Felt better walking in than I did walking out. My comparison of
ATCPrep and the ATSA:
Differences: Easier but also harder on the ATSA only because I was so used to ATCPrep breaking up the numbers with a prompt. Slipped up on the last round for a few numbers, it felt like the test was never ending.
1-9 only/V.Fast, never answered over 4. If that plastic guide they put on the keyboard bothers you like it did me, put it to the side (not under the monitor so you don't accidentally power off the monitor and freak out like I did). Scored 100% on ATCPrep, probably got 95% on the ATSA. Without the pacing from ATCPrep, I was going faster than my brain could keep up. If you're using 1-20 on ATCPrep for this and equations, you're only hurting yourself.
Equations: Similar but easier on the ATSA.
1-9/Fast until you get to the 2 equation stage where it drops to 1-4 only. Went from scoring 97.5% ATCPrep to missing one or two on the ATSA for no good reason.
Visual: Felt more confident on ATCPrep than I should have.
V.Fast/random close to real thing, maybe a bit faster on ATSA. Went from 100% ATCPrep to maybe 80-90% on ATSA. That eyeball they use on the ATSA is too inconspicuous. Mix it up with ATCPro for sure.
Collisions:
- At settings of V.high/V.fast/difficult/fast it felt close to the real thing. The ATSA gradually increases the difficulty, going from two slow dots to all nine coming out at the same time immediately crashing. The last few tasks were more difficult than what ATCPrep offers. Completely ignore the math once you get more than 5 dots on the screen. On the preps I was scoring 85% totals (math included) towards the end, broken down: 100% conflict, 45% response, 100% conflict-free, 90% efficiency. I had about 5 collisions on the ATSA and my efficiency went to shit, 50% maybe. ATCPro would probably be more helpful if you can use a keyboard.
- The math is absolutely more difficult, I went from 80% on ATCPrep to what felt like 10-20% confidently answered equations. The equations flash for two seconds and then disappear, allowing you to answer until the next question pops up. I believe I answered right as the next question showed way too many times.
My advice? Don't overdo it with ATCPrep. One of each scenario a day MAX, probably skip every other day. Once you start seeing the patterns take a break and try to forget them.
For logic and reading comp, don't bother with LSAT. The examples I found online were much more intense than the ATSA. I don't think cram sessions would help at all.
As for the personality quiz, be as honest as you can be. I felt like I was forced into lying to myself by the end of it even though I answered 100% honestly and accurately throughout. Had to keep telling myself it's just a ranking of the statements, not true/false statements.
Overall, I feel pretty good about it, mostly because of comments I've read about doing poorly and still getting BQ. I will update once we hear back.