Aptitude tests play a vital role in pilot selection. Understanding their importance can unlock the door to your pilot career.

Airlines use aptitude tests to measure one's ability to perform certain tasks and to evaluate their response to different events. In particular they will test your:

• spatial Awareness
• numerical abilities
• logical thinking
• verbal reasoning.

Airlines place a significant emphasis on pilot aptitude testing. Research has shown people who perform well in these tests go on to be successful in their flying career.

Airlines usually have many applicants to choose from and so aptitude testing is an easy way to filter out those weaker candidates. To ensure you do not fall into this category then preparation can make the difference.

Pilot aptitude tests are designed to dertermine the way you think; they can therefore be hard to prepare for as they test mental abilities which cannot be easily changed.

However evidence shows that some preparation can improve your performance. Follow these essential preparation tips to improve your score:

• Practice - familirise yourself with some online examples.
• Time - time yourself.
• Speed - try to work through questions at a quick rate whilst maintaining accuracy.
• Instructions - always read the instructions, you do not want to miss anything.
• Estimating - In numerical tests learn to estimate in determining your selection, this can save you a lot of time.