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Air Ministry Pamphlet 15 - Appendix V - 1946
This is a transliteration of the
content, as a facsimile would be difficult to read. 
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Appendix V
to
A.M. Pamphlet
15
(17th Edition) |
THE QUALIFYING EXAMINATION
1. Candidates who are qualified for direct entry, under the provisions of
Appendix VI to this pamphlet, are required to take only the General Intelligence
Test in the qualifying examination (for dates, see para. 14 of this pamphlet).
All other candidates, including "Service" candidates, are required to take the
whole of the qualifying examination.
2. "Service" Candidates. — Candidates either of whose parents is
serving or has served in the Royal Air Force, the Auxiliary Air Force, the Royal
Air Force Volunteer Reserve or the Women's Auxiliary Air Force or who has served
in the Royal Flying Corps or the Royal Naval Air service may be permitted by the
Air Council to sit at the examination as "Service" candidates. To be successful,
such candidates must reach a qualifying standard determined by the Air Council.
Application for a "Service" candidature (if the parent is serving) should be
made through the C.O.; otherwise it should be made direct to the Under-Secretary
of State, Air Ministry, E.S.2 (c), Kingsway, London, W.C.2. The grant of a
"Service" candidature is invalid unless the candidate also obtains a
nomination.
3. Examinations, which occupy one day only, are conducted at centres situated
as near as possible to the candidates' places of residence.
4. A fee of 2s. 6d., payable at the examination centre on the examination
day, is charged to cover the cost of the examination. Full instructions as to
the method of payment will be sent to candidates by the nominating authorities.
Candidates who take only the General Intelligence Test are not required to pay
an examination fee.
Examination Subjects
5. The subjects of the examination are as
follows:—
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(a) |
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Educational — |
Mathematics
Science
Essay
English (Comprehension Test)
General
Paper. | |
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(b) |
General Intelligence Test. |
Candidates must attain such a standard in mathematics, in the General
Intelligence Test and in the examination as a whole, as to satisfy the Air
Council.
Syllabus
6. The syllabus on which Part (a) of the examination is
based is as follows :—
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(a) |
Mathematics. — Arithmetical calculations: the properties of angles,
triangles, circles, similar figures; loci; solution of right-angled triangles by
drawing and by the use of trigonometrical tables: calculation of the areas and
volumes related to simple solids such as cylinder, sphere, wedge, cone.
Algebraic calculation in connection with the geometrical properties named above
and with other problems, including: — the expression of an arithmetical
generalisation in a formula; the interpretation of a formula; the evaluation of
a formula for numerical values of its variables; the solution of easy equations;
simple examples of varying magnitudes treated by means of graphs and otherwise;
inversion of a formula (or change of the subject of a formula); use of
logarithms; gradient of a graph.
All candidates are required to
reach a qualifying standard in this subject. |
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(b} |
Science. — Candidates will not be expected to have covered the whole of
the syllabus outlined below. They are advised to limit their preparation to not
more than three Sections, one of which should be mechanics, if possible.
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Section 1. Mechanics. — Elementary notions of velocity,
acceleration, mass force and weight. Work, energy and power. Triangle and
parallelogram of velocities and forces; resolution of velocities and forces.
Moments. Simple machines and their application; efficiency. Friction. Centre of
gravity and stability. Gravitation and falling bodies. Density and specific
gravity. Pressure in liquids; water supply; hydraulic press; pumps; syphon.
Flotation; Archimedes' principle; atmospheric pressure; Barometers. Balloons and
aeroplanes. Boyle's Law.
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Section 2. Heat. — Expansion and its applications (linear
coefficients only). Thermometers. Conduction, convection and radiation.
Elementary ideas of change of state; specific heat and latent heat. Units of
heat measurement. Application of the foregoing to such topics as ventilation,
heating and cooling, winds, rain, dew, cloud, mist and fog. Clothing,
refrigeration. Nature of heat. Transformation of energy. Mechanical
equivalent.
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Section 3. Light and Sound. — (a) Light. —
Reflection at plane and spherical surfaces, and the formation of images.
Phenomena of refraction. Prisms and the spectrum. Colour. Formation of images by
thin lenses. Combination of two lenses to form a simple telescope and
microscope. The simple camera. (A clear conception of the main physical
phenomena of image formation is expected; formulae for mirrors and lenses are
not required.)
(b) Sound. — Transmission and velocity of sound in
air. Echoes. Elementary ideas of pitch and loudness.
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Section 4. Magnetism and Electricity. — Elementary ideas of
magnetism. The construction, care and uses of common primary and secondary cells
and batteries. Effects of an electric current with examples of practical
applications such as electric bells, simple electrical measuring instruments and
detectors, telegraph, telephone, lamps and fuses. Ohm's Law. Simple series and
parallel circuits. Joule's Law. Simple phenomena of electro-magnetic induction
with examples of practical applications such as the alternator, dynamo and
transformer. Principle of electric motor.
(All the applications should be
treated' only with sufficient detail to give an intelligent idea of
principles.)
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Section 5. Chemistry. — Elements, compounds and mixtures.
The separation of mixtures and the purification of substances by solution,
filtration, distillation, crystallisation, sublimation, etc. The chemistry of
air, water and chalk, including natural waters and water softening. Electrolysis
of water and the action of sodium, calcium and iron on water. Acids, bases, and
salts; neutralisation. Carbon dioxide; the carbon cycle-; respiration and
photo-synthesis. Carbon monoxide. Producer gas and water gas. Coal gas. Ammonia,
nitric acid, nitrates. Nitrogen cycle.. Common salt. Spirits of salt; chlorine.
Bleaching.
Reduction of iron oxide by carbon, carbon monoxide and
hydrogen and an elementary outline of the winning of iron from its
ores.
The use of symbols and formulae together with simple calculations
involving composition by weight.
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(c) |
Essay. — Candidates will be required to write an essay on a subject of
general or particular interest. A wide choice of subjects will be given and
candidates will be assessed on their ability to express themselves, clearly and
on their factual knowledge of the subject chosen, or on original ideas. With
regard to spelling, it is essential in this and in other subjects that the
candidate should make his meaning clear. A misspelling that obscures the meaning
will involve loss of marks, but no penalty will be exacted for a misspelling
that leaves the meaning clear
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(d) |
English (Comprehension Test). — Questions will be asked on the subject
matter of a given passage to see whether candidates have read it with
understanding.
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(e) |
General Paper. — This may contain questions on English Literature,
geography, history, current affairs, woodwork, metal work and on matters of
general everyday interest. | |
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