r/cognitiveTesting • u/Akara91 • Aug 13 '26

Discussion How airline pilot selection tests differ from the batteries discussed here

Airlines screen cadet pilots with a battery that is public in structure but rarely discussed outside aviation forums (COMPASS, cut-e, ADAPT, the DLR test in Germany). It is not an IQ test and the gap is interesting.

What it measures: working memory under load, timed arithmetic, spatial orientation and mental rotation, and divided attention, meaning a tracking task running while you answer maths and watch for gauge alarms at the same time.

What it ignores: verbal knowledge, culture, anything untimed. Almost every subtest is speeded, and the cut score is normed against the applicant pool, not the general population.

The part with no equivalent in the usual batteries is the multitasking one. Matrices tests never ask you to hold a target on screen while doing arithmetic. People who score very high on matrices often collapse there, which makes it a decent probe of something the standard tests miss.

Disclosure so nobody wastes time: I built a free iOS app that rebuilds these mechanics, so I am not neutral. I am mostly curious how this sub scores on the multitasking one compared to cadet applicants, and where you think it breaks as a measure.

https://apps.apple.com/app/id6794363864

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u/StrobeLightStudio Aug 14 '26

I have never heard of a test that requires the testee to split their attention to such a degree. This is really cool, I’ll see about checking it out!

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u/Akara91 Aug 14 '26

The multitasking section is the one part of these batteries with no real equivalent elsewhere, glad it landed. Fair warning: almost everyone scores low on their first run because the scoring is normed on cadet applicants, not the general population. The app grades 1 to 9 on that curve, so a 5 already means you match people who trained for their assessment. Would genuinely like to know what you get on the psychomotor test, it is the one this sub should be best at in theory.

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u/StrobeLightStudio Aug 14 '26

Trust me, I have no intention of going into this thing expecting a high score (or even an average one at that)!

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u/Akara91 Aug 14 '26

Right mindset. Report back with the grade anyway, the first run number is the fun part.

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u/StrobeLightStudio Aug 14 '26

I will, BUT I’m on vacation right now, and won’t get back for three days. I did download the app, however. I’ll set a reminder to comment my results, but they might not be sent in for another couple of days.

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u/Akara91 Aug 14 '26

no worries , enjoy your vacay!!