# COMPASS vs PILAPT Pilot Tests: Official Sources and PASS Prep > Compare EPST COMPASS and PILAPT pilot tests, official selection-system sources, free independent practice and whether PASS packages fit your invitation. Canonical: https://www.atcpracticetest.com/reviews/pilot-assessments-compass-pilapt-preparation/ Site guide: https://www.atcpracticetest.com/llms.txt **COMPASS and PILAPT are different pilot aptitude assessment systems.** A pilot candidate should practise the system **named in the current invitation**, not buy two preparation packages because both use the words “pilot aptitude”. Before paying PASS or another practice provider, read the published information from [EPST for COMPASS](https://epst.nl/en/cadet-selection-compass/) and [Psytech Ltd for PILAPT](https://www.psytechltd.com/Home/What). **Verdict on PASS:** Pilot Assessments has public preparation landing pages for both systems, but **its generic Professional/Professional Plus feature lists do not independently establish the exact tests or licensed item formats available in a paid account**. A targeted airline package may fit better when your employer and current battery are known. This is a sourced desk comparison, not a hands-on software trial or a claim that either provider can guarantee selection. ## COMPASS vs PILAPT: comparison table System-specific pilot aptitude guide. COMPASS and PILAPT are different official test systems; published PASS pages are not their publishers. Question COMPASS PILAPT Who supplies the actual tests? EPST developed COMPASS; consult EPST and COMPASS International sources Psytech Ltd says it is the sole licence provider of PILAPT test batteries Documented scope EPST lists six core cadet tasks: Control, Slalom, Task Manager, Memory, Mathematics and Orientation Licensed PILAPT tests cover pilot aptitude; no complete current universal module list is published on Psytech's general information page Pilot experience Advanced COMPASS is a separate version for licensed and experienced pilots Ask the recruiter which PILAPT battery and pathway apply; do not assume Advanced COMPASS equivalence What PASS advertises A dedicated COMPASS preparation page plus generic Professional/Plus features A separate PILAPT preparation page plus generic Professional/Plus features Before paying Verify the exact employer version, modules and equipment in your invitation Verify the PILAPT provider, modules, equipment and assessment stage in your invitation The table is a **decision aid**, not a claim that every candidate takes all the same modules or receives the same scoring system. ## Official COMPASS: EPST’s six main cadet tests The owner/developer [European Pilot Selection & Training (EPST)](https://epst.nl/en/cadet-selection-compass/) describes COMPASS as a **Computerized Pilot Aptitude Screening System**. EPST identifies **six core aptitude tests** for cadet selection: - **Control:** compensatory hand, foot and eye coordination. - **Slalom:** tracking and hand-eye coordination. - **Task Manager:** scanning the screen while managing two tasks. - **Memory:** short-term recall and grouping information. - **Mathematics:** speed and understanding of applied numerical tasks. - **Orientation:** instrument interpretation and spatial orientation. EPST’s same page also describes **technical comprehension, Aviation English and verbal reasoning** as selection assessments. It is misleading to call all nine items “the six COMPASS tests”; core COMPASS plus related assessment components should be distinguished. The exact employer’s invitation controls what will actually be administered. ### Advanced COMPASS is a different pathway EPST separately describes [Advanced COMPASS for licence holders and experienced pilots](https://epst.nl/en/pilot-selection-advanced-compass/). It includes a more complex control task involving ILS tracking and managing rudder and speed, professional knowledge and additional skills. That is **not** a claim that cadets automatically sit the advanced battery. The [COMPASS service description](https://compass.aero/services/) also distinguishes the ability/aptitude battery from the **COMPASS Personality Profile (CPP)**. A personality questionnaire is not automatically included in every sitting merely because it appears in the provider’s wider selection system. ## Official PILAPT: licensing and what remains uncertain PILAPT is a separate family of pilot aptitude tests, not a version of EPST COMPASS or Aon/cut-e. [Psytech Ltd states that it is the sole licence provider of PILAPT test batteries](https://www.psytechltd.com/Home/What). The historical PILAPT name is also associated with People Technologies; it appears as a trademark in independent preparation providers’ notices. This history is not permission