If you are applying to SunExpress as a pilot candidate, there is a good chance you have already come across the name Mollymawk. Mollymawk is a third-party, computer-based assessment platform used by a number of airlines as part of their pilot selection processes. According to publicly shared candidate accounts, SunExpress uses Mollymawk in the cognitive-assessment leg of its selection, where applicants are tested on working memory, simultaneous task management (often called time sharing), spatial orientation and attention. Selection procedures can change at any time, so always treat the airline's own communication as the final word on what you will actually face.
This guide explains what the Mollymawk assessment is, which cognitive skills it is generally reported to measure, and β most importantly β how to prepare for it in a structured way. You will find a skills overview table, a realistic six-week study plan, two worked practice examples in the CadetPro style, free browser demos you can try right now, and answers to the questions candidates ask most often. CadetPro is an independent preparation platform; nothing on this page comes from, or is endorsed by, SunExpress or the assessment provider.
What Is the Mollymawk Assessment and What Does It Measure?
Mollymawk is a computer-based testing platform developed by a third-party assessment provider and used by several airlines to screen pilot applicants. Rather than testing aviation knowledge, it focuses on underlying cognitive abilities β the mental skills that flight training is later built on. According to candidate accounts, SunExpress applicants encounter Mollymawk during the cognitive-assessment stage of selection, completed on a computer under timed conditions.
The skill areas most consistently reported by candidates are working memory (holding and updating information while you use it), simultaneous task management or time sharing (performing two or more tasks at once without letting either collapse), spatial orientation (keeping track of position and heading from instruments or abstract visual cues) and attention (sustaining concentration and reacting to relevant signals over time). These are the same broad ability domains that appear in most modern pilot aptitude batteries, which is why structured practice transfers well between them.
Two caveats matter before you plan anything. First, assessment providers update their test batteries and airlines adjust their selection processes, so what candidates reported in the past may differ from what you face. Second, no preparation platform β CadetPro included β has access to the actual test content. The honest goal of preparation is familiarity with the task formats and stronger underlying skills, not memorised answers.
Mollymawk Skill Areas and How to Train Them
The table below maps the four reported Mollymawk skill areas to what they measure, the task formats candidates typically describe, and the matching training options on CadetPro.
| Skill area | What it measures | Typical task type | How to practise on CadetPro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working memory | Holding, updating and recalling information β sequences, codes, instructions β while performing other operations | Memorise a sequence of items that disappears, then recall or apply it after a delay or an interfering task | Timed recall drills in the Working Memory Pro course, progressing from short sequences to longer ones with interference |
| Time sharing (simultaneous task management) | Dividing attention across two or more concurrent tasks without sacrificing accuracy on either | A continuous primary task such as tracking, combined with secondary prompts like mental arithmetic or signal detection | Multi-task scenarios in the Time Sharing Pro course that add secondary tasks step by step |
| Spatial orientation | Building and mentally rotating a picture of position, heading and attitude from abstract cues | Instrument-style heading and position questions, rotated figures, cube nets and 2D/3D orientation puzzles | 2D and 3D modules in MollySpider Spatial Orientation Pro, with a free starter course to begin |
| Attention and vigilance | Sustaining concentration over time and responding quickly to relevant signals among distractors | Monitor a display for rare or specific targets and respond as quickly and accurately as possible | Vigilance-style reaction drills available across the Mollymawk course category |
Train all four areas rather than only your favourite. Mollymawk-style assessments are typically structured as a battery of subtests, and one weak module can drag down an otherwise solid performance.
How the SunExpress Selection Process Typically Works
The outline below is based on publicly shared candidate experiences and is deliberately generic: SunExpress defines, runs and may change its own process at any time, and stages can differ between cadet and experienced-pilot intakes. Use it for orientation, not as a promise of what you will encounter.
Application and screening
Candidates typically apply online and submit the documents listed in the airline's current job posting. The airline then screens applications against its own published requirements β licences, medical status, language proficiency and similar criteria, depending on the intake. Only the official posting and the airline's direct communication are authoritative for what you need at this stage, so read them carefully and prepare your paperwork early rather than guessing from forums.
Mollymawk cognitive assessment
According to candidate accounts, shortlisted applicants are invited to a computer-based session on the Mollymawk platform covering working memory, time-sharing, spatial orientation and attention tasks. Sessions are timed, instructions are presented on screen, and subtests are usually preceded by a short practice or familiarisation phase. Read every instruction slowly and completely: misunderstanding a rule costs far more points than careful reading ever will, and this is the single most controllable factor on test day.
