Preparation for All ATSA 7 Subtests:
- Accurate ATC Simulation Radar Game
- Memory Game 1 - Differences
- Memory Game 2 - Variables
- Spatial/Visual Relationship
- Logical Reasoning practice tests
- Reading Comprehension practice tests
- Full Personality test
Extra ATSA Practice and Study Guides- math drills, logical reasoning, and more.
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Applying to become an Air Traffic Controller in Australia/Canada? Skip straight to the Airservices Australia Air Traffic Controller test, or go to the Canadian FEAST Air Traffic Test Page.
What's on This Page?
1. What Is the ATSA Test
2. ATSA Test Questions: Memory Game - Differences| Memory Game - Variables|
Spatial/Visual Relationship| ATC Simulation Test| Personality Test|
Reading Comprehension Test| Logical Word Problems
3. What Score Do You Need?
4. Why Prepare for the AT SA Test?
5. Important Tips for the ATC Candidate
6. ATC Application Requirements, Pool 1 & Pool 2
7. ATSA Test FAQ
What Is the ATSA Test?
The ATSA test (Air Traffic Skills Assessment) assesses memory, attention, spatial awareness, logic, and related skills required to be an Air Traffic Controller (ATC). This ATC test is used by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to select the most promising ATC candidates.
The ATSA exam is taken in Pearson Professional Centers (PPCs) around the country, after scheduling a specific time and date within the FAA's testing window. It lasts about 3 hours and comprises 7 subtests in different formats: two memory games that involve basic math problems, verbal and logical reasoning questions, a personality test, a spatial reasoning test, and an actual air collision simulation.
*Note: This test replaced the old Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Traffic Selection and Training (AT-SAT) Exam.
Get a Quick Overview of the ATSA Test to Start Preparing More Easily:
ATSA Test Questions
The FAA ATC test consists of seven subtests, each with its own format. Below is an overview of the questions you can expect in each section. To help you visualize what the test looks like, we've provided examples taken from our ATSA practice tests:
Memory Game 1 - Numbers and Differences
This ATSA aptitude test begins with a number (1-9) appearing onscreen for two seconds. Another number quickly follows. Using the number pad, you need to type in the difference between these two numbers. After you type in your answer, a third number will appear. Now, you'll have to determine the difference between the last number shown on the screen and this new number shown.
Here is a sample from our infinite memory ATSA practice test, closely similar to the actual test. For each answer typed in, immediate feedback is provided. Additionally, a full report with the success rate appears at the end, so you can track how well you improve:
*Source - JobTestPrep's ATSA Exam Prep- Memory Practice Test
💡 Tip: The most difficult part of this subtest is confusing the last number shown with your last answer, especially since the test keeps running quite quickly. For this reason, try to ignore your answer and mentally repeat the last digit at all times.
For example, if the game shows '5' then '7', the first answer will be '2'. Then, if the screen shows a '4', your answer should be '3' (the difference between '7' and '4'), and not '2' (the difference between '4' and '2').
Memory Game 2 - Variables
This aptitude test consists of three progressively harder sections, each containing 10 questions. The first section flashes multiple letters that each equal a different number (i.e. A=1). Next, you will see on the screen the same letters, albeit this time randomized. Your task is to fill in the number to match the letter.
The second section consists of equations, such as A=B+2, B=1, and therefore A=3. This section uses only addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. In the third section, you are presented with two variable equations.
Try it for yourself, can you quickly answer what number each variable represents?
*Source - JobTestPrep's ATSA Practice Test- Memory (from the full ATSA Test Prep)
💡 Tip: Find the best way to remember the numbers appearing and disappearing on the screen. Some test takers like to whisper to themselves the number and letter as they see them. Some use physical methods to remember the variables, like using your fingers or parts of your body.
Spatial/Visual Relationship
On this test, you need to quickly determine the location of two airplanes in relation to each other. You are shown an image with two airplanes, one large and one small airplane, and a text box stating "right" or "left."
- In the first section of the test, your point of view should be the point of view of the big plane (imagine you are sitting in it, looking at the small plane).
- In the second section, an eye may appear occasionally, changing your point of view to the eye's point of view.
In all questions, you will have to determine if the text box ("left" or "right") is correct or wrong, answering YES or NO.
*Source - JobTestPrep's ATSA Practice Test- Spatial Orientation (from the full ATSA Prep Pack)
For example: If from the viewpoint of the big plane the small plane is on the left, and the text box says “left" you should answer YES. However, if the eye is present, like in the image above, your point of view is now the eye’s point of view and you should answer NO (since switching points of view has reversed the directions).
