AAI ATC 2026: How to Handle Questions You Don’t Know in the CBT

 

Preparing for the AAI ATC exam is not just about knowing the answers. It is also about knowing what to do when you don’t know an answer.

 

In a competitive computer-based examination, you will eventually face questions that look unfamiliar, take too long to solve, or leave you between two options. Spending too much time on one such question can affect the rest of your paper.

 

The latest available official AAI Junior Executive (Air Traffic Control) syllabus for Advertisement 02/2025/CHQ specifies 120 questions for 120 marks in 120 minutes, with 60 questions in Part A and 60 questions covering Physics and Mathematics in Part B. The official syllabus also states that there is no negative marking.

 

This makes question selection an important part of your CBT approach.

 

Not Every Question Deserves the Same Amount of Time

 

When you see a difficult question, your first reaction may be:

 

“I have to solve this.”

 

But that is not always the best approach.

 

A question can be difficult because:

 

You don’t understand the concept.

 

You know the concept but cannot remember the formula.

 

The calculation is lengthy.

 

The wording is confusing.

 

You have never seen that question type before.

 

You simply need more time than expected.

 

 

The important skill is recognising which situation you are dealing with.

 

Use the Three-Category Method

 

During practice, divide questions into three categories.

 

Category 1: I Know It

 

You immediately understand the question and know how to approach it.

 

Action: Solve it.

 

Don’t waste extra time trying to make a simple question complicated.

 

Category 2: I Can Solve It

 

You understand the concept, but the question requires calculation or a few steps.

 

Action: Attempt it if the calculation is manageable.

 

These questions can become valuable marks when you have enough time.

 

Category 3: I’m Not Sure

 

You don’t know the concept, cannot identify the correct method, or the question is consuming too much time.

 

Action: Move ahead and return later if time permits.

 

This prevents one difficult question from affecting several easier questions.

 

The 30-Second Decision

 

You don’t need to literally use a stopwatch for every question.

 

Instead, develop a habit of quickly asking yourself:

 

Do I know the concept?

 

Do I know the method?

 

Can I realistically solve this now?

 

If the answer to all three is no, continuing to stare at the question usually isn’t productive.

 

Move forward.

 

You can always return to it later.

 

What If You Can Eliminate Options?

 

This is where your preparation can become useful even when you don’t know the answer immediately.

 

Suppose a question has four options and you can confidently eliminate two of them.

 

You have reduced the problem from four possibilities to two.

 

This can happen through:

 

Units and dimensions

 

Approximation

 

Sign conventions

 

Logical elimination

 

Formula relationships

 

Grammar rules

 

Basic factual knowledge

 

Checking whether an option is physically possible

 

 

However, elimination should be based on something you actually know—not simply on which option “looks right.”

 

Physics: Use Units When Appropriate

 

Physics questions can sometimes be checked using dimensions.

 

For example, if an option claims to represent velocity but its dimensions don’t match velocity, that option cannot be correct.

 

This doesn’t replace understanding the concept, but it can help identify incorrect options when you’re uncertain.

 

The same principle can be useful while checking formulas during practice.

 

Mathematics: Estimate Before Calculating

 

Not every numerical question requires exact calculation immediately.

 

Suppose the options are widely separated.

 

You may be able to estimate the approximate value first.

 

For example, if your rough calculation gives an answer around 200 and the options are:

 

50

100

198

500

 

you already know which range deserves closer attention.

 

This can save time in questions where exact calculation would otherwise take several steps.

 

English and Reasoning: Read the Question Carefully

 

Not knowing an answer isn’t always a knowledge problem.

 

Sometimes the issue is reading the question too quickly.

 

Words such as:

 

NOT

 

EXCEPT

 

INCORRECT

 

MOST APPROPRIATE

 

LEAST LIKELY

 

can completely change what the question is asking.

 

Make it a habit to identify the actual requirement before looking at the options.

 

Don’t Change an Answer Without a Reason

 

One common problem during examinations is unnecessary second-guessing.

 

You select an answer.

 

Then you start thinking:

 

“Maybe B is correct…”

 

Then:

 

“Maybe C…”

 

Then you change the answer without finding any actual reason to do so.

 

A better rule is:

 

Change your answer only when you identify a specific reason that your original answer was wrong.

 

For example, you notice a calculation mistake or remember a relevant formula.

 

Don’t change an answer simply because you suddenly feel uncertain.

 

Use the No-Negative-Marking Rule Correctly

 

The current official AAI syllabus states that there is no negative marking in the CBT.

 

That is an important exam condition.

 

But “no negative marking” does not mean you should spend unlimited time guessing.

 

Your priority should be:

 

Known answer → solvable question → elimination-based attempt → remaining questions

 

The objective is to use your available time efficiently.

 

Don’t Let One Question Become Five

 

Imagine you encounter a difficult Mathematics question.

 

You spend two minutes trying different approaches.

 

Then another minute checking calculations.

 

Then another minute trying to remember the formula.

 

Suddenly, one question has consumed several minutes.

 

The bigger problem is not the difficult question itself.

 

The problem is the opportunity cost.

 

Those minutes could have been used on several other questions.

 

This is why learning to leave a question temporarily is an important examination skill.

 

Create a “Return Later” Habit

 

If the examination interface allows you to mark or revisit a question, use that feature appropriately.

 

During practice tests, develop a habit of:

 

Read → Decide → Attempt/Skip → Move

 

Don’t treat skipping a question as giving up.

 

You are simply postponing the decision.

 

If you have extra time later, return to it with a fresh mind.

 

Practice Question Selection Before the Exam

 

You shouldn’t experiment with your question-selection strategy for the first time on the actual examination.

 

Use your mock tests and practice sessions to observe:

 

Which questions do you solve immediately?

 

Which questions consume too much time?

 

Which subjects make you hesitate?

 

Which calculations are unnecessarily lengthy?

 

How often do you change correct answers?

 

How many questions remain when you reach the end?

 

 

This gives you actual information about your solving behaviour.

 

Build a Personal Question-Solving Rule

 

After several practice sessions, create your own simple rule.

 

For example:

 

Easy → Solve immediately

 

Moderate → Solve if the method is clear

 

Difficult → Mark and move

 

Completely unknown → Don’t spend excessive time

 

The exact rule can vary from student to student.

 

What matters is having a decision process instead of making every question a fresh debate.

 

The Real Skill Is Staying in Control

 

A difficult question can create panic.

 

You may start thinking:

 

“If I don’t know this, maybe I haven’t prepared enough.”

 

Don’t let one question determine your confidence.

 

A CBT contains many questions.

 

Your job is not to prove that you can solve every question.

 

Your job is to use your preparation effectively across the entire paper.

 

Final Takeaway

 

AAI ATC preparation should include more than concepts, formulas and question practice.

 

You should also practise decision-making under time pressure.

 

Learn when to solve, when to move forward, when to eliminate options and when to return to a question later.

 

The official CBT structure currently available from AAI gives candidates 120 questions in 120 minutes, covering Part A and Part B, with no negative marking.

 

So while preparing, don’t just ask:

 

“Can I solve this question?”

 

Also ask:

 

“Is this the right question to spend my time on right now?”

 

That small change in thinking can make your practice sessions much more realistic.