The SureSelect test is widely regarded as one of the most cognitively demanding screening tools in civil aviation.
This guide will provide you with an overview of the assessment and the overall Airservices Australia hiring process.
Have a question? Contact me!
Test geek and founder of Aptitude-Test-Prep.com
SureSelect is a computer-based psychometric test used by Airservices Australia and other ANSPs to screen ATC candidates. Designed by Airways International, SureSelect assesses core cognitive abilities needed for air traffic control, including spatial reasoning, memory, accuracy, multitasking, and performance under time pressure.
According to the test designer, Airways International, the SureSelect assessment consists of 7 distinct modules:
Let’s cover each module in a bit more detail. All screenshots are taken from ATCPreparation’s SureSelect Prep (see more details in the Preparation section).
The Task: An unfolded 2D cube marked with numbers or dots. Mentally fold the cube to identify the correct configuration.
Time Limit: Approximately 20 minutes
What it Assesses: Spatial visualisation and mental 2D-to-3D manipulation.
The 2D cubes utilise a standard dice property – opposite faces must always sum to 7. Use this rule to quickly eliminate incorrect 3D options.
The Task: You are shown two highly detailed flight data strips side-by-side. Scan both strips to determine whether they are identical.
Time Limit: Approximately 15 minutes
What it Assesses: Visual discrimination speed, error detection, and sustained selective attention.
Establish a systematic scanning pattern. Check each field in the exact same order every time (e.g., Callsign > Altitude > Speed). Focus on accuracy first – rushing leads to careless mistakes, which hurt your score far more than taking a fraction of a second to verify.
The Task: Interpret sequential input-output examples to deduce a hidden transformation rule. Once identified, apply the rule to a new target sequence.
Time Limit: Approximately 30 minutes
What it Assesses: Pattern detection
Each transformation rule can be broken down into basic components. Most commonly, these are numeric operations, position shifts, alphabet shifts, mirroring, or character swapping.
The Task: Navigate aircraft on a radar-style screen to avoid collisions.
Time Limit: Approximately 25 minutes
What it Assesses: Multitasking and divided attention.
Safety First, Math Last. Always resolve aircraft conflicts and prevent collisions before looking at the math problems. A missed math question hurts your score far less than a collision.
The Task: Memorise and recall sequences, characters, or aircraft information under strict time constraints.
Time Limit: Approximately 20 minutes
What it Assesses: Working memory storage and retrieval.
Group alphanumeric strings into smaller chunks (e.g., memorising “BAW12” and “345” separately) to prevent cognitive overload.
The Task: Determine the only possible logical outcome based on a given set of rules (like seating arrangements or flight arrivals).
Time Limit: Approximately 20 minutes.
What it Assesses: Deductive reasoning and the application of complex rules.
Instead of memorising every heading, group aircraft by altitude bands (high, medium, low). This simplifies the relational grid you hold in your working memory.
The Task: A battery of forced-choice questions about your work preferences, behavioral traits, and how you handle stress.
Time Limit: Approximately 20 minutes.
What it Assesses: Behavioral fit and consistency.
Don’t try to answer each question individually. Instead, each question relates to a specific trait. Consider these traits and how they are prioritized as a whole.
I strongly recommend ATCPreparation’s prep course for SureSelect.
★ Accurately simulating the real assessment.
★ Various difficulty levels
★ 7 SureSelect practice modules + 2 additional modules to strengthen your skills (traffic management and reading comprehension).
★ Separate personality practice (optional)
Airservices Australia uses a structured, multi-stage recruitment process for ATC candidates.
Register and submit your documents via the Airservices careers portal.
These general cognitive and aptitude tests are in no way related to aviation, but they establish your baseline cognitive ability. Weak performance on the SHL test may prevent you from ever advancing to the SureSelect phase.
The core modules include:
Additionally, you may be requested to take additional SHL tests such as the SHL Checking Test.
I recommend JobTestPrep’s SHL Test Preparation.
Full Disclosure: I am affiliated with JobTestPrep. Clicking the links helps me provide you with high-quality, ad-free content.
After successfully completing the SHL test threshold, you will be required to take the SureSelect test. Read about it in the Test Overview section.
Candidates who pass SureSelect are typically invited to complete an online video interview. This stage assesses communication skills, situational judgement, and cultural fit. Questions are usually competency-based, and responses are recorded for later review by a selection panel.
The final stage of the process is an in-person assessment centre, which usually includes a group assessment and an interview. The group exercise focuses on following instructions, listening to others, and contributing appropriately to the discussion. For the interview, you are advised to carefully review the preparation email sent beforehand and use relevant examples that align with the qualities and competencies outlined in it.
SureSelect is Airways International’s computer-based psychometric test battery for ATC candidate selection. It is used by Airservices Australia, Airways New Zealand, and several other ANSPs worldwide. The test evaluates spatial skills, working memory, multitasking, rule-following, and accuracy under time pressure across seven structured modules.
SHL tests are the first set of tests you will take as part of the hiring process. They are general psychometric assessments measuring basic verbal, numerical, and reasoning abilities. If successful, you will be invited to take the SureSelect tests, which are psychometric simulations specifically tailored to the unique cognitive demands of air traffic controllers.
Most candidates find the assessment challenging due to sustained time pressure, high cognitive load, and frequent switching between different task types such as spatial reasoning, memory, and pattern recognition.
Effective preparation focuses on familiarising yourself with the types of tasks and time pressure, rather than memorising content. Structured practice helps you build faster scanning skills, improve accuracy under time constraints, and get comfortable switching quickly between different rule-based tasks such as memory, spatial reasoning, and pattern recognition.
See my personal prep recommendation in the Preparation section.
Once you pass SureSelect, you typically progress to a video interview and, if successful, an assessment centre. Candidates who clear all stages are considered for an offer, subject to medical and background clearance.
The only online prep accurately simulating the real SureSelect test is ATCPreparation’s prep course. Below I describe all the benefits you get by enrolling to that prep course. All screenshots are taken from the actual preparation.
Disclaimer: I am affiliated with ATCPreparation. Clicking the links helps me to keep providing you with high-quality, ad-free content.
ATCPreparation is the only resource providing live, interactive mock tests of the real SureSelect assessment.
Each module in ATCPreparation is available in one of three levels of difficulty. The “Hard” level surpasses that of the actual SureSelect assessment. Hard in training, easy in battle.
Additionally, you can play in “Test Mode” which precisely emulates the constraints and timing of the actual SureSelect module.
The interface of ATCPreparation’s prep course is modern and intuitive. Alongside a convenient layout of all modules, it includes statistics on your performance and progress.
ATCPreparation SureSelect prep provides the best value for money. The pricing is subscription-based, with plans ranging from 2 weeks to 6 months at very reasonable prices.
Candidates (and prep providers) often tend to underrate the importance of personality questionnaires in the hiring process.
Unlike other sections of SureSelect, the personality questionnaire may single-handedly determine your fit for the role. As such, ATCPreparation includes the personality profiling practice as an integral part of the preparation.
Prepare with ATCPreparationTo contact us, please email to: info@aptitude-test-prep.com
Thanks!
