NUCLEAR SECURITY - GATB, WCT, PREP, Vision and Hearing 1. GENERAL APTITUDE TEST BATTERY (GATB) Description: The GATB is a timed pencil and paper test which evaluates arithmetic, problem solving, spatial aptitude and verbal skills. - Arithmetic Skills - Understanding of addition, subtraction, division and multiplication. - Problem Solving Skills - Ability to solve mathematical problems. - Spatial Aptitude - Ability to identify the relationship between objects of different shapes. - Verbal Skills - Ability to understand the relationship between words (e.g. words that mean the same and words that have opposite meaning). It is recommended that you brush up on basic high school level math (approximately grade 10 level). Study both quick computation (multiplication, division, subtraction, addition, fractions, etc.) as well as the math word problems without using a calculator (longhand on paper or in your head) as there are math sections on the GATB. It is also recommended that you increase your vocabulary by doing activities such as crosswords, etc., as well as by looking up words you don't know while reading. You should also increase the level and frequency of your reading (i.e. read more challenging materials than you are used to, and read more often). This will help you to learn new words, as well as help to increase the speed of your reading comprehension, which helps immensely since the tests are timed. GATB Testing Tips and Practice Exercises Test Administration: The GATB is a timed paper-and-pencil test, which takes approximately one (1) hour to complete. Validity Period: A successful result on the GATB remains valid for a period of three (3) years. 1 / 7
Re-Test Waiting Period: Candidates who are unsuccessful on the GATB at the first attempt, must wait for a period of three (3) months from their test date before they can make another attempt. Candidates who have not met standard on subsequent attempts must wait a period of six (6) months before they can test again. Where a successful GATB result is due to expire, a candidate may rewrite within 2 months prior to the expiry date, or anytime thereafter. 2. WRITTEN COMMUNICATION TEST (WCT) Description: This test evaluates the candidate's ability to organize information in a clear, coherent and comprehensive manner, and to make conclusions from given facts. The candidate is presented with a scenario in which factual details are jumbled or represented in a non-chronological manner. Since the WCT is an analytical thinking exercise, it is a little harder to prepare for this test, however, any activities that will get you thinking analytically will help. One suggestion is to read the "5-Minute Mysteries" (author Ken Weber), which are available at local libraries. These short mysteries will help to get you thinking analytically because all the information is given to you to solve the mystery, and you have to come to a conclusion about what happened, or solve the mystery (answers appear in the back of the book to check your work). It also helps if you time yourself and write the case down, including relevant facts (or clues) and why you reached the conclusion you did. Always back up your answer with facts. Doing these activities will help to get you thinking analytically, which is what you will need to employ during the WCT exercise. WCT Testing Tips and Practice Exercises Test Administration: The WCT is a paper-and-pencil test (English language), which takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete - 15 minutes for administration and 1 hour for the test itself. Validity Period: A successful result on the WCT remains valid for a period of three (3) years. Re-Test Waiting Period: The first time a candidate does not meet standard with the WCT, they 2 / 7
must wait a period of three (3) months from their test date before they can make another attempt. Candidates who have not met standard on subsequent attempts must wait a period of 6 months before they can test again. Where a successful WCT result is due to expire, a candidate may rewrite within 2 months prior to the expiry date, or anytime thereafter. 3. PHYSICAL READINESS EVALUATION FOR POLICE (PREP) Description: To be successful you must pass all components of the Physical Readiness Evaluation for Police (PREP) test, which includes: - Pursuit/Restraint Circuit, will be evaluated by completing as quickly as possible a 25-metre circuit four times (total distance = 100 metres) while wearing a 9 lb. soft weight belt that simulates wearing a full equipment belt. During each rotation, a set of stairs are climbed and on the second and fourth rotation, a 4 ft fence is scaled. Following completion of the circuit, the participant completes pushing and pulling on the "body control" simulator plus two "arm restraint" simulations, then drags a 150 lb. rescue dummy a distance of 15 metres. - Aerobic Shuttle Run, evaluated by running back and forth over a 20-metre course in time with tape recorded signals. The time to cover the 20-metre course is shortened progressively until the participant is unable to maintain the pace or the standard is met. Practice the Shuttle Run (MP3) Test Administration: This assessment procedure takes about 20 minutes of activity to complete. Effective August 1 st, 2014 ATS will no longer be using the PARMED-X. Previously the PARMED-X document was required if you answered yes to a question(s) on the Par-Q or if you were 41 years of age or older. The PAR-Q form is being replaced with the online 2014 PAR-Q+. You will be advised whether or not you require a "Medical Referral Form" based on your responses to the questions included on the 2014 PAR-Q+. 3 / 7
