Pilot Aptitude Tests - Study Guides & Practice Tests (2024)

Yedidya, Aviation Industry Assessments Expert at JobTestPrep
Have a question? Contact me at:

ask_the_team@jobtestprep.co.uk

The pilot aptitude test is a comprehensive assessment used by airlines and aviation organisations to evaluate the suitability of candidates for pilot training programs. The test is designed to measure a range of cognitive abilities, personality traits, and technical skills essential for a successful career as a pilot. The most common test providers are SHL and cut-e.

The pilot aptitude test typically consists of multiple-choice questions and is administered in a timed, standardised format. The exam is divided into several sections, each assessing a different competency area. These sections may include:

Numerical Reasoning: assessing your ability to perform mathematical calculations and analyse data
Verbal Reasoning: evaluating your comprehension of written passages and your ability to draw logical conclusions
Abstract Reasoning: evaluates your ability to think logically and solve complex problems by identifying patterns and relationships between abstract shapes and designs.
Spatial Awareness: testing your capacity to understand and manipulate visual information in three dimensions
Technical Comprehension: assessing your knowledge of aviation terminology, principles, and procedures
Personality Assessment: evaluating your personal characteristics, such as your communication skills, leadership potential, and adaptability to stress

It is well known that proper practice and familiarity with the test questions can significantly reduce stress and anxiety on test day and raise your chance for success. That's precisely why our experts at JobTestPrep have made a dedicated short free sample test for you.

The sample questions below don't include all the different types you may face in the test, but most of them. If you want to practice more types of questions, you can check out our Pilot Aptitude Test PrepPack.

Sample Question - Numerical Reasoning

The total cost of an electric bill is $318.00. If a 6% tax, which is added to the cost of the electricity, is included in the $318.00, how much did the electricity cost before tax?

A. $337.08

B. 19.08$

C. $300

D. $298.92

View Explanation

The bill was for $318, including a 6% tax. Notice that 6% is added to the net cost - that is, the tax is not 6% of 318, but 318 is 106% of the electricity cost. This means 318 is (106/100) = 1.06 times the net electricity cost.

In order to isolate electricity, we will divide each side by 1.06.

That means that:

Electricity × 1.06 = 318
318 ÷ 1.06 =
(318 ÷ 106) × 100 =
3 × 100 =
300

💡 Solving tip
Before trying to solve the question, it may be helpful to first look at the answer choices. Notice that according to answer A the price without tax ($337.08) is higher than the price with tax ($318). Since this cannot be, answer A can be eliminated.

According to answer B, the price without tax ($19.02) is almost $300 less than the price with tax ($318). We know that 6% of 19.02 cannot be anywhere near 298.92, and we can therefore eliminate answer B.

The remaining answer choices are very close, $298.92 and $300. Instead of dividing 318/1.06, we can multiply one of these two answer choices by 1.06 and see if we get 318.
We will check 300, as it is a much more comfortable number to work with.

300 × 1.06
= (3 × 100) × (106 ÷ 100)
=3 × 106
=3 × 100 + 3 × 6
= 300 + 18 =
318

300 is, therefore, the correct answer. Notice that if we had first multiplied 298.92×1.06, we would have gotten 316.8552. We could have then eliminated answer D and concluded answer C was the correct answer without checking it.

Abstract Reasoning

Which Image should be the next in the series?

In this series, there are 3 small shapes with different patterns of movement: Green, light pink, and yellow triangles.

In each step, the green triangle moves 2 steps in a clockwise direction.

The light pink triangle moves 2 steps in a counterclockwise direction.

Recognizing these two patterns will already lead you to the correct answer. The yellow triangle doesn't show a clear and repeated movement pattern, making it hard to identify the pattern that it follows. However, its' pattern is not necessary in order to find the solution.

Sample Question - Verbal Reasoning

Three travellers - John, Kate, and Lenny - came back from three trips to the following countries: Mauritania, Nepal, Oman, Peru and Qatar. The countries each of them visited must be consistent with the following rules and conditions:

Each country was travelled by at least one of the travellers.
Each traveller took only one trip during which he or she travelled to only two or three different countries.
Only one traveller travelled to Qatar.
Every traveller who travelled to Mauritania also travelled to Nepal.
A traveller who travelled to Qatar did not travel to Peru.
John travelled to all the countries Kate travelled to.

