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Airborne Numerical Test
CBAT Airborne Numerical Test (ANT): What to Expect & How to Prepare
The CBAT Airborne Numerical Test (ANT) assesses your ability to make fast, accurate numerical estimates under time pressure — similar to the demands faced in an airborne environment.
This page explains how the ANT works, the types of calculations you’ll face, what candidates typically struggle with, and includes realistic practice questions to help you prepare effectively.
What the Airborne Numerical Test Assesses
ANT is designed to assess how well you can estimate numerical answers quickly while processing information visually without calculators or written working.
Candidates are rewarded for sensible approximations made under time pressure, not perfect arithmetic. Upon taking the test you will quickly gather that the distances within the ANT mean that calculations produce round answers. Furthermore, you'll be advised during the start of the test that there is a small margin of error for calculations.
Airborne Numerical Test Format & Conditions
The ANT is predominantly a test of your ability to mentally calculate Speed/Distance/Time based on a graph with locations and distances.
You will have 1 minute per question to input your answer using the keypad provided, whereby you will not have the ability to use the backspace, therefore you must be accurate. All answers should be rounded down in 0.49 or less and rounded up if 0.5 or higher.
For each question you will be provided with a graph similar to the one shown below (left) which contains a graph showing locations and distances, alongside the Journey details, Time details and Package details.
You will also be able to view the Speed and Parcel Weight graph similar to the graph shown below (right). This allows you to extract the Speed by using the the Package Weight (found in the Package section of the locations and distances table).
Types of Questions in the CBAT ANT
You will be given 4 increasingly complex scenarios within this test.
1st Scenario: Calculate the correct arrival time using the provided Time Now (similar to the graph above).
2nd Scenario: Calculate the time of departure based on a provided Arrival time.
3rd Scenario: An additional vehicle is added to the scenario. Calculate which vehicle will reach their destination the quickest
4th Scenario: Alongside the additional vehicle, account for bad weather slowing down a specific route by a certain %
(Within these scenarios, you will also be asked a few times to use another graph for Speed and Fuel Consumption. Based on the speed in question, you must work out the fuel consumption rate.)
Airborne Numerical Test Practice Question Walkthrough
(The real test will show graphs very similar to the format above)
Let's use the graph above to tackle a Scenario 1 type question to determine the correct Arrival Time, based on a Time Now of 02:47.
Let's firstly work out the Total Distance. We're provided with Journey details which state that our journey is as follows: Echo -> Bravo -> Charlie. This allows us to extract the seperate distance elements from the graph:
Echo - Bravo = 217 miles
Bravo - Charlie = 96 miles
Total = 217 + 96 = 313 miles (Distance)
Next, we can work out the speed by using the provided Package Weight of 700 Kg to derive the Miles per Minute from the Speed and Parcel Weight graph on the right.
The graph states that 700 Kg = 3 Miles per Minute (Speed)
Now that we have Distance and Speed, we can calculate the Time it takes to arrive at the destination
(Time = Distance / Speed)
Time = 313 / 3
Time = 104.33 minutes
Time (Rounded down as per test conditions) = 104 minutes
Converted to hours, Time = 1 hour 44 minutes
Based on the question's Time Now of 02:47 and the Journey Time of 1 hour 44 minutes:
Arrival Time = 04:31
What Candidates Highlight After Taking CBAT
Based on feedback from candidates who passed CBAT, the most common challenges in ANT are:
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Not brushing up on mental maths and SDT calculations beforehand (D/S=T specifically)
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Not reading questions correctly - Although distances are provided in the graphs, some questions can state that there are a smaller number of miles left in the journey than is shown on the graph
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Overanalysing interpretive weather statements that advise "travel is slowed". This is to be disregarded as only the figures in question are to be considered
Airborne Numerical Test FAQs
How do I prepare for ANT? ANT is one of the easiest CBAT tests to prepare for. The best way to prepare consists of training quick mental maths, as well as practicing basic SDT style questions. For a more specialised level of practice, CBAT Ready should be used to acclimatise to the question styles.
Can pen and paper be used to help with calculations in ANT? ANT (and all other tests) rely solely on your mental maths.
Will the questions in the real CBAT differ from the difficulty found within CBAT Ready? The numbers within CBAT Ready are more difficult to calculate so that you work at a higher work rate. All users report that the real ANT is refreshingly easier as a result.
Does the ANT require as many questions to be answered as possible within the overall time limit? No, you'll be given a set amount of questions within the ANT.
Practicing ANT Effectively
The Airborne Numerical Test is not a traditional maths test. Performance in ANT is driven by speed of interpretation, estimation under pressure, and familiarity with the format.
Why timed exposure matters
In ANT, candidates are required to process visual information, interpret a task, and produce a numerical estimate within tight time constraints. Even strong mental arithmetic skills can break down if time pressure is unfamiliar.
Practising under timed conditions trains you to:
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Make faster judgement calls
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Avoid spending too long refining answers
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Develop an instinct for when an estimate is “good enough”
Candidates who struggle in ANT often report that they knew how to calculate the answer, but ran out of time due to hesitation or over-thinking.
Why estimation improves with repetition
ANT rewards sensible estimation rather than exact arithmetic. This skill improves rapidly through repetition.
By repeatedly working through time, speed, distance, and fuel-based scenarios, candidates begin to:
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Recognise common numerical patterns
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Apply rounding instinctively
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Reduce the cognitive load of each question
Over time, this allows more mental capacity to be spent on decision-making, rather than calculation mechanics.
Why familiarity with the test format reduces stress
Many ANT errors occur before the calculation even begins — during interpretation of the scenario.
Repeated exposure to ANT-style layouts and task wording helps candidates:
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Identify relevant information more quickly
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Ignore unnecessary detail
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Start calculations immediately instead of pausing to “decode” the question
This familiarity significantly reduces stress on test day and improves consistency across questions.
Practising with CBAT Ready
CBAT Ready includes timed ANT-style practice, realistic visual scenarios, and score tracking designed to mirror the pressure and structure of the real test.
This allows candidates to:
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Practise estimation under realistic time constraints
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Build speed without sacrificing judgement
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Track improvement across multiple attempts
For most candidates, structured practice is the difference between knowing how to answer ANT questions and being able to perform reliably under test conditions.
