How to prepare for the CBAT

1. Start with your weaknesses

Try a range of practice tasks and pay attention to the areas where your accuracy drops or you take noticeably longer. Those areas should receive more of your preparation time.

2. Practise little and often

Consistent practice is usually more useful than an occasional marathon session. Short sessions make it easier to concentrate, review mistakes and return regularly.

3. Build accuracy before speed

When learning a new type of task, focus on understanding it and answering correctly. Once your method becomes reliable, gradually introduce tighter time limits.

4. Practise under timed conditions

Time pressure changes how people perform. Including timed practice helps you learn when to move on, how quickly you can work and where rushing begins to damage your accuracy.

5. Review mistakes properly

Do not simply note that an answer was wrong. Work out why. Was it a misunderstanding, a calculation error, poor concentration or an attempt to work too quickly?

6. Develop coordination with a flight simulator

A flight simulator can help you practise coordinating your hands and feet while responding to visual information. If possible, use a joystick and rudder pedals rather than relying only on a keyboard or controller.

Begin with simple tasks such as maintaining a steady heading, altitude or position. Once your control becomes smoother, combine joystick and pedal inputs and introduce a secondary task, such as monitoring an instrument or responding to prompts. Focus on small, controlled corrections instead of chasing perfect performance.

A home simulator will not reproduce the CBAT itself, but it can be a useful way to develop coordination, control and the ability to divide your attention.

7. Look after your concentration

Preparation is not only about questions. Sleep, breaks and practising when you are able to concentrate all affect the quality of your training.