Any previous posters (Ruth Jones, Mav23 etc) care to share their experiences on course so far?

Sure, I'll give a brief update.
I love it, it is amazingly mind bendingly complicated at times, but we are just hitting the fun stuff.
Our course is through the vast majority of the theory, and we have all passed out DTI exams and are starting non-radar sim runs.
Not sure if it is the same in. Melbourne as Brisbane! but you do become a virtual family unit in a lot of ways! it is not a competition and it is drummed into you pretty strongly that the best way to get through is to all work hard together.
We celebrate each other's wins and we are there for each other when something goes wrong.
I have already done my share of stupid mistakes, no doubt many more to come (declaring an incerfa during the DTI exam for an aircraft that had cancelled SAR in the circuit was rather embarrassing)
The theory can seem very, well, useless, at times, until of course you get into the sim and suddenly realise how it all fits together!
One thing that gets to me is changing between the pilot side and atc side in the sim, I have to remember to change the phraseologies at the door lol.
You get to know your airspace pretty quickly, and it doesn't take long before you know that Roy Hill is gonna be an airborne taxi call bets on, and you better not forget to reset the SAR timer correctly!
We do have fun, but we always make sure we don't have fun in a way that stuffs someone else up.
Everyday there is something new to learn, at the moment I'm personally adding a focus at establishing a fail safe scanning technique because it's only going to get busier from here!

Anyone know when the next Brisbane course is on? Would be good not to be the baby class anymore :)
If anyone is on a Brisbane course starting soon I have a spare room as either a temporary of longer term option, can't guarantee I'll be any help with study though!
Ruth

Ruth, the reality is that declaring a phase that was not required is enormously preferable to not declaring. I am certain there are a few controllers/managers in a certain part of Asia thinking exactly that right now.

Hello mate;

I signed my LOO a few days ago and I am collecting the paperwork for the VISA. My course date is planned to be 8th September in Melbourne and I confirm that my final destination will be Adelaide TCU.

I hope you get your stuff together and that you manage to start ASAP.

Good luck and all the best,
sixcheked

Ithaca
 

When you set out on your journey to Ithaca,
pray that the road is long,
full of adventure, full of knowledge.

Always keep Ithaca in your mind.
To arrive there is your ultimate goal.
But do not hurry the voyage at all.

Constantine P. Cavafy (Ithaka)

Enjoy waiting, at least there is still the prospect of arriving...

Hi all,

I have recently applied for the Air traffic controller trainee role. Does anyone know what to expect in Online cognitive ability assessments and situational questionnaire?

Hi Sohail,

There is a very informative post by Willadvise on page 94 of this thread that covers a lot of the FAQ to do with the assessment stage and the academy.

I recently completed the test and it's a pretty typical psychometric test with numerical reasoning, spatial awareness etc.

On a side note, has anyone else on here been invited to the assessment day in Brisbane on the 15th April?

Ashton88, yes I'm booked in for 15th April in Brisbane. Doing my best to prepare!

One question I have for the general population here - what is the "Individual Briefing Exercise" about?

You'll find out on the day, but it's not hard.

As far as the whole assessment is concerned, the only way you can prepare for it really is to make sure you know a bit about what ATC do and try and organise a famil, a visit to the centre or a tower, beforehand.

Thanks stevep64.
It doesn't sound too hard, but I'm just wondering if what I think the briefing exercise is, is even close to the assessment item.

When I think of a briefing, it's usually where you're explaining to someone else how to carry out a procedure or task, so I'm guessing it's just a communication exercise, to make sure we can retain a few pieces of info & relay it to another team member...

Anyways, as you say, I'll find out on the day.
I think it wasn't curiosity that killed the cat, it was anticipation.

I am booked in on the wednesday in Brisbane .. have to say i am pretty excited to go through to this next part and this thread has been so helpful! Only thing i am worried about is looking smart casual haha need to get some clothes!

Hi guys,

I have been invited to complete an online assessment. I hope to do well

Any pointers/suggestions ?

