Practice for the NAV Canada Air Traffic Control Online Test [2024]

Air traffic control and ATS services in Nav Canada are highly desirable jobs, as Air Traffic Controllers who successfully pass both assessments and training can expect high benefits and salaries (94k- 120k CAD). This causes fierce competition when trying to make the cut among all candidates. If they fail to pass, candidates have to wait three years before their next application.

To possibly become an Air Traffic Controller in Nav Canada, you must first pass the online assessment. Since only top candidates are selected to proceed with their application, you'll want to get the best possible result. 

Most ATC (Air Traffic Control) applicants begin their journey by applying online. Once you complete the application, you will receive an email inviting you to participate in a NAV Canada online assessment, also given to maintenance technician applicants and pre-board screening officers. In most cases, the invitation is sent within a few days of the application. 

The test includes four sections taken in your preferred order: 

This challenging section assesses your ability to identify patterns.

⌛ You will have 6 minutes to complete as many questions as possible. 

The task: In each question, you will be presented with matrices containing different symbols. First, determine which rule the two grids on the left follow, and then choose the two grids on the right that follow that rule.

Here is an example of inductive reasoning questions in the online ATC test:

Tip💡: The questions’ difficulty level increases throughout the test, and it will be more challenging to identify the governing rule, especially in a time limit of only 6 minutes. 

This ATC test is a variation of classic attention assessment, in which you are asked to click "correct" each time you see a specific image, and "incorrect" when you see a different image. 

⌛ This test lasts for about 2 minutes, in which you have to remain highly concentrated and react quickly and accurately.   

This logic test assesses your ability to learn rules and apply them correctly.  

⌛ You will have 6 minutes to complete as many questions as possible.

The task: An array of up to five different symbols will be presented to you, along with a question mark in the middle. You will be asked to replace the question mark with the symbol that fits in that cell so that each shape only appears once in each row and once in each column.

Here is an example of deductive reasoning questions in the online ATC test:

Tip💡: Each symbol can appear only once in a row or a column. Thus, you have to pay extra attention to the location of every symbol and the number of times it spears in the grid.

This challenging test section measures your orientation skills. 

⌛ You will have 3 minutes to answer as many questions as possible.  

The Task: You will be presented with an aircraft dashboard that has a gyrocompass showing the flight direction, and a radio compass showing the location of a non-directional beacon. Your task here is to determine the position and course of the aircraft (relative to the beacon).

*Source - JobTestPrep Nav Canada ATC practice test.

Because the RBI indicates where the beacon is relative to the flight direction, to identify the aircraft's direction relative to the beacon, you must mentally rotate the radar according to the flight direction (shown on the GYRO).  In the example above, the aircraft is flying west and is also located in the west (relative to the beacon). 

In the next stage of the hiring process, you'll receive an invitation to in-person ATC testing, which includes two stages:

ATC FEAST Part 1: In the first part, you will likely spend most of the time in front of a computer. Questions in this section will test cognitive abilities expected of ATCs, such as memory, spatial reasoning, and attention. After you have completed this, you will move on to FEAST part 2- Air Traffic simulations. 

ATC FEAST Part 2: This section is primarily focused on what you will be required to do as an air traffic control personnel. Thus, you will be answering questions that focus on dynamic radar, multi-control, mathematical notions, and strip display management. This section of the test is considered difficult and most candidates will not pass. 

Get Fully Covered for the NAV Canada Selection Process

Add the FEAST preparation to your purchase and get tailored practice for all tests. 

If you have passed ATC stage 2, you are among the rare few who do! next, you'll be sent either a pre-recorded interview or an invitation for a phone interview. If you pass, you'll be invited to an in-person interview with the NAV CANADA training manager in their area of specialty.

If you are applying to the ATC position in Montreal, part of the assessment will be conducted in French. However, past ATC applicants have admitted that this section was not very difficult. 

Unfortunately, passing all stages throughout the hiring process does not guarantee you make it to the ATC training program. All candidates who pass enter an applicant pool, from which top applicants are then selected to proceed to the training program.

Offers are sent out roughly 4 months in advance of the course start date; that is when you will be notified if you have been selected. 

The ATSA Test (US)

The FEAST Test (Canada & Europe)