Before booking the CATC aviation English test, check whether you are eligible, how your language proficiency will be assessed, and whether the result will meet your licensing authority's or employer's requirements. Knowing the test format is only part of that decision.

According to CATC's test overview, the assessment takes approximately 45 minutes and has six parts. This article explains the published information and brings together the registration requirements, fee, results timeline and retest interval. It is an independent ATCBase guide, not an official CATC notice. Confirm booking and payment arrangements with the test centre, and acceptance of the result with the organisation that requires it.

Who can take the test

CATC lists licensed air traffic controllers and pilots, as well as ab-initio ATC and pilot trainees. Its entry for trainees includes the wording “Pre-licensing Company ID Number”. See the official eligibility information.

That does not establish that any student can register. If you do not yet hold a licence, tell the centre which school or training organisation you attend, your stage of training and why you need the test. Ask which identification or supporting documents apply to you. The application checklist asks for a licence copy but does not explain the alternative for an unlicensed trainee on the same page.

If you need the result for a job application, licence issue or renewal, also check which tests and documents the receiving organisation accepts. Completing a language assessment and completing the relevant administrative process are separate steps.

What the test includes

CATC lists six parts in this order: an introduction, general and work-related discussion, two non-routine situations, discussion of an aviation topic, picture description, and two listening tasks. The test overview gives the approximate total duration, rather than a timetable for each part.

These tasks indicate a broader range of communication than fixed radiotelephony expressions alone. Talking about your experience and discussing a topic require extended exchanges; non-routine situations involve communication beyond familiar exchanges; picture description and listening introduce visual and spoken material. This is our interpretation of the listed tasks, not an official scoring specification for individual sections.

The overview does not specify a fixed duration for each part, the number of pictures, how often recordings are played or the full questioning procedure. One candidate's account should therefore not be treated as a guarantee of what happens in every test. Nor should the format of another provider's ICAO English test be assumed to apply to CATC.

Six test parts are not the same as six rating categories

Test parts describe what a candidate does. Rating categories describe how language performance is assessed. CATC states that the overall level is the lowest of the six category ratings, not their average. See its rating and results explanation.

For example, if five categories were rated at Level 5 and one at Level 3, the overall result would be Level 3. This hypothetical example illustrates the rule; it is not a candidate's actual result.

Sounding fluent alone is therefore not enough to establish an overall level, and a percentage of correct answers cannot be used to calculate it. When reviewing a result, look at the individual ratings as well as the overall level. Written model answers cannot demonstrate a complete spoken performance or the quality of live interaction.

The published fee and required documents

The CATC registration page lists a test fee of THB 3,000. The published application form gives the same amount and is marked REV 03, effective 19 July 2023. Check the current fee and form version with the centre before paying.

The registration page lists a certified copy of the applicant's licence, a certified copy of an ID card, and one one-inch photograph without headwear. It asks applicants to complete an application form and submit the paperwork at least two days before the test date, by email or in person.

Two details need clarification rather than guesswork. Unlicensed trainees and applicants using a passport should ask which alternative documents are accepted. Also, the webpage first refers to completing one application form but later says to submit two forms. Request the latest checklist from the centre so that this inconsistency does not result in missing paperwork.

How to book

Contact CATC-LPTC to establish available dates and times, then follow its instructions for submitting documents and paying. Do not assume that sending an application form means an appointment has been confirmed.

The official registration page lists [email protected] and +66 2 617 7115. It places the test centre on the seventh floor of Building A at CATC in Bangkok and provides access to its official LINE account. Use that page for contact and location information rather than relying on room numbers or payment details in older brochures.

If you need to arrange travel or time off, obtain confirmation of the appointment, reporting location and documents before you leave. Ask which conditions apply if you need to cancel, reschedule or arrive late. The English wording of the webpage's related fee provisions is unclear; an isolated sentence should not be treated as a definitive refund or penalty policy.

What to know about the test day

CATC's test information states that the entire test is recorded and candidates may not leave the room during it. Writing tools are provided, and test materials must not be taken away. Cheating, disrupting the test, or copying or removing materials can result in withheld results and a ban on future testing.

Claims of genuine questions taken out of the test room should not be a basis for preparation. Read the candidate instructions supplied for your appointment and confirm the reporting time and identity checks beforehand.

When results are available and when you can retest

Both the test information page and the application form say that results are normally provided within 10 working days where possible. This is not a guarantee of delivery on day ten, and working days should not be counted as calendar days.

If you have a licensing or employer deadline, explain it when booking and confirm how the result will be delivered and when it is expected. Avoid assuming that a test taken just a few days before your deadline will leave enough time.

CATC's test information allows unsuccessful candidates to retest, with at least one month between test dates. That does not guarantee an available appointment exactly one month later; a new date still needs to be arranged with the centre.

What to confirm before relying on the published information

Public information is not a complete confirmation of an individual booking. A fee page may not cover your circumstances, and a document checklist may not explain every trainee's status. Tell the centre your current status, the purpose of the result and any deadline, and ask it to confirm the requirements that apply.

The official links below take you directly to the relevant information. The registration and test information webpages do not display a clear revision date. If the centre's latest written instructions differ from a webpage, ask it to resolve the discrepancy before proceeding.

Official sources

Last reviewed: September 30, 2026.