Airservices Australia Psychometric Testing
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Brisbane
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FAQ
This thread has gotten so long, that people aren't reading it anymore, just the last few pages. I'm seriously considering creating a FAQ with as many of the regular questions as I can think of.
So far I've got:
What's the online testing about?
How long does the selection process take?
Is there an age limit?
Does anyone know when the next course starts in Melbourne/Brisbane?
How do I arrange a visit to a tower/centre?
What happens on the assessment day?
Is there any way I can prepare for the assessment day?
Does anyone have anymore to add? Do you think a FAQ is worthwile?
So far I've got:
What's the online testing about?
How long does the selection process take?
Is there an age limit?
Does anyone know when the next course starts in Melbourne/Brisbane?
How do I arrange a visit to a tower/centre?
What happens on the assessment day?
Is there any way I can prepare for the assessment day?
Does anyone have anymore to add? Do you think a FAQ is worthwile?
Last edited by stevep64; 14th Mar 2012 at 08:34. Reason: Fixed the formatting.
Join Date: Feb 2012
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great idea Steve. Will make it easier for newbies (myself included) to the forum to find all the current info without trawling through 90 odd pages of info.
I think you have all the main ones covered. Maybe include something for the overseas applicants?
Shaz
I think you have all the main ones covered. Maybe include something for the overseas applicants?
Shaz
Join Date: May 2008
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Just finished a visit to brisbane tower/centre/atc sim. What a fantastic experience! To top it off got a call while I was there and now im attending my assessment centre next week 
. Super excited now!
. Super excited now!
Join Date: Dec 2009
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I saw something in one of the magazines here at work, they are trying to take in 100 trainees per year as they want 80 rated controllers each year, accounting for some that don't make it...
Join Date: Sep 2011
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We were told they had approx 4563 applications last year for an end result of 60 trainees, with about 47 getting ratings. So the chances of getting through and getting rated are relatively low, talking 1%.
They currently have approx 110 trainees on courses in Melbourne at present I think, ranging from some that are about to hit the field to get their ratings through to 11 trainees that started about 3 weeks ago. This is for Melbourne only. Of the 110 trainees they hope to rate about 80 of them. Have been told that on some courses they have almost 100% go through whilst on one a couple of years ago no one was rated.
They currently have approx 110 trainees on courses in Melbourne at present I think, ranging from some that are about to hit the field to get their ratings through to 11 trainees that started about 3 weeks ago. This is for Melbourne only. Of the 110 trainees they hope to rate about 80 of them. Have been told that on some courses they have almost 100% go through whilst on one a couple of years ago no one was rated.
Join Date: Mar 2012
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Of the applicants that make it into training, would you say a lot of them do not get rated because they give up along the way? Or is the course and the exams particularly tough, and people fail for not getting good enough grades?
Join Date: Dec 2009
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It seems some people, despite making it through the selection process, just don't have what it takes when it comes to doing the job. I'm at the college at the moment, and the people who I have seen "fail out" weren't through a lack of effort and determination, they just couldn't achieve the standard required.
Join Date: Sep 2011
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The difference is between tacking aircraft in a training environment and the reality, that you are responsible for keeping these sardine tins in the air and separated.
Some people along the way just decide it isn't the job for them, it wasn't what they thought, their priorities change etc.
Some people just can't visualise their airspace as four dimensions, the forth being time, so it looks easy flat but when you have FL and objects moving etc it becomes alot different.
Some people along the way just decide it isn't the job for them, it wasn't what they thought, their priorities change etc.
Some people just can't visualise their airspace as four dimensions, the forth being time, so it looks easy flat but when you have FL and objects moving etc it becomes alot different.
Join Date: Apr 2008
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"We were told they had approx 4563 applications last year".
I'm not involved in the world of ATC but don't let that figure put you off applying or dent your confidence.
4563 would have been filtered down to 1000-2000 genuine applicants/contenders very quickly if the candidate pool was in any way representative of the general population. Sadly, intellectual and behavioural incompetence is widespread in today's society and most people aren't good self-assessors of their capabilities. I don't envy the good folks at P&C who have to assess several thousand online applications every year.
The recruitment team would have rejected a significant percentage of candidates' online applications due to their comprehension and written communications skills being way below the required standard. Similarly, online aptitude testing would scrub out those with below average brain power. (i.e. those who have to use their phone's calculator to add up to the price of their takeaway sandwich and whom stopped paying attention in english and science midway through high school).