to identify a third-party simulator as the licensed test. Public sources discuss **psychomotor coordination, attention, information processing and cognitive capacity** as relevant domains. However, **Psytech’s public licensing page does not publish a complete, current, universal module list, duration or airline-specific scoring policy**. We will not invent exact contemporary PILAPT task names, mandatory time limits or pass marks from a preparation website. A recruiter can administer different batteries or change providers across campaigns, schools and cadet versus direct-entry programmes. Treat a list of airlines on an old practice site as **historical context only**, not as evidence that a particular airline uses PILAPT this month. ## Free independent practice before buying If you have not received an official employer familiarisation pack, begin with the relevant test-owner descriptions and your invitation. The independent site [Pilotest’s COMPASS preparation](https://www.pilotest.com/en/selections/compass-pilot-aptitude-tests-preparation) and [Pilotest’s PILAPT preparation](https://www.pilotest.com/en/selections/pilapt-pilot-aptitude-tests-preparation) are another _optional_ way to explore general skills. Its [FAQ says the training tests are free](https://www.pilotest.com/en/faq). **Pilotest is not EPST, COMPASS International, People Technologies or Psytech.** Its pages explicitly disclaim affiliation or endorsement. The same distinction applies to paid PASS and SkyTest exercises: independent training tasks are **not licensed official test items**, even when their marketing uses an official system’s name. Do not assume that screenshots, timing or old airline lists reproduce the next recruitment appointment. ## What PASS publicly offers for COMPASS and PILAPT PASS has distinct commercial pages: - [PASS COMPASS preparation - public product information](https://pilotassessments.com/compass-pilot-aptitude-test-assessment-preparation/). - [PASS PILAPT preparation - public product information](https://pilotassessments.com/pilapt-pilot-aptitude-test-assessment-preparation/). Both pages advertise aspects of generic **PASS Professional and Professional Plus**, such as a general aptitude test collection, ATPL refresher, maths, physics, aviation English, reasoning, cadet/HR interviews and personality materials. The broader [PASS overview](https://pilotassessments.com/about-pass/) names COMPASS and PILAPT among several different training categories. **Important limitation:** a shared marketing list is not an audited product inventory. We did not create a paid account, see every COMPASS/PILAPT-specific module, verify scoring fidelity, test joystick compatibility or compare protected official items. The public vendor pages also display some unresolved update-date or price template placeholders. **They do not justify fixed claims about current package price or last refresh.** The provider promotes performance dashboards, practice repetitions and personal support; those are public seller claims, not independently measured learning improvements. ## Choosing the correct course and access period Follow a simple sequence: 1. **Read the official invitation.** Determine whether you are taking cadet COMPASS, Advanced COMPASS, PILAPT or a different battery altogether. 2. **List only confirmed modules.** If you have no test names, ask the recruiter what can be shared; do not infer tasks from a forum screenshot or an unrelated airline’s past campaign. 3. **Try any permitted official familiarisation first**, then optional independent practice for the relevant skills. 4. **Compare the vendor’s live module list**, equipment requirements and access duration with your specific needs. 5. **Avoid buying both systems without evidence.** Buying duplicate PASS subscriptions consumes paid time even when packages can run in parallel. According to the [PASS FAQ](https://pilotassessments.com/faq/), a **targeted airline or school course has a minimum paid access period of 14 days**, while the shortest generic Basic package is **30 days**. Activated days cannot be paused. There is **no full free trial**, although a free account offers limited content. Consult [PASS’s package chooser](https://pilotassessments.com/pilot-assessments/) for current tiers and eligibility. **Professional Plus is not an unlimited retargeting subscription.