NATS Stage 1 Aptitude Test: What to Expect and How to Pass

The NATS Stage 1 aptitude battery is the first major hurdle in the NATS air traffic controller selection process. It is completed online from your home within a 14-day window. This guide explains what to expect.

Overview

For the 2026 campaign NATS describes Stage 1 as eleven online ability tests, completed within 14 days and remotely proctored (its 2024–25 campaigns used nine). NATS says they assess skills such as spatial awareness, logical thinking, numerical ability, sense of direction and reaction speed, but it doesn't publish the individual test names, timings or pass marks — so treat any detailed description (including ours) as a guide to the skills, not the exact tests. For a plain-English overview of the whole battery and free practice, see our NATS aptitude test guide.

NATS doesn't publish a pass mark or pass rate, but trainee places are limited and competition is strong.

The Kinds of Skills Assessed

The areas below are common in ATC aptitude testing and match the skills NATS lists; the exact tests you sit may differ.

Spatial Reasoning

Assesses your ability to understand directions, bearings, and the spatial relationships between objects — including aircraft, radar positions, and runway orientations. You may be asked to identify the heading of an aircraft from a compass display, determine which direction a turn will result in, or identify the relative position of aircraft on a plan view.

Numerical Reasoning

Tests your ability to perform calculations quickly and accurately — including speed/distance/time problems, number sequences, percentage calculations, and data interpretation. Practise mental arithmetic so simple calculations are quick.

Logical Reasoning

Assesses your ability to apply rules, identify patterns, and draw valid conclusions. This includes syllogisms (if A then B, B is true, therefore...), number and letter sequences, and rule-based deduction problems.

Attention and Concentration

Presented with an image containing multiple elements, you must answer questions about it accurately. This tests the kind of rapid, accurate scene-reading required in real ATC operations.

Reaction Speed

A timed test measuring how quickly and accurately you can respond to stimuli — relevant to the fast-paced nature of ATC decision-making.

Tips for Stage 1 Success

Practice under timed conditions. Stage 1 is not just about knowing the right answers — it's about knowing them quickly. Get used to working under time pressure.

Target your weakest test type first. If spatial reasoning or mental arithmetic is not your strongest suit, that's where practice will have the biggest impact.

Don't spend too long on any one question. In Stage 1, leaving a question blank is better than using two minutes on it and rushing everything else.

Practice number sequences daily. Numerical reasoning improvements are among the fastest to achieve with consistent practice — even 10–15 minutes per day of sequence problems makes a difference.

Familiarise yourself with compass bearings. Many spatial reasoning questions involve compass headings, clockwise/anticlockwise turns, and bearing calculations. These are entirely learnable with practice.

What Happens After Stage 1?

If you pass, you are invited to Stage 2 — an online Situational Judgement Test and Listening Comprehension exercise. If you pass Stage 2, you are invited to the NATS Assessment Centre.

Important: NATS says that if you don't pass a stage, you can't reapply until its next recruitment campaign — so it's worth preparing properly before you start.