It is recommended that Applicants who are over the age of 45 and not accustom to regular (minimum 4 days per week for 6 weeks) vigorous to maximal effort (intensity) exercise have the Medical Referral Form completed by a Physician. This is a recommendation only and not required. If you have concerns regarding your Blood Pressure, please be aware of the following: If your blood pressure is greater than 159/89 on test day and you do not have a Me dical Referral Form completed, specifically for blood pressure, you will not be allowed to test.the "Medical Referral Form" can be found under the Forms section on the ATS website or through the link below. If you have White Coat Syndrome or are concerned that your blood pressure may exceed 159/89mmHg on test day, please have the Medical Referral Form completed, specifically for blood pressure. You will only be allowed to test with a blood pressure reading greater than 159/89mmHg with a valid Medical Referral Form. Please note that on test day, even with clearance from a physican, individuals will not be allowed to test if their blood pressure is equal to or greater than 200/110mmHg. 2014 Online PAR-Q+ Instructions ATS Medical Referral Form You will be required at the test centre to complete and sign an Informed Consent Form, which contains information about each component of the PREP and identifies any risks associated with participation. Validity Period: A successful result on the PREP remains valid for a period of six (6) months. Re-Test Waiting Period: The first time a candidate does not meet standard with the PREP, they are eligible to register immediately and retest within 2 months of their test date. For each attempt after that, the waiting period to retest is 2 months from your test date. Where a successful PREP result is due to expire, a candidate may re-test within 2 months prior to the expiry date, or anytime thereafter 4 / 7
4. VISION ASSESSMENT Description: All candidates must meet the vision standards set by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. If you are either unsure or concerned about the quality of your vision we urge you to review the following standards with your Eye Care Professional prior to your assessment: Vision Standards Assessment Administration: This assessment procedure takes about 10-20 minutes to complete. If you wear any corrective lenses (glasses, contacts) you must bring them with you to the test centre, and be prepared to remove contact lenses or eyeglasses during this assessment. Validity Period: A successful result on the vision assessment remains valid for a period of three (3) years. Referrals: Those who do not meet standard on any component of the vision assessment will be referred to their own Eye Care Professional for a more detailed assessment at the applicant's expense. Corrective Eye Surgery: The following link provides information on additional assessments that may be required depending on the type of surgery that you have had, and when it was performed: www.applicanttesting.com/eyesurgery 5. HEARING ASSESSMENT 5 / 7
Description: All candidates must meet the hearing standards set by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. If you are either unsure or concerned about the quality of your hearing we urge you to review the following standards with an appropriate specialist prior to your assessment: - For each ear, pure-tone thresholds measured under audiometric earphones shall not exceed a four-frequency average (500, 1000, 2000, 3000 Hz) of 25 db HL, thresholds at none of these single frequencies shall exceed 35 db HL and thresholds at 4000 Hz shall not exceed 45 db HL - Speech recognition scores shall be 88% or better in each ear at 50 db HL in quiet, using half lists (25 test words) of recorded monosyllabic words presented under standard audiometric earphones (Northwestern University Test. No. 6) - Speech recognition scores measured with both ears open in sound field shall be 68% or better at a +5 db signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio, when a half-list (25 test words) or recorded monosyllabic words is presented at 50 db HL - Only complete-in-canal (CIC) hearing aids may be used to meet the above standards. However, the applicant's unaided hearing loss must not exceed 40 db in each ear at the following frequencies: 500, 1000, 2000 and 3000, and shall not exceed 55 db at 4000 Hz - The audiologist must provide specific documentation using approved forms, available through Applicant Testing Services, Inc. Hearing Referral Forms Applicants who do not meet standard on any of the vision or hearing assessments will be referred for further examination by an appropriate specialist. It is recommended that applicants confirm that they meet vision and hearing standards before they commit themselves to the testing fees of the pre-interview stage. Assessment Administration: This procedure takes approximately 5-10 minutes to complete. Validity Period: A successful result on the hearing assessment remains valid for a period of three (3) years. 6 / 7
Those who do not meet standard on any component of the hearing assessment will be referred to their own Hearing Professional for a more detailed assessment at the applicant's expense. For more information on the post-certification process, please click here. 7 / 7