Skills Assessment Explained

[shamrock1936]

This Thread Is currently being updated.....please do not post any questions!!!

About Me and This Thread

About Me.
On Friday 13th March 2009 I was offered a place at Oxford Aviation having successfully retaken those parts of the initial assessment that I had failed the previous year.

When sitting my initial assessment in 2008 I found that information regarding travel, accomodation etc as well as information regarding the actual skills assessment process was spread throughout the forum.

Therefore this post is an attempt by myself, as a student, with the help of Mike Griffith (Brand Manager at Oxford Aviation) to include as much relevant information as possible that will help those potential students wishing to sit assessments.

This thread is split into two parts.
The first part contains information of my own experiences of the 2 days of the skills assessment process. It contains information on the various exercises and where appropiate it includes some tips on how best to prepare for each different part.
Whilst the the second part of this thread contains information posted by Mike Griffith that I received both before and after I sat my initial assessment.

PLEASE NOTE!!
This post does not include any information on the new Sim Check that is now undertaken as part of the assessment program though I beleive there is some information on the forum already.

The information contained in this thread is quite clear. Mike Griffith is more than willing to give those sitting assessments advice and information, but please in order to maintain the integrity of the skills process I WILL NOT respond to any private messages.

ME AND MY STORY

When I sat the initial exam last year I failed to gain the sufficient pass rate required in both the Tech test (physics) whilst also managing to make a complete dogs dinner of the the instrument interpretation part of the COMPASS exam. However second time around I faired slightly better in the overall COMPASS sections whilst also passing the tech test.

SOME BASIC INFORMATION AND OBVIOUS TIPS

GETTING TO OAA BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Oxford City is served by an excellent private bus service called the Airline Express Bus Service which operates from both London Heathrow and London Gatwick. I takes around 75 minutes to get to Oxdord Gloucester Green Bus Terminal from Heathrow Terminal 5.
Full timetable and information http://www.oxfordbus.co.uk/main.php?page_id=24

Oxford Aviation Academy is located in Kidlington which is around 20-30 min drive North of Oxford.

Stagecoach Bus no 59 goes to Oxford Airport from Magdalen St. However not all buses operate to the airport. Full information and timetables is available at http://www.stagecoachbus.co.uk/timetables/59w300308.pdf

Taxis from Oxford Town cost £20 - £30 though I myself did not get a taxi.

Simple rule remains to get there early, relaxed and well rested.

KNOW YOUR INFO:-

Be aware of the excellent facilities and team of staff that exist at OAA....If this is the aviation school that you want to go to then know your stuff about the college.

ASK QUESTIONS:-

Everyone around the campus both instructors/teachers and students in particular will spot you a mile away so dont be afraid to ask questions of there is something you want further information on.

ACCOMODATION:-

If you are staying at Langford (Oxford Student Accomodation on site) try and arrive before the reception closes at 1700. However if you arrive after 1700 then your Langford accomodation key can be collected from the security hut at the entrance provided your accomodation has been prebooked in advance.

GET TO KNOW YOUR GROUP:-

When the you first meet your group on the first day of the assessment it will be obvious that some people will be quiter than others. However it is a great way to relax from the start and ease your nerves by getting to know the other people on your assessment as this will make the 2 days so much more enjoyable.

There is one golden rule to remember:-

You are not in competition with the other people in your assessment once anyone makes the desired overall grade you will be accepted!!!!

So treat your group as colleagues rather than competitors.

DAY ONE

Day one will begin at around 08.45 and after initial jitters and introductions you and your group will be split into 2 groups...one will go for a sim check whilst the other group will do and the COMPASS, maths, physics and psychometric tests.

THE SIM CHECK

One group will do a simulator check (sim check) with an experienced pilot, who will fully brief you before the sim check takes place.
Candidates will "fly" a short 30 minutes simulator assessment after a group briefing.

The sim check does not require any previous flying experience and is designed to show whether candidates have the capacity to absorb guidance and improve on their performance. During the sim flight candidates are asked simple mental arithmetic questions to determine the ability to cope with more than just the flying task.

In the brief you will be told some of the basic of flight fundamentals and he way the airplane works and reacts to your controls.
Then you will go into the sim one by one and be told clearly and concisely what to do same person who gave you the pre-flight brief.

Though difficult I would advice that you try and stay calm and not get flusterred.
If you feel as if you are making an error try and correct it with simple small adjustments rather than hard abrasive movements.

THE COMPASS, TECHNICAL & PSYCHOMETRIC TESTS

The Compass tests will last approximitely 90 minutes and you will be given a chance to take a break before you undertake the Psyc Tests which will take approximtely 20 minutes.
These tests are designed to assess potential as well as immediate training risk and cover the following areas.