💡 Tip: When the eye appears, it's usually looking at the big plane, and this point of view causes the reversal of directions from the big plane’s point of view. You can use this trick to answer quickly before you run out of time.
💡 Important note: The image will change very quickly- about every 1-2 seconds (according to test takers). To keep up with this pace you have to make sure you are "in the zone" before starting this section, so use the practice test offered at the beginning of this section to warm up. In addition, you can use the ATSA Test Prep to practice highly similar tests and improve your speed (our advanced visual relationship practice test matches the pace and difficulty level of this section).
ATC Test Simulation - Collision Avoidance and Math
This subtest is an Air Traffic Control Simulation containing two parts. During the first part, the screen displays a map, with numbered balls flying in from off the screen. You must eliminate balls before they are about to collide by typing in the number of one of them. In the second part, while avoiding collisions, you need to simultaneously answer basic math problems.
Here's a sneak peek at the ATSA Interactive ATC Simulation Practice, which contains a random and infinite amount of collision scenarios:
*Source - JobTestPrep ATSA practice test- Collision Simulation (from the full ATSA Prep Pack)
In our ATSA Exam Prep, you will find an ATC radar simulation that accurately mimics the actual Air Traffic Control simulation given on the ATSA exam, using the same keys to answer math questions. The ATC simulation is random, creating an infinite amount of collision scenarios for practice. You can practice a simulation without math questions as in the first part of the ATSA ATC simulation, and move on to the second and more difficult part that incorporates math questions.
💡 Important Tip: You must prioritize your tasks on the Air Traffic Controller Simulation, like a real ATC Specialist. For example, avoiding collisions is obviously more important than answering a math question. Many candidates state that they got a high score on the ATSA, even when they answered a very small percentage of the math questions.
Logical Reasoning - Word Problems
This aptitude test contains approximately 20 questions that must be answered in around 20 minutes. You will not be able to go back to previous questions and will be penalized for not answering all the questions.
The majority of questions on this test are "seating arrangements", in which you need to sort or arrange a group of people/objects according to given constraints. These tend to be very challenging, especially since you only have a short time to solve them, and no pen and paper.
Try it for yourself:
Sample Question - Logical Reasoning
For a two-day career event at a local high-school class, exactly six out of eight parents with different occupations - florist, gardener, historian, inventor, jeweler, locksmith, mailman, and optician - are chosen to introduce their occupations to the class. On each day exactly three different parents will speak to the class in three different time slots - morning, mid-day and afternoon, subject to the following conditions:
- The florist can only speak on day 2.
- The gardener and the locksmith cannot speak in mid-day.
- If the gardener speaks on day 1, then the optician and the jeweler speak on day 2.
- The inventor and the mailman will not speak on the same day.
- If both the inventor and the locksmith are speaking, then the inventor speaks sometime before the locksmith.
Which one of the following could be a complete and accurate schedule of the two-day careers event (in order of appearance)?
A. Day 1: inventor, gardener, historian Day 2: jeweler, locksmith, optician
B. Day 1: mailman, florist, gardener Day 2: optician, jeweler, inventor
C. Day 1: jeweler, optician, gardener Day 2: inventor, florist, historian
D. Day 1: inventor, historian, jeweler Day 2: optician, mailman, locksmith
E. Day 1: historian, optician, locksmith Day 2: mailman, jeweler, inventor
In a question asking for a possible complete arrangement according to the rules, every response that violates any of the rules should be eliminated.
The correct answer is the one that does not violate any of the rules.
(A) According to the rules, the gardener and the locksmith cannot speak in mid-day. Therefore, this response is eliminated.
(B) According to the rules, the florist can only speak on day 2. Therefore, this response is eliminated.
(C) According to the rules, if the gardener speaks on day 1, then the optician and the jeweler speak on day 2. Therefore, this response is eliminated.
(D) This setting does not violate any of the rules, and therefore this is the correct answer.
(E) According to the rules, the inventor and the mailman are not speaking on the same day. Therefore, this response is eliminated.
The correct answer is (D).
💡 Tip: These are the two most effective solving techniques when dealing with sitting arrangements:
- Picturing a seating arrangement and filling it according to the rules.
- Eliminating answer choices according to the rules.
Sometimes, using both techniques together is helpful or even necessary.
