Verbal Reasoning
The verbal reasoning test is used to assess candidates’ ability to interpret written information.
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The Admiralty Interview Board (AIB) is one element of the Royal Navy Officer selection process. If you want to pass the AIB at the very first attempt we recommend you sign up for our incredible course!
Before you arrive at the AIB you will be sent a questionnaire to complete. This helps the Royal Navy to make an initial assessment about you. It is important that you complete the form as fully and as accurately as possible. It is your chance to blow your own trumpet. We recommend you complete the form in a manner which is positive and also in a way that demonstrates you have the relevant qualities required to be a leader and a manager within the Royal Navy.
Learn how to become a Royal Navy Officer with our excellent, comprehensive guide!
The selection process to join the Royal Navy as an officer will normally consist of the following elements:
Registration & Application
Naval Service Defence Aptitude Assessment (DAA)
AIB Suitability Interview
Admiralty Interview Board (AIB)
The first step on your route to becoming a Royal Navy Officer is to register your interest online, or by contacting your local Armed Forces Careers Office. There you will be required to fill out some basic information, learn about life in the Royal Navy and if you wish to proceed you can then submit an online application.
Joining the Royal Navy is a very big decision and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. You will need to consider your choice of career carefully and will be required to complete a short questionnaire that will determine your suitability for joining.
The Royal Navy has many different career options available, ranging from Aircraft Engineering Technicians through to Chefs and Medical Assistants. It is vital that you choose your career carefully and that you have valid reasons for your choice.
The Royal Navy DAA is a series of psychometric tests that are designed to assess your ability to perform to the demands of the Royal Navy and your chosen career. The tests are a tried and tested method of selection and are extremely accurate in assessing a candidate’s suitability.
The pass mark required for each role will vary depending on the requirements for each job. The test itself will normally be carried out at your local Armed Forces Careers Office and will be under strict timed conditions.
The six different testing areas are as follows:
Verbal Reasoning
Numerical Reasoning
Spatial Reasoning
Mechanical Comprehension
Electrical Comprehension
Work Rate
Once you have made contact with the AFCO, completed a questionnaire, watched a presentation and received your recruitment literature, then you will need to attend a virtual interview.
The first interview is designed to assess the reasons why you want to join the Royal Navy and if you are deemed suitable for officer class. This will also look at your skills, experiences and qualifications that you possess. The recruitment advisor will then be able to advise you on the type(s) of career that you may be more suited to.
Stage four of the Royal Navy Officer selection process is the Admiralty Interview Board (AIB), which takes place online. Following changes introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, the AIB has been streamlined and is no longer the intensive 1.5-day in-person assessment it once was. Instead, candidates now undergo a more focused virtual assessment.
The current online AIB includes:
An interview with members of the board;
A planning exercise, completed virtually;
Assessment of your leadership potential, teamwork, and communication skills through structured responses and discussion.
Physical fitness and psychometric testing are no longer part of the AIB itself and are assessed separately earlier in the process.
Although the modern AIB is shorter and conducted remotely, it remains a highly competitive and critical stage.
Once you have successfully navigated the AIB, you will be invited to start your Initial Naval Training as an officer and your career in the Royal Navy as an officer. This course more often known as (INT) lasts for a total of 30 weeks. The training is split into two separate stages which are as follows:
You will be given information regarding your start date for initial training by your career liaison officer.
The Royal Navy Defence Aptitude Assessment is basically a series of psychometric tests that are designed to assess your ability to perform to the demands of the Royal Navy and your chosen career. The tests are a tried and tested method of selection and are extremely accurate in assessing a candidate’s suitability.
The pass mark required for each role will vary depending on the requirements for each job. The test itself will normally be carried out at your local Armed Forces Careers Office and will be under strict timed conditions.
Once you have completed the test, your Armed Forces Careers advisor will discuss your results with you. This will normally be on the same day as the test.
Now, let’s look at each of these sections in a bit more detail.
Verbal Reasoning
The verbal reasoning test is used to assess candidates’ ability to interpret written information.
Numerical Reasoning
The numerical test is used to assess mathematical knowledge, including arithmetic and data interpretation.
Spatial Reasoning
The reasoning test assesses candidates’ ability to work with shapes and 3D objects.
Work Rate
This assessment is an aptitude test which assess candidates’ ability to work through routine tasks as quickly and effectively as possible.
Mechanical Comprehension
Many jobs within the Royal Navy are practical, and therefore require an ability to understand mechanical concepts. This test is an aptitude test which focuses on mechanical concepts.
Electrical Comprehension
Many jobs within the Royal Navy are practical, and therefore require an ability to understand electrical concepts. This test is an aptitude test which focuses on electrical concepts.
We guarantee that our How To Become a Royal Navy Officer online resources will teach you how to navigate the different elements of the selection process. The package contains 140+ pages of recruitment information which will guide you through each of the different elements of selection, including the application form, the RT, the AIB, the interviews and the fitness test.
Start Preparing Now 👉If you have successfully passed the earlier stages of the Royal Navy Officer selection process, you will be invited to attend the Admiralty Interview Board (AIB) which is now held online rather than in person at HMS Sultan.
At this stage, you will take part in a series of virtual assessments designed to evaluate your leadership potential, mental agility, and suitability for officer training. The AIB focuses on structured interviews and scenario-based tasks that test your ability to think clearly, communicate effectively, and work as part of a team.
