The NATS Aptitude Test
Everything you need to know about the NATS aptitude test for trainee air traffic controllers — what the Stage 1 online battery involves, how competitive it is, and exactly how to practise the spatial, numerical, logical reasoning and situational judgement tests before your assessment.
ATC Practice is an independent practice platform. We are not affiliated with NATS or Aon; test names are used for identification only. Always confirm the current selection process on the official NATS careers website.
What is the NATS aptitude test?
NATS (National Air Traffic Services) is the UK’s main air traffic control provider, and its trainee air traffic controller scheme is one of the most competitive graduate-level routes in the country. The NATS aptitude test is the first hurdle: an online battery of timed tests that screens applicants before the later, air-traffic-specific assessment stages.
The test isn’t about aviation knowledge — you don’t need any to apply. Instead it measures the raw mental skills the job depends on: holding and manipulating information in your head, working with numbers quickly and accurately, spotting patterns and rules, and making sound decisions under time pressure. Because those skills can be sharpened, focused practice makes a real difference to your score.
The Stage 1 battery
The tests you’ll face
Spatial reasoning
Mentally rotating and positioning objects and directions — the skill most directly linked to managing traffic in three dimensions.
Numerical reasoning
Fast, accurate work with percentages, ratios, time, speed and distance, often against a tight clock and without a calculator.
Logical (abstract) reasoning
Spotting the rule or pattern in sequences of shapes or symbols and applying it correctly at speed.
Situational judgement
Choosing the safest, most procedure-led response to realistic workplace scenarios — judgement matters as much as ability.
The Stage 1 battery is typically completed online in around 75 minutes. Later stages add air-traffic-specific tasks — similar in style to the Eurocontrol FEAST tests — so it’s worth practising both.
How to prepare
Five ways to pass the NATS aptitude test
Learn the exact test types first
Before drilling questions, understand what each NATS Stage 1 test measures — spatial reasoning, numerical reasoning, logical reasoning and situational judgement. Knowing the format means no surprises on the day and less time wasted reading instructions.
Practise under strict time limits
The NATS tests are hard because of speed, not difficulty. Always practise with a timer so you build the pace and the calm accuracy the real assessment demands. Untimed practice gives a false sense of readiness.
Sharpen your mental arithmetic
The numerical test rewards fast, confident work with percentages, ratios, time and distance — with no calculator on some tasks. Practise mental maths daily so the numbers stop being the bottleneck.
Target your weakest test type
Your overall result depends on performing across every test, so a single weak area can sink an otherwise strong application. Identify it early and spend the most practice time there.
Rehearse situational judgement the NATS way
Situational judgement rewards safety-first, procedure-following, team-oriented choices. Practise reading each scenario for the response that keeps operations safe and follows the rules, rather than the one that feels most assertive.
FAQ
NATS aptitude test — common questions
What is the NATS aptitude test?
The NATS aptitude test is the first stage of selection for trainee air traffic controllers with NATS (National Air Traffic Services). It is an online battery of timed aptitude tests that measures the core mental skills air traffic control demands — spatial awareness, quick and accurate numerical work, logical reasoning and judgement under pressure. It is completed remotely and is used to shortlist candidates before later assessment stages.
What tests are in the NATS Stage 1 aptitude battery?
The NATS Stage 1 online battery is delivered by Aon and typically includes spatial reasoning, numerical reasoning, logical (abstract) reasoning and a situational judgement test, completed in roughly 75 minutes in total. Later assessment stages add air-traffic-specific aptitude tasks such as the kind of tests found in the Eurocontrol FEAST suite. Always confirm the current format on the official NATS careers site, as selection can change.
How hard is the NATS aptitude test?
It is very competitive. NATS recruits a small number of trainees each intake against thousands of applicants, and historically only around 20–30% of applicants pass all of the Stage 1 tests. The questions themselves are not advanced, but the tight timing and high accuracy required make them demanding — which is why practising each test type under timed conditions matters so much.
Can I practise the NATS aptitude test online?
Yes. While you can't sit the exact live questions in advance, you can practise the same test types under realistic timed conditions. Our platform provides full-length timed simulations of spatial, numerical, logical and situational judgement tests, plus air-traffic-specific tasks, so the format and time pressure feel familiar on the day.
How long should I prepare for the NATS aptitude test?
Most candidates start practising four to eight weeks before their assessment. That is enough time to get comfortable with every test type, build speed and accuracy, and iron out weak areas without burning out. Short, regular timed practice sessions work far better than one or two long cramming sessions.
Is this the same as the Eurocontrol FEAST test?
They overlap but are not identical. NATS uses its own Stage 1 aptitude battery for initial screening, while many European air navigation service providers use the Eurocontrol FEAST battery. Several underlying skills are the same, so practising both broad reasoning tests and air-traffic-specific tasks prepares you either way.
Practise the real test types
Nine full-length, timed NATS-style practice tests plus interview prep — one payment, unlimited attempts.