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The text below provides information applicable to those applying to jobs, internships, and graduate programs at British Airways in the UK.
Our website provides scientifically validated practice game-based assessments, assessments tests, interviews and assessment centre exercises that can be used to practice and prepare for the recruitment and assessment process.
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Not sure if you should practice to prepare for the British Airways hiring process? According to research, 60-80% of candidates are rejected based on their aptitude tests results. It is proven that practice increases your chances of getting hired.
A recent study (Bradley et al, 2019) found that candidates who do not practise assessments, tend to fail at the first hurdle of psychometric assessments (54%-84%). This study looked at the Top 100 global employers.
In a nutshell:
The British Airways assessment process consists of the following online assessments, which will depend on the job function and role you have applied for:
The only proven way to get to the next round is practice. 50-80% candidates get rejected at this BA online assessment stage.
Prepare for an online video interview by running mock interviews answering typical engineering interview questions. For British Airways interview practice, use:
Use the STAR+R method for your answers and practice each answer several times.
Our video interview practice platform provides a collection of ready-to-use questions that test your skills and knowledge in aviation industries. It mimics the format used by popular employer interview platforms like HireVue, Pymetrics, and Sonru.
4. Prepare for the British Airways Assessment Day Exercises
BA uses a competitive set of exercises during the virtual or in-person assessment centre across the various job functions which may include:
Hone your written and spoken communication techniques. Research online, prepare and practice presentation of as many business case studies as possible for this stage of your British Airways recruitment process.
For your final interview, use our video interview platform and record yourself answering the engineering questions using the STAR+R technique.
Through this text, we are aiming to answer these most critical questions:
Looking into assessments with British Airways, in the table below are the most relevant assessment tests that you may face during your British Airways hiring process.
Go Premium to access all the assessments listed above and ace your British Airways assessment tests, first time.
Before we dive into the details, we’ll first give you a little overview of who BA are and what they do.
British Airways (BA) is a global airline and the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, headquartered in Harmondsworth. The main hub of BA is Heathrow Airport, with further hubs in Gatwick Airport and Billund Airport. BA attracts thousands of job applications each year from various backgrounds.
There are around 34,000 employees at British Airways currently and according to some sources, they receive around 25,000 job applications for around 2000 job roles.
Want to know what job roles these applicants apply to? Below is a non-exhaustive list of the different job functions at BA that you can apply for right now.
These are just a few examples of the job roles available at BA. To apply to any of these, you must be familiar with the British Airways values.
The core values of British Airways are:
Caring:
British Airways believes their customers and colleagues to be at the heart of everything they do, and thus they listen, do the right thing, and create moments that show care.
Creative:
British Airways requires courageous people who are not afraid to try new things, and are inventive and resourceful. They require people who are willing to challenge boundaries and themselves.
Safe & Secure:
British Airways, being the experts in global aviation, strives to provide safe and secure experiences for their customers.
Excellence:
BA strives for excellence in everything they do. They require people who are curious, innovative, and brave, continuously evolving BA’s service and tailoring it to their customers’ needs.
Open-Minded:
The British story is one of endless innovation and transformation and BA channels that spirit. BA needs people who embrace change and are inclusive, forward-thinking, and diverse.
Familiarising yourself with BA’s core values is essential for acing the BA hiring process. Let’s check out the first step; the British Airways application process.
The British Airways online application will require you to fill in your basic details, such as personal details, contact information, work permit, etc. At this very stage, you will also be required to upload your resume and answer some application questions.
The BA application process is almost the same for the crew member roles, on-the-ground support roles, and pilot roles. However, the motivational questions will depend upon the role you are applying to.
Good To Know: Depending on the job role, the questions and the word limit to answer them during your British Airways application process may vary. E.g. The online application word limit for an engineering role might be 1,500 words, whereas a pilot role limit may be 10,000 words.
Some examples of the motivational questions previously asked in the British Airways online application are:
British Airways questions for On-the-Ground Support:
British Airways questions for Pilot Roles:
Below is a snapshot of the British Airways application form.
BA Application Form
Source: British Airways Careers Website
Don’t miss our expert tips to help you ace your British Airways application stage of the process below.