Personality Test
This subtest has 108 questions, it is untimed and should take about 15-20 minutes to complete. You are given a list of three statements, and you must determine which of the three is most like you and which is least like you. Here is a sample from our complete personality study guide:
Reading Comprehension
This aptitude test contains 18 questions that must be answered in 15 minutes. You are presented with six paragraphs, each followed by three questions. Questions may ask you to determine the paragraph's main point or which statement is true. Try it for yourself (the explanation will show when you choose the correct answer):
The Passage:Experts agree that arts and culture are an important part of the economy, but the precise relationship is complicated. The main question is does investment in the arts stimulate growth, or are the arts the product of economic development? It would seem that the case for continued arts funding is clear-cut—enjoying the arts (visiting art galleries and theatres) boosts the economy. Yet some argue that the link between arts investment and economic output is tenuous. Researchers today are exploring a different angle of this relationship. They are trying to understand how the subjective value of the arts—the 'happiness factor'—may translate into economic benefits. According to the “happiness factor” hypothesis, when a place develops a critical mass of arts and vibrancy it tends to attract talented people which, in turn, tends to raise income.
Which of the following assumptions can definitely be made based on the above paragraph?
A) Subsidizing cultural activities leads to economic growth.
B) The "happiness factor" effect on the economy is still unclear.
C) Economic development contributes to the establishment of the arts.
D) The "happiness factor" focuses on the influence of talented artistic people on the economy.
The correct answer is (B).
Option (B) is the correct answer because according to the passage, the "happiness factor" is a hypothesis that researchers are exploring in relation to economic growth: "They are trying to understand how the subjective value of the arts—the 'happiness factor'—may translate into economic benefits".
Option (A) is incorrect because the passage states that "some argue that the link between art investment and economic output is tenuous". The passage emphasizes that the relationship between the arts and culture and the economy is "complicated" and presents several points of view on the issue, without stressing that one factor clearly affects the other.
Option (C) is incorrect because the passage presents the question of whether "the arts are the product of economic development", but it does not answer it clearly. Therefore, this assumption cannot be based on the paragraph.
Option (D) is incorrect because the "happiness factor" focuses on the influence of talented people in general on the economy, and not necessarily talented artistic people.
Gain Acess to online ATSA Practice Tests and simulations tailored for each of the sections above:
What Score Do You Need?
The best way to distinguish yourself as a prime candidate for employment and for passing the Air Traffic Skills Assessment is to get the highest score possible. ATSA test results are divided into 4 score groups – Best Qualified, Well Qualified, Qualified, or Not Referred. To Maximize your chances of proceeding to the next stage of the hiring process and receiving a TOL, your goal is to get the Best Qualified score.
This is not an easy goal, as the ATSA result depends on how well you do on all test sections, which are challenging and can be frustrating to solve, especially when taken for the first time. For this reason, it is highly recommended to start practicing by going over all test sections and locating the parts that are most difficult for you and can be improved.
Why Prepare for the ATC Test?
The Air Traffic Skills Assessment is a crucial step toward becoming an air traffic controller for the FAA and the competition is very high. Only an estimated 2.5-6% of the candidates pass the ATC test and receive a TOL.
Based on a survey conducted among 135 customers, practicing ATSA simulations using our online ATSA preparation has helped candidates improve their chances of receiving a TOL by ~45%.
We can see that repeated practice of specific ATSA question types can significantly improve your result for those types of questions over practice.
For example, the notorious Logical Reasoning questions are considered extremely difficult by many of the ATSA test takers since you are required to solve complex questions (sitting arrangements being the hardest) under a tight time limit with no pen and paper.
Completing ATSA practice tests for logical reasoning (as part of JobTestPrep's ATSA Prep) was shown to improve candidates' scores by 53% over four practice tests. Furthermore, candidates also experienced the actual test as easier and manage to answer a higher number of questions in the allotted time.
Start preparing for the ATC test right away, using online ATSA practice tests covering all sections:
ATSA Test Prep (2023 Edition)
Complete Preparation for All 7 ATSA Subtests:
- Accurate ATC Simulation Radar Game
- Memory Game 1 - Differences (Gamified)
- Memory Game 2 - Variables
- Spatial/Visual Relationship
- Logical Reasoning practice tests
- Reading Comprehension practice tests
- Full Personality test
Extra Practice and Study Guides:
- Logical Reasoning Extra Practice drills
- Logical reasoning Study Guides
- Personality Profiling Study Guides
Tips and General Info for ATC Candidates:
- The FAA hiring process for Air Traffic Controllers can take a long time, so you have to be patient. There are many steps between the first application and the first day of work, and some steps can take several months.
