There's another thread in this forum where users are posting their scores. I'll probably be the first to admit to a failing score when it becomes available.
To Future Test Takers - Heed My Word:
As stated above, I took the test today. To all of those that say you can't study for this test, they're wrong. In fact, studying is the only way to guarantee a decent grade.
no studying here, 100 Unless you're a math whiz
it's simple multiplication or division or just a good test taker, I highly recommend the green book.
I was fed to the lions on the math section.
you've been on this board, it has been explained several times I made educated guesses on
every single question. I remember a high school teacher telling us that when you guess, pick all C's as most standardized tests tend to put C as the correct answer.
your teacher was stupid At first, I felt like a total moron. However, I wasn't alone.
Most people guessed too. I didn't. Let me explain.
The math section is the second part tested after the opening section, the Dials. The scanning section is third. Ten minutes into the math section, when I knew I would bomb, all you heard in the room was the loud tapping of keys being pressed on the plastic keyboard.
I promise it will be quiet when you are a controller
It was the sound of TAP TAP TAP in unison. Go ahead, try it now: Press two keys on your number pad and then hit enter. That's all I heard. Now if this sound was all that was heard throughout the entire room no sooner than 10 minutes after I started the math section, either A) my fellow test takers are math geniuses and didn't need the alloted 26 minutes or B) Just like me, they guessed. Two fellow New Yorkers whom I spoked with during lunch admitted flat out guessing on the math.
Analogies were brutal too. They were all tough.
On the Air Traffic scenarios, I got the following abysmal scores: 70, 50, 50, 50. These are all out of a possible 100. The 7 second delay actually hurts you more than it helps. I became so used to Jeremy Justice's fluid version that I thought having more time to think would help. Instead, having the screen literally pause as you command one plane at a time is more difficult than having a 1 second refresh.
This is by far the dumbest thing I have ever heard
Another gripe about the ATC scenarios: The computer intentionally spawns new planes in front of other planes so you're forced to make adjustments which distract you from landing a plane properly or guiding it out.
that's the point! easily attribute my 6 or so crashes on this. In one instance, I had a plane heading west (<---F4D) with no traffic in site and a few refreshes away from a clear exit when suddenly, a handoff plane appears (--->M4A) and they collide.
Don't underestimate the fatigue factor. It seemed as if the letter factory section or ATC scenarios would never end. When those prompts come up telling you to take a break or go to lunch, you'll definitely need it. I was the last one to leave the test room. We began promptly at 8:30 and I was done at 2:30.
The test is still very fresh in my mind and I'm currently working on an FAQ to assist future ATSAT test takers. My initial impression is that contrary to popular belief, everything on this exam can definitely be studied for.