@Richjonesy - It depends on what info you're looking for.
If you would like to read about FEAST - simply check out wikipedia (FEAST test - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia). There's pretty clear info about tests.
I've got only one advice - DO NOT prepare for feast and dart. It will show you are predisposed to be an ATC or not.
The only thing which can be improved before taking the test is English language, but if it's your first language there won't be any problem :)

If you would like to find some info about ATC, there are really many pages about ATCO's role and the whole ATC services, just google it :)

The best preparation you can do for the computer tests is any old brain training exercises. I used lumosity.com and found it very useful.

@mangoPL thanks for that I've read through loads already.

Does anyone know how the test for the pre learning material will be constructed? I feel I can reel of the whole document at the moment except for getting the bit about the different planes at the end to sink in. I can recognise them all at the airport or in pictures but remembering their flight levels, cruise speed, capacity etc is a nightmare!

Did anyone go today?

If so, could you give me an idea of how many people were doing the tests? And how many of those went on to the afternoon part?

Thank you so much. :)

I was there yesterday, out of about 27 people who went in 17 were "invited to leave", I was one of the lucky 10 :)

Just make sure you read that document they gave you and try your best on the computer tests, I don't think there's any way to prepare for them really.

The first test FEAST is basically just a long online aptitude test with an English language part, DART is where you're controlling planes on an ATC screen and it gets progressively harder, more planes to control, more waypoints to send them through, more background traffic to avoid, etc. The last part of that test is "interesting" to say the least. I won't spoil the surprise :D

Thank you for your post, but what about the paper test? What kind of questions will appear? Something about the specifications of each aircraft also?

Cheers

@Freddles

17 weren't successful at FEAST or at motivational paper? Or is paper combined with FEAST?
When were you done, at 16:00 as predicted?

Thanks for posting info ;)

Hey guys, I just started applying and I have a few questions.

I am a little confused about the "Education" page, it looks different than the ones Im used to. Do i list every single school i attended it a new page, or should I just list the last one, and create a new page for each Subject (I assume that they mean math, English etc. by subject)? And does "Qualification Type" mean something like a high school diploma, or a Polish matura in my case?

Sorry if someone already asked this, but i couldnt find anything :P

Thank you

Stage 3 help?
 

I've recently got through to stage 3 and am now waiting for the assessment dates.

Anybody got any info / hints / tips on the day's tasks?


Any help is MUCH appreciated...



@EGLC - paper and motivation tests are combined for your morning assessment at stage 2

nmj. The information given by NATS when they invite you to Stage 3 is all you need to follow for preparation. I went above and beyond that for my first Stage 3, and failed it. Afterwards, I realised if I'd just focused on what NATS had told me to prepare for, I probably would have been fine

@EGLC


Sorry for the delay, we finished at about 10 to 3, so loads of time spare. This after being delayed for half an hour in the morning because the computers crashed.

The paper test was separate, it was only a 30 question multiple choice thing, as long as you read the document they give you a few times you'll be fine. There were a few questions about planes (3 or so), a few about time/distance/speed calculations (GCSE level stuff), most of the questions are just obvious though because the answers are right in front of you, put in a bit of effort in learning and you shall be rewarded.

Of the 17 who failed I'm not sure which they failed on, they just announced who were going home after we'd done FEAST

They said at the end of the day we'd be notified of our success or failure within 15 days, I had an email that very day sent at 16:00 saying I'd passed. Not bad for efficiency haha.

I've just been doing the Stage 1 online assessment and when I clicked the arrow to go to the next assessment it gave me a message saying: "Error -
There has been an error."

Did this happen to anyone else? I'm a little bit concerned as I don't know what to do now. There isn't any option to go back or start again or anything.

Maybe this can help you.

I am having problems with my Stage 1 Online Test, what can I do? | NATS

I didn't have any problems with stage 1 so that's all I can tell you. Good luck! ;)

You probably should contact support (there should be an email address, just before "Kind regards" in every email from Saville Consulting). If you have made printscreen (which is ussualy helpful to IT when resolving issues), attach it.

Yeah, I found the support email address and sent them a Screenshot. They sent me a link to start again pretty quick.

I've had to cancel my assessments and wait for the next release of dates because of a plastic splint on my left ring finger :(

Does anyone know roughly how much I'll be needing to use my left ring finger during feast and dart?

@HoneyPotter - as I remember I had to use my ring finger only in 'ball and wall' test, but I'm right handed and in fact my left ring finger was not used during both feast and dart ;)

@mangoPL

Ah amazing! If the next release of dates is when I still have the splint on then I'll bite the bullet and go for it.

Thanks for your help! :)

I'm down on the 30th for the 31st also! Fareham Premier Inn?

Not happy about not preparing for FEAST but thems the breaks I suppose...

