A logical reasoning test for pilots checks whether you can take a set of rules or facts and work out exactly what follows from them, nothing more and nothing less. Cadet schemes and airlines use this kind of test because flying is full of rules that interact, and a pilot has to apply them correctly when time is short.
This guide explains the item types you are likely to meet, works through an example, and sets out a sensible way to prepare.
Where logical reasoning fits in pilot selection
Pilot selection usually happens in stages. Early on, many programmes use online tests to see who moves forward to interviews, group exercises and simulator or psychomotor checks.
Logical reasoning often sits in that early online stage. TUI's MPL cadet candidate portal, for example, tells applicants they will complete online assessments in verbal, numerical and logical reasoning, each taking about 15 minutes. Other programmes fold reasoning into a broader cognitive screen. Sevenair Academy describes its online screening for its integrated cadet programme as covering cognitive capacity, reasoning and processing speed, among other areas.
The exact tests vary by programme and change over time, so treat your invitation email and the programme's own pages as the final word. For an overview of the full range of pilot tests, see our guide on how to excel in pilot aptitude tests.
The main item types
Deductive reasoning
You are given statements and asked which conclusion must be true. The key word is "must". An answer that could be true, or is probably true, is still wrong.
Rule-based items
You are given a short set of rules, such as conditions for an action, and asked to apply them to a new case. These look a lot like real operational decisions: if this condition holds, then that action is or is not allowed.
Sequences and diagrams
Some tests present logic visually, with shapes or flowcharts that change according to hidden rules. If your test leans this way, our diagrammatic reasoning practice and the companion guide to abstract reasoning tests are useful alongside this one.
A worked example
Read the rules, then choose the one conclusion that must be true.
- Every solo cross-country flight needs an instructor's written authorisation.
- No flight with an instructor's written authorisation may depart if the cloud base is below 1,500 feet.
- Today the cloud base is 1,200 feet.
Which of the following must be true?
- A. No solo cross-country flight can depart today.
- B. Some dual training flights will depart today.
- C. No instructors are working today.
- D. A cross-country flight with an instructor on board may depart today.
Answer: A.
Working through it:
- Rule 1 says every solo cross-country flight has an instructor's written authorisation.
- Rule 2 says any flight with that authorisation cannot depart below a 1,500 foot cloud base.
- Rule 3 puts today's cloud base at 1,200 feet, which is below the limit.
- Chaining these together, no solo cross-country flight can depart today. A must be true.
Why the others fail:
- B is not supported. The rules say nothing about dual flights departing.
- C is not supported. Nothing in the rules tells us about staffing.
- D might be true or false. The rules do not say whether a flight with an instructor on board needs written authorisation, so we cannot conclude it may depart.
Notice that B and D might sound reasonable to someone with flying experience. That is the trap. The test only rewards conclusions that follow from the rules given.
How to prepare
Learn the language of logic. Get comfortable with "all", "some", "none", "only if" and "unless". Many errors come from reading "only if" as "if".
Write the chain down. On practice items, sketch each rule as a short arrow, such as "solo XC → authorisation → no departure below 1,500". It slows you down at first and speeds you up later.
Eliminate before you choose. For each option, ask whether it must be true, could be true, or must be false. Only the first kind is the answer.
Practise untimed, then timed. Accuracy first, then pace. Our logical reasoning practice tests are set up for both.
Review every mistake. Keep a short log of the items you got wrong and the reason. Patterns usually appear quickly, such as rushing negative statements or bringing in outside knowledge.
Sit the real thing in good conditions. Pick a quiet time, check your equipment, and read the instructions on screen carefully before you start. If the programme allows rough paper, have it ready.
Logical reasoning is a skill that responds well to steady practice. A few short sessions a week over several weeks will usually do more than one long session the night before.