Want more tips on how to prepare for the British Airways application form? Watch this short video to get expert tips on how to prepare and answer the British Airways questions:
If your application gets shortlisted, you will be required to sit for the BA online assessment tests. Read on to find out what it contains.
The British Airways online assessment tests are designed to assess you based on your cognitive skills, personality traits, and technical knowledge, depending on the job role you are applying to. The BA online assessment tests you may be required to take during this stage are:
Good to Know: The British Airways numerical test and the British Airways situational judgement test are often combined as the British Airways General Ability Test. These two assessments form a part of assessment for both cabin crew roles as well as on-the-ground support roles.
Let’s now delve into the details of all these British Airways assessment tests.
The British Airways numerical reasoning test will assess you based on your numerical reasoning skills and requires you to answer many questions relating to speed, time, distance, altitude, and ask you to interpret graphical and numerical data. This assessment is generally provided by SHL.
The British Airways numerical reasoning test will require you to answer around 24 questions under 36 minutes.
To gain more information about your upcoming BA numerical test watch the following short video:
Want to practice BA-style numerical reasoning tests? Take GF’s FREE practice numerical tests developed by former SHL experts or develop your understanding of BA numerical tests with our free question below:
British Airways-style Numerical Reasoning Question Example
Got it right? Check the bottom of the page for the correct British Airways online assessment answer!
To help you pass this BA test, we have listed the following easy tips and tricks.
Want to practice more ahead of the British Airways numerical reasoning test?
Next, let’s discuss another key British Airways assessment, i.e., the British Airways situational judgement test.
The British Airways situational judgement test, designed by SHL, assesses the behaviours of cabin crew and on-the-ground support applicants. During this, you will be presented with different scenarios with some courses of action. You will be asked to choose the most suitable course of action.
Watch the following video to learn more about this British Airways test:
The BA situational judgement test measures qualities such as decision-making, customer service orientation, communication skills, problem-solving abilities, etc. Here, you are required to answer 15 questions in 20 minutes.
To help you give the best British Airways cabin crew online assessment answers and demonstrate required skills, we have put together a few expert tips below..
Want to practice BA-style situational judgement questions?
If you are applying for the roles of cabin crew specifically, you will be required to take another game-based assessment, known as the British Airways Capacity test.
Read on to find out more about this BA assessment test.
The British Airways Fly Capacity test is designed to assess the applicants for the pilot roles and consists of game-like tasks. This BA assessment evaluates various pilot aptitudes, ranging from short-term memory, visual and aural attention, and situational awareness to cognitive abilities, multi-tasking, and stress tolerance.
Some basic steps that you can use before taking this BA capacity test to prepare yourself better are as follows:
Another key assessment you may be required to take during the BA online assessments stage is the British Airways technical assessment.
The British Airways technical assessment is for the applicants who are applying for the on-the-ground support roles as well as for pilot roles if required. This test will be an MCQ-based online assessment which will assess you based on your technical knowledge.
Wondering how to prepare for this BA online test? Read on to find expert tips and tricks to pass the BA technical assessment.
While solving these questions, speed is very important during this assessment. Watch our following video to discover our top tips to improve your speed:
Once you complete all the BA online assessments stage and ace it, depending on the job role, you will be asked to appear for the BA video interview.
The British Airways video interview is a pre-recorded interview where you will be asked to record your responses while answering those pre-recorded questions. Each answer should not exceed 3 minutes and you are allowed to record your answer twice.
Watch our short video below to understand more about video interviews and the overall British Airways interview process:
Good to Know: The BA video interview consists of behavioural questions which may differ depending upon the job role you have applied to. E.g., the British Airways pilot interview questions are different from the British Airways cabin crew interview questions.
To help you prepare for the British Airways pilot video interview as well as the British Airways cabin crew interview, we have put together a list of expert tips and tricks below:
Now that you know all about the British Airways video interview, let’s see some examples of previously asked British Airways video interview questions:
Some questions that may be asked during the BA pilot video interview are:
Here are some examples of previously asked BA cabin crew interview questions:
Now, let’s dive into some of the above British Airways interview questions and answers.
