Scotland (En-Route) · NATS air traffic control
Applying for an en-route ATC role at Prestwick?
NATS's Prestwick Centre in Ayrshire manages en-route traffic over Scotland and Northern Ireland and the busy North Atlantic, including transatlantic flights entering and leaving UK airspace.
Prestwick controllers handle high-level en-route traffic, transatlantic flows and coordination with military units — demanding work for spatial awareness and planning.
NATS describes Stage 1 as eleven online ability tests covering areas such as spatial awareness, logical thinking, numerical ability, sense of direction and reaction speed, completed online within 14 days. Stage 2 is an online situational judgement test and a listening comprehension test.
ATC Practice has 10 original timed practice tests — spatial, numerical and logical reasoning, situational judgement, and fast-paced attention, memory and multitasking tasks — with explanations after each question. They're written to practise the kinds of abilities ATC aptitude tests assess; they aren't the real NATS tests, which NATS doesn't publish.
What's included in ATC Practice
Spatial Reasoning
40 questions · 20 min
Numerical Reasoning
40 questions · 20 min
Logical Reasoning
40 questions · 20 min
Situational Judgement
35 questions · 25 min
NDB Direction
24 questions
Switch — Dual Task
6 rounds
About NATS Stage 1 selection
What tests are in the NATS Stage 1 aptitude assessment?
NATS describes Stage 1 as eleven online ability tests covering areas such as spatial awareness, logical thinking, numerical ability, sense of direction and reaction speed, completed online within 14 days and remotely proctored. Stage 2 is an online situational judgement test and an online listening comprehension test, completed within 14 days. NATS doesn't publish the names of the individual tests, how many questions they have, how long each one takes or the pass mark. Timed practice of the same kinds of skills is a good way to feel more prepared.
How competitive is NATS air traffic controller selection?
Trainee places are limited and the process is competitive: you need to pass each stage to move on to the next. If you don't pass a stage, NATS says you can't reapply until its next recruitment campaign.
Do I need experience or a degree to apply?
No. NATS doesn't require a degree or aviation experience. Its requirements are: 18 or over, the unrestricted right to work in the UK, five GCSEs at grade 4 (or Scottish National 5 at A–C) including English and Maths, a CAA Class 3 medical and security clearance.
What does ATC Practice include?
10 original timed practice tests: spatial, numerical and logical reasoning, situational judgement, abstract reasoning, NDB direction, a dual-task exercise, attention, working memory and error checking — with explanations. They practise the kinds of abilities ATC aptitude tests assess; they aren't the real tests. One payment of £20, no subscription.
Start practising for ATC aptitude tests today
One payment of £20 gives you unlimited access to the core ATC aptitude practice simulations, or £34.99 for Complete with five more. No subscription, access never expires.
Get access — from £20↩ 14-day satisfaction guarantee · No subscription