Which AON Cut-e section is the hardest?

It depends on your strengths. Many candidates find multitasking and spatial orientation challenging because they combine time pressure with consistency demands.

Are all 15 simulations tested in every airline assessment?

No. Airlines usually select a subset of simulations, and providers can change. Always confirm your airline’s current process.

How long does each section take?

Most sections are short (a few minutes). Total time depends on the airline package and can range from about 60 minutes to 120+ minutes.

Can I skip sections in the AON Cut-e?

Usually no. The assessment is designed as a sequence. Skipping a section may be treated as an incomplete attempt.

Home > AON Cut-e Test Guide > Test Sections

AON Cut-e Test Sections: What's Inside the Assessment

Tips & strategies

Overview

The AON / Cut-e pilot assessment is typically a sequence of short simulations designed to measure core cognitive skills for flight training. In practice, airlines select a subset of simulations, so the exact battery varies by carrier.

The simulations span multiple categories: memory, attention, psychomotor speed, spatial orientation, reasoning, numeracy, and planning. Most tasks are time-pressured, and many are designed to be sensitive to consistency rather than one-off “perfect” responses.

Total duration depends on the airline’s package and can range from about 60 minutes to 120+ minutes. Some tasks may use adaptive difficulty, and scoring commonly relies on percentile comparisons to a norm group.

At a glance

15 simulations covered in this guide

6 categories used to explain the structure

Hardest for many candidates: Spatial Orientation, Inductive-logical Thinking, Multi-Tasking Capability…

Categories

Memory

Working Memory

gridChallenge

AON Cut-e Working Memory guide

You memorize a changing visual pattern and reproduce it accurately under time pressure. The key skill is stable recall without rushing or second-guessing.

Attention

Ability to Concentrate

scales e3+

AON Cut-e Ability to Concentrate guide

A fast attention task that punishes drift and inconsistent rhythm. You are rewarded for steady pacing and low error variance.

E With Dots

scales e3+

AON Cut-e E With Dots guide

A rapid visual concentration task built around comparing E figures and dot positions under time pressure. The key is stable focus and low false-click variance.

Psychomotor / Speed

Reaction Time

scales rt

AON Cut-e Reaction Time guide

Measures response speed and precision. Micro-hesitation and late corrections reduce percentile even if your accuracy stays high.

Multi-Tasking Capability

falling obstacles

AON Cut-e Multi-Tasking Capability guide

Combines tracking, decision-making, and quick responses. The goal is to keep the primary task stable while handling secondary prompts efficiently.

Multitasking Sonic

sonic

AON Cut-e Multitasking Sonic guide

A dual-load variant that combines multitasking with audio prompts. You must protect the core task while reacting cleanly to the sonic stream.

Complex Control

wingChallenge

AON Cut-e Complex Control guide

A control-focused task that measures tracking stability, coordination, and correction discipline. Smooth control matters more than aggressive overcorrection.

Spatial

Spatial Orientation

scales ndb

AON Cut-e Spatial Orientation guide

Tests your ability to interpret relative position and direction quickly. Consistency matters more than occasional perfect answers.

Reasoning

Inductive-logical Thinking

scales cls

AON Cut-e Inductive-logical Thinking guide

Pattern-based logic under time pressure. You must avoid overfitting and select the simplest rule that matches the sequence.

Inductive Logical Reasoning

scales clx

AON Cut-e Inductive Logical Reasoning guide

A more demanding variant of inductive logic. The task targets structured thinking and accuracy at speed.

Inductive Reasoning

scales ix

AON Cut-e Inductive Reasoning guide

Measures how quickly you can infer a rule from examples. The trick is building a repeatable scanning strategy.

Deductive-logical Thinking

gapChallenge

AON Cut-e Deductive-logical Thinking guide

Deductive reasoning focused on eliminating impossible options. Precision beats speed if speed creates avoidable mistakes.

Deductive Reasoning

switchChallenge

AON Cut-e Deductive Reasoning guide

Tests rule switching and logical control. The main risk is cognitive inertia—sticking to the previous rule too long.

Numerical / Planning

Numeracy

digitChallenge

AON Cut-e Numeracy guide

Assesses quick arithmetic and number sense under time pressure. A consistent method is more valuable than mental shortcuts.

Complex Planning Capability

motionChallenge

AON Cut-e Complex Planning Capability guide

Evaluates planning ahead and adjusting a plan when constraints change. The goal is calm, deliberate moves rather than reactive guessing.

Comparison table

Name	Test Code	Category	Duration
Working Memory	gridChallenge	memory	9 min
Ability to Concentrate	scales e3+	attention	2 min
Reaction Time	scales rt	psychomotor	3 min
Spatial Orientation	scales ndb	spatial	3 min
Inductive-logical Thinking	scales cls	reasoning	6 min
Multi-Tasking Capability	falling obstacles	psychomotor	5 min
Inductive Logical Reasoning	scales clx	reasoning	6 min
Inductive Reasoning	scales ix	reasoning	5 min
Deductive-logical Thinking	gapChallenge	reasoning	6 min
Complex Planning Capability	motionChallenge	planning	6 min
Numeracy	digitChallenge	numerical	6 min
Deductive Reasoning	switchChallenge	reasoning	6 min
E With Dots	scales e3+	attention	2 min
Multitasking Sonic	sonic	psychomotor	5 min
Complex Control	wingChallenge	psychomotor	6 min
Monitoring	monitoring	attention	5 min

FAQ

Airlines can configure different batteries. In this guide we cover 15 common simulations that collectively represent the typical cognitive areas used in pilot screening.

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