Interview and next steps
In industry practice, the cognitive assessment is typically followed by interview stages β often a mix of HR-style and technical questions β and, depending on the intake, possible further evaluations. Which stages occur, in what order and with what outcome is decided solely by SunExpress and communicated directly to candidates, so this guide makes no claims about specifics beyond that general pattern.
A 6-Week Study Plan for the Mollymawk Assessment
Six weeks is a comfortable preparation window for most candidates: long enough to build genuine skill, short enough to keep intensity high. The plan assumes roughly 45β60 minutes of focused practice per day, five to six days a week. Adjust the pace to your starting level rather than rushing through the weeks on schedule.
| Week | Focus | Suggested practice |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Baseline and familiarisation | Try every task type once without preparation, record your scores, identify your two weakest areas and set up a simple practice log. |
| Week 2 | Working memory foundations | Daily recall drills with short sequences; add interference tasks from mid-week; finish each session with one short spatial warm-up. |
| Week 3 | Spatial orientation | 2D heading and rotation drills early in the week, 3D cube-net work later; keep one brief memory drill daily to retain gains. |
| Week 4 | Time sharing | Combine a tracking-style primary task with secondary prompts; start slowly and increase secondary-task load only once accuracy is stable. |
| Week 5 | Integration and weak areas | Mixed sessions rotating all four skill areas; give your weakest area double time; begin practising under stricter time pressure. |
| Week 6 | Consolidation and taper | Full mixed sessions early in the week, lighter sessions later; review your log, repeat your best-scoring routines and prioritise sleep. |
Daily routine
A productive session has three parts. Begin with a five-minute warm-up on a task you already do well, to settle into test mode. Then spend 30β40 minutes on deliberate work in the day's focus area, broken into short blocks with brief pauses, increasing difficulty only when accuracy holds. Finish with ten minutes of mixed review touching the other areas. Track accuracy and speed separately in your log β improving one while holding the other steady is the realistic goal. Stop while your concentration is still good: a tired extra half-hour mostly teaches sloppy habits.
The final week
In the last week, reduce volume and protect consistency. Do not introduce new task types β novelty this late creates anxiety, not skill. Run shorter, high-quality mixed sessions, and rehearse the practical side as well: the quiet room, the keyboard and mouse you will use, the sleep schedule. Two days before the assessment, switch to light refreshers only. Walking in rested and calm is worth more than any last-minute drill.
Worked Practice Examples (CadetPro Style)
Example 1: Working-memory recall item
Format: six characters appear on screen one at a time, each visible for about a second before disappearing: K β 7 β R β 2 β V β 9. After a short blank pause, the prompt reads: "Enter the digits you saw, in the order they appeared." The correct answer is 7, 2, 9. The difficulty is selective recall β you must store all six items while they stream past, then filter out the letters at retrieval, all without seeing anything on screen.
Strategy: run a verbal rehearsal loop as the items appear ("K, seven, R, two, V, nine") and mentally tag the digits as they arrive, so the filtered answer is already half-built before the question appears. Chunk longer sequences into pairs or triples instead of holding them as singles. In training, lengthen sequences gradually and then add interference β a simple arithmetic prompt between presentation and recall β which is exactly the progression used in the Working Memory Pro course.
Example 2: Time-sharing prioritisation mini-scenario
Format: your primary task is to keep a drifting marker inside a centre circle using the arrow keys. Every few seconds a letterβnumber pair flashes in the corner; if the number is even you press the spacebar, if odd you ignore it. Meanwhile a gauge slowly empties, and when it crosses a marked line you must press R to reset it. Now imagine all three demands arrive together: the marker is drifting left, "B4" flashes, and the gauge is approaching its line.
Walkthrough: correct the marker first β it is a continuous task whose error compounds every moment you ignore it. Then press space for the even number, a discrete action that takes a fraction of a second. The gauge comes last because it moves slowly and has the latest deadline. The principle is to rank tasks by how fast their cost grows, not by which stimulus appeared most recently. Fixating on one task while the others decay is the classic failure mode; build a steady scan rhythm instead of reacting to whatever shouts loudest. The Time Sharing Pro course trains this progression deliberately: a stable single task first, then one added demand, then two.
Try the Free CadetPro Demos First
The fastest way to understand these task formats is to feel them under time pressure. The demos below run free in your browser with no signup, and they mirror the style of CadetPro's full training modules.
practise reading headings and relative positions from instrument-style 2D cues against the clock.
Open in new tab βfold cube nets mentally and match rotated 3D figures, the classic spatial-visualisation challenge.
Open in new tab βmonitor a display for target signals and see how stable your reaction speed stays over time.
Open in new tab βCommon Mistakes Candidates Make
Most preparation problems are predictable. The patterns below appear again and again in candidate forums and in our own users' practice logs.
- Practising only your strongest area. Repeating tasks you already score well on feels productive but changes nothing; a battery rewards balance, and your weakest subtest sets your ceiling.
- Training every task in isolation. Memory drills alone do not prepare you for recalling items while tracking a marker; combined practice is the entire point of time-sharing training.
- Hunting for "real questions". Nobody outside the provider has them, and modern batteries typically generate items from large pools, which makes memorisation worthless. Invest in skills, not leaks.
- Chasing speed before accuracy. Fast wrong answers compound into bad habits. Stabilise accuracy first, then raise tempo gradually while watching that accuracy holds.
- Cramming in the final week. Cognitive performance depends heavily on rest; a fatigued brain on test day can undo weeks of gains. Taper, do not sprint.
- Skim-reading instructions. Each subtest's rules differ in small but decisive ways. Candidates regularly lose entire subtests to a misunderstood rule rather than to low ability.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is the Mollymawk assessment?
Mollymawk is a third-party, computer-based assessment platform used by some airlines in pilot selection. It measures underlying cognitive abilities β reported by candidates as working memory, simultaneous task management, spatial orientation and attention β rather than aviation knowledge. The exact composition of the battery is controlled by the provider and can change over time.
Does SunExpress definitely use Mollymawk?
According to publicly shared candidate accounts, SunExpress has used Mollymawk in the cognitive-assessment leg of its pilot selection. Airlines can change providers, test content or process structure at any time, so treat the invitation and instructions you receive directly from SunExpress as the only authoritative source.
Is CadetPro official?
No. CadetPro is an independent preparation platform with no affiliation to SunExpress, Mollymawk's provider or any other airline or assessment company. We build our own training modules based on publicly described task formats and cognitive-science principles. Airline and provider names appear on this page only to describe what you are preparing for.
Are CadetPro's practice questions the real Mollymawk questions?
No β and you should be sceptical of anyone who claims otherwise. Real test content is confidential, and modern assessment batteries typically generate items from large pools, which makes memorisation pointless anyway. CadetPro's modules train the underlying skills and task formats so that nothing about the structure of the assessment surprises you.
How long should I prepare?
Most candidates do well with four to eight weeks of regular, moderate practice; the six-week plan above is a solid default. If your baseline scores are uneven, extend the timeline for your weak areas rather than adding more hours per day β short, frequent, focused sessions beat marathon ones.
Which skill area should I train first?
Run a baseline across all four areas in your first week, then start with your weakest. For most candidates that is either time sharing, because everyday life rarely demands genuine dual-tasking, or 3D spatial visualisation. Keep the other areas warm with short maintenance drills while you focus.
Does practice actually improve performance on cognitive tests?
Familiarity reliably removes the two biggest avoidable score-killers: misunderstood instructions and unfamiliar formats. Within trained task types, accuracy and speed typically improve with deliberate practice. What no honest provider will promise is a guaranteed outcome β selection decisions involve many factors and belong entirely to the airline.
What setup do I need to practise effectively?
A desktop or laptop with a physical keyboard, a mouse, a quiet room and an uninterrupted block of time. Practising on a phone misrepresents the response timing and screen layout of computer-based testing. Treat every practice session like the real one: notifications off, posture upright, full focus.
Can I try CadetPro for free before buying anything?
Yes. The MollySpider Spatial Orientation Free course gives you a no-cost entry into spatial training, and the browser demos in the demo section above run instantly without an account. Start there, measure your baseline, then decide which Pro course matches your weakest area.
What happens after the cognitive assessment?
Candidate accounts generally describe interview stages and, depending on the intake, possible further evaluations for those who progress. The order, content and outcome of these stages are decided solely by SunExpress and communicated directly to candidates, so this guide deliberately makes no claims beyond that general pattern.
Is this guide available in Turkish?
Yes. The Turkish edition, covering the same skill areas, study plan and practice strategy, is available on our SunExpress Mollymawk hazΔ±rlΔ±k page.
What are the stages of the SunExpress Mollymawk cadet process and in what order do they run?
