A day in the life of Aer Lingus Aptitude tests.
Guest
Posts: n/a
A day in the life of Aer Lingus Aptitude tests.
Ok, here is a small overview of what is involved in the Aer lingus aptitute
tests. Please do NOT take this as the definitive guide, nor come to me asking
for answers to questions. I want to get to the interview stage too!
OK, a few points to start off with:
1) Leave in plenty of time to get down to Dublin in. Especially if you're from
N. Ireland. The roads are very bad.
2) Leave in plenty of time to get down to Dublin in. Especially if you're from
N. Ireland. The roads are very bad.
Now technically that's only 1 point, but I thought it was so important I'd
mention it twice. We left at 10am for the 1pm start. I arrived at 12:59pm after
getting stuck in 3 traffic jams, absolutely panicking. Luckily the morning
session had run late so it wasn't till 1:30 before we went in.
(Have something to eat before hand too, guess who's stomach rumbled?)
Anyway, once there, you'll probably stand about for a few minutes as everyone
groups together inside the hotel. Be as chatty or as solitude as you wish,
(un)fortunately no-one from AL is there to notice you, remember you're dealing
with PARC aviation who are doing the tests on behalf on AL. That's all they;re
interested in -- AL's pay cheque.
Next you'll be lead into the "main" test room, it's quiet big, there were about
300 people there (I think) along with me and you very easily become "just
another face". REMEMBER YOUR LETTER AND APPLICATION FORM, YOU WILL NOT GET IN
WITHOUT IT!
Once you've found a seat, and have been greeted by John Barry (guy who signed
your letter) another lady will introduce the tests. You'll be given a /large/
answer sheet, followed by an "exam book" full of the questions. When I felt it
I thought I was about to do the yellow pages of exam questions, but actually
there are not as many in it as it first seems.
After a lot of boring instructions about how to fill in the answer sheet boxes,
(yeah like it is soooo difficult to mark a horizontal line in a box) you begin
the first test -- simple arithmetic ( +, -, x, /,). The only thing that is
hard, is the TIME LIMIT. It's impossible to finished all the questions (usually
about 50) when the time limit is set between 6 and 7 minutes. It works out at
over 8 a minute, which is very possible for questions 1-10, but for 10+ it's
not viable. I would advise against rash ticking cos it would look very silly
when marked, although there is no negative marking in operation. Anyway,
sometimes you don't even have time to THINK about rash marking never mind doing
it!
After the fastest 6 minutes of your life (and you thought those 5 minutes on
the beach in Spain last year with you-know-who was quick?) you have to stop and
go through the for the next test, (this gets very boring after the
third time, but I suppose it gives you time to breathe). Again it's the same
format, wait til she says "go" you flip the page, scribble for "2 secs" then
she says "stop" -- bum.
This is repeated about 6 times with tests on numeric, vocabulary, shapes etc
etc. The standard aptitude stuff. (Oh ok I'll give you an answer, question
number 40 is B, you have to work out in what test I'm talking about! You've a 1
in 6 chance!)
Oh, and while I'm at it, forget about the bloke beside you. I bet he's about
20, wears a rolex and halfway through a test will yawn and place the pencil
down as he finishes the last question. He's a freak, and as WWW says "...he
probably can't take his ale like a real man" but of course, he will naturally
be sitting beside YOU. It always happens. I think it's a ploy by AL to scare
us.
After that has finished, you're free for a 10 minute break. Use it, you'll need
all the energy for the next test.
Once back in the room, you start the second "session". A new exam book and
answer sheet, this time involving mechanical problems. These are like you're
GCSE and sub A-level type problems you used to do, BUT with a real pain of
"I've never have seen it done just like that before". Luckily you've 15 minutes
this time for 36 questions, but you'll be lucky to get to 25+
Be warned, some require very careful thinking.
All in all there is nothing you can revise for, swat up on or really prepare
beforehand. Either you already have built up this ability or you don't have it
naturally. Remember these tests are going til the 19th June, mine was the first
day (2nd Jun), and there were 300 there. The competition is FIERCE! There's
only (I believe) 12 going in August -- you work out the probability in getting
the sponsorship!
Anyway, all this message has tried to do is shead light on what sort of "day"
to expect, not what "questions" to expect. I hope it's been of help. I'd
appreciate some feedback. Just E-mail me!
Good luck, (I think).
tests. Please do NOT take this as the definitive guide, nor come to me asking
for answers to questions. I want to get to the interview stage too!
OK, a few points to start off with:
1) Leave in plenty of time to get down to Dublin in. Especially if you're from
N. Ireland. The roads are very bad.
2) Leave in plenty of time to get down to Dublin in. Especially if you're from
N. Ireland. The roads are very bad.
Now technically that's only 1 point, but I thought it was so important I'd
mention it twice. We left at 10am for the 1pm start. I arrived at 12:59pm after
getting stuck in 3 traffic jams, absolutely panicking. Luckily the morning
session had run late so it wasn't till 1:30 before we went in.
