Psychometric tests for pilots: the BQ series
Another set of exercises: cube comparison and cube nets (spatial awareness), matrices and figure series (logical reasoning) and word problems. Practice exercises, included with the ATPL subscription, to get you used to this kind of test. They are not official tests: they do not reproduce the test of any school or airline, and they measure neither your medical fitness nor your level as a pilot. They call for concentration and quick movements; you do them with a mouse, a finger or the keyboard, not with a screen reader.
Choose a test: BQ series
Cube comparison
A reference cube and six cubes to choose from: which one is the same cube, rotated? Each face carries a coloured arrow. Spatial awareness.
20 questions in 15 minutes, from the easiest to the hardest, with optional corrections. Mouse or keyboard.
Take the cube comparison testCube net
A cube unfolded into six squares: which of the cubes shown do you get by folding it up? Spatial awareness.
20 questions in 15 minutes, from the easiest to the hardest, with optional corrections. Mouse or keyboard.
Take the cube net testMatrices
A grid of 3 x 3 figures with the last one missing: find, among eight, the one that follows every rule. Logical reasoning.
20 matrices in 25 minutes, getting steadily harder, with optional corrections. Mouse or keyboard.
Take the matrices testWord problems
Aviation and everyday problems with four possible answers: speeds, times, angles, proportions, headings and wind. Calculation and reasoning.
20 problems in 20 minutes, from the easiest to the hardest, with optional corrections. Mouse or keyboard.
Take the word problems testFigure series
Six images in a row: one or more tokens each turn around the four corners and switch between filled and hollow, at their own pace. Work out the rule, pick the next image among four.
20 series in 20 minutes, from the easiest to the hardest, with optional corrections. Mouse or keyboard.
Take the figure series test
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What is in the BQ series?
The BQ series brings together five exercises: cube comparison, cube nets, matrices, figure series and word problems. The first four train visual reasoning, in space or through logical rules; the last trains calculation applied to aviation and everyday situations.
Each exercise is a set of 20 questions, from the easiest to the hardest, to be done in 15 to 25 minutes depending on the exercise. The timer is optional and the corrections are up to you: you can start by understanding each rule, then time yourself.
How to approach each exercise
Cube comparison: start from an anchor face
A reference cube shows three faces and six cubes are offered: only one can be the same cube, rotated in space and never mirrored, and sometimes none fits. Pick a face that is easy to recognise, look for it on each cube, then check that a second, neighbouring face is in the right place, arrow included.
Cube nets: fold one face at a time
A net is a cube unfolded into six squares, each carrying a coloured arrow. Fold it in your head one face at a time, starting from a square taken as the base and keeping the arrows on the outside, and rule out the cubes that show two opposite faces of the net side by side.
Matrices: break the grid into rules
Break the grid into simple rules (rotation, movement, fill, number of sides), check each one against every visible cell, then picture the missing cell before you look at the eight options: only one follows every rule.
The guide: Raven-style matrices: finding the rules in a grid
Word problems: units first
Each problem has four possible answers. Note what is asked and in which unit (speeds, times, angles, proportions, headings and wind), write the formula before calculating, then check that the result is plausible: the wrong answers rely on classic mistakes, such as reading 4.5 hours as 4 h 50 instead of 4 h 30.
The guide: Aviation word problems: speed, time and fuel
Figure series: isolate one token at a time
Follow a single token with your eyes across the six images before dealing with the others: note its starting corner, the direction and the number of corners it moves at each image, then whether it stays filled or switches, and how often. Once each token is understood on its own, the seventh image follows without hesitation.
A three-session practice plan
- Session 1: one exercise at a time, with the corrections on. Do not aim for a score: aim to understand the rule and to see why an answer is wrong.
- Session 2: mix the exercises of the series and switch on the timer, without looking at the corrections during the set. Go over your mistakes at the end.
- Session 3: open “My statistics”, find the exercise where you lose the most points and repeat it in short sets, changing method if your trend stalls.
A few well-concentrated sets are worth more than many sets done while tired.
The guide: Psychometric tests for pilots: where do you start?
Our guides to help you succeed
What the BQ series is not
The exercises of the BQ series are practice exercises, not official tests: they do not reproduce the test of any school or airline, and they measure neither your medical fitness nor your level as a pilot. A good score in practice does not predict the outcome of a selection.
ForAllPilots is not affiliated with any test publisher or any organisation. The exact rules and scoring of a selection test may differ from those of these exercises.
Frequently asked questions
How long does each exercise of the BQ series take?
Each exercise has 20 questions or series: 15 minutes for cube comparison and for cube nets, 25 minutes for the matrices, 20 minutes for the figure series and for the word problems. The timer is optional.
What if none of the cubes fits?
In cube comparison as in cube nets, it sometimes happens that none of the cubes fits: “none” is then the right answer. Still check every cube against the faces of the reference before you conclude.
Does a skipped matrix count as wrong?
Yes: a skipped matrix counts as a wrong answer, with no extra point taken off. It is better to tick the most plausible figure than to skip.
Which device should I use?
The five exercises of the series are done with a mouse or the keyboard. They are not designed for use with a screen reader.
How do I get access to the BQ exercises?
The pages of this section are public, but starting an exercise needs an account with an active ATPL subscription: the psychometric tests are included with it, alongside the question banks. A BIA or PPL subscription does not give access. Your history and statistics stay on your device.
The other sets of exercises
Each series has its own page, with its exercises, its practice tips and its guides.
- Air France - ENAC (FR)
13 exercises, in French only.
- CUT E / AON
A third set of exercises: deductive reasoning, matrices, the multitask landing, directions (spatial transformation), position around a beacon (GYRO / RBI) and coordination with the tunnel.
- COMPASS
A fourth set of exercises: flying a primary flight display, orientation from the instruments and short-term memory.
- DLR
A fifth set of exercises: cube folding, the triangles, data processing, trajectory prediction, the rotating maze, the corridors, timed calculation, 2D and 3D spatial orientation, the two vigilance tests and information perception and processing (spatial awareness, rule-based lookup, anticipating a hidden movement, staying oriented despite a rotated picture, visual and auditory memory, calculation under a time limit, vigilance and divided attention), and VLR - Spatial Orientation and the figure series, two exercises from other series also offered here.
Going further
You can also prepare the theory with the question banks for the BIA (FR), the PPL (FR) and the ATPL (FR), or practise for interviews with Selection Coaching. Free tools, with no account needed, are also available in the Pilot Corner.
The psychometric tests are included with the ATPL subscription: the plans are set out on the Pricing page. To put your plans in context, the airline guide presents the fleet, hub and recruitment routes of each airline.