Stage 1: ENGLISH TEST (or proof of English proficiency)
Attention: you do NOT need to sit an English assessment if:
- English is your first (native) language,
- If you have already obtained an English Language proficiency certificate such as IELTS, TOEIC, TOEFL,
etc. If unsure of the validity of an English language certificate, please contact a member of the team.
If you are not a native English speaker and you haven’t got any English certificate, you will need to sit the English
Versant test. You will receive all the instructions on how to book this test by email once your application has
been approved.
English Versant Test: This test will have to be done in your own time before you are admitted to the next stage
(Stage 2). The test we use is the Versant test, which is a speaking and listening test, of which you can find a demo
here: [Link]
Stage 2: ADAPT Psychotechnical test
The ADAPT psychotechnical test consists of the 5 following sub-tests:
- ADAPT Personality questionnaire,
- Progressive Mathematics,
- Progressive Physics,
- Cognitive reasoning,
- FAST multitasking exercise.
The ADAPT psychotechnical test is done from home, under webcam monitoring. Dates are chosen by
the candidate himself or herself thanks to a booking facility where candidates can see the available
dates for this test and book online directly.
You will now find a description of each of the sub-tests.
We have recently published a podcast that was recorded with Emma Akhurst, lead ADAPT psychologist at
Symbiotics. On This podcast, she explains the ins and outs of the ADAPT assessment and gives valuable tools
to help you prepare – make sure to list to this podcast on [Link]/caepilot-podcast (episode 19)
1. ADAPT Personality Questionnaire:
This test looks at your personality, behavior, values and attitude. It consists of different types of
questions, such as the example below:
This personality questionnaire has no time limit set, but you should aim to complete it between 40 and
60 min. You must do it in one attempt.
For the next 4 sub-tests (Progressive Mathematics, Progressive Physics, Cognitive and FAST), you can
verify your level of knowledge directly on the website of Symbiotics (the company that has developed
the ADAPT test). I would recommend you to first prepare and brush-up your knowledge, by following
the instructions of this handbook, and then make sure you have the right level of knowledge. To do
so, you can purchase the “Essential bundle” available on the Symbiotics website here:
[Link]
Be careful that this bundle is a tool to verify your knowledge is up to standard, rather than a study
tool. The bundle consists of blank tests with questions that are like those you will receive at the real
selection.
2. Progressive Mathematics:
This test has a time limit of 30 minutes, which means the test will automatically finish after 30 minutes
whether or not you have answered all of the 20 questions.
The questions are getting increasingly difficult throughout the test, but you can choose which question
to answer and in what order.
Questions 1-5 are at foundation level and worth 1 mark each
Questions 6-15 are at intermediate level and worth 5 marks each
Questions 16-20 are at advanced level and worth 10 marks each
The topics covered are: Speed/Distance/Time, Calculating Fuel rate, Basic Pythagoras.
Some useful formulas are: Speed = Distance/Time, Cosine and Sine rules, Pythagoras theorem:
c2 = a2 + b2, Angles in a triangle add up to 180°, Trigonometry ratios.
Examples of questions:
Answers to the questions: 222 m, 352°, 3/10, 13 cm, Headwind = 204 km/h, Crosswind = 95 km/h
In order to prepare the mathematics sub-test of the ADAPT, you can either use your high-school
material or the CAE preparation bundles available here:
[Link]
Another book which is worth reading (depending on how much you need to brush-up your
knowledge) is the Math’s and Physic’s for pilots’ book available here:
[Link]
3. Progressive Physics
As for the Progressive Mathematics test, this test has a time limit of 30 minutes and the 20 questions
get increasingly difficult (rewarding you with more marks) and you can choose in which order you wish
to complete them.
The topics covered are:
▪ Properties of solids, liquids and gases,
▪ Magnets,
▪ Energy,
▪ Mass and Weight,
▪ Waves – mechanical and electromagnetic,
▪ Basic circuitry,
▪ Units of measurement,
▪ The Universe,
▪ Pressure,
▪ Acceleration,
▪ Force,
▪ Circuitry – currents and resistors,
▪ Velocity,
▪ Levers,
▪ Springs,
▪ Balancing Weights.
Some useful formulas are:
Speed = Distance / Time
Gas laws – Boyle-Mariotte law, Gay-Lussac law, Dalton’s law,
Newton’s equations of motion,
Hooke’s law,
Bernoulli’s theorem,
Ohm’s law
If you wish to improve or brush-up your knowledge of physics, I recommend you the book “Schaum’s
Outlines for College Physics”, available on Amazon here:
[Link]
This book covers the above-mentioned chapters and has exercises at the end of each chapter to check
your understanding. You can also of course use your high-school material provided it covers the
above-mentioned topics.
A third way to prepare this is to use the CAE mathematics and physics bundle available here:
[Link]
Examples of questions:
Answers to the questions: -15m/s2, 1.32 A, 492K, 9.9 m, 980 NM
4. Cognitive reasoning
This test takes approximatively 30 minutes and will test the following abilities:
▪ Numerical reasoning: ability to use, manipulate and interpret numerical data,
▪ Verbal reasoning: ability to analyze, interpret and understand written information,
▪ Spatial Relationship reasoning: ability to see spatial patterns, and move or rotate
these in your mind to solve visual problems,
▪ Abstract reasoning: ability to recognize patterns and similarities between shapes and
figures,
▪ Perceptual speed and accuracy: ability to work quickly and accurately to find
information from numbers or images,
▪ Working memory: ability to hold, retrieve and use information stored in short-term
memory,
▪ Mechanical reasoning: ability to understand levers, pulleys, gears, springs, etc
5. FAST multitasking exercise
This test is a multitasking exercise where you will have to demonstrate strong multitasking abilities. You
will need to follow verbal and non-verbal instructions, monitor a cockpit and flight path, fly a “crash”
course and answer cognitive questions, all at the same time.
You can watch a demo of this test here: [Link]
On the bottom left corner of the screen, you will need to make sure to divert the white airplane away
from the oncoming blocks. Try to limit the number of crashes and achieve the longest possible flight
time.
On the bottom right corner of the screen, you will need to answer questions of different types, which
will all be multiple choices. Questions are given either verbally or visually. The questions appear and
disappear quickly, so you must react FAST!
In the middle of your screen, by using the green or red button, you will need to report having seen
airplanes passing by or having overflown a waypoint.
Make sure to LOOK out for aircraft, LISTEN to Air Traffic Control, REMEMBER what you see on the
ground! You will be asked questions about this in the final part of the assessment.