THE COMPASS TEST

It consists of 6 sections all of which are clearly explained before each test begins

1) Hand / Eye / Foot Co-Ordination
As stated this will check your combined hand eye and foot co-ordination

2) Hand / Eye Co-Ordination
Known as the "Slalom" it measures your ability to keep the cone in between two moving sticks

3) Short-Term Memory
Given numbers and letters....Screen goes blank....Refill in Numbers and Letters

4) The Maths Test
This evaluates mathematical ability. Comprises of 24 questions in 20 minutes. Some questions will require written calculation on paper provided.
This test will require mental maths abilities so be prepared to do some questions in your head as you will simply not have time to work out each question on paper.

5) Navigation (Instrument Interpretation)

The One Tip is to clealy clearly clearly read the instructions.

This is one test where you are given a chance to read, reread and reread as many times as required the instructions.
I was advised....I didn't listen and did poorly!!!
So whats the tip???????????

Read the instructions over and over and over again until you are 1000% certain what to do!

In this test you get three instruments and through the process of elimination guess which one of the four aircraft is being displayed on the screen.

6) Multi-Tasking Test
In this test you are givin a readout in a box on the right hand side of the screen that you must replicate in a box on the left hand screen. WHILST pressing assigned buttons to get rid of intermitant flashing lights that will randomly appear in the upper corner of the screen.

A older video of the COMPASS is available at http://www.epst.com/com/compass.htm
This gives a VIDEO summary of something roughly similar to what you face in skills assessment, though it does change.

Each part of the 6 above tests is graded from 1-7 giving a max score of 42. With the pass rate being 28 of 42.
Candidates must get a minimum of 4 in any one section to pass.

THE TECHNICAL TEST - GCSE Physics

There is plenty of information throughout the forum regarding the physics element of the test.

I looked at the http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/physics/ which has alot of useful information.

I will say this the test is quite broad and you might need to learn some formulae....nothing crazy. JUST GCSE LEVEL
Just look through the link above and you get everything you need to know.

Some of us got differing physics test so amongst the group we asked a broad range of physics.

THE PSYCHOMETRIC TEST

Known as the 10-F-P personality test.
You have twenty minutes to answer scale questions about you and the way you act and react to everyday situations. There are some real random questions.

Tip here is NEVER EVER EVER to second guess the quiz and its questions.....Look at the question and answer as honest and quickly as possible and then move on to the next.

DO NOT TRY AND SECOND GUESS THE SYSTEM YOU WILL BE CAUGHT OUT LATER ON IN LATER QUESTIONS!!!!!

DAY TWO

This day is a complete change from day one. With the emphasis changing from your individual ability to your ability to work as a team.

The day consists of the following
2 Group Exercises
1 Group Discussion on various issues both aviation and non-aviation
Your Individual Interview
All the above are undertaken by the same two experienced airline personel

There are no tips for the group exercises apart from the need for you to get involved and to make your points and opinions known to the group

For the individual interview I highly recommend that candidates know information about OAA college, the aviation industry and current affairs. In the interviews candidates are assessed on their personality and leadership potential.

and finally

Your individual debrief undertaken by one of the senior skills assessors, which is your opportunity to ask questions about anything you felt you didnt do well on during the course.

The Debrief is the first time that your Day One and Day Two activities are brought thus ensuring that independance and integrity is maintained at all times.

Again if you have any questions just let me know.

I will not response to private messages for transparancy.

Finally to anyone undertaking Skills Assessment enjoy the experience and every minute hopefully its the start of better things to come......

Shamrock

[Mike Griffith]

Shamrock,

I don't see any problems with what you have written. Considering that those who attend our smaller seminars get to see these tests briefly, I am comfortable with you describing them for the benefit of those who don't get to see them.

The point you make that assessment is not a competition probably should be bold though. That is spot on. (Airline Cadet Selection, however, is a competitive process where the applicants are competing for a set number of seats). For normal APPFO Skills Assessment we measure each applicant against a set standard and those who meet it will be offered a place. I have seen 11 of 12 pass in a week and I have seen 2 of 12 pass.

Airline Cadet Selection is based on the standard Skills Assessment, but it does not include the simulator assessment. There is obviously a minimum standard required, but due to the popularity of the schemes and the large number competing for a seat, the successful cadets usually score much higher than the minimum standard for passing the normal Skills Assessment.

Day One ~ OAA SKILLS ASSESSMENT PROCESS

Phase 1

COMputerised Pilot Aptitude and Selection System, (COMPASS) testing forms the basis of the skills assessment system. These ‘online’ tests are designed to assess potential as well as immediate training risk and cover the following 6 areas:

CONTROL - Eye to Hand & Feet Coordination - Flying Aptitude & Motor Skills
SLALOM - Eye to Hand Coordination - Flying Aptitude & Motor Skills
MEMORY - Capacity
MATHEMATICS - Capacity and Technical Capability
ORIENTATION - Instrument Flying Capacity, Logic & Deductive Reasoning
TASK MANAGEMENT - Multi-Tasking & Capacity

Each test is graded from 1-7, giving a maximum achievable score of 42. those achieving a score in the high 20s can be considered to have a good chance of successfully completing the APPFO course. Those scoring 35 or better are considered in the top tier and should go on to do very well on the APPFO course. Whilst the tests are theoretically designed for individuals of varying flying experience and a wide range of backgrounds, in practice the results can be conditioned by factors such as English Language capability and there is not, therefore, a fixed pass/fail mark. The results from other tests must be taken into account before any final judgment can be made.