** The seller describes one switch to a named airline/flight-school preparation for the **days remaining**. It does not move arbitrary standalone airline subscriptions or extend the original paid access. The [PASS terms of use](https://pilotassessments.com/terms-and-conditions-of-use/) describe restrictive refund conditions, generally for a verified product malfunction that prevents training, and a **10% administration fee on approved refunds**. Check the live terms and any mandatory consumer rights applicable in your country before payment. For a fuller selection of packages, see the [PASS platform review](/reviews/pilotassessments-review/), [Professional vs Professional Plus](/reviews/pass-professional-vs-professional-plus/) and the [dated airline and school directory](/reviews/pilot-assessments-airlines-flight-schools-directory/). ## A small original practice example: mental arithmetic **Fictional, untimed numerical exercise. This is not a COMPASS or PILAPT question.** An aircraft is travelling at a constant ground speed of **150 knots**, which means 150 nautical miles per hour. How far does it travel in **12 minutes**? A. **30 nautical miles** B. **18 nautical miles** C. **60 nautical miles** Reveal the answer and calculation **Answer: A - 30 nautical miles.** Twelve minutes is 12/60 = 0.2 hours, so distance = 150 × 0.2 = **30 NM**. B and C are incorrect. This original educational arithmetic example is not a reconstruction of a licensed aptitude item, and no official COMPASS or PILAPT score or timing can be inferred from it. You can apply the same time-speed-distance relationship to other **self-created** study examples without copying confidential questions. ## Who should choose a different route? Candidates whose invitation names **Aon/cut-e** should use the [Aon/cut-e guide with official free resources](/reviews/pilot-assessments-aon-cut-e-preparation/), not automatically purchase COMPASS or PILAPT training. A generic pilot simulator also does not replace EUROCONTROL FEAST, FAA ATSA, NATS or NAV CANADA controller assessments; compare [pilot vs ATC aptitude tests](/career/pilot-vs-atc-aptitude-tests/). SkyTest offers different downloadable products. Its [published COMPASS training description](https://www.skytest.de/COMPASS-Test-Preparation.htm) states that its modules exercise similar skills and are **not reproductions of actual tests**. If delivery format, offline access or hardware matters, compare the actual [PASS versus SkyTest review](/reviews/pilot-assessments-vs-skytest/) rather than assuming either platform has identical modules. ## Editorial conclusion and affiliate disclosure **Best decision:** identify the precise exam first. EPST’s official material explains COMPASS; Psytech’s published information clarifies PILAPT licensing. Independent free practice can be useful for general aptitude skills. A paid PASS package may help with additional training only if its actual coverage, equipment and cost fit the invitation. This page contains **two clearly disclosed affiliate links**. [ATCPracticeTest.com](https://www.atcpracticetest.com/) may earn a commission if you purchase through them, with no additional charge to you. There is no implied endorsement by EPST, COMPASS International, Psytech, PILAPT or an airline. The commercial destinations were preserved from the older page, but **checkout availability, tracking cookies, commissions and full paid-course contents were not verified**. - [Compare the current PASS COMPASS course](https://pilotassessments.com/compass-pilot-aptitude-test-assessment-preparation/pilot/atc/) - [Compare the current PASS PILAPT course](https://pilotassessments.com/pilapt-pilot-aptitude-test-assessment-preparation/pilot/atc/) Do not pay for both solely because they appear on the same comparison page. ## Primary sources and review limits - [EPST - cadet COMPASS and its six core tests](https://epst.nl/en/cadet-selection-compass/). - [EPST - Advanced COMPASS](https://epst.nl/en/pilot-selection-advanced-compass/). - [COMPASS - official selection services and personality profile](https://compass.aero/services/). - [Psytech Ltd - PILAPT battery licensing](https://www.psytechltd.com/Home/What). - [Pilotest FAQ](https://www.pilotest.com/en/faq), [independent COMPASS tasks](https://www.pilotest.com/en/selections/compass-pilot-aptitude-tests-preparation) and [independent PILAPT tasks](https://www.pilotest.com/en/selections/pilapt-pilot-aptitude-tests-preparation) - not endorsed by the test owners. - [PASS COMPASS](https://pilotassessments.com/compass-pilot-aptitude-test-assessment-preparation/), [PASS PILAPT](https://pilotassessments.com/pilapt-pilot-aptitude-test-assessment-preparation/), [FAQ](https://pilotassessments.com/faq/), [package chooser](https://pilotassessments.com/pilot-assessments/) and [commercial terms](https://pilotassessments.com/terms-and-conditions-of-use/). **Reviewed 4 November 2026.** No official live tests, licensed item bank, paid product account, psychometric validation study, checkout or affiliate attribution was inspected. This review is for responsible preparation planning, not an employer-authorised training manual.