RAF CBAT August. Experiences? Tips?

What is this CBAT app and where do I download it ?

If you type in CBAT into the App Store it'll come up. It was £3.99 I thin k but so so worth it

Any idea if you can get it on android ?

Ive not been able to find anything

You cant, you don't need it.

Why exactly do I not need it ?

Thought I’d update you guys, and also give you advice in regards to CBAT.

I got offered a job as a Pilot, but I joined the Royal Navy as a pilot, not the RAF.

In regards to the CBAT, the SDT website does help if you haven’t ever experienced fuel calculations etc, and it gets you used to doing maths quickly in your head without pen and paper.

But I can’t stress enough, you’ll be doing yourself a disservice if you go in worried or thinking you’re going to fail, because you haven’t prepared - Most of these tests look at your natural aptitude. In my opinion, you need to be focused but as relaxed as possible, make sure you take all your breaks (even if you feel you don’t need them) drink plenty of water AND most importantly, If you feel as if a test hasn’t gone to plan, don’t dwell on it, put it behind you and focus on the next one.

Lastly, the CBAT/FATs is only a tiny part of the whole application. All of the forces would rather take on a great officer, than a person who got a great aptitude test score.

So, I had my CBAT on Tuesday and I thought I'd share my experience just if it helps anyone.

I arrived via the coach from Grantham station, which i would highly recommend doing rather than driving there yourself for a number of reasons:

1) So you dont have to drive after 8 hours of being mentally tested to the max
2) The conversation sparked up on the coach and instantly put me at ease, although I knew it wasn't just me doing the CBAT, other people to talk to about it was good, and we sort of stayed in a friendship group over the 2 days, which was good. Although I'm not anti social, I think if i arrived alone, Id have kept to myself and been more nervous throughout my time there.

Food was good, cheap bar, most people only had one or two drinks just to ease off and socialise, obviously whether you do or not is your choice entirely. The evening meal was top notch also.

So before youre settling down for the night, I'd recommend going to the shop nearby for some snacks (if you havent brought any along with you) for the test day. Definitely bring a bottle of water into the test, as you're allowed this with you at all times, and snacks can be taken in to be consumed in the breaks. Then I recommend an early night as you'll be up before 6 as thats when breakfast starts. Breakfast was also top notch .

Now you're having the brief in Adastrall Hall. Listen to the invigilator carefully, so you dont miss anything. The equipment is really easy to get used to instantly, so if you're worried about that-dont be! Before you start make sure you're comfy as possible and just relax, chill for a second is my advice.

During the test you will have multiple 5 minute breaks, I took all of mine and I feel it helped, just to get away from the screen and relax for a minute or two and refuel with snacks. There is a timer for each individual in the break room, so its easy to keep track of time. This tracker also gives you an estimated time of finish, which is useful too so you can plan your journey home.

The only prep for the test really possible is some SDT questions. The rest is pretty much impossible to prepare for, as many others say. So just relax, chill and dont worry too much. Personally, i was very relaxed and hadn't even researched the cutoff marks as I knew it would be a distraction and put me off if I know i had done bad on a section.

The CBAT is insanely difficult. Don't let this worry you or put you off, just relax. I knew this going into it, so although I felt like I had done absolutely awful throughout, so did others; the CBAT is designed to be that tough. Once you're finished you can breathe a sigh of relief, then report to reception where you'll receive a brief of your results, mine was instantly as soon as i got downstairs... Hopefully you've smashed it, if not, then the person briefing you will help you out... Personally, i felt i was doing rubbish as i previously stated, but I did smash it, so happy days .

Next up is my filter interview, which I am struggling to prepare for as RPAS is my chosen branch, any help on this would be much appreciated but as for CBAT, any questions no matter how dumb they sound I'll try help you out based off my experience. Good luck and just relax!

Thought I would offer up some advice on the filter interview as I am also going for RPAS and have passed the interview myself.

What I would say is, it doesn't really matter too much which branch you're going for in this interview. Yes they will expect you to know about the platforms and the training related to RPAS because at the end of the day that's what you want to do as a career, but the rest of the interview is a more generic assessment of your suitability to become an Officer.

If you (or anyone else) have any specific questions about the interview itself then feel free to ask away and i'll do my best to answer.

Cheers.

Hey guys, I've got my visit to RAF Cranwell coming up. I was just wondering, are we allowed energy drinks, or is coffee provided maybe throughout the day? Or is it strictly water and some snacks?

Reason I ask is that, what with the early start and all day testing, I'd feel more alert with some caffeine in me - although I'd assume that's the point if they DIDN'T allow a can of monster etc.

I'm not too stressed about the test itself, I realise that it's a test of natural abilities so I either have it or I don't, no point worrying. But what if natural ability was hampered by tiredness? Or would the caffeine be seen as an enhancement

Yeah I feel like I could definitely gain some value on asking you some questions:

1) Did the interview strictly follow the structure of pt 1 about you and pt 2 motivation to join RAF? Did it last 45 minutes long?
2) How hard are they on you? On my familiarization visit to Odiham, the officer said filter interview is basically just a way to filter out all the people who would have no chance at OASC, so how hard was this interview?
3) This might be vague, but what prep did you do??

Thanks for taking your time to help mate

Alrighty lads, two hours until I'm getting on my train up to Grantham. I've glanced over the tests and I'm going to play some memory games on my phone. Looking forward to the meals!

I don't remember seeing a coffee machine, plus a 5 min break you dont want to waste making a coffee you cant even drink in the exam room nor would you want to, but they dont say you cant have specific foods/drinks from what i remember other than water ONLY in the exam room itself.