Good Answer:
Handling stress and maintaining focus during long-haul flights is essential for ensuring safety and efficiency. I prioritise preparation by reviewing all flight plans and conducting thorough checks in advance. During the flight, I practice good time management by breaking down tasks into manageable segments and using checklists to stay organised.
To cope with stress, I incorporate short breaks to stretch and stay physically active, which helps clear my mind. This not only helps me maintain focus but also allows me to respond effectively to any unexpected issues that may arise.
Finally, I make sure to communicate regularly with my team, fostering a collaborative environment that helps reduce stress and keeps everyone aligned throughout the flight.
I want to be a cabin attendant because I am passionate about providing exceptional customer service and creating memorable experiences for passengers. The opportunity to work in a dynamic environment, meet diverse people from all over the world, and contribute to their journeys excites me.
I enjoy the challenges that come with the role, from ensuring safety and comfort to handling unexpected situations with professionalism and calm. British Airways has a strong reputation for excellence, and I would be proud to be part of a team that prioritises quality service and passenger satisfaction.
Ultimately, I believe this role aligns perfectly with my skills and values, and I am eager to bring my enthusiasm and dedication to your team.
Want to practice more such British Airways video interview questions? Practice with our video interview tool to get first-hand feedback that will help you master your body language when answering British Airways assessment questions.
After submitting your recorded video answers, British Airways’ recruiting team will assess them. You will receive feedback and notification of your success after this review process.
The final stage of the BA hiring process is the British Airways assessment centre. Read on to find out more about this stage of your assessment process.
The British Airways assessment centre comprises a set of exercises that help them evaluate you based on your behaviours in a typical work environment. Depending upon the job role, i.e., pilot, on-the-ground support, or cabin crew; you will be required to sit for any of the following BA assessment centre exercises:
Let’s discuss each of these BA assessment day exercises in detail below.
The British Airways group exercise generally becomes a part of the British Airways cabin crew assessment process as well as the British Airways on-the-ground support assessment process. The purpose of this exercise is to evaluate you based on your behaviours when working with a team.
The British Airways group exercise will divide all the candidates into separate groups and give each group a task related to the job profile. You will have to manage the task as a group and solve the problem proposed.
Here are some tailored tips, which if followed, will help you ace the group exercises for both cabin crew roles, as well as the on-the-ground support roles.
Check out our video below to learn more about what to expect in your British Airways group assessment!
Another key assessment centre exercise for your British Airways cabin crew recruitment process is the British Airways role-play exercise.
The British Airways role-play exercise involves candidates participating in a simulated scenario where they will be acting as per the job profile they have applied to and handling hired actors or members from the hiring team acting as customers, team members, or other senior managers.
The British Airways role-play exercise measures your communication, problem solving and decision-making skills. They may also assess your non-verbal communication skills such as body language.
Below we have provided a few tips and tricks to help you ace this British Airways cabin crew assessment.
Want to practice for the exercises on the British Airways assessment day?
If you are applying for the role of a pilot, you will also be required to take a flying test during your BA recruitment process, i.e., the British Airways Flying Simulator.
The British Airways Flying Simulator assessment or BA Eagle tests are used for those applying for pilot roles. This BA assessment will put you through a flight simulator, which is currently the A380, and assess your performance through this.
In the BA Eagle test or BA pilot flying assessment, assessors will test your knowledge of the cockpit and controls. You will be acting as the Pilot Flying (PF) for 45 minutes and Pilot Not Flying (PNF) for another 45 minutes. It is important that you take up the role of both PF and PNF seriously.
Let’s see some simple yet useful tips to help you ace the British Airways pilot assessment:
Next, let’s take a look at the last stage of your British Airways recruitment process, i.e., the British Airways final interview.
The British Airways final interview will be a blend of technical and competency-based questions. You will be sitting with two or three of your senior managers. They can also give you certain technical questions related to your field to solve in front of them.
The interview usually lasts for 45-60 minutes. This British Airways interview can consist of various tests of your knowledge in the field you have applied to. They will also ask you questions related to your resume.
Practice answering questions like these to get the hang of your BA interview. Keep reading to discover our top tips to ace your final British Airways interview.