The Technical Test which follows COMPASS is effectively testing basic Physics, Science and Mechanics. Graded out of 15, an ‘average’ score would be 10/11 and approximates to GCSE standard. A grade of 12 or more represents a good pass.

The final automated test, known as CPP, is a personality assessment. It is focused on the qualities sought in airline pilots and grades individuals from ‘No Serious Concerns’ to ‘Grave Concerns’ based upon completion of a detailed questionnaire. Overall, the test generally gives a good profile indicator but is not foolproof. Some judgment is required in assessing the results and it can occasionally be misleading, particularly for those with a relatively poor understanding of English or who are from a different cultural background. Results are balanced with the observations our assessors make in the team exercises and interview.

Phase 2

In Phase 2, candidates ‘fly’ a short, 30 minute simulator assessment after a group briefing. The test, which is effectively designed to validate the COMPASS results, does not require any previous flying knowledge. Candidates are required to fly simple profiles under guidance and, when given instruction, to show that they have the capacity to absorb the guidance and improve on their performance. The assessor also introduces extraneous activities, usually mental arithmetic problems, to determine the individual’s capacity to cope with more than just the flying task. The assessors examine the applicant for smoothness and accuracy, staying ahead of the aircraft, whether or not they get upset easily, how well they cope with change and deal with problems, degree of anticipation and level of confidence, timely corrections, avoiding repeat errors, speed of learning the required control inputs and aircraft attitudes and the flight deck personality preferably observing a positive, relaxed and friendly manner instead of a passive or abrasive manner and a constant need for prompting.

Day Two ~ OAA SKILLS & ASSESSMENT PROCESS

Phase 3

During Phase 3, candidates undertake 3 Group Exercises:

1. Problem Solving, Verbal Reasoning and Communication
2. Practical Problem Solving
3. Group Discussion

For all these exercises, 6-8 candidates normally form a group and are monitored by 2 assessors. The exercises take approximately ½ day to complete with the same assessors then conducting individual interviews, each of which lasts for some 20-30 minutes. Candidates are graded on a conventional scale from ‘well below’ to ‘well above’ average. The assessors will be looking at team skills such as listening well, questioning for clarity and clarifying own statements, helpfulness of suggestions, seeking ideas, leadership, decisiveness and seeking support/concensus. They examine each applicants style of relating for calmness, enthusiasm, positive attitude, energy, cooperation and supportiveness vs. egoism and competitiveness, logical debate skills and getting on with others. Focusing on the task and time awareness are important, as are understanding the brief, making a positive contribution to both the discussion and implementation of the tasks and recognizing, acknowledging and recovering from serious errors.

Phase 4

In Phase 4, candidates are interviewed individually. As for Phase 3, there are 2 assessors, at least one of whom is an experienced airline pilot, usually one still flying. Twelve airlines now permit their staff to work on this assessment programme. The structured interview lasts approximately 30 minutes and is intended to assess an individual’s preparedness and suitability for a career in commercial aviation. The assessors will examine why and for how long you have wanted to become a pilot and what practical steps you have undertaken to prepare for the training and career. This could include educational preparation, extra curricular activities to develop social skills and personality, acquisition of flying or aviation related work experience, leadership and team working skills, etc., as well as financial planning and preparation and research of the career, lifestyle, industry and career progression of a professional pilot.

Phase 5

The final stage in this phase is a comprehensive individual debrief of the overall assessment process. For many candidates, especially the younger ones, Skills Assessment may be the first such performance and personality assessment they have ever received, and OAA believes that feedback is a valuable training tool in its own right. It is intended to be comprehensive, objective, and open and candidates should leave Oxford feeling properly informed concerning all aspects of their performance. The debriefing is verbal and candidates do not receive any written report save a Certificate of Acceptance if they are successful. The contents of the Skills Assessment process are the intellectual property of OAA and/or EPST and protected by copyright law. Reproducing any portion of the material without written permission of the copyright owner is forbidden by law.

DECISION

The final judgment on whether a candidate has passed the assessment, and can therefore be offered an APPFO place, is made only at the end of the debrief. The debrief is, therefore, effectively part of the overall assessment process and, as such, can only be undertaken by the Director of Commercial and Employment Services, The Manager of Pilot Programmes or the Skills Development Officer.

Some candidates may appear to have the potential to achieve the necessary performance levels but do not achieve a high enough standard to be accepted on their first appearance. In such circumstances, they may be offered an opportunity to resit some or all of the tests again. Normally, a minimum interval of 3 months must elapse prior to any re-assessment being permitted.