ATC aptitude practice tests

Original practice tests for the abilities air traffic control selection measures, from perceptual speed and memory to planning and spatial reasoning, plus two radar games. Every test has a free one-minute sample.

Speed and attention

• Strip check: Compare a flight progress strip with its radar data block and decide whether they agree.
• Figure match: Decide as fast as you can whether the lower figure exactly matches one above it.
• Conflict scan: Spot pairs of triangles pointing straight at each other with nothing in between.
• Stay alert: Watch a target jumping across a grid for 10 minutes and catch every double jump.

Rules, planning and multitasking

• Sort and switch: Classify shapes and numbers by colour, shape or range while messages and identical pairs change the rules.
• Rules: Memorise a short rule set, then apply it to a stream of departures as fast as you can.
• Landing plan: Decide which aircraft lands first and the route it must take, under priorities and messages.

Memory

• Instrument recall: Memorise a panel of instruments, then pick each reading from four options.
• Shape memory: Memorise a series of shapes, do quick calculations, then pick out the shapes you saw.

Spatial and numerical

• Cube folding: Unfolded cubes with coloured faces and symbols. Pick which of four folded cubes matches each one.
• Left or right: Decide left or right for a person facing towards or away from you, and an aircraft seen from above or below, at every angle.
• Distances and directions: Work out turns, headings, distances and routes on a gridded air picture.
• Mental arithmetic: Time, speed and distance problems of the kind used in many ATC selection batteries.

Radar games (full access; final approach has a free 5-minute trial)

• Vectoring: Vector traffic from the airways through their gates and out by the right exit. Four levels, from one aircraft at a time building to three, up to four at once building to nine. STCA warns of converging targets; three merges and the assessment is failed.
• Final approach sequencing: Vector arrivals onto final at the correct wake spacing, using headings, altitudes and speed. Join the glidepath from below or they go around. STCA warns of a predicted loss of separation; three losses and the assessment is failed. Training mode shows you when to turn.