Hey!

I just received the e-mail saying I passed through to the Stage 2 Assessment Day which will be in September. :)

Can anyone please tell me a bit of how that's going to be like? Is there anything I need to learn before I go?

Also, at this point, the chances of getting in are still pretty slim, right?

Thanks!

Hi guys,

I have just filled in my application a couple of days ago. Looks to me as if I'm late, as some of you are now on Stage 2 already. You think I got a chance to jump in?
Good luck to everyone!

BiaP,

Stage 2 used to be all computer based but it has changed I believe. It tells you a little about what to expect on the NATS website but basically be prepared to spend a large part of the day in front of a computer.
The exam is based of the learning material they send you and as long as you put the work in and learn everything they send you, then you will have no problem with the exam.
For the computer tests (FEAST and DART) you will need to have 100% concentration throughout the day so get a good nights sleep. Having been through them in the military and now NATS, I am of the opinion that you can’t learn or practice the aptitudes, but I am sure there are those that will come on here and disagree with me. Good luck with it all.

NelM,

There are always different stages going on at the same time so just because people are at stage 2 or 3 doesn't necessarily mean you have missed out.

Actually, I worried for nothing. Just got an email saying I shall be sent details on how to do the online assessment within the next 14 days. So it is ongoing really, they keep inviting new people for tests...
Better do some of those games online while waiting for further instructions ;)

Selection and Process for NATS
 

Hi all,

Application process | NATS

Did anyone have taken the test for NATS process? How difficulties 'bout the test?

Thank's

ATC Motivational doc
 

hey all, reapplying for the 2nd time soon once i get back and was hoping someone could PM me the ATC Motivational doc as iv misplaced the last one and id love to start learning it again :)

thanks and good luck to everyone 'in the system' :8

ATC Motivation Paper
 

They have just re-designed the application process and may have changed the motivational paper. If I were you I would wait until the recruitment team send you the current document to make sure you are not working off an old version.

So disappointed with how I did my Swift comprehension aptitude tests. Can't believe it! The time limit puts so much pressure! Only done 5 out of 8 questions on Error checking and I think I did them all well, Numerical Comprehension was my best bit, think I only ran out of time on one of the questions and pretty much sure all others were correct, but then Verbal Comprehension was a mess. The text printed on the left side was so long and the letters were small. Took so much time to go through it. I don't even remember at what point the time ran out and how many of those I've actually done in the end. I simply can't believe I found it so hard bearing in mind I am a linguist! Feel so down now, think there is no chance I passed.
It probably didn't help I was upset all day about some bad news and my hand was shaky a bit. I have underestimated the whole thing, thought that the initial tests can't be that hard, so decided not to rest and wait till tomz. I wish I did.

Generally, the test is not hard at all but there is not much time. And my advice is not to skip the question and hope you can get to it later, there is no time for that! I missed on 2 questions as I was unsure and wanted to go back to them. Takes some precious seconds to click back through the questions and before you know it, you're out of time...

I'm currently a serving Police Officer with 7 years in so far. I am a fully qualified detective but really fed up and considering leaving.

ATC is one of my options as an old work colleague of mine left to do this.

How long does it take to get to £30k salary? Is it about one year as I understand it to be 2-3 months on about £11k then you go op to about £21k, then after another 9 months you go up to £30k or similar?

I have my CV registered on the NATS website, and at this time I'm just beginning to research and think about it.

I'm not sure when you reach 30k, but I would suggest to apply and worry about salary later, since (statistically) only about 1% of applicants become ATCOs.

It's about a year on the lowest training salary, currently around £12k, but that depends on how quickly the courses progress, and how well you do. I'm now looking at starting at unit in June, and this will be over 18months since I started at the college.

When you get to unit, you go onto the student wage, I think this is currently about £18k. You will be on this until you validate, which can take anything from 1 year to 2 years. So, essentially you won't get anywhere near the £30k mark for at least 3 years, and that's if you pass everything first time, the courses run relatively timely and you validate in 18months.

What Kimikkins says is true to a point.

It can be quicker though. I started at the college on £11k, passed the aerodrome course first time (took 5.5 months), was posted to a unit and after a further 8 months validated, so from start at the college to validation (£40k salary) was 13 months.

This shouldn't be relied apon, but it can be done.

Ooops, you're right Whitelighter, I'd forgotten about the Aerodrome route!!

If you go strictly Aerodrome, then you will get that higher salary sooner than if you go anything radar i.e. Approach or Area.

@whitelighter (and other ATCOs)
 

I've read on NATS FAQ that around 80% of ATCOs are appointed to Area/Approach. Was Tower you choice or were you assigned there? I would assume that Tower is in general preferred choice, do you know how it is decided who goes where?

No but if you find out how they do it please let me know :}

Jokes aside,


You sign up to be an ATCO, you can make a personal preference known to the relevant people (just as with postings), but you've signed up to do whatever you're assigned to do. If you're not ready to commit to that then there are a lot of other people who are.

It's very harsh, but that's the way it works. I got what I wanted to do, some on my course did not. Down both routes though is a very good job if you make it through so I wouldn't worry too much about it.


Also the preferences vary, in my experience most people aren't that bothered. On some courses most want Aerodrome, on some most want Area, so it varies.

What did you get CV?

ADI and now APS.

Panic over for me. Passed the Stage 0, even though I was so pessimistic about it. Will make sure I am well prepared for the next one.

