The Aviation Selection Test Battery is an aviