Introduction
Motion Challenge is a Stage 1 module in the NATS Preparation Suite. Each round is a puzzle. You slide the ball into the hole, and the round counts only when you do it in the fewest steps.
The task
Drag a coloured block or the ball to a free cell, or tap it and then tap where it should go. A piece can travel several cells in one straight move, and that still counts as one step. Coloured blocks move and can close the way through. Striped walls stay where they are.
The ball has to finish in the hole. Reaching the hole in more steps than the shortest route does not score, and running out of time on that puzzle does not score either. Each puzzle has its own time limit. A missed puzzle may show the shortest route before the next one starts.
A route that looks short can still need a block moved aside before the ball can pass.
Priorities
Find the shortest route before the first slide. Moving a block out of the way and then back costs steps you may not have. Use a long straight slide when the path is clear, and leave the striped walls where they are because they cannot be part of the plan. When a missed puzzle shows the route, use it to see which block had to move.
The in-module walkthrough slides one block, then the ball, and finishes in the hole. Grid Deduction, Spatial Recall, and Spatial Orientation are other Stage 1 modules in the suite. A broader overview is available in NATS Test Explained.
Disclaimer: NATS Preparation Suite is an independent training tool for candidates preparing for NATS air traffic controller recruitment. This product is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to NATS, Aon, or any assessment provider. NATS is a trademark of NATS. Practice tasks are original and are not copies of live selection items.
