RAF DAA

Overview

The Defence Aptitude Assessment (DAA) is the computer-based cognitive test used in Royal Air Force recruitment for airmen/airwomen and most non-officer roles, having replaced the earlier Airmen Selection Test (AST). A candidate's DAA result is used to determine which RAF trades they are eligible to apply for.

Exam pattern

The DAA is made up of six individually timed sections: Numerical Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, Spatial Reasoning, Mechanical Comprehension, Electrical Comprehension, and a Work Rate test. Most candidates answer around 100 to 110 multiple-choice questions in total, within roughly 70 minutes, though the exact number of questions and sections required can depend on the role applied for.

Who can apply

Applicants must meet the RAF's general entry requirements, including age (applications can start from age 15, with entry from 16), nationality/residency, and medical and fitness standards; eligibility for specific trades additionally depends on the DAA score.

Marking and results

The DAA has no single pass/fail score; instead, performance across its sections is matched against the aptitude profiles required for different RAF trades, so a lower score in one area and a higher score in another can still lead to eligibility for specific roles.

After the exam

Aptitude testing (the DAA) is followed by a selection interview, occupational health assessment, pre-joining fitness test, specialist interviews and a final interview, with candidates needing to pass each stage before progressing to the next.

Preparation tips

Because each section is separately timed and covers a different skill (numerical, verbal, spatial, mechanical, electrical, and work rate), practising each type individually under time pressure is more useful than general study, and since trade eligibility depends on the specific profile of scores, candidates with a particular trade in mind should focus practice on the sections most relevant to it.