The selection process would knock out all the hopefuls with below average intelligence in the initial stages so don't flip out at the metric that only 1% of applicants make it all the way to an ATC tower or centre.
I'm not involved in the world of ATC but don't let that figure put you off applying or dent your confidence.
4563 would have been filtered down to 1000-2000 genuine applicants/contenders very quickly if the candidate pool was in any way representative of the general population. Sadly, intellectual and behavioural incompetence is widespread in today's society and most people aren't good self-assessors of their capabilities. I don't envy the good folks at P&C who have to assess several thousand online applications every year.
The recruitment team would have rejected a significant percentage of candidates' online applications due to their comprehension and written communications skills being way below the required standard. Similarly, online aptitude testing would scrub out those with below average brain power. (i.e. those who have to use their phone's calculator to add up to the price of their takeaway sandwich and whom stopped paying attention in english and science midway through high school).
The selection process would knock out all the hopefuls with below average intelligence in the initial stages so don't flip out at the metric that only 1% of applicants make it all the way to an ATC tower or centre.
Join Date: Feb 2012
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Thanks Buzz, this is the confidence boost that those of us who are mid-application process needed.
I have read so often that 'you have either got it or you don't' but I can't work out exactly what it is that you have 'got' to have, and how do I know if I have got it or not?
I am going to give it my best shot and I am sure someone will soon let me know if I haven't got it!
I have read so often that 'you have either got it or you don't' but I can't work out exactly what it is that you have 'got' to have, and how do I know if I have got it or not?
I am going to give it my best shot and I am sure someone will soon let me know if I haven't got it!
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Tomorrow I have my phone interview. Just to reassure myself, if I get called for the one-day group dynamic/interview, this will not be a competition between all the candidates there, or will it? Is it possible that all of those get invited to do the academy training, if they are all deemed suitable? Or will our scores on the tests administered on the day be compared to one another's?
If it was known exactly what was needed the recruitment process would be a lot more successful than it has historically been - ATC has been around for a long time & no-one has got it right yet.
My take on it is you need to be a good all-rounder - being brilliant in one area & crap in another doesn't work. You need to be able to maintain a good balance of contradictory demands - speed & accuracy, attention to detail without obsessing, flexibility within a rigid framework of rules, confident but aware of your limitations, able to adapt the way you work to suit the situation.
And that's probably what makes it hard to pick - there is no one particular thing that can be easily spotted.
As you say, you can only give it your best shot. I'd add keep plugging & don't give up because sometimes things will suddenly "click" & start making sense.
My take on it is you need to be a good all-rounder - being brilliant in one area & crap in another doesn't work. You need to be able to maintain a good balance of contradictory demands - speed & accuracy, attention to detail without obsessing, flexibility within a rigid framework of rules, confident but aware of your limitations, able to adapt the way you work to suit the situation.
And that's probably what makes it hard to pick - there is no one particular thing that can be easily spotted.
As you say, you can only give it your best shot. I'd add keep plugging & don't give up because sometimes things will suddenly "click" & start making sense.
Blackgoat, you're not directly competing against each other. My understanding is if you meet the standard you go into a pool of successful applicants & courses are selected from there. You are ranked within the pool to allow a balanced course to be selected, the aim being to smooth the supply of successful trainees & maximise the chances for the bottom end. Sim resources are limited making it hard to allow enough extra sim runs if all the trainees duds.
Join Date: Dec 2009
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le Pingouin is correct, it's not a competition on interview day, and they don't have a quota to pick or anything. Some days they take noone, or only 1, other days they take more (my day had 6 people make it onto courses), it's just a matter of you doing your best, don't worry about the others 
Good luck!
Good luck!
Join Date: May 2008
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Asessment day done and dusted. Not really sure how I went, I feel like I may have stuffed it up :/ Felt like I may not have done as well in the math testing as I could have as well as potentially stuffing up the simulation exercise after making a few stupid decisions.
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Hi Cadet Kid. I'm heading down to Brisbane for the Wednesday Assessment day. Should I be nervous? Any last minute hints you'd care to share? I think I'm as prepared as can be. Another random question can I bring a drink bottle in with me?