The structure of the Admiralty Interview Board has changed significantly in recent years. Previously held over two days in person, the AIB is now conducted entirely online, with fewer assessments but a continued focus on evaluating leadership potential, communication skills, and decision-making under pressure.
Before your online AIB date, you’ll be asked to submit a biographical questionnaire. This document is an important part of your application and is used to help the Board understand your background, motivations, and suitability for officer training. Take the time to complete it thoroughly and thoughtfully, it’s your opportunity to show your potential as a future Royal Navy leader.
Fitness testing is no longer part of the AIB itself. Instead, it is assessed earlier in the application process. You’ll still be expected to meet Royal Navy fitness standards, so continue training and maintaining a good level of physical health. Aiming for Level 10 or above on the bleep test remains a useful benchmark.
The current AIB typically takes place over a single day online, with the following key components:
You’ll face a formal interview with members of the board. This assesses your:
Motivation to join the Royal Navy;
Understanding of the role and responsibilities of an officer;
Leadership potential and values.
Prepare by researching Royal Navy operations, officer training pathways, and current affairs that may affect the service.
You’ll be given a fictional scenario with a set of challenges to analyse. You’ll have time to review the scenario individually, then work as part of a group to come up with a plan. Once the plan is agreed upon, the Board will question each candidate in turn to assess their understanding, reasoning, and leadership input.
Top Tips for Success:
Read the scenario thoroughly and identify key issues.
Speak up during discussions, but don’t dominate.
Support your reasoning with clear logic.
Show you can listen to others and adapt your thinking.
Practise Speed, Distance, and Time (SDT) problems in advance as they often feature in scenario-based questions.
As part of the Admiralty Interview Board (AIB), you will take part in a structured interview, typically lasting around 30 minutes. This interview is conducted online via video call and is your opportunity to demonstrate the qualities expected of a Royal Navy Officer.
You’ll be asked about your past experiences, so prepare examples where you have:
Shown leadership;
Taken initiative or organised an activity;
Worked effectively as part of a team;
Displayed resilience or courage in a challenging situation.
In addition, you should be ready to explain:
Why you want to join the Royal Navy;
Your understanding of your chosen branch or specialisation;
Your career aspirations and what you hope to achieve;
Your broader knowledge of the Royal Navy, including recent operations, values, and its global role.
It’s important to show that your knowledge goes beyond what’s found in official leaflets, demonstrate genuine interest and research.
If you are successful, your next steps will include completing a medical assessment and meeting the required educational standards.
However, passing the AIB does not guarantee entry into Royal Navy officer training. All candidates who pass are placed in order of merit, and final selection will depend on the number of training vacancies available at that time, as well as your performance relative to others.
Crafted for everyone, no matter your skill level or background, this guide was made to help you achieve one goal: to become an officer with the Royal Navy.
Scoring Criteria
Essential information about how you will be assessed during every stage of the selection process.
APPLICATION FORM SAMPLE ANSWERS
Lots of up-to-date sample application form questions, responses and tips on how to pass this initial stage.
PRACTICE ONLINE Royal Navy OFFICER TESTS
Step-by-step information on how to pass the online Royal Navy Officer tests..
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Sample answers to the AFCO & AIB interview questions.
INSIDER SECRETS
Insider tips on how to answer the interview questions and advice on how you will be scored.
SCORE-BOOSTING STRATEGIES
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Complete guidance to ensure you pass the ENTIRE Royal Navy Officer recruitment process
Insider advice on how to complete the application form, including sample questions and answers
Previously successful application form responses that you can use to develop your own winning application
Revealed – Tips to help you successfully pass the Admiralty Interview Board
Discover exactly how you are assessed throughout the entire selection process (hint: understanding this will allow you to know exactly how the assessors want you to act at every stage)
A complete breakdown of the Royal Navy Defence Aptitude Assessment (DAA) and AIB tests and how you MUST prepare if you wish to succeed
Sample Royal Navy Officer interview questions and guidance on how to answer each one of them for the interview
Practice questions and answers for the DAA and AIB tests. Practice the same skills you’ll be tested on so you enter your tests fully prepared
The importance of ensuring you meet the minimum eligibility requirements (and understanding life in the Royal Navy as an officer)
Time-saving strategies and score-boosting methods verified by our panel of Armed Forces recruitment experts
How to get fit and be able to pass the fitness test and medical test
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This resource is our flagship career guide, designed to help anyone looking to become a Royal Navy Officer and conquer the gruelling selection process.
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Whatever stage of the process you are at, you can be confident you’ll have all the strategies and tools you need to succeed.
Yes! With the ‘How to Become a Royal Navy Officer’ guide you will be able to access training that has been helping applicants successfully become officers with the Royal Navy for over a decade.
At How2Become.com we like to do things a little differently. Instead of just giving you access to guides which explain how the selection process works, and what you need to do to pass, we teach you HOW to do it also. For example, we don’t just provide you with sample interview questions, we provide winning sample responses and step-by-step guidance on how to create your own successful answers. Whether you are thinking about applying, or you are half way through the selection process, this guide will ‘hold your hand’ step-by-step. Here is a full list of everything you will get within this resource.
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