The info on the document is ok really... only hard part is memorising the aircraft info (Not a huge jet fan)

Quite nervous! Probably a mess on the 30th! Can't wait though. The whole 'invited to leave' before lunch thing terrifies me...

@Firekitten - Don't be nervous, cause you may fail :(
Everything you have to do is to keep your head cool and simply do your best!
If you pass all stages and become an atco, you will have many more reasons to be terrified .. :D

Good luck

Thanks MangoPL... I'm naturally nervous about tests... once I know things I don't feel that bad. I just want to succeed... life dream and all that jazz.

The document stuff is pretty easy... I have a good working knowledge of air law and aircraft... I'm just trying to make sure I'm as prepared as can be. I'd feel crushed if I was asked to go home :(

@firekitten I am the same also staying in Fareham premire inn on the 30th and 31st so will maybe see you there.. My hardest part is the aircraft part too ..it's hard taking it all in!

Accommodation Options
 

There are a few options nearby for accommodation.

For those with a bit of money, the Solent Hotel & Spa is really nice and it's walkable to the NATS offices. You're looking at £100+ per night.

The Premier Inn is decent. You're looking at £80+ per night and it's not really walkable (but it is cyclable).

The Holiday Inn is very nice but a fair amount of money (varies a lot) and not walkable.

Or I've used this place before: https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/1908599
It's just a private room on a room-only basis but it's about £45/night and literally a 5-minute walk from the NATS office. Worth a try but sometimes struggle to get availability on assessment days.

Stage 2 assessment day
 

For those who have passed all of the stages and are starting at Fareham College, when did you pass the final stage and when do you start at the college?


Also, do you have an opportunity to let them know of dates you can't start?? I'm going to be in Italy for 2 weeks at the beginning of June as I'm getting married. We also have 25 guests who've paid to come with us.


Good luck to those who have their test in a few days!

Is anybody attending the stage 2 assessment day on 21st Feb???

NATS will generally defer your start date to suit, as long as you have a valid reason.

@ squawk 7500 thank you

How long after Stage two assessment day did people hear back? Just got home from mine, although didn't get a 4p.m. email like Freddles. I hope that's not bad news!

I have not received anything yet either, maybe they are just not as on the ball today. Here's to hoping they don't make us wait the full 15 days.

Hi, probably a bit premature right now but does anybody know of when they'll be releasing Stage 3 dates? And does anybody know what stage 3 even entails? I've heard of interviews and group tasks.

For all of you asking, I attended Stage 2 last Thursday (Jan 30th) and received an email a few minutes ago with the results (which, by the way, we already knew as we were told just after finishing DART).

Hey guys, quick question. As someone currently doing themselves an injury trying to remember the flight destinations of the Airbus A318, how many seats a 747-300 series has and how fast a focker can fly, I just wanted to ask what they are for within the test. I obviously don't want anyone to be super precise with exactly their use, but do I really need to know every single one of these stats off by heart, or would just a general knowledge suffice?

Jeremy,

Learn it all. Everything. Think of it as preparation for the amount you will need to learn at the college (if you pass the selection process). You'll kick yourself if you get questioned on something and you don't know the correct answer.

When attending a Stage 3 assessment day, is it as if it is a clean slate, or will all your marks and scores from your application so far be taken into account before deciding whether or not to offer you a place?

Thanks.

Jeremy,

If you think the info in that little document is a lot to take in you are in for a shock.

There are three huge folders of documents that you have to learn at the college, plus all the new techniques , phraseology, flight theory, altimetry, meteorology - the list is extensive.

Freddies,

There is masses of information regarding Stage 3 assessment in this thread. Plus I think a guide is still on the NATS website. Time to use that initiative...

Stage 3 help?
 

Freddles...

I'm like you - waiting for Stage 3 and looking for info.
Not found out much on here, not much from recently anyway...

Any luck?

@nmj
From what I understand from trawling the forum and speaking to various people it's a competency interview and a group task but I'm not sure of the accuracy of this as NATS apparently changes things all the time. I'm not sure what else would be involved. Which stage 2 date were you at? I was on the 14th January.

Hey guys!

I was about to say drat and double drat, as I had applied for stage 0 and 1 during last week, as I was reading that you guys had made it to stage 2 and got dates.

I though I would have to wait ages but I have been given dates this morning. I think i have been tagged on to the current batch, i was just wondering as to how long you feel is necessary to properly get a grips of the document?

I really don't want to push it if it takes a couple of weeks.

Thanks! and good luck to people that are taking it in the timeslots I saw coming up this week!

Anyone else going for stage 2 on the 21st feb?

Also anyone got any tips/examples for the motivational paper?

Don't worry about it too much, as long as you've read the information through a few times and put in at least some effort to learning the planes you should be fine.