The CBAT is the RAF's set of Computer Based Aptitude Tests for aircrew and some officer roles. This guide explains where it fits in the application, what it tests and how to prepare.
What is the RAF CBAT?
The RAF describes the CBAT as a series of Computer Based Aptitude Tests held over one day at the Officer and Aircrew Selection Centre (OASC) at RAF College Cranwell in Lincolnshire.
The RAF lists it for aircrew roles such as Weapon Systems Operator and for some officer roles such as Intelligence Officer. The RAF Pilot role page lists it too. Always check the selection steps on the RAF page for your own role.
Where it fits in the application
On the RAF role pages for Weapon Systems Operator and Intelligence Officer, the first step is a six-part aptitude test whose sections match the Defence Aptitude Assessment. The CBAT at Cranwell comes next. Later steps include health and fitness checks, then a second visit to OASC for the main selection day, which ends with an interview.
The exact steps differ from role to role, so read the page for the role you are applying for.
What the CBAT tests
According to the RAF, the tests include:
- how well you respond physically to visual information
- your ability to interpret information in two dimensions and work out a three-dimensional solution
- your ability to complete several tasks at the same time
- deductive reasoning, spatial reasoning, work rate and concentration
- verbal and numerical reasoning
Question types candidates prepare for
The RAF does not publish the individual tests. These are the question types candidates most often prepare for:
| Question type | What you do |
|---|---|
| Instrument comprehension | Read an attitude indicator and a heading indicator together, then pick the aircraft picture that matches them |
| Angles, bearings and degrees | Estimate angles by eye and work out bearings quickly |
| Spatial visualisation | Picture how a flat shape folds into a 3D object and where its markings end up |
| Speed maths | Speed, distance and time, fuel, percentages and conversions, worked out quickly without a calculator |
| Multi-tasking | Keep track of several tasks at once, for example sums, moving objects and memory questions on one screen |
Candidates report that different roles use different combinations of the test scores, each with its own required standard. The RAF does not publish these standards.
How to prepare for the CBAT
- Use a fixed checking order for instruments. Check the pitch, then the bank, then the heading, every time. A fixed order stops you second-guessing under pressure.
- Learn reference angles. If you can picture 30, 45, 60 and 90 degrees without thinking, every angle estimate becomes quicker.
- Train spatial skills step by step. Start slowly on paper, then speed up once you can track one face at a time.
- Make your mental maths automatic. Speed, distance and time and percentage questions should take seconds, not minutes.
- Practise multi-tasking on purpose. It is a skill that improves with practice, especially when the practice is timed.
- Practise under the clock. Timed mocks show you when to move on and how to keep your accuracy through a long day of tests.
Frequently asked questions
Where do you sit the CBAT?
The RAF says it is held over one day at the Officer and Aircrew Selection Centre at RAF College Cranwell in Lincolnshire.
Is the CBAT the same as the DAA?
No. The DAA is a six-part aptitude test you take earlier, online or at an Armed Forces Careers Office. The CBAT is a separate day of computer tests at Cranwell for the roles that need it. See my DAA guide.
Can you prepare for the CBAT?
Yes. The common question types are well known from candidate reports. Speed and accuracy both improve with structured, timed practice.
Do I need the CBAT for my role?
Check the selection steps on the RAF page for your role. The CBAT is listed for roles such as Weapon Systems Operator and Intelligence Officer.