Module overview
What the test trains
This module focuses on Visual & Auditory Perception — fast, accurate discrimination among near-identical distractors. It is designed to make the underlying process easier to recognise, repeat and review before you add more speed or workload.
How this trainer relates to CFAST
In this trainer's Pilot (PLT) domain breakdown, Visual Search is grouped under Visual & Auditory Perception (Percpt). The Academy tracks this domain separately rather than combining it with an overall weighted index. This is the Academy’s training model, not an official CAF scoring calculation.
Task profile
What the task looks like
What it involves
- Take in a target shown on its own, before the grid appears.
- Sweep a dense field of near-matches for the one that's actually identical.
- Rule out lookalikes on one clear difference rather than checking every detail.
- Read off the number on the matching tile and respond with it.
Practice screen example
These screenshots show CBAT Academy’s independent practice version of the task.
Interface briefing
Controls and difficulty
Controls
Locate the matching tile among distractors and type its number into the on-screen field.
Difficulty and settings
Question count rises from 10 to 20 while distractors on screen grow from 30 to 60, and the time allowed drops from 3 minutes to 2.
Read how practice scores and estimates work →Training plan
Build a method that holds up under pressure
Why this becomes difficult
- Distractors are built to be close enough that a quick glance won't catch the difference.
- An unstructured search covers the same ground twice and still misses corners.
- A large, dense grid makes it easy to lose track of where you've already been.
- Time pressure pushes a response before every distinguishing feature has actually been checked.
Preparation tips
- Decide the target's defining feature before scanning starts.
- Sweep in one consistent direction rather than jumping around the grid.
- Reject on a single mismatch — don't verify every feature on every tile.
- Increase how dense and cluttered your practice sets are only once accuracy holds steady.
Common mistakes
- Starting the sweep before the target is properly encoded.
- Covering the same region of the grid more than once.
- Picking a near-match because it looks right overall rather than checking the deciding feature.
- Losing the tile number between finding it and entering the response.
Useful practice drills
- Letter-search sets using confusable pairs.
- Numbered-grid searches where density increases gradually.
- Timed runs comparing scan speed against error rate to find where your current balance sits.
Transparency
Sources and information status
Task guidance on this page describes CBAT Academy’s own software. Broad aptitude context is checked against the public references in the source register.
The official CFASC candidate-guide PDF (22 January 2015) describes named test examples. Use it for historical familiarisation and follow your current joining instructions. The exercise mechanics and practice advice here describe the Academy version; domain mappings and scores are independent.
This guide describes CBAT Academy’s independently developed practice modules. It is not an exact specification of any current RAF, Canadian Forces or Ministry of Defence assessment. Official content, timings, scoring and administration may differ.
Continue the briefing
Turn the method into repeatable performance.
Launch the interactive trainer, begin with accuracy and review the pattern behind each mistake before increasing pace.