Recruit Test

Hello Once Again

So you've made a short leap and decided to apply for the RFA! One step that personnel across the naval service have in common, whether officer or rating and regular or reserve is the Recruit Test.
If i'm being honest this is the type of test that with some practice and a cool head, you can achieve a good score and hopefully enough for your preferred trade/branch.
Formally known as the Naval Service Recruit Test (NSRT), its sole purpose is to assess you and your baseline suitability to join the naval service. Hosted at your local Armed Forces Career Office (AFCO) it is completed on paper and supervised by a senior commissioned rank such as a petty officer who aren't as scary as you would imagine.. unless you arrive late which will obviously upset them, as one of my fellow test sitters found out quite quickly.
The NSRT is split into four sections:

• Reasoning
• Verbal Ability
• Numerical Reasoning
• Mechanical Comprehension

All four as you can probably tell by the titles examine your abilities uniquely. As we are all different we will all have our own strengths and therefor weaknesses, however this assessment will in theory enable you to demonstrate these in black and white. For example I excelled at numerical reasoning but was only average on my mechanical comprehension... such is life!

The Royal Navy website (www.royalnavy.mod.uk/careers/) does offer some practise examples of the above, I would recommend everyone to have a crack at these prior to their NRST at least three times. This is to ensure you get to grasps with the wording and styling of the questions in addition to the time constraints that are applied! If like I did you use the power of the almighty Google to help you, then be careful! Many websites etc will lure you in with promises of enhanced NRST scores for a chunk of cash, in my opinion these aren't necessary. The NRST questions can be revised for simply by, reading a bit more and running through basic maths (adding, subtracting, times tables and division) on a scrap of paper for ten minutes each day. If you really get stuck then I would advise to speak to friends and relatives who can give you a nudge in the right directions, or pop onto BBC Bitesize (www.bbc.com/bitesize) who offer varied levels of questions that can be used on phones, IPads and any other platform. The main thing is ...DON'T WORRY.

Once you have sat your NRST an officer or senior NCO will discuss your results, all being spot on they will discuss the next step (well done). If you haven't quite met the grade then be assured you will get a full debrief at the AFCO on the day, and if willing the staff will discuss your options with you and take the time to discuss other trades/branches. I have met people who did a resit after a period of time, and also met others who just chose a completely new trade after all it is your career so take some ownership of it. Regardless of the outcome you have shown you want a career by making that small first step, so if you fall off the horse then I would encourage you to get back on!

To close this entry I would offer the following advice for those about to sit their NSRT:

• Sit the practise questions on the Royal Navy website.
• Do not over revise and mentally panic, just do a little bit of revision each day on your weaker spots.
• Stay hydrated on the day (down some water the night before the test).
• Eat well (think.. brain foods).
• Arrive on time and in accordance with any issued instructions.
• Be confident in yourself.
• Lastly is to try and enjoy it as much as you can!

As always feel free to pop me any questions !

Yorks2018