At first glance, the route-finding test seems simple: a route is shown, and you count the turns. In practice, however, the route-finding test is much more challenging than expected when under time pressure—especially because mentally tracking routes is a skill that many test-takers rarely practice explicitly in their daily lives. However, those who are familiar with the format and use the right techniques can score points here in a very targeted way.
What is the WFG test?
WFG stands for Waypoint Figure Test and is one of the ten modules of the DLR Cockpit Certificate. It tests spatial orientation and the ability to mentally track and correctly evaluate a route—regardless of how the route is oriented on the screen.
The rationale is obvious: Pilots must process routes, course deviations, and spatial positions quickly and reliably in their minds—without being confused by the orientation of the map or the form of presentation. WFG tests precisely this fundamental skill.
Format and Procedure
Here’s how a WFG session works:
- A line drawing of a path appears on the screen—a sort of top-down view of a route with several changes in direction
- You mentally follow the path from start to finish , counting left and right turns separately
- Then you enter the number of left turns or the number of right turns
- The paths are presented under time pressure —there is no unlimited viewing time
- The complexity increases as the test progresses: more turns, more complex route shapes, and sometimes unfamiliar viewing angles
The key challenge: The route can appear in any orientation on the screen. A “left turn” from a bird’s-eye view can be an actual right turn—or vice versa—depending on the direction of the imagined route. If you don’t account for this, you’ll systematically count incorrectly.
What the test really measures
- Spatial orientation: The ability to put oneself in a perspective and judge directions relative to the direction of travel—not to the screen display
- Mental transformation: Mentally “driving” routes, even if they appear rotated or mirrored on the page
- Concentration and accuracy under time pressure: Counting accurately even with a short viewing time, without miscounting
The WFG is not a test that measures whether you have good orientation in the sense of “finding your way in a foreign city.” It’s about the very specific cognitive ability to mentally traverse a two-dimensional representation while correctly adopting the perspective.
The most common mistakes on the WFG
1. Counting turns from the screen’s perspective
This is the classic beginner’s mistake. If you view the route from a bird’s-eye view and simply count where the line goes left or right—without considering the direction of travel—you’ll count incorrectly at many turns. The crucial question is always: “As the driver, do I turn left or right here?”—not: “Does the line on the page go left or right?”
2. Losing count on complex routes
On longer routes with many turns, candidates often lose track—especially when several turns follow in quick succession. Without a clear counting strategy, this happens almost inevitably under time pressure.
3. Spending too much time on each task
The WFG is a speed test. Those who proceed very carefully and slowly with each task end up losing more points due to skipped tasks than from occasional mistakes. A moderate tolerance for errors at a high pace is better than perfectionism at a slow one.
4. Not having a fixed method
Candidates who decide spontaneously from task to task how to follow the path are slower and more prone to errors. An internalized, consistent method—e.g., always tracing the route with your finger or always having an imaginary figure run along the path—is significantly more efficient.
Specific Training Tips for WFG
Tip 1: Establish Your Perspective
Before you start counting, determine: Where is the starting point, and in which direction does the figure move? Then consistently follow the path from this perspective—not from the bird’s-eye view of the image. This sounds obvious, but it’s often forgotten under time pressure.
Tip 2: Choose a counting method and automate it
Many candidates find success with a simple method: the left hand counts left turns, the right hand counts right turns—using fingers in each case. This relieves the working memory because you don’t have to count and follow the route at the same time. Alternatively, silently counting along with two separate counters works well.
Tip 3: Build speed, not just accuracy
Start training slowly and carefully—but actively increase your pace once you’ve mastered the method. WFG is a module where the time component is crucial. If you train only for accuracy, you’ll be too slow on test day.
Tip 4: Incorporate everyday training
WFG can be easily practiced in daily life: While walking or driving, consciously count how many left and right turns come up. This may sound trivial, but it sharpens exactly the mental skill that WFG tests—without additional screen time.
How to integrate WFG into your preparation
WFG is one of the modules that can be mastered well with clear methodology and regular practice. Recommended structure:
- Weeks 1–2: Develop and solidify your method — accuracy over speed. Consciously eliminate perspective errors
- Weeks 3–5: Targeted increase in speed — Gradually shorten the time limit per task
- Weeks 6–8: Train WFG in combination with other modules to maintain performance even under overall stress
On DLR-TEST.TRAINING, you train WFG in a format faithful to the original with increasing difficulty — the adaptive stage system ensures that the complexity of the routes grows with your skills. After each run, you can see exactly where you miscounted turns.
Go directly to WFG training: app.dlr-test.training →WFG
Train for WFG now
Authentic route patterns, increasing difficulty, clear feedback after every run.
Frequently asked questions about the WFG test
Do I count turns from my perspective or from a bird’s-eye view?
Always from your own perspective—that is, as if you were driving or walking the route yourself. A turn is to the left if you, as the driver, turn left—regardless of how the line is oriented on the screen. This is the most common misunderstanding and should be clear from the start.
Can I trace the route with my finger on the screen?
That depends on the specific test situation—if in doubt, it’s better not to tap the screen. Mentally following the route with a clear mental image of the direction of travel is the more reliable method.
I constantly lose count on long routes. What helps?
Two things: First, a clear two-channel counting method (e.g., separate fingers for left and right). Second, more practice with long routes—counting errors decrease significantly with practice because the mental navigation becomes more automatic.
