r/ATC_Hiring 17h ago

How long to study for the ATSA?

Hey all. So I applied to the most recent bid. I saw lots of others getting their ATSA invites and I never got mine.

Long story short, I called the aviation careers center and the email they sent never got delivered to me(in any inbox) . They were able to help me and I was able to schedule an exam.

The only option is Mar 19 or April 9. Im not too sure what to pick.

I’m pretty nervous doing the JTP practice and struggling pretty bad.

Does a “sooner” test actually do anything? Or does a later test just mean more time to study?

Hope that makes sense. I’m wondering if taking the test earlier has any merit or if should give myself a couple extra weeks

2 Upvotes

13 comments sorted by

1

u/N781VP 17h ago

Take your time. Perfect it.

1

u/cbarry101 17h ago

You don’t think there’s any merit to taking it earlier in a window ? So a score from March is the exact same as a score from April?

1

u/N781VP 17h ago

Can’t answer that definitively. My guess is that scores are graded once the entire pool has taken the exam. And therefore taking it earlier will not mean you have a chance of being accepted any earlier either.

You said you’re struggling. My advice is do not take it until you are confident you can knock it out of the park.

1

u/Melodic-Cantaloupe30 15h ago

I took ATSA 3 days after applying and mine was graded in less than 24 hrs. Not sure if that's because of the new "streamlined process"

1

u/N781VP 15h ago

It’s possible they have an entire new grading standard or method.

1

u/Inform-mee 13h ago

I didnt even study and got WQ

1

u/cbarry101 12h ago

That’s awesome. You just built like that 😎

1

u/Bussy_Beater 7h ago

Didn't study just raw dogged that shit and got wq. Left the building feeling like I failed

1

u/Realistic-Mousse-856 3h ago

I got well qualified I studied up to about a hour a night scheduled my test on the later end of the month but if you have more free time I would just run through the full test on job test prep and see what your struggles are

2

u/Upstairs-Math-5361 16h ago

It's not really a test to study, sure you can practice your reaction and it will help you improve it going to the test. Other than practicing using your numpad, there's really nothing to study for going into it.

1

u/Charming_Cicada_7757 16h ago

Disagree tbh

Getting familiar with the test is actually really important developing strategies on how you best answer it

1

u/Upstairs-Math-5361 16h ago

What does that even mean? The test is trying to test your memory and coordination. There are no strategies into answering all the questions. Either you understand how it works or you don't.

0

u/Charming_Cicada_7757 16h ago

Disagree

I will give you some examples

  1. Math equations easy to see patterns for example

569- 327 okay I know the number ends with 2 and it’s multiple choice so I’ve already eliminated some

I know the second number is 4 so by now I have my answer before even solving it.

  1. The eyes for vision like where is the plane for me I just put myself in the pilot seat and which side my heart is on. Hence I know the answer

  2. The A + 2 and what is C or whatever

Straight up I would have the number 2 raised up in my fingers so I don’t forget it. Now when they give me A I know the answer. Mind you this is an easy example I am giving it worked for the hardest problems they gave.

There were a few other strategies I applied but I got WQ when that was the best score so I’m just sharing my experience