DLR Exam TrainerWhat Is Tested in the DLR Test?
The DLR test combines computer-based performance tasks (concentration, memory, spatial reasoning) with knowledge tests in English, technical subjects and sometimes physics, plus a personality questionnaire.
The DLR test isn't a check of aviation knowledge — it's an assessment of core cognitive abilities plus knowledge in a handful of school subjects. The exact selection of modules differs a bit depending on the route you're taking — the Lufthansa Group/EFA screening (BU), the self-funded DLR Pilot Certificate, or the SWISS/EFA Switzerland pathway — but they all draw on the same underlying test battery: computer-based performance tests, knowledge tests in English, technical comprehension and sometimes maths/physics, and a personality questionnaire.
The main modules at a glance
| Module | What it measures | Learn more |
|---|---|---|
| SKT – triangle test | Concentration and sustained attention | SKT article |
| VMC – visual memory | Memory for patterns/symbols (n-back style) | VMC article |
| RMS – running memory span | Working memory for number sequences | RMS article |
| KRN – mental arithmetic | Calculation speed under time pressure | KRN article |
| OWT – instrument reading | Reading and interpreting gauges/displays | OWT article |
| PPT – cube folding | Spatial visualisation | PPT article |
| WFG – path figures | Spatial orientation | WFG article |
| TVT – technical comprehension | Basic physics/technical knowledge | TVT article |
| PHY – physics | Physics knowledge (formulas, units) | PHY article |
| ENS – English | English knowledge test | ENS article |
Depending on the procedure, a few other components can be added: MIC (monitoring and instrument coordination using a joystick/pedals — more in our question on MIC), ROT (spatial orientation), and a personality questionnaire (broadly along the lines of the 16PF — see our question on the personality test).
How the procedures differ
In the Lufthansa/EFA screening (Stage 1), the module selection tends to be broader and usually includes MIC and ROT alongside the knowledge tests. The self-funded DLR Pilot Certificate is assessed against EASA criteria across four areas — basic cognitive abilities, operational competencies, personality, and social competencies — rather than a simple pass/fail. On the SWISS/EFA Switzerland route, the DLR or SPHAIR certificate is only the first of several steps, followed by the airline's own assessment centre.
How stable is the module selection?
According to experience reports, exactly which modules appear, in what order and with what weighting, changes from time to time and is decided by the DLR or the commissioning airline/flight school. If you want a closer look at any single area, most modules have their own article with example tasks and strategies (see the table above).
The exact schedule, module selection and evaluation criteria can change — always check the current information from the DLR or the relevant airline/flight school.