RAF DAA study guide
Learn the question formats, work through examples and plan your pacing for the Defence Aptitude Assessment.
Choose a practice drillMethods and worked examples
Start with these introductory examples, then try the more demanding drill questions. Each drill has eight questions and explains your answers as you go.
Verbal reasoning
Identify exactly what the question asks. Check each condition against the passage, including exceptions and words such as before, only and all.
Watch for: Meeting one condition is not enough. A departure at 09:00 does not satisfy “before 09:00.”
Practice this topicExample
Chilled parcels need a refrigerated route. Urgent parcels must leave before 09:00. Route A: refrigerated, 09:20. B: ambient, 08:10. C: refrigerated, 08:40. D: ambient, 08:30. E: refrigerated, 09:00. Which route can carry an urgent chilled parcel?
Solution: Route C. It is refrigerated and leaves before 09:00. A and E leave too late; B and D are not refrigerated.
Numerical reasoning — Part 1
Follow the order of operations. Keep fractions exact, simplify where possible, and check whether the size of the result makes sense.
Watch for: Dividing by one half doubles a number; multiplying by one half halves it.
Practice this topicExample
Calculate (7/8 − 1/4) ÷ 0.5.
Solution: 1/4 = 2/8, so the bracket is 5/8. Dividing by 0.5 doubles the value: 5/8 × 2 = 10/8 = 1.25.
Numerical reasoning — Part 2
Check the labels and units before calculating. For a percentage, identify the correct whole; compare rates rather than raw totals when group sizes differ.
Watch for: Team B completed the most checks, but Team C completed the largest share of its plan.
Practice this topicExample
Team A completed 68 of 80 planned checks. Team B completed 85 of 100. Team C completed 54 of 60. Which team completed the highest percentage of its planned checks?
Solution: Team C. A completed 68 ÷ 80 = 85%; B completed 85 ÷ 100 = 85%; C completed 54 ÷ 60 = 90%.
Work rate
Find each token’s column. Replace it with another token from that column, then check the three positions in order. The answer can mix rows.
Watch for: Do not reorder the columns or force all three answer tokens into one row.
Practice this topicExample
| 3 | 8 | 5 | 2 |
| F | K | M | R |
| △ | ○ | □ | ◇ |
Read these four-column rows from left to right: numbers 3, 8, 5, 2; letters F, K, M, R; symbols △, ○, □, ◇. Is ○–M–2 an equivalent code for K–5–◇?
Solution: Yes. K and ○ share column 2; 5 and M share column 3; ◇ and 2 share column 4. Both codes follow columns 2, 3, 4.
Spatial reasoning — Part 1
Anchor one piece and match one labeled edge at a time. Rotate the other pieces as needed, keep them from overlapping, then trace the outside boundary.
Watch for: A strip of three squares has the same area, but it does not preserve these two joins on adjacent edges of the middle square.
Practice this topicExample
Three unit squares have labeled edges. The middle square has x on its left edge and y on its top edge. A second square has x on its right edge; a third has y on its bottom edge. Join matching edges without overlap. What outline do they form?
Solution: An L-shaped outline made of three squares: one square to the left of the middle square and one directly above it. The joined edges are inside the shape.
Spatial reasoning — Part 2
Follow the whole object and its dot together. Use a distinctive face or edge as an anchor, then check the second object independently.
Watch for: Checking only one object, or moving a top corner to the bottom during a turn that does not tip the object.
Practice this topicExample
A box has a dot at its top-front-left corner. A second box has a dot at its bottom-front-right corner. Turn each box 180° around its vertical axis without tipping it. Using the original viewing direction, where are the dots now?
Solution: First box: top-back-right. Second box: bottom-back-left. A half-turn swaps front with back and left with right; top and bottom stay unchanged.
Electrical comprehension
Trace the connections and identify what is given. Distinguish current, voltage and resistance before choosing a relationship or calculating.
Watch for: Multiplying voltage by resistance, or giving the answer in volts instead of amperes.
