Qantas Aptitude Tests 2026: Complete Guide for Pilots & All Roles

Qantas uses SHL psychometric assessments as a key component of its recruitment process across pilot and flying operations, engineering, corporate, and cabin crew management roles. The assessments are administered online through the SHL TalentCentral platform and must be completed before progressing to the in-person assessment centre.

Unlike some employers who administer a single SHL battery, Qantas typically administers three separate assessments: the SHL General Ability Test (Verify G+), the SHL Motivation Questionnaire (MQM5), and the SHL Occupational Personality Questionnaire (OPQ32).

The SHL Verify G+ is the most critical component of Qantas SHL testing — it has right and wrong answers and directly determines whether you progress. It is an adaptive, interactive test that combines three reasoning types in 24 questions over 36 minutes. The deductive reasoning section is the most novel and demanding part for most candidates.

The SHL Motivation Questionnaire (MQM5) measures 18 dimensions of workplace motivation — factors such as affiliation, autonomy, creativity, financial reward, personal development, power, and social responsibility. It uses a combination of rating scales and ranking tasks.

Unlike aptitude tests, there are no right or wrong answers in the MQM5. The assessment maps your motivational profile to determine how you're likely to be energised or disengaged by different aspects of the Qantas role you're applying for.

The SHL OPQ32 is the world's most widely used occupational personality questionnaire. It measures 32 personality scales across three domains: relationships with people, thinking style, and feelings and emotions. It uses a forced-choice format — for each group of 3–4 statements, you select the one most like you and the one least like you.

For aviation roles, Qantas (and its assessment centre) uses the OPQ32 profile to generate structured interview questions probing specific competencies that are critical for safe, effective pilot and crew performance — including stress tolerance, adaptability, teamwork, rule compliance, and decision-making under pressure.

• Prioritise the General Ability Test (Verify G+) above all else. This is the only test with right and wrong answers. Start preparation 3 weeks before your test date using the 3-week preparation plan.
• Practise without a calculator from day one. The Verify G+ does not permit a calculator. Build mental arithmetic habits for percentages, ratios, and estimation so these become automatic under time pressure.
• Learn all 5 deductive question types separately before practising. The Verify G+ deductive section uses a novel drag-and-drop interface. Most candidates underperform not because of the logic but because of format unfamiliarity — which is entirely preventable. See our full deductive reasoning guide.
• Know the adaptive scoring model. Work rate counts — never stop early, never spend more than 2 minutes on any question. A reasonable guess and move-on always beats a blank answer.
• For personality and motivation tests, answer authentically. Reflect genuinely on your motivations and work style before starting. Inconsistent answers across 100+ questions are automatically flagged.
• Research the Qantas experience from other candidates. Pilot forums like PPRuNe contain detailed reports from candidates who have been through the Qantas process — format specifics, timing, and what to expect at the assessment centre.