If Lenny did not travel to Qatar, which statement cannot be true?

A. Lenny travelled to Peru.

B. Lenny travelled to Oman.

C. John travelled to Mauritania.

D. Kate travelled to Mauritania.

E. Kate travelled to three different countries.

View Explanation

The correct answer to this question is the only response that is not possible. This means that the four wrong answer choices are at least possible, if not necessarily true.

If Lenny did not travel to Qatar, and according to the derivatives Kate cannot travel to Qatar, then the traveler who must have traveled to Qatar is John. Since a traveler who traveled to Qatar cannot travel to Peru (q → ~p), John did not travel to Peru, and therefore Kate also did not travel to Peru (~J → ~K). Therefore, the traveler who must have traveled to Peru is Lenny.

The general setup for this question is:

	m	n	o	p	q
J					x
K
L				x

The following setup shows that responses (a) through (d) are possible, and are therefore not the correct answers:

	m	n	o	p	q
J	x	x			x
K	x	x
L			x	x

Note: after eliminating answers (a) through (d), checking answer (e) is redundant – it must be the correct answer.Answer (e)- If Kate travelled to three countries, then John must have travelled to the same countries as Kate (K → J). In addition to the countries Kate visited, Qatar has also been travelled by John. This means that John visited 4 countries, in contradiction to the rules ('each traveller visited 2 or 3 countries'). Therefore, the information in the response cannot be true.

So, "Kate travelled to three different countries" cannot be true- which is why E is the correct answer.

Personality Question

Although there are no right or wrong answers in personality tests, there are answers that can make you pass the test with flying colors and some that can damage your chances of passing. In the current question, the first sentence of "I like helping others" is the most positive one, and o rank as the one you most relate to can give you extra credit. As the other 2 can be interpreted as positive or negative in different contexts, it doesn't matter which you'll rank as the least relate one.

Feel Like You're Not Ready Yet?

Our prep pack includes dozens of practice tests covering all the different types of questions in the test. With our practice, you can master the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in your assessment, reduce stress on test day, and increase your chances of success.

Prepare early: Start preparing for the test as early as possible to give yourself enough time to practice and improve your skills. Our PrepPack includes practice tests and study guides to help you get started.
Familiarize yourself with the test format: Take the time to understand the format of the test and the types of questions you can expect. This will help you feel more confident on test day and better equipped to answer the questions correctly.
Practice time management: The pilot aptitude test is timed, so it's important to practice time management during your preparation. Use a timer to simulate the actual test conditions and aim to complete each section within the allotted time.
Focus on your weaknesses: Identify your weak areas and focus on improving them through targeted practice and study. Our PrepPack includes personalized feedback and expert guidance to help you target your areas of weakness.
Stay calm and focused: Test anxiety can be a major obstacle to success on the pilot aptitude test. Practice relaxation techniques like deep breathing or visualization to help you stay calm and focused during the exam.
Be familiar with aviation terminology and concepts: The technical comprehension section of the pilot aptitude test may include questions that test your understanding of aviation concepts and terminology. Make sure you're familiar with these terms and concepts to give yourself the best chance of success.
Follow instructions carefully: Read and follow the instructions for each section of the test carefully to ensure that you don't miss any important details or make any careless mistakes. Double-check your answers before submitting them to avoid any errors.

The pilot aptitude test can vary in length, depending on the specific organization administering the exam. Typically, the test can take anywhere from 2 to 6 hours to complete.

The pilot aptitude test typically consists of multiple-choice questions and is divided into several sections, each of which assesses a different area of competency. These sections may include numerical reasoning, verbal reasoning, spatial awareness, technical comprehension, and personality assessment.

The policies regarding retaking the pilot aptitude test vary among different organizations. Some may allow candidates to retake the exam after a certain period of time, while others may have stricter rules regarding retakes. It's best to check with the specific organization you're applying to for their retake policy.

The pilot aptitude test is a critical step in the pilot training process, and success on the exam is essential for aspiring pilots who want to pursue a career in aviation. The test results are often used as a key factor in evaluating candidates for pilot training programs, so it's important to prepare thoroughly and aim for a high score.

Prepare for Takeoff: Pilot Aptitude Test Study Guide & Pracitce

What is Pilot Aptitude Test?

Pilot Aptitude Practice Test