Join the British Army: Top 5 Tips to Pass the Army Selection Process

Joining the British Army is no easy feat. Whether you’re a British National, Dual-National, or Commonwealth citizen, roles within the British Army are incredibly competitive. Therefore, you need to be at the top of your game if you’re to succeed.

So, to help you in the Army selection process, we’ve compiled the top 5 tips that are likely to pull your application up from standard to outstanding.

Read on to find out what you can do right now to improve your chances of passing the Army selection process.

Action plans are used by successful candidates because they give you an easy way of tracking your progress. A good action plan will also force you to stick to your training regime.

Discipline is an important part of the Armed Forces, and so it’s imperative that you integrate it into your preparation for joining the British Army.

In the run-up to applying, and during the application process, create a multi-week timetable. Divide each day into 1-hour chunks, and then fill that time with different activities to help you improve. You’ll want to include:

• Psychometric testing practice – Sit down with some practice papers and take them under timed conditions.
• Fitness training – Use your action plan to lay out your fitness regime.
• Interview training – Spend time reading through sample questions and exemplary answers. Then, create your own answers. If you have a friend or family member who can help, have them conduct a mock interview with you. This way, you’ll get a chance to overcome some interview nerves that you might have.

Remember to include breaks and rest time in your action plan. The last thing you want to do is completely exhaust yourself for the interview and testing stages of the selection process.

As previously mentioned, you need to spend a lot of time working on psychometric test questions to get you ready for the real tests. These tests are:

• Error-Checking;
• Spatial Awareness;
• Logical Reasoning;
• Number Reasoning;
• Category Reasoning;
• Word Reasoning.

You’ll need to be proficient in all six of these areas in order to pass the testing stage of the Army selection process.You can find out more about the psychometric tests here.

Once you have some practice papers ready, make sure that you sit them under timed conditions. For these tests, we recommend giving yourself 15 minutes to complete each test.

If you struggle with this time restraint, go back and re-read the explanations for the question types. Complete some questions at your own pace. Then, head back into the mock test environment.

If you’d like to sit some psychometric tests and give yourself the best chance of passing the selection process, check out our Army Aptitude Tests Testing Suite.

This might sound like an odd suggestion, but the interviewers will notice if you’re impolite or rude to them. Respect is a fundamental part of the role as a soldier in the British Army. So, to pass the selection process, you need to show that you can be respectful and courteous – no matter the circumstances.

If you think you could do with being more polite to others, try to incorporate politeness into your everyday life. By making politeness a habit, you’ll be courteous without even realising during the interviews.

Here are some ways to start being more polite during your daily life:

• Asking others how their days are, or have been, during conversation with them.
• Wishing others, such as service staff in restaurants and shops, a good day or evening.
• Holding doors open for others or allowing others to pass you whenever appropriate.

This is one of the most important concepts for you to grasp as an applicant in the British Army selection process.

Teamwork is a vital part of many roles, especially those of a soldier. Remember that you will be working in a group of people with different beliefs, backgrounds, and points of view. You need to be able to co-operate with others and obey instructions at all times. 

This also means that you will have to remain calm, even in situations where other team members might be frustrating or difficult. In your interviews, make sure that you give examples of when you’ve worked as a team, and what you did to ensure success.

Practice makes perfect, so long as it’s good practice.

Make sure that, whenever you’re conducting preparation, you’re giving it everything you’ve got. Think carefully about what you’re practising, and constantly look for better ways to do it.

For example, you might be waking up at 7am every day before school or work to go for a run. Why not change that time to 6am? It might be tough at first, but will help you get in the mindset of being a member of the British Army.

Now you’ve seen the top 5 tips for how to pass the British Army selection process. If you follow these steps carefully, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a successful candidate.

However, if you’re looking for more tips, advice, and preparation materials, check out our guides and online courses.

If you’re looking to improve your interview skills with sample questions and answers, check out How to Pass the Army Interview.

If you’re just getting started with your application and want an excellent overview for the entire process, check out our guide and online course: How to Join the British Army.