During this last stage of the British Airways interview process, you will have the important opportunity to ask your interviewers a few questions relating to the job and expectations. To ensure you demonstrate your motivation and interest, you may ask some of the following questions:
Once you’ve completed and impressed in your BA recruitment process, you will receive a response regarding the outcome of your application shortly after the British Airways assessment day.
Best of luck!
Wait! Are you a student or a recent graduate trying your luck in the aviation industry? Then you’ll be happy to know that BA offers various opportunities for students and graduates such as yourself.
Let us discuss some of these ways through which you can kickstart your career with BA.
British Airways offers great ways for students to kick-start their careers with one of the leading airlines in the United Kingdom. British Airways offers the following opportunities through which you can enter one of the leading airlines, and learn, develop, and implement your skills.
Here is a non-exhaustive list of the important early career opportunities offered by BA re:
The British Airways graduate schemes or BA graduate programmes are 3-year learning programmes structured in a way to align with BA’s internships and 11-month BA business placements. These British Airways graduate programmes allow you to work on important projects and develop your decision-making skills while working on them.
Towards the end of the BA graduate scheme, you will be given a placement where you’ll earn while you learn.
Here are the areas in which you can apply to the BA graduate schemes:
Next, let’s move on to the British Airways graduate recruitment process and take a look at the British Airways graduate assessments below.
The British Airways graduate scheme application process takes place in 5 stages. These stages of the British Airways graduate assessment tests are as follows:
Now that you are well aware of the British Airways graduate scheme assessment, let’s discuss another important British Airways early career opportunity, i.e., the British Airways apprenticeships.
The BA apprenticeships are a great way to head start your career with the leading airlines. You will be gaining insights into how the actual work goes on at BA. These programmes allow you to be an integral part of different teams with different departments and contribute to the work.
You can apply to the following areas for BA apprenticeships:
So, these were all the areas, applying to which, will give your career a head start in British Airways. Now, let us take a look at the assessment process for the BA apprenticeship programmes.
The assessment process for the BA Apprenticeship Programmes is divided into 3 stages comprising various tests. These three stages are:
Good to know: The BA Apprenticeship virtual assessment centre will require you to complete various exercises such as a group exercise, work-related exercise, and British Airways interviews.
Continue your search for success for your British Airways recruitment process with our BA FAQs below where we cover the top BA application questions!
The British Airways cabin crew earn around 17k-28k Euros per year, including the base salary and additional pay. The basic pay is around 20k Euros.
The British Airways General Ability Test is a combination of British Airways numerical test and situational judgement test. This assessment forms a part of assessment for both British Airways cabin crew recruitment process as well as on-the-ground support.
The training required for British Airways varies by experience level and area. The BA cabin crew goes on for 4-6 weeks, whilst the BA pilots require 18 months’ flight training with an additional 3 months of type rating and line training.
Cabin crew applicants will receive an email update on their results 5 to 7 days after the assessment. If successful, applicants will be given 7 days to provide the requested additional information for the personal history check and to complete the psychoactive substance test up to 4 weeks before the start date.
BA has a set uniform policy which has a high level of standard when it comes to the appearance of the employees. BA employees cannot have tattoos that are visible while wearing their uniform. Tattoos must not be on a candidate’s arms, hands, head, or face.
Do you want to pass your British Airways assessment tests, first time? Sign up for tools offered by GF, the only aptitude practice test experts that provide tests to over 150 UK universities and their students, and also across Asia and continental Europe. Go to GF now and select from the range of products we offer at no risk. We offer a comprehensive premium package with a full set of assessment tools for job candidates (numerical, verbal reasoning, situational judgment tests, assessment centre exercises and more). Buy with peace of mind without commitment to a full 100% money back guarantee.* Correct answer to Numerical reasoning test question: C
Do you want to pass your British Airways assessment tests, first time? Sign up for tools offered by GF, the only aptitude practice test experts that provide tests to over 150 UK universities and their students, and also across Asia and continental Europe.
Go to GF now and select from the range of products we offer at no risk. We offer a comprehensive premium package with a full set of assessment tools for job candidates (numerical, verbal reasoning, situational judgment tests, assessment centre exercises and more). Buy with peace of mind without commitment to a full 100% money back guarantee.*
Correct answer to Numerical reasoning test question: C
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