Hi,

I've been invited to a stage one assessment and I'm hoping for some confirmation on what to expect.

I've trawled through pages however there seems to be some contrasting information.

In the practice leaflet provided, there is some basic checking questions. However some people on here have said they aren't in the test. Can anyone who has done stage one recently either confirm or deny this?

From what I've understood, there will be:

ATC paper, multiple choice based on the 25 page document provided

Basic Checking
Spatial Reasoning
Diagramming
Maths test(?)

All of the above bar the Maths section are included as examples in the practice leaflet. Does that leaflet contain all the types of tests or is there more that aren't listed?

Also, if anyone wants to share any websites/books/games/methods or whatever that helped them prepare and understand the selection tests it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

^^ ^^ ^^ ^^

Check your PM ;)

Passed my online checking test last night and now I'm booked in for the stage 1 assesment on the 24th of January, anyone booked in for the same date? Also if anyone could pass on some help and tints on anything else i should expect in the stage 1 assement that would be much appreciated! good luck & much love everyone :ok:

Has anyone heard anything from the 4th of Dec? I had my stage 2 then and still haven't heard anything. 15 day period approaches...

Hi!, do you know if NATS is still recruiting people¿

Yes they do.

can anybody tell me weather there are anymore tests on assessment day 1 other than the ATC test, spatial reasoning and diagramming? because the email I received mentions something about an ATC paper and selection tests I was just wondering what these tests might be/consist of? many thanks.

intertia,

I've heard nothing from NATS since my Stage 2 on 4th December however I was not confident in my performance, making some silly mistakes in DART really let me down.
However, the 15 days is actually 15 working days. So don't be surprised if you have not received results by this Wednesday (19th), it will be 10 working days since we took the tests tomorrow. Our 14th working day is Christmas Eve so we may not get our results till post-Christmas maybe even New Year, I guess it just depends on when HR are working.

Goodluck anyway!

@ddaly131
 

There will be three tests - firstly the ATC test (you will need to learn the booklet provided for this) and if you pass this you will partake in the diagramming and spatial reasoning tests.

However, the testing method may change to be a more computer oriented test in the foreseeable future.

@thegolfpimp, Thanks. To be honest I'm not surprised by the 15 working days this, sort of makes sense when you think of it. Its just unfortunate that we might have to go through this turmoil for even longer.

Best of luck though! hopefully see you at the Stage 3 interviews!

I have stage 1 on the 7th of January! Really going to learn the contents of the ATC paper as reading through this forum suggests it is the most important thing I could do! It's the spatial awareness tests that get me, them cub nets are simply awful. For me they are anyway..

Got mine the same day as you Luke at 1345,

Currently working my backside off going through all the stuff so fingers crossed! Best of luck!

good luck to you too! Have you tried the online games yet on the ATC careers page? They really test you.. when you try them let me know what level you get to.

The document is key so a lot of people say... the other tests (barring spacial awareness) i'm fine with!

The document is the key, but will only go as far as being able to get you through the first half of stage one. They mark the NATS test and if you pass you get to spatial awareness and diagramming. If you don't pass the NATS test you have to go home. If you fail spatial awareness or diagramming you are no better off than if you failed the NATS test originally. Learn the documents, learn the plane information, and practice!

You might get a couple of general knowledge questions which weren't in the booklet. They are the sort of questions which, if you have a real vested interest in the aviation industry, you ought to know the answer to. So read around a bit as well - the more you know about ATC and ATS the better off you'll be.

Stage 2
 

Heard from NATS HR today.

I wasn't successful in my Stage 2 on 4th December.

Really gutted but good luck to everyone else who was there that day and in the future.

Countdown to next year begins.

Marc

Hi guys,
Are math/numeracy exercises in the stage 1 or stage 2?? Thank you so much!

Assi,
I did the stage 1 last week and there are some maths questions in there. Also might be worth reading up on distances between airports too.

Thanks Fraynlac,

Please, could you write here some exaple of a math exercise that you found in the stage 1?
Thank you very much.

Assi

Just stuff about speed, distance and time mainly.

I've just been reading through this thread for information regarding stage one tests. It's been very useful, thanks to everyone who has contributed.

I've noticed people asking for help on arithmetic questions and I've noticed certain questions such as:

Can anyone confirm/deny whether these type of questions are in the SDT section of the tests? I was expecting questions only like the following:

"At 64 mph, how far do you travel in 2 hours and 30 mins?"
"What speed covers 68 miles in 20 mins?"

Just merely SDT questions, however the questions I have quoted involve fuel, NM, flight levels, etc and this has thrown me a bit.