Let us know how you do, I am currently waiting for Stage 1 results.
For spatial I think you can't prepare, but try to find fastest method for diagrammatical. I was solving those in my mind, a friend was faster with drawing. I suppose you could also check all possible answers one by one, but that would probably be the slowest way.

TC then CV or a smaller airport? What's your preference?

Stage 2 Assessment Days
 

Having passed the Stage 1 tests in mid-July, I am eagerly awaiting news of the Assessment Days scheduled for September. As I'm going on holiday for the last 2 weeks of August, I could really do with finding out, before I go, when they are and also when I might receive the info I need to learn.

Anyone have any ideas/insider info that it wouldn't be illegal/immoral to disclose?

Many thanks

EGLC,

thank you for the advice. I learned from the first test that speed might be my problem, so I got several books from the library today, with all sorts of aptitude tests as a warm up :) I might be silly for doing that all, but I don't want to have any regrets. This is a great chance so pull out all the stops, me thinks.

Good luck to you and let us know about your results! Hope we soon find ourselves talking about stage 2 ;)

Does anybody know how many days/weeks we get to complete the stage 1 spatial and diagrammatic reasoning tests from the day you receive the email? I cant find any info from the emails NATS sent. Would be nice to know how much time I have to prepare before I take them. Any help would be appreciated.

I don't know what time you have to submit your tests, but I think you don't need days or weeks to prepare anyway. Not much you can do really. All you can do is warm up a little bit and get your concentration back if your mind was elsewhere or dormant for too long :)
I spent two days doing different tests, but it didn't help me get any faster, which is what I needed. All tests I did online as preparation, came as 80 to 90 % correct, even the hardest ones. But if I get these two 75% correct (out of all questions in the test) I'll be lucky. There were 3 or 4 diagramming testlets I finished comfortably before the time expired, but with others, I struggled and made couple of guesses too. Did a bit better with spatial though.
Not too optimistic, but I might squeeze in, just.

EGLC, did you get your results?

Yes I have, I made it through :). In the email I received however it said that there are no dates until September and NOT TO annoy them with questions.
So, waiting for another email...

Well done, congratulations!

Do you have any idea how many questions you did? Just trying to establish if I got any chance, been a pain here. ;)

Just speculating of course, but I think I got 70-80% right in diag and 90-99% in spat. Some of the questions I guessed if time was running out.

Yup, as I thought I might just squeeze in. :) I probably had 70 - 75 % in diagramming and 75 - 80 % in spatial.

I failed stage 1 :( :( :( :(

Hi Everyone :)
I have just found this site! It's brill and really helpful.
I have had an email today saying I have passed stage one and am just waiting for an email about an assessment day in September ...I am nervous now :) but also very excited :)
Emily

Is anyone else waiting for assessment date in sept? Good luck everyone who doesn't know yet
Emily

Waiting for results
 

Hi, I recently have just done my stage 0 test (along way to go) :ugh: but I am waiting to see if I have passed. Any ideas of how long the turn around is from online testing to progress on the next test? I phoned up but it is now automated, "leave your message and we will get back to you in 24 hours" :ugh:

Is stage 0 and 1 done online i.e. at home or do you have to go some place?

The first couple of stages are now done online.

Bristol Tower
 

Greetings everyone, not really related to this forum I guess, but nonetheless probably the best place to post this. I'm on the list for the next ATC course with NATS, and I'm travelling to Bristol next Friday to visit a friend. Does anyone have a contact from someone at the Tower (BRS) so I could try to schedule a visit? I'll have to wait for my friend to pick me up for a few hours, so it would be great to visit the tower if possible. Feel free to PM me or guide me in the right direction.

Contacting HR is not really an option since they are now answering within 30 working days and Friday is in 5. Plus I still have one email pending for an answer and don't want to add more to the queue.

Thanks for helping out, I can take some local cookies to the tower too! :cool:

Just sat the stage 0 tests and totally screwed them up.
I (rather stupidly) got one of the word replacement questions wrong in the verbal reasoning and realised straight away but didn't have time to correct it.
The numerical section was mostly ok, but I definitely got the very last question wrong (due to running out of time, which caused me to be clumsy with my calculations - very frustrating as I actually have a Maths degree!)
The error checking was the easiest, though I didn't actually finish that section (think I answered 6 out of 8)
Feeling really annoyed with myself, as I know I'm better than my test results will show :(
Did anyone else feel like this afterwards yet still pass? (Other than NelM!)
Fingers crossed, though I'm not holding out much hope.

I sat the stage 0 on Thursday. I found it harder than previous aptitude tests I've taken but I believe it was the time which made it more difficult(very short time). The verbal reasoning I know I made a few errors on, I made a couple on numerical and I answered 7 questions on the error checking and just as I clicked for the 8th the time ended. I think I may have made an error in the error checking too so I'm not feeling over confident either and still waiting my results. I also noticed on NATS facebook page that all stage 0 and stage 1 tests must be completed by the 6th of September, does anyone know anything about this?

I've just done the first lot of tests and was wondering about that too. Does that mean that after getting our results we will only have a few days in which to sit stage 1 do you suppose, or will they make us wait until after the 6th? (Really hope it's the latter!)

I worry that it will all have to be completed by the 6th. I've sent them a message, so I'll let you know the outcome

Thanks Andrew!
So... Has anyone who has recently done stage 1 got any tips for us?!! And yes, I have read through most of the past 470 pages before anyone shoots me down, but it seems to have changed considerably in recent months (am I right in thinking that cubes no longer feature in the tests, for example? What about the diagrammatic stuff?)