- You might want to read the US Department of Labor's Official Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) description for the role of Air Traffic Controller.
- Oral comprehension and oral expression are very important for being a qualified Air Traffic Controller. Take that into consideration and try to prove your oral skills throughout the hiring process.
- You are allowed a total of 30 minutes of break time throughout the Air Traffic Control test. We recommend planning your breaks before the test while making adjustments at the time of the test, considering mental fatigue.
- Reading the instructions before any subtest is highly important! Even if you think you know exactly how the questions are answered, read the instructions thoroughly, as you might find out important information. For example, some subtests penalize you for wrong answers and/or for unanswered questions.
- You cannot use a pen and paper in the AT SA exam. Keep that in mind when using the ATC Test Prep.
- Many questions on the ATSA test are unique and will not be found in any other test. Preparation can be crucial, at least to get familiar with the test format. We highly recommend practicing as much as you can, starting a long time before the exam date. If you finished all the practice tests on a specific subject, it can be very beneficial to practice them again after a day or two of practicing other question types. Even if you know the answers, you can still gain familiarity with the timing, the format, and the anxiety and stress that emerge on a timed test.
What Are the Minimum ATC Requirements?
From the official FAA Aviation Careers page, the eligibility requirements for submitting an Air Traffic Controller application are:
- Being a USA citizen
- Being 30 years old or younger (at the end of the application period)
- Passing a medical examination
- Passing a security investigation
- Passing the Air Traffic Skills Assessment (pre-employment Air Traffic Controller tests)
- Speaking English clearly
- Having three years of adequate work experience or a BA degree (or a combined total of at least three years of college education and work experience)
- Being willing to relocate
What Are Pool 1 and Pool 2 Candidates?
After applying for an Air Traffic open position, candidates are divided into two pools according to their prior experience.
Pool 1 consists of all U.S. citizens who meet at least one of the following eligibility criteria:
- A graduate from an institution participating in the Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI) program who has received an appropriate recommendation.
- A veteran eligible for a Veterans Recruitment Appointment (VRA) and who can provide a Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty within 120 days of the announcement closing.
- An eligible veteran maintaining aviation experience obtained in the course of his/her military experience and/or a veteran entitled to veterans' preference.
Pool 2 consists of all other eligible U.S. citizens who do not meet the requirements for Pool 1.
Why be an Air Traffic Controller?
Air Traffic Control jobs are now considered highly desirable. Here are the reasons:
- The median annual wage for air traffic controllers in the US was $127,805 in 2016 (official FAA information).
- Air traffic controllers get a minimum of 23 vacation days per year. As they build seniority, that number jumps to 36. They also receive full health, vision, and dental coverage, along with life insurance and a comprehensive retirement plan.
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Over the next decade, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) plans to hire and train more than 10,000 air traffic controllers. The opportunities for those who pass the Air Traffic Skills Assessment are greater now than ever.
ATSA Test FAQ
The Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA) or Air Traffic Controller Test is a 3.5 hours screening exam during the FAA Air Traffic Control Specialist hiring process. The ATSA consists of 7 different subtests: Two memory tests that include basic math, a spatial orientation test, a reading comprehension subtest, word problems (logical reasoning seating arrangements), a personality test, and an Air Traffic Controller simulation where you must prevent collisions while doing basic math problems.
The ATSA test is exactly 2 hours and 49 minutes long, plus 30 minutes of break time, which can also be divided into smaller breaks.
The Air Traffic Control (ATC) simulation is one subtest of the ATSA test. It is a game of collision avoidance and basic math questions. You are shown a screen with numbered dots coming in from all angles and your job is to prevent the dots from colliding. When you identify which dots are going to collide, you can press the number of one of the dots, making it disappear, thus preventing the collision.
The ATC simulation test involves different difficulty levels, while in the end the speed of the dots is very high, and you must answer math questions while trying to avoid the collisions. It is considered one of the most difficult parts of the Air Traffic Skills Assessment.
According to the FAA website, an air traffic controller should have strong Active Listening and Speaking skills, Critical Thinking, Judgment and Decision Making, and Complex Problem-Solving abilities. Moreover, ATC specialists should have the following skills: Monitoring, Coordination, Reading Comprehension, Time Management, Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Active Learning, Systems Analysis, and Writing skills.
Every year the FAA publishes new opening for the air traffic control trainee position that are open to all US citizens under 30. The announcement can be found on https://www.usajobs.gov/.