Speed Distance Time | Test

Practice all of the SDT and Fuel calculations a lot. They might be in there, they might not. Depends on the questions you get. If you want to be an ATCO you'll need to be able to do the relevant maths, so it's worth practicing now. Nobody on here will tell you explicitly whats in the tests at stage one, but I will tell you that there is a chance that these questions could be asked. Learn about NM, altitudes, FLs, and SDT/Fuel calculations. If it doesn't come up you'll know it already for when it becomes important. The vast majority of people go into the tests not knowing what to expect, and a fair number pass, so it isn't impossible!

Try not to be put off by the units of measure in the SDT questions at NATS. They never require conversion. so Knots = mph for the purposes of this test, as real mph is never used.

FL320 - FL 250 is merely the way Air Traffic call 32,000 feet to 25,000 feet. Again, there's no need to convert to metres at any point at all.

As for the questions, both those quoted and posed by yourself would be equally likely to come up in this sort of test.

Phil

One of the most sensible things written above is the advice to read around the subject.

Prepare of course for the specific tests you are expecting but if I had a prospective ATCO in front of me who did not know what flight levels,knots and other very basic principles of ATC were I'd be questioning the motivation/desire.

I'm booked in on the 24th Jan also! See you there :)

Is someone also going to stage 3 on January 28th?

Regards

NATS course 234
 

Hey to everyone who is going to be on the NATS 234 ATCO course, starting in february, if anyone was interested in getting to know each other I have created a facebook group: NATS ATC Course 234.

Doublecheck that it is searchable, I can't find it and it has been an issue with some of the earlier groups created that they don't show up on facebook search (or maybe it's just me who can't search :rolleyes:)

It should be, if it's not than here is it's adress:
http://www.facebook.com/groups/ATC234/

That works even for me so that link should do the trick if nothing else does :)

Hello all!
I have my stage 1 assessment at Swanwick on the 7th January at 11:15, I'm a bit nervous but I think I'm almost there learning-wise! Having trouble remembering aircraft specifications, but I'm feeling fairly confident about the rest. Anyone else down at Swanwick the same time as me? :)

I have a tour of the Southampton ATC tower tomorrow, it probably won't help with stage 1, but it'll get me excited at least! Not sure what to expect, but hopefully it'll be really interesting!

Good luck with your applications everyone.. hopefully meet some of you in the future! (fingers crossed!)

no-one else from Stage 2 on Dec 14th hear back yet?

I got a yes on Thurs 20th. Stage 3 on Jan 28th now :O

Anyone here got their Stage2 on the 10th of Jan? 10am?

It means a very early start and a couple of train journeys for me. I hope I'm alert enough!!

Any one on stage 1 on Monday (7th)??

And also does anyone know where there are more practice tests online that can be printed off?

Ta,

I'm there on Monday, i've been revising like an absolute nutter! it's just them cubes that are my downfall!

To be honest I've been going through the booklet like mad more! Do need to do some more work on the cubes etc as practice!

What time you there Luke?

I'm there at 11:15. I condensed the huge booklet into about 8 pages of my own notes and i've literally had the mrs revise me (through repetition) for about a week now! Still got this weekend to go..

Repetition is what works with me, may be different to others! I'm actually looking forward to the test to see how hard it is.. the application requirements aren't that high to be honest (5 gcse's A-c) they're kind of moderate. Having said that i don't anticipate an einstein kind of paper but nontheless, i'm preparing doing all i can!

Que sera sera!

7/1/13
 

I'm also there on Monday. I've been revising Pretty hard, although i couldn't decide whether i should try to memorise everything or try and pick out the most pertinent information., I have managed to memorise almost all the plane spec except the seating capacity of each. I just assume that the flight level and speed is more likely to come up as a question, that and perhaps destinations.

Is there anyone there at the 13:15 assessment?

Good look to all those in the same boat!

Same as Luke, just going through bit by bit...

And yes I'm there at 13.15 aawalace! Gives plenty of time for some cramming on Monday morning!

Good luck everyone who has their stage 1 tomorrow! I have mine on the 7th of Feb and I've been revising non stop! :)

I know its quite far away but does anybody else have their stage 1 in feb?

I'm on my way down there now, i figured it'd be loads easier staying the night before.. There's several changes on the trains from Leeds!

I've heard the test is multiple choice which may make it easier in so far as spotting something you think is right but not quite knowing..
Who knows ey.

Good luck to everyone who has their tests tomorrow, i'll post again after i've done the test and hopefully shed a bit of light on it!