Practice this topicExample
An ideal 12 V supply is connected across a 6 Ω resistor. The wires have negligible resistance. What current flows through the resistor?
Solution: 2 A. Ohm’s law gives current = voltage ÷ resistance, so 12 ÷ 6 = 2. Amperes measure current.
Mechanical comprehension
Identify the driving part and follow each connection. Check direction separately from size or speed, and keep the viewing direction consistent.
Watch for: A larger driven gear turns more slowly. An extra gear between A and B would also change the direction relationship.
Practice this topicExample
Two external gears mesh directly. Gear A has 12 teeth and turns clockwise at 60 rpm. Gear B has 36 teeth. Viewed from the same side, which way and how fast does B turn?
Solution: Counterclockwise at 20 rpm. Directly meshing external gears turn in opposite directions. B has three times as many teeth, so its speed is 60 × 12 ÷ 36 = 20 rpm.
Eight timed blocks, six skill areas
The real-test counts and time limits in the RAF familiarization total 128 questions and 69 timed minutes. Numerical and spatial reasoning each have two parts. Instructions and transitions take additional time.
| Block | Questions | Minutes | Seconds per question* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal reasoning | 20 | 15 | 45 |
| Numerical reasoning — Part 1 | 12 | 4 | 20 |
| Numerical reasoning — Part 2 | 15 | 11 | 44 |
| Work rate | 20 | 4 | 12 |
| Spatial reasoning — Part 1 | 10 | 4 | 24 |
| Spatial reasoning — Part 2 | 10 | 3 | 18 |
| Electrical comprehension | 22 | 15 | 41 |
| Mechanical comprehension | 19 | 13 | 41 |
*An approximate pacing average, not a separate time limit for each question.
- Learn without time pressure. Use drills to resolve reasoning mistakes before practicing speed. Work without a calculator; pencil and paper can help with calculations.
- Practice the fast blocks separately. Work rate allows an average of 12 seconds per question. Learn to track columns accurately before trying to move faster.
- Keep track of unanswered questions. In our full practice you can flag, skip and revisit questions within the active block. Check the question grid before submitting it.
- Review after the full sitting. There is no answer feedback between timed blocks. At the end, use the breakdown to distinguish incorrect answers from questions you did not reach.
How our full practice works
- Each block uses its published count and time limit. Starting a block sets a deadline that continues if you leave the tab or refresh.
- You can change answers in the current block until you submit it or time expires. Completed blocks are locked. Our practice allows an untimed break before you start the next block.
- These navigation and break settings describe this practice product. Follow the instructions in your RAF assessment for its actual controls and breaks.
- Each correct answer earns one practice point. There is no deduction for an incorrect answer. This does not establish the official scoring method or role thresholds.
- A RAF DAA pass covers full practice and all eight drill replays. Saved reviews remain available after the pass expires.
Choose your next drill from the results
Start with the block breakdown. Review missed questions, read why the other options are wrong and practice the weakest area. On later attempts, look for stronger accuracy and fewer unanswered questions with the same setup.
Our learning targets aim for strong performance on demanding original questions. They are editorial practice goals, not RAF pass marks, official percentiles or predictions of which jobs you qualify for.
Check the assessments for your RAF role
DAA results are one part of recruitment. Role requirements differ, and some applications include CBAT or other specialist selection stages. This product covers DAA only. Use your current invitation and official role page to confirm what you need.
The RAF says the DAA can be taken on your own IT or at an Armed Forces Careers Office. Use a screen large enough to read diagrams and tables comfortably. Ask your recruiter about required equipment, accessibility arrangements or a future attempt.
Official guidance
- RAF Defence Aptitude Assessment overview — subject areas and recruitment context.
- Official RAF DAA familiarization — sample formats, published real-test counts and limits.
- Find your RAF role — role-specific requirements and selection stages.
Original independent practice, not affiliated with or endorsed by the RAF or Ministry of Defence. The questions and illustrations are not copied from the official assessment.