Thanks

LEO

Changes to assessment
 

Hi all,

I've just read my way through from the beginning of the thread, as well as as much other information as I can find and just want to make sure I have the right current information.

It seems that the assessment day for ATC has changed quite a bit in the last few years. Could someone who's done it recently confirm for me that it's now just a single day that includes online test verification, other assessments and interview? (It seems that it used to have the interview separate to the centre assessment...)

Thanks!

Hi Lilly,
What date are you booked in at the assessment centre? You should get an email about two weeks prior to the day which details what's involved on the day.

HI all, newbie here, have read majority of this forum's posts over the last few weeks - all the info has been a welcomed intro and heads up for me...

Like sohail815 (LEO) I too have been invited to complete the online assessment.
I have been doing some test / sample questions found on the net.

Fingers crossed...

D0ogi3 (vic - aust)

Hi,
The date's not set yet. I mainly just wanted to make sure it was just 1 day, not several for testing, interviews etc like it used to be. My current job has an extremely inflexible contract which makes it difficult to get to them - it's at least 2 day's travel from where I am so can't just take a sickie unfortunately!

Hi...

I'm new here as well just like D0ogi3 and Sohail815, and just completed the online assessment. The test was not too difficult but neither easy except for one. The last part was Spatial Ability test and I was not expecting this so honestly, I did not prepare for it. I did not even finish the test, ran out of time. It was not my strongest suit.

Anyway, does anyone know what is the passing score for the Spatial Test? Is this a new addition to the usual tests included in the online test?

RuddsD

Assessment Description
 

G'day RuddsD
Would you be able to give a brief description of what the test involved? I've got my online assessment due tomorrow. :/

Hi Ozyboy,

The Spatial Test was more like an abstract test. It's purely graphical. A bunch of shapes bungled together and there are choices at the bottom showing how it would look like if you rotate or flip them.

Some questions had boxes with patterns and how the box would look like if you open it up.

Not sure if I described it properly but that's just some of what I could recall. There were 22 questions and must be completed in 15min so you can't spend too much time analysing the pattern.

Hope that helps. Good luck!

Update
 

Hey all. I got my medical clearance last night and my visa 2 weeks ago. It looks like all is good to go. It appears I will be in the July start date in Melbourne for tower. If anyone else will be there, I am def open to a new friend or two. I'd love to compare certain aspects of ATC because honestly I have no idea what is different. LOL.

My email is [email protected] if any of ya like to hit me up.

RuddsD - I did the online assessment late 2013 & there was no spatial assessment. Only some maths, a code checking test and some general multiple choice questions. There may have been one or two other elements, but there was definitely no spatial stuff in my online assessment.

Having said that, I have my assessment day next week & there is going to be some spatial reasoning as part of the assessment. I've been practicing so hopefully won't trip me up too much!

Best of luck mate!

For anyone interested, I just found a very informative post by WilAdvise. It's post number 1868. If you troll through & look at the post number on RHS of text box heading, you should find it easy enough.

He's basically answered a whole bunch of FAQ's about life in ATC & training, etc.

Online Assessment - completed
 

Hi all, well last night was one night I don't want to repeat. After studying as much as I could (taking into consideration a large amount of overtime for my current job) - I think I did alright. Wasn't as tough as I thought it was going to be - yeah sure some questions were bit "OMG", but overall I think I did well. I guess only time will tell.

So does anyone know if they contact you IF you didn't do well / pass? And maybe an estimated time of how long it takes them to do this?

d0ogi3

Online Assesment
 

Hi d0ogi3 ,

if you can please elaborate on what all was included in online cognitive test besides numerical and verbal reasoning..i saw few new post where guys have mentioned they are now taking spatial reasoning test..what dose this test involve...do they still conduct test from SHLdirect.com??

Hi D0ogie3,

Good on you mate!

Did you happen to have a Spatial Assessment section on your test? I had it as last part of my test. How did it go for you?

