Test of English for Aviation
TEA test preparation
TEA is an interview of 25 to 30 minutes with one examiner. It tests the use of plain English in aviation situations, and the candidate's level is the lowest of six scores. This page describes each part of the test, the most common causes of a lower level and our method of preparation.
TEA in summary
- Length 25 to 30 minutes
- Examiner One, in person
- Parts Interview, listening and pictures
- Assesses Plain English in aviation
- Final level The lowest of six scores
- Certificate Within 10 working days
Format
The parts of the test
TEA was developed by Mayflower College in the United Kingdom. The structure below is taken from its notes for candidates.
| Part | Task | Skills assessed |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Interview | Questions about your role in aviation, followed by questions on a particular aviation topic. The examiner asks follow-up questions to encourage extended answers. | Fluency and range in extended answers |
| 2A. Messages | Six short recordings of a pilot or controller in a non-routine situation. After each recording you report the message and say whether the speaker was a pilot or a controller. | Comprehension and the completeness of the report |
| 2B. Longer messages | Four longer recordings. You report the problem, the speaker's requirements and any other details, and you may take notes on the task card. | Understanding and accurately reporting a longer message |
| 2C. Questions and advice | Three short recordings of general non-routine situations. You have 20 seconds to ask the speaker relevant questions, after which the examiner asks what advice you would give. | Interactions, in particular questioning, checking and advising |
| 3. Picture description | You describe the first picture in 30 seconds and then answer questions about a second picture and about both. | Precise description and comparison |
| 3. Discussion | A discussion of wider aviation topics connected with the pictures, in which you give opinions, speculate about the future and justify your views. | Structure and vocabulary in less familiar subjects |
Each recording is played once. You may ask for one repeat, but no recording is played a third time, and frequent requests may lower your comprehension score.
Common difficulties
Where candidates lose marks
TEA scores each of the six descriptors separately, and the final level is the lowest of the six. A single weak area therefore decides the result. In our experience the following are the most common difficulties.
01
Short answers in Part 1
The interview is the examiner's opportunity to hear you speak at length. Answers of one or two sentences give little evidence of fluency or range, and candidates should give reasons, examples and an account of what followed.
02
Incomplete reports in Part 2
The task is to report the whole message. Candidates who understand a message but omit the problem, a number or the request lose comprehension marks unnecessarily. Notes are permitted in Part 2B and should be used.
03
Vague questions in Part 2C
Twenty seconds allows time for two or three useful questions. They should establish what you would need to know in order to help, such as the location, the number of people involved, the seriousness of the situation and what the speaker requires. A request for repetition does not count as a question about the situation.
04
Limited language in Part 3
Speculating about the future and justifying an opinion require conditionals, modal verbs and linking language. Structure scores are often lower in this part of the test.
The article on why the rating is set by the weakest descriptor discusses this further.
Preparation
Our preparation for TEA
Lessons are given one to one on Zoom and follow the TEA format from the first lesson.
- A free 20-minute placement interview to establish your present level
- A written diagnostic report with six descriptor scores and an estimated level
- Lessons covering all three parts of the test, with aviation recordings for Part 2
- A full TEA-format mock test before you book the official test
Fees
- Placement interview: free, 20 minutes
- Single lesson: £35 for 60 minutes
- Ten-lesson package: £320
- Live mock assessment: £75
- Written TEA-format mock test: from £29
Questions about TEA
Is TEA a test of phraseology?
No. TEA tests plain English in aviation situations. Standard phraseology and operational knowledge are not assessed, and candidates are asked to understand, report and discuss rather than to give a correct readback.
Can I take notes during the test?
Yes, in Part 2B, on the task card and with the pen provided. Nothing may be taken into the room apart from your passport or national identity card.
Can I ask to hear a recording again?
Yes, once. No recording is played a third time, and frequent requests may lower your comprehension score.
When will I receive my result?
The examiner does not give a result on the day. The certificate is sent to your TEA centre within 10 working days.
How long is a TEA result valid?
The period is set by the licensing authority. Under EASA rule FCL.055 and the rules of the UK Civil Aviation Authority, pilots are re-assessed every four years at Level 4 and every six years at Level 5, and Level 6 is not re-assessed. Controllers under Regulation (EU) 2015/340 are re-assessed every three years at Level 4, every six years at Level 5 and every nine years at Level 6. The date shown on your own licence is the one that applies.
Can you book my TEA test?
No. Tests are booked through an approved TEA centre, and we do not sell test places. We prepare candidates for the test, and a mock test will show whether you are ready to book.
How long does TEA preparation take?
This depends on your starting level and on how often you can study. As a rough guide, a candidate at a sound Level 3 aiming for Level 4 needs about two months, and a candidate moving from Level 4 to Level 5 three to five months. A mock test in the first week or two gives a far more reliable estimate than any average.
TEA preparation
Arrange a free placement interview
Please give your role, the level you require and the approximate date of your TEA test. We reply to every enquiry by email, normally within one working day.
- Based in London, United Kingdom, with tuition online worldwide
- Hours By arrangement, in any time zone