Based on candidate accounts, the typical flow is: application, document upload and photo, English assessment (online iTEP or an accepted language certificate), the Mollymawk aptitude test, an inventory/personality questionnaire, a psychologist interview, a video interview, the board interview, a simulator assessment, and the medical stage. The main filtering happens mostly at the board, video interview, and Mollymawk stages. Because the order and content can change between cycles, the binding reference is the invitation correspondence sent to you.
Which modules make up the Mollymawk test?
According to candidate reports, Mollymawk consists of three aptitude modules and two knowledge modules. The aptitude modules measure spatial orientation, time sharing, and working memory, while the knowledge modules cover mathematics and physics. The stage also includes an English assessment. The module mix can change with the provider's updates.
Can you fail the mathematics and physics modules?
Based on community experience, the mathematics and physics knowledge modules do not have a pass/fail threshold; elimination is determined only by the aptitude modules. These knowledge scores may still be considered in the overall board evaluation. That is not a reason to skip preparation, and current practice can vary by cycle.
How are the Mollymawk aptitude modules scored?
According to candidate accounts, the aptitude modules are scored on a relative basis, comparing you with other candidates in a similar age range. There is no fixed, publicly confirmed absolute pass mark; your score gains meaning relative to other applicants. Treat any source that quotes an exact threshold with caution and confirm the current criteria through the official process.
Is the real Mollymawk test harder than the practice attempts?
Candidates find the overall similarity high, but the real test is generally faster and more demanding. They often note that commands come more quickly in spatial orientation, and that time and task variety increase in time sharing and working memory. Preparing a little above your target level and getting familiar with the format is therefore the safer approach.
What practice scores should I aim for in the Mollymawk modules?
Because no clear official threshold is published, the community only discusses some reference scores for feeling comfortable in practice; these are targets kept high for safety, not a firm cut-off. Candidates note that scores usually drop a little in the real test, so leaving a safe buffer in practice makes sense. Using CadetPro's SunExpress Mollymawk modules, you can measure these skills and set your own readiness level.
Where is the Mollymawk test held and do I choose the location?
According to candidate accounts, the test is taken at a computer in the company's assessment center, and more than one city may be offered. Some candidates note that choosing the main center is practical, since the stages that follow the test can continue in the same place. Because location and conditions can change by cycle, rely on your invitation letter.
Do I get a retest for Mollymawk, and do I retake all modules?
Based on community experience, a limited number of retests is allowed, and in a retest you are usually responsible only for the module you failed, not the others. Candidates report a short waiting period before a retest and that the practice package may need to be obtained again. No retest is reported for the board stage; confirm the current rule through the official process.
How long do I wait between stages, and does a delay mean bad news?
Turnaround times between stages vary a lot; some candidates hear back within days, while others report waiting weeks or even months. A delay on its own does not carry a negative meaning, since the process can occasionally slow down on the human resources side. If you hear nothing for a long time, politely following up through the official application channel is recommended.
How long does the whole process take from application to training?
Based on community experience, the total time changes noticeably depending on the company's current planning; for some candidates it is a few weeks, for others a few months. If your language certificate is ready, the early stages usually finish faster; without it, the process naturally takes longer. There is no fixed timeline, so confirm the current planning through official channels as you go.
Which English exams does SunExpress accept?
According to candidate accounts, the accepted options include TOEIC, TOEFL IBT, IELTS Academic, and iTEP Academic Plus; for IELTS only the Academic version counts, not General. Candidates without a certificate are reportedly provided a free online iTEP by the company, and those who pass it are not asked for an additional document. Confirm the current exam list and required scores from the official posting.
What is the iTEP exam the company sends like?
According to candidate reports, the iTEP is a single-session, proctored online exam; it can be taken from home with camera and microphone on, or at a test center, and lasts about an hour and a half. Its sections are reading, writing, listening, speaking, vocabulary, and grammar, and the speaking part is described as the most challenging because its time is short. Since the format can change by cycle, rely on the official instructions.
If I fail the iTEP is the process over, and if I pass do I also need IELTS?
According to candidate accounts, passing the iTEP serves in place of an English certificate, and you are not separately asked to provide IELTS or TOEFL. Failing the iTEP does not necessarily end the whole process; candidates report you can continue by submitting a valid score from another accepted exam while the posting is open. Since appeals against the result are reportedly not accepted, it is important to prepare seriously.
How does the SunExpress video interview work?
According to candidate accounts, the video interview is one-way, meaning there is no live interviewer on the other side; it is in English and not technical. Each question appears on screen separately, and after a short thinking time you answer while your camera records, with usually a few questions in total. Joining from a computer and giving fluent, sensible answers is recommended, and practicing a video interview beforehand helps your spoken English.
