ATCO.D.065 Demonstration of theoretical knowledge and understanding

METHODS OF EXAMINATION

(a)Oral examinations and/or written/computer-based examinations should be used to demonstrate the controller’s knowledge and understanding.

(1)Oral examinations The oral examination is used to test the understanding of applicable techniques and the rules governing them, particularly of unit and national air traffic control procedures. Scenario-type questioning allows examiners to gather additional evidence of how an applicant would react in circumstances that are not observable, but are nevertheless considered important to the overall operation at that ATC unit. Oral examinations will give a clear indication that the persons undertaking training know not only what they should be doing, but why they should be doing it. The oral examination requires considerable skills and it should be undertaken in a way to ensure consistency among individual examiners.

(2)Written examinations The written examination is used to test theoretical knowledge and to a lesser degree the understanding of applicable techniques and the rules governing them, particularly of unit and national air traffic control procedures. It is easier to administer and to ensure the consistency of written examinations particularly when using multiple-choice questioning. Although multiple-choice questioning can test knowledge, it is not appropriate for determining what a controller would do in a particular operational situation. Written examinations can also be computer-based.

(b)The most comprehensive method of testing the understanding of the person undertaking training, contrary to their possession of pure knowledge, would be a combination of written examinations that assess the knowledge of unit and national procedures, together with a separate oral examination which tests the understanding and reactions to operational situations.