(Have something to eat before hand too, guess who's stomach rumbled?)
Anyway, once there, you'll probably stand about for a few minutes as everyone
groups together inside the hotel. Be as chatty or as solitude as you wish,
(un)fortunately no-one from AL is there to notice you, remember you're dealing
with PARC aviation who are doing the tests on behalf on AL. That's all they;re
interested in -- AL's pay cheque.
Next you'll be lead into the "main" test room, it's quiet big, there were about
300 people there (I think) along with me and you very easily become "just
another face". REMEMBER YOUR LETTER AND APPLICATION FORM, YOU WILL NOT GET IN
WITHOUT IT!
Once you've found a seat, and have been greeted by John Barry (guy who signed
your letter) another lady will introduce the tests. You'll be given a /large/
answer sheet, followed by an "exam book" full of the questions. When I felt it
I thought I was about to do the yellow pages of exam questions, but actually
there are not as many in it as it first seems.
After a lot of boring instructions about how to fill in the answer sheet boxes,
(yeah like it is soooo difficult to mark a horizontal line in a box) you begin
the first test -- simple arithmetic ( +, -, x, /,). The only thing that is
hard, is the TIME LIMIT. It's impossible to finished all the questions (usually
about 50) when the time limit is set between 6 and 7 minutes. It works out at
over 8 a minute, which is very possible for questions 1-10, but for 10+ it's
not viable. I would advise against rash ticking cos it would look very silly
when marked, although there is no negative marking in operation. Anyway,
sometimes you don't even have time to THINK about rash marking never mind doing
it!
After the fastest 6 minutes of your life (and you thought those 5 minutes on
the beach in Spain last year with you-know-who was quick?) you have to stop and
go through the for the next test, (this gets very boring after the
third time, but I suppose it gives you time to breathe). Again it's the same
format, wait til she says "go" you flip the page, scribble for "2 secs" then
she says "stop" -- bum.
This is repeated about 6 times with tests on numeric, vocabulary, shapes etc
etc. The standard aptitude stuff. (Oh ok I'll give you an answer, question
number 40 is B, you have to work out in what test I'm talking about! You've a 1
in 6 chance!)
Oh, and while I'm at it, forget about the bloke beside you. I bet he's about
20, wears a rolex and halfway through a test will yawn and place the pencil
down as he finishes the last question. He's a freak, and as WWW says "...he
probably can't take his ale like a real man" but of course, he will naturally
be sitting beside YOU. It always happens. I think it's a ploy by AL to scare
us.
After that has finished, you're free for a 10 minute break. Use it, you'll need
all the energy for the next test.
Once back in the room, you start the second "session". A new exam book and
answer sheet, this time involving mechanical problems. These are like you're
GCSE and sub A-level type problems you used to do, BUT with a real pain of
"I've never have seen it done just like that before". Luckily you've 15 minutes
this time for 36 questions, but you'll be lucky to get to 25+
Be warned, some require very careful thinking.
All in all there is nothing you can revise for, swat up on or really prepare
beforehand. Either you already have built up this ability or you don't have it
naturally. Remember these tests are going til the 19th June, mine was the first
day (2nd Jun), and there were 300 there. The competition is FIERCE! There's
only (I believe) 12 going in August -- you work out the probability in getting
the sponsorship!
Anyway, all this message has tried to do is shead light on what sort of "day"
to expect, not what "questions" to expect. I hope it's been of help. I'd
appreciate some feedback. Just E-mail me!
Good luck, (I think).
Guest
Posts: n/a
I seem to have missed a few paragraphs when I cut and pasted that article in, here's what you all missed.
After the last technical exam it's onto the personality tests. This involved a third answer sheet and question book with 187 questions. Yep you read right, 187 personal(ish) questions. I lot of these you answer without much thought eg. Do you like going to social outings? a)Yes a lot b) uncertain c) No, very seldom. Others require a lot more attention eg. If pay and conditions were the same would you rather be a) A Solicitor, b) unsure c) a pilot. Tricky one that (doooah!).
This "test" isn't timed, you're free to spend as long as you need on it, which is a marvellous break change, but half an hour is usually sufficient for everyone. Once you've complete that, you hand your sheet in, pick up a brochure about Aer Lingus (in case you get through to the interview stage) and walk out the door into the sunshine which you haven't seen in 3hours.
Phewf! That's it's all.