What is assessed in the video interview?
According to candidate reports, the questions are motivational and situational; you might be asked why you prefer the company or what a good team relationship should look like. The assessment focuses on your knowledge of the company, your reason for choosing it, consistency with the psychologist interview, and English good enough for training. When you do not know something, being clear and honest is recommended over trying to fill the time.
What is the inventory/personality test after Mollymawk?
According to candidate accounts, this is a personality inventory made up of many agreement-scale items, usually given on the same day as Mollymawk. The same topic is asked again in different wording to measure how consistent your answers are. Rather than artificially trying to leave a constantly positive impression, answering honestly and consistently is recommended.
How does the psychologist interview go, and is it eliminating?
According to candidate reports, the psychologist interview is usually in Turkish and can last one to one and a half hours, assessing your character, motivation, and outlook. While this stage is said not to be directly eliminating, notes from it can reportedly influence the video interview and board evaluation. An honest, calm, and consistent approach is therefore recommended.
How long is the board interview, in what language, and when do results come?
According to candidate accounts, the board interview starts in English; human resources runs it mostly in English, while other members may speak Turkish at times. The duration varies, and what matters is the candidate's answers and CV. Reportedly the result is now announced through the system about a week after the interview, with a phone call first in a positive case.
Which aircraft is used in the simulator stage, and is there a dress code?
According to community accounts, the simulator assessment is done not with a large airliner but with a light multi-engine training aircraft model, using arrow keys. No mandatory dress code is reported; smart casual is seen as enough, while a more formal look is expected at the board. Since details can change by cycle, rely on your invitation information.
Is a Class 1 medical certificate alone enough, and is e-NabΔ±z checked?
Based on community experience, a Class 1 (EASA) medical certificate is required but not sufficient on its own; the final decision rests with the company's aeromedical examiner. For e-NabΔ±z there is no clear, verified information specific to SunExpress, and this point is at the rumor level. This is general community reporting and not medical advice; for your individual situation consult an authorized aeromedical center or an AME, and obtain a Class 1 before the process if you can.
What documents are required to apply, and what are the graduation and military service conditions?
According to candidate accounts, the document stage asks for a CV, ID, criminal record certificate, military service status, and graduation certificate; this stage is short and has no test. Graduation is expected to be a four-year on-campus bachelor's degree. A certain deferment period for military service is treated as normal, with some flexibility as long as it does not coincide with theoretical training; confirm current conditions from the official posting.
What is the age limit, and why is it not stated openly in the posting?
Based on community experience, eligibility is built on not exceeding a certain upper age relative to the start of training, and this limit can be updated from one posting to the next. Because the application platform restricts showing age information, the limit often does not appear openly in the posting text. For the exact and current figure, check the active posting and the date-of-birth question on the application screen.
Who pays for the cadet training, and is it repaid?
Based on community experience, cadet training costs are initially covered by the airline and then repaid in installments from the salary over a long period once the pilot starts flying as a first officer; this is called a bonding model. Accommodation is reportedly not covered, while an allowance and meal support are provided. Amounts and contract terms vary by program and cycle; for binding figures, rely on the official contract text.
Don't meet Mollymawk day unprepared
Measure and build working-memory and time-sharing skills before assessment day.
Related CadetPro Courses and Pages
Continue with the resources that match your current focus:
- SunExpress Mollymawk Working Memory Pro β timed recall training with progressive interference and difficulty.
- SunExpress Mollymawk Time Sharing Pro β multi-task scenarios that build divided attention step by step.
- MollySpider Spatial Orientation Pro β full 2D and 3D spatial-orientation training.
- MollySpider Spatial Orientation Free β a no-cost starting point for spatial work.
- Mollymawk course category β all Mollymawk-focused training in one place.
- SunExpress preparation category β every SunExpress-related resource on CadetPro.
- Upcoming SunExpress Mollymawk courses β new training modules currently in development.
- Working memory test guide β a deeper look at the science behind memory testing.
- Spatial orientation test guide β formats, examples and strategy in detail.
- Turkish version of this guide β the same material in Turkish.
- THY PACE test preparation hub β Other airline β Turkish Airlines cadet aptitude (PACE) assessment guide.
- Pegasus pilot test preparation hub β Other airline β Pegasus cadet Case assessment guide.
Independent Platform Disclaimer
CadetPro is an independent preparation platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, authorized by, or officially connected to any airline or third-party assessment provider mentioned on this page. Airline and provider names are used only to describe the preparation context.