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Auditory Capacity Test (ACT)
CBAT Auditory Capacity Test (ACT): What to Expect & How It Works
The CBAT Auditory Capacity Test (ACT) is a computer-based short-term memory and multi-tasking test used in RAF CBAT to assess how well candidates can process and act on auditory instructions while simultaneously managing other visual and motor tasks.
You will not find traditional practice tests here. This page serves a walkthrough explaining the structure and demands of the test.
Overview of the Test Format
This test typically runs for approximately 21 minutes (including instructions).
During this time you will:
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Control a visual task, such as keeping a cursor/ball on track with a joystick
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Follow aural instructions to adjust responses as directed
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Manage multiple tasks simultaneously, including memory elements such as number strings or sequence changes
The goal is to assess your ability to retain, prioritise and react to auditory information under pressure, not to measure your ability to practice or improve these skills in isolation.
What to Expect During the ACT
You will be instructed to:
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Control a moving object to stay within on-screen limits using a joystick
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Respond to coloured shapes or prompts that change as you play
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React to audio commands, which may include sequences of numbers, call signs with instructions, or changes in task rules
For example, you might hear an instruction to change a target number using the keyboard while steering a moving object and remembering the instruction for later recall.
Additional elements like background noise and cognitive challenges (e.g., “Simon says”-style call sign tasks) are eventually added to increase complexity as the test progresses.
Control Devices and Inputs
You’ll use:
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Joystick: To manage the primary visual tracking task
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Keyboard number pad: To input remembered numbers or make changes as instructed
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Headphones: Deliver aural instructions and cues
The joystick’s trigger will also be used as part of reaction tasks tied to the audio cues.
Clear Expectations
Unlike other tests where you can meaningfully improve by drilling specific skills, the ACT is designed to assess innate cognitive processing under pressure. Realistically, there is no structured preparation that will substantially change your score, because the test measures how your attention, memory, and task-switching operate in real time.
Common Candidate Notes
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The test typically gets harder as it progresses
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Instructions may include call signs where only certain cues should be followed
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You must juggle audio commands while maintaining control of a visual task
These walkthrough notes are intended to help you understand the nature of the tasks, not to serve as practice questions.
Summary
The Auditory Capacity Test is a component of RAF CBAT that assesses how well you can remember and execute auditory instructions while engaging in other simultaneous tasks. The test’s design and timing make it unsuitable for conventional practice content. This walkthrough exists to clarify what happens during the ACT, how it’s structured, and what is expected of candidates.