After the last technical exam it's onto the personality tests. This involved a third answer sheet and question book with 187 questions. Yep you read right, 187 personal(ish) questions. I lot of these you answer without much thought eg. Do you like going to social outings? a)Yes a lot b) uncertain c) No, very seldom. Others require a lot more attention eg. If pay and conditions were the same would you rather be a) A Solicitor, b) unsure c) a pilot. Tricky one that (doooah!).
This "test" isn't timed, you're free to spend as long as you need on it, which is a marvellous break change, but half an hour is usually sufficient for everyone. Once you've complete that, you hand your sheet in, pick up a brochure about Aer Lingus (in case you get through to the interview stage) and walk out the door into the sunshine which you haven't seen in 3hours.
Phewf! That's it's all.
Guest
Posts: n/a
Budgie - Ha! So it was you who s******ed when my stomach started to talk....I'll remember you!
You're right though -- there's no point getting hopes too high, but what excellent experience to have now under the belt. (you weren't one of the 200 odd people who put up their hands when he asked if anyone had done an apitutide test before?).
Anyway, me typing fingers are sore now, let me know but when you next hear from Aer lingus (via e-mail or in here) so that I can sorta judge how I'm getting on.
Mmm, bed time now!
You're right though -- there's no point getting hopes too high, but what excellent experience to have now under the belt. (you weren't one of the 200 odd people who put up their hands when he asked if anyone had done an apitutide test before?).
Anyway, me typing fingers are sore now, let me know but when you next hear from Aer lingus (via e-mail or in here) so that I can sorta judge how I'm getting on.
Mmm, bed time now!
Guest
Posts: n/a
Nice narrative jonny, that's pretty much the way I remember it too.
As one of the sods who's already in Michigan doing the Aer Lingus training I'd just like to let you know the rumours from this side.
Apparently there'll be only eight of you in the first group and you'll be in the same class as eight emirates cadets. A second group of sixteen from the same recruitment drive will be sent out later as far as I know, don't quote me on that. That gives you slightly better odds. All the best, I'd hate to be in your position again.
As one of the sods who's already in Michigan doing the Aer Lingus training I'd just like to let you know the rumours from this side.
Apparently there'll be only eight of you in the first group and you'll be in the same class as eight emirates cadets. A second group of sixteen from the same recruitment drive will be sent out later as far as I know, don't quote me on that. That gives you slightly better odds. All the best, I'd hate to be in your position again.
Guest
Posts: n/a
This sponsorship was advertised in the Irish press only, a couple of weeks ago. The phone lines were open only for a few days. They are now closed until the next intake (next year I think). Sorry.
It is a full ab initio sponsorship and as an EU citizen you are eligible to apply.
The chances of getting it are not good - they are running aptitude tests in Dublin which started on June 2 and go on until June 19 - and there were 300 people there on the first day alone!
I'll be in Dublin next week to sit the aptitude tests. Good luck to all those going for it.
It is a full ab initio sponsorship and as an EU citizen you are eligible to apply.
The chances of getting it are not good - they are running aptitude tests in Dublin which started on June 2 and go on until June 19 - and there were 300 people there on the first day alone!
I'll be in Dublin next week to sit the aptitude tests. Good luck to all those going for it.
Guest
Posts: n/a
As normal, chances are slim to none. However:
Anyone know oe want to tell what the phone numbers were. Obviously they are closed, but do they open the same ones up next year? If so might be worth knowing for future reference!
Are BA and Aer-Lingus now sending cadets to Michigan cos of lack of space (air and land) at the UK based ones or is it just cheaper for them?
Thanks for any helpful (i.e one which may provide aid and not sarcasm to an unlightened soul!)
Anyone know oe want to tell what the phone numbers were. Obviously they are closed, but do they open the same ones up next year? If so might be worth knowing for future reference!
Are BA and Aer-Lingus now sending cadets to Michigan cos of lack of space (air and land) at the UK based ones or is it just cheaper for them?
Thanks for any helpful (i.e one which may provide aid and not sarcasm to an unlightened soul!)
Guest
Posts: n/a
As normal, chances are slim to none. However:
Anyone know oe want to tell what the phone numbers were. Obviously they are closed, but do they open the same ones up next year? If so might be worth knowing for future reference!
Are BA and Aer-Lingus now sending cadets to Michigan cos of lack of space (air and land) at the UK based ones or is it just cheaper for them?
Thanks for any helpful (i.e one which may provide aid and not sarcasm to an unlightened soul!)
Anyone know oe want to tell what the phone numbers were. Obviously they are closed, but do they open the same ones up next year? If so might be worth knowing for future reference!
Are BA and Aer-Lingus now sending cadets to Michigan cos of lack of space (air and land) at the UK based ones or is it just cheaper for them?
Thanks for any helpful (i.e one which may provide aid and not sarcasm to an unlightened soul!)