It can take about a month after the ATSA test to get a referral status (either “Referred” or “Not Referred”). After that, if you scored high enough you can get a TOL (Tentative Offer Letter) about 3 months after taking the test. If your score is not quite good, you are put on a waiting list.
The ATSA test scores are divided into 4 groups – Best Qualified, Well Qualified, Qualified, or Not Referred. Your goal is to score high and get a Best Qualified score, optimizing your chances of getting a TOL.
In short, yes. Pool 1 candidates are looked at first, meaning they may get referred and eventually hired, even though they scored lower on the ATC test. That means that if you’re an OTS candidate (Off the Streets), it’s better you score very high on the ATSA.
In the past, pool 2 candidates were required to complete and pass the BioQ biographical assessment. Since July 2018 and following a lawsuit about the validity of the assessment, the biographical assessment is no longer relevant for any pool candidates.
The FAA Air Traffic Controller hiring process varies significantly from candidate to candidate and can last up to two years. After passing the application process and the ATSA test, there are other steps and procedures you must pass, such as the MMPI personality and psychopathology test, a drug screening, a security clearance, and a medical check. If you manage to pass these stages successfully, you will eventually get an FOL (Final Offer Letter) and start the FAA Academy.
You can take the AT SA exam as many times as you want, but only once per application period.
It's important to remember that your ATSA test results are valid for three years after taking the test. However, if you feel you can do better on it, you can reapply when the next announcement publishes and take the test again. It is even recommended, especially if you did not get a "Best Qualified" score.
The Air Traffic Controller test does not cost anything for the applicant. However, you should consider travel costs, as sometimes you will need to drive a long way to get to the closest assessment center. The FAA does not reimburse travel costs.
The position of an FAA Air Traffic Controller is very sought-after. The field of applicants is very competitive, so it is vital that you score high on the exam.
Unexperienced candidates must be under the age of 31 at the closing date of the application window. However, if you have at least one full year of ATC work experience (FAA, civilian, or military), you can apply even if you're older than 31.
If you cannot make it to your Air Traffic Skills Assessment appointment, you're required to reschedule or cancel it at least 48 hours before the scheduled test date.
Yes*, the ATSA test is usually done at Pearson Professional Centers (PPCs)** around the country. To find the closest Pearson testing center, write your address here.
Sometimes testing centers get full, so you want to schedule the test soon after getting the exam invitation email. And make sure you choose a date that fits best. In some cases, you will need to drive a few hours or even fly to the nearest testing center, so take that into consideration.
*In 2020, the AT SA exam was conducted in the candidates' homes, because of Covid-19 restrictions.
**In the past, the aptitude test was taken in PSI centers.
With no preparation at all, the Air Traffic Skills Assessment can be very difficult. You may think that because the ATSA is an aptitude assessment, you don't need to practice for it, but this can't be farther from the truth.
Before your upcoming test, get as much information as you can about the test and try to practice with accurate prep tools that mimic the actual test. You don't want to be surprised by the real test.
Pearson VUE is the official vendor of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the ATSA test and operates its testing system. If your application on USAJobs goes through, you will get an email from Pearson VUE inviting you to schedule a test date to take the ATSA test.
For more official information about Pearson VUE and Pearson Professional Centers (PPCs), visit this link.
Air Traffic Controller Test- Australia
Similar to the FAA ATC hiring process, Candidates who wish to become Air Traffic Controllers in Australia must undergo a lengthy process involving an Air Traffic Controller test. In AirServices Australia, testing is divided into several stages:
- The first stage is online psychometric tests that assess the following abilities: reading comprehension, numerical reasoning, numerical calculations, error checking, and spatial reasoning.
- In the second stage, you are given a supervised online test called the "interrupt test", which is extremely similar to the Collision simulation practice offered in our ATSA preparation pack. In this Air Traffic Controller Test, you are required to split your attention between two tasks and act to avoid airplane collisions.
- After passing the interrupt test (sometimes before), you can expect an invitation for a short, automated video interview.
- The next stage involves attending an assessment center- either face-to-face or a virtual one (conducted via MS). During the assessment day, you are required to complete the same aptitude and Air Traffic control tests again (to confirm your skills), in addition to a group exercise and a behavioral interview.
Gain online access to our ATC test prep for an exclusive interrupt test practice (collision simulation), and sharpen the most critical skills for passing the online tests:
Do you Have any more questions about Air Traffic Control tests? I'll be glad to help, please feel free to contact me ask_arbel@jobtestprep.com
