May I ask you where your interviews were?
sorry to hear that
But look on the bright side: the next time you apply you'll have way more experience than the others. So don't be sad as I've heard loads of guys and gals didn't make it for the first time and now they are atcos/trainees.
May I ask you where your interviews were?
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we were inteviewed at Bournemouth, got to look around the college which really got my hopes up, even if there were people giggling at the workstations 
good luck to all still applying
good luck to all still applying
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Jengajen
Unless stage 1 has changed massively since I did it last year then it's hard to compare the online test with SHL as on the test day you are only timed to do 40 odd questions and not on acomputer. Therefore you will have longer to do the ones you get stuck on and then fly through the others. I passed stage 1 last year and given the time pressure in the online tests I found them more tricky than the tests at nats. With regards to calculations , I would say they are more to prepare you for what is to come. I did no such calcs last year just relatively simple dst questions. Rather than back calculating to find that bloomin " ? ".
As probably said before I would say that to learn the ATC stuff backwards. If you score ok in the maths type questions and do poorly on the motivational stuff, I guess it won't be a great result. I don't think stage 1 will be as bad as you think if you have done enough prep.
Good luck to you and all stage 1 people. May see some of you at whiteley on 19th am session
As probably said before I would say that to learn the ATC stuff backwards. If you score ok in the maths type questions and do poorly on the motivational stuff, I guess it won't be a great result. I don't think stage 1 will be as bad as you think if you have done enough prep.
Good luck to you and all stage 1 people. May see some of you at whiteley on 19th am session
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Stage 2
I have am doing stage 2 tomorrow.
I'm kind of frustrated as their doesn't seem to be any way to prepare for it - unlike stage 1 where we had to learn the ATC document and knew there were DST questions involed. I've read what FEAST tests are - but obviously I don't know exactly which tests NATS use. Also what are SDM tests - which was mentioned on their email?
Does anyone who has recently gone through stage 2 have any advice?
Thanks!
I'm kind of frustrated as their doesn't seem to be any way to prepare for it - unlike stage 1 where we had to learn the ATC document and knew there were DST questions involed. I've read what FEAST tests are - but obviously I don't know exactly which tests NATS use. Also what are SDM tests - which was mentioned on their email?
Does anyone who has recently gone through stage 2 have any advice?
Thanks!
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SDM = Strip Display Management
The test is basically a simulation of a control environment where you have to conduct a number of tasks such as updating flight progress strips. It's all explained very thoroughly before you begin the test and you get up to about an hour (if I remember correctly) to study the training material before you start. I really enjoyed this part of the day when I did mine, was good fun.
Basically you can't really prepare for stage 2, I believe that is part of the point - presumably allowing NATS too assess how quickly and efficiently you can pick up and learn new tasks, particularly whilst under pressure. Try not to worry about it and just be relaxed and focused on the day, everyone is in the same boat so you won't be the only one who is perhaps feeling a little under prepared.
The test is basically a simulation of a control environment where you have to conduct a number of tasks such as updating flight progress strips. It's all explained very thoroughly before you begin the test and you get up to about an hour (if I remember correctly) to study the training material before you start. I really enjoyed this part of the day when I did mine, was good fun.
Basically you can't really prepare for stage 2, I believe that is part of the point - presumably allowing NATS too assess how quickly and efficiently you can pick up and learn new tasks, particularly whilst under pressure. Try not to worry about it and just be relaxed and focused on the day, everyone is in the same boat so you won't be the only one who is perhaps feeling a little under prepared.
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Thanks Pat42!
You advice was helpful. It's a relief to know that we get a good amount of time to study the material on the day before doing the actual assessment.
Fingers crossed for tomorrow!
I applied last year, and didn't make it further than Stage 1...so i'm already doing better this year!
Just, really want to get to interview stage!
Good luck to everyone else going through any stage right now!
You advice was helpful. It's a relief to know that we get a good amount of time to study the material on the day before doing the actual assessment.
Fingers crossed for tomorrow!
I applied last year, and didn't make it further than Stage 1...so i'm already doing better this year!
Just, really want to get to interview stage!
Good luck to everyone else going through any stage right now!
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SHL tests and ATC knowledge paper
Hi all, i have my stage 1 tests in prestwick on friday. I hope this is not a stupid question but regarding the shl online tests you have to complete prior to stage 1, do you just follow the link to the shl practice tests on the page where you booked your stage 1 timeslot? Then follow the link to try the free 3 trial tests?...are these the tests they are talking about?
Also, regarding the atc knowledge paper provided by NATS, there is quite a few details of aircraft specifics.....do you need to know those inside out for the stage 1 test?
I appreciate any feedback at all, thanks.
Also, regarding the atc knowledge paper provided by NATS, there is quite a few details of aircraft specifics.....do you need to know those inside out for the stage 1 test?
I appreciate any feedback at all, thanks.
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KFM
I just followed the link they give you in that email and then you have to register. Then simply follow the instructions.
With regards to the aircraft specs, it has been covered before, but you will need to know the basic info such as which aircrafts can do a transatlantic, rough speeds as they may ask what aircraft is likely to travel at x knots etc...
Hope this is helpful
With regards to the aircraft specs, it has been covered before, but you will need to know the basic info such as which aircrafts can do a transatlantic, rough speeds as they may ask what aircraft is likely to travel at x knots etc...
Hope this is helpful
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@kudos_ni, you get one and a half hours to study the material for SDM Test, then you get couple of minutes for practice it and then you entitled to a break which after you undertaking actual SDM Test which lasts for about 38min. It's quite fun, though I found the voice of the woman which tells you the instructions quite annoying 
Apart from that you will do 3 NATS tests and FEAST test which involves 6 other tests. I won't tell you what they are about cause that will miss the point of the computer tests.
@KFM, you supposed to get another email with a details to SHL online test.
# just realised that kudos_ni is having a S2 today
. Any way, info might be helpful for the other in the future.
Apart from that you will do 3 NATS tests and FEAST test which involves 6 other tests. I won't tell you what they are about cause that will miss the point of the computer tests.
@KFM, you supposed to get another email with a details to SHL online test.
# just realised that kudos_ni is having a S2 today
. Any way, info might be helpful for the other in the future.
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stage 3
Apart from that you will do 3 NATS tests and FEAST test which involves 6 other tests. I won't tell you what they are about cause that will miss the point of the computer tests.
Letting candidates know of what to expect interms of the style of questionning or type of tests I believe is very different from telling them what the answers to these are (I think that is exactly what NATS do at stage 1).
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You are probably right, though in my point of view, just as Pat42 has mentioned, the point of the computer tests is to assess how quickly and efficiently you can learn new task, while the S1 is rather testing things like your knowledge, spatial reasoning etc. JBoth of them though are testing your ability to do very important job so I think you should be honest with yourself while doing them.
That's why I thought letting people know what tests exactly they are going to be doing spoils the point. Anyway, if someone is really curious, the details of them can be found even in this thread, but I actually enjoyed the fact of going for the S2 just with the basic overview of it and undertake the tests as they went, trying to do them the best it could have done after being given the instructions.
No offence to you, it's only my humble opinion
That's why I thought letting people know what tests exactly they are going to be doing spoils the point. Anyway, if someone is really curious, the details of them can be found even in this thread, but I actually enjoyed the fact of going for the S2 just with the basic overview of it and undertake the tests as they went, trying to do them the best it could have done after being given the instructions.
No offence to you, it's only my humble opinion