RAF CBAT Test Preparation (2026)

Our CBAT PrepPack is designed to prepare you for the RAF's Computer-Based Aptitude Test (CBAT), giving you targeted practice across all sections.

• 104 CBAT Practice Sessions: Covering all ten core modules, including FLAG, ANT, ABD, ACT, CUT, Digit Recognition, DPT (including 2 dedicated aircraft-management simulations), INSC, TRT, and VLT.
• 18 Study Guides & 14 Video Tutorials: In-depth guidance across the core modules, covering everything from ANT calculation methods and Digit Recognition memory techniques to VLT reasoning strategies.

Working through these builds the speed, accuracy, and composure CBAT is designed to test, so you know what each task is asking before you sit it.

Please note: These practice materials are designed to build the same underlying skills as the real CBAT modules but may differ in exact format, layout, or style. The RAF updates its modules over time, so this PrepPack focuses on developing the right abilities rather than replicating every screen precisely.

The RAF CBAT (Computer Based Aptitude Test) is a bespoke assessment used by the Royal Air Force to select candidates for Pilot, Air Traffic Control, Weapon Systems Operator, and other specialist aircrew roles.

Unlike the standard Defence Aptitude Assessment (DAA) taken by most other RAF applicants, it's purpose-built to measure the specific skills flying demands, including multitasking, spatial awareness, memory, and rapid decision-making under pressure.

Candidates sit a full-day computer-based assessment, typically lasting six to seven hours, made up of a series of specialist modules. The exact combination depends on the role you're applying for, though most candidates can expect a mix of numerical, spatial, memory, and multitasking exercises, including:

• FLAG (Figures, Logistics & Groups): Tests multitasking under pressure, requiring you to monitor visuals, hold details in memory, and perform quick arithmetic all at once, at a pace that increases as the test progresses.
• ANT (Airborne Numerical Test): Measures rapid mental arithmetic against the clock, including speed, distance, time, and fuel-burn style calculations.
• ABD (Angles, Bearings & Degrees): Assesses spatial and navigational judgement, such as comparing headings and judging angles of turn or bearings between two points.
• ACT (Auditory Capacity Test): Tests your ability to retain spoken information while performing a second task at the same time.
• CUT (Cognitive Updating Test): Measures working memory on continuously changing information, requiring you to track a current state and discard outdated details.
• Digit Recognition Test: Assesses short-term memory through digit strings that grow longer as the test progresses.
• DPT: Combines multitasking and spatial awareness, requiring you to direct multiple aircraft to targets simultaneously from a top-down view.
• INSC (Instrument Comprehension): Tests spatial transformation skills, such as matching an aircraft instrument reading to the correct orientation or attitude.
• TRT (Tracking/Targets): Measures sustained, divided attention by requiring you to monitor several moving targets at once and respond when specific criteria are met.
• VLT (Verbal): Assesses verbal reasoning under load, requiring you to draw logical conclusions from an increasing volume of text-based information.

Some candidates also report encountering modules such as Situational Awareness, Table Reading, or Sensory Motor tasks, though these aren't confirmed in official RAF material.

Since the CBAT assessment takes place at RAF Cranwell, it's sometimes referred to as the OASC aptitude test, but it happens separately before the leadership exercises and interview stage at OASC. Candidates who pass move forward to OASC, and the CBAT itself isn't repeated at that later stage.

Most RAF applicants sit the Defence Aptitude Assessment (DAA), a general aptitude test covering verbal, numerical, and logical reasoning. The CBAT is a separate, more specialised assessment required only for aptitude-based branches, such as Pilot, Air Traffic Control, and Weapon Systems Operator.

Where the DAA is typically completed in a single sitting at an AFCO, the CBAT is a full-day assessment carried out at RAF Cranwell, with a heavier focus on multitasking, spatial awareness, memory, and rapid decision-making under sustained pressure rather than general reasoning ability.

Which one you sit depends entirely on the role you're applying for: Candidates applying for non-aptitude-based branches sit the DAA, while those applying for aptitude-based branches sit the CBAT instead.

Since the CBAT tests natural ability under pressure rather than subject knowledge, preparation looks a little different to a standard aptitude test. Building familiarity with the format, pace, and pressure of each module is what makes the biggest difference.

Below are key steps that can help you walk into the CBAT better prepared:

• Practise multitasking under time pressure: Several CBAT modules require you to track information, respond to prompts, and calculate simultaneously. Drills that combine two or more tasks at once help build this capacity.
• Sharpen mental arithmetic: Fast, calculator-free maths underpins modules like the ANT, including speed, distance, time, and fuel-burn style calculations. Regular timed drills build both speed and accuracy.
• Build spatial and navigational judgement: Modules such as ABD and INSC assess your ability to judge angles, bearings, and instrument readings. Practising with headings and orientation exercises builds familiarity with these formats.
• Train your working memory: Tests like CUT and Digit Recognition require you to hold and update information under pressure. Memory-based exercises, such as recalling growing sequences, can help strengthen this skill.
• Practise sustained attention: Modules like TRT require you to monitor multiple moving elements over time without losing focus. Building stamina for longer concentration spans can help here.
• Get comfortable with the format: Many candidates find the CBAT's pace and structure more demanding than the content itself. Practising under similarly strict time limits helps reduce the shock of the real test.

Consistent, structured practice across these areas builds the speed and composure the CBAT is designed to test. Our RAF CBAT PrepPack brings realistic practice for every module into one place, helping you prepare with confidence for the cut-off your chosen role demands.

Founded by David Meshulam in 1992, JobTestPrep has built over three decades of experience helping candidates navigate competitive recruitment processes, including thousands preparing for the Royal Air Force and the Defence Aptitude Assessment (DAA). Our preparation materials are developed by experts and regularly updated to reflect the latest test formats, helping candidates approach every stage of recruitment with greater confidence. With more than 220 preparation courses and over one million candidates supported worldwide, we offer professionally designed PrepPacks alongside advanced tools, including our AI-powered CV Analyser and Interview Prep platform. Together, these resources help candidates across the UK and beyond strengthen their applications, improve their performance, and achieve outstanding results.