Hi Silverdieselcorolla....thanks for the response. I am wondering why this test was added in my case. It was a game changer for me as it was the most difficult one I had so far. Normally Spatial test is included in a generic IQ test but just one or a few questions, but in this case 22 items! Got a headache afterwards. I think if you play chess a lot you will be good at it. Just my 2cents. Good luck to your assessment! :)

RuddsD

Online Assessment - Outcome
 

Hi all,

The resulting email was received today:

"Unfortunately your results did not meet the minimum standard required to progress to the next stage of the recruitment process. As a result you have been deemed unsuccessful for the role of Air Traffic Controller in training. "

So I didn't make the cut - and there is no feedback given at this stage.

So without further-a-do, I bid all the other applicants best of luck for the remaining parts of the recruitment process and / or future work within the industry.

I will not be removing my username / profile from "pprune forums", I intend to check in from time to time.

Abbas11: see RuddsD post #2819 about the spatial reasoning test description.

All the best, d0ogie.

So I hear there will be a Brisbane course starting October? Anyone know they are on it yet?
Look forward to meeting you, whoever you lot will be, will just be glad not to be the baby course anymore lol

Ruth

I did the online test back in November 2013, and there was definitely a spatial visualisation in there. It was the second last section before the "what would you do" questions.

For me it was the hardest part.

I also got the did not meet requirements email after it.

I'm going to give it another crack at the end of the year.

All I can say with the online assessment, don't do what I did. It says it should take 90 minutes. I felt I had to do it in that time, and so didn't pause between the sections.

As long as you stay logged in, take a couple of minutes between the sections. Some of the sections get you quite wound up.

I agree Barnacle Bill, it's best to let the brain temperature drop a bit after each section of the testing, as once you start a section of the test, the questions just keep on firing at you (in some parts of the test).

Ruth Jones - I'm super hopeful to get into that October course in Brisbane!
I just started new 6 month contract in my current line of work, so an October course date would be a dream come true for me!!

Recently completed the assessment day (finally) and waiting to hear the result.
It was a great experience, definitely not for the faint hearted, or unsure, but totally worth it!

Does anyone know if they do Tower courses in Brisbane?
Or are they all in Melbourne?

Melbourne in July anyone?
 

Hey all. Just heard I am in the July 7 tower class. I know some of you have reached out to me and I so appreciate it. Kinda hard believing this is actually happening. Anyways, if anyone else per chance is in the class, please let me know. As of now, all I know is that the table appears to be set for 1.

Oh, and if anyone Melbourne ATCOs are around, feel free to say hi. :ok:

Melbourne only for tower courses.

Clear2land78,

Hi.

I can't be the only person in class, can I? LOL. Hi Fujii

Hi all, I just got my Letter of Offer for the en route course starting 2nd June in Melbourne. Is anyone else on here attending the same course or one at a similar time? If yes would you be interested in share housing?

Chrishillman,

Out of interest, how long have you waited from your assessment day, to receiving a letter of offer?

My assessment day was the 12th of March in Melbourne, I was then emailed that my reference check was completed on the 25th of March and that I should go ahead and get an ARN and my CASA Class 3 Medical started. The official Letter of Offer only arrived yesterday on the 17th of April.

Hope that helps :)

Hi guys, I am having my assessment day on 5th of May at Melbourne, Is there Anyone else attending to this section as well?

Also what is going to happen on the assessment day (from 8:30 to 5:00, sounds full on)? Are there anythings I should be look out for and what Preparation I can do?

Any responses are very welcome, and happy Easter:ok:

Hi everyone.
Just wondering if anyone has received feedback recently for completed online assessment and testing.

I initially applied in late January and was invited to complete the online test on the 19th March, which i complete a few days later.

I was curious to know if others who had completed the testing at a similar time had received feedback one way or the other.

Do you think it is a reasonable assumption that if I didnt meet the minimum criteria I would have been told that by now?

thanks

TWO QUESTIONS
 

At YSSY;

"Contact director"

What duties is the director responsible for? Is it a tower position or console gig? Where does this position fit into the sequence of things?

Also many flight call signs have the flight number followed by Alpha or Delta...

eg Q-Link 579D

Or

Velocity 1158A

What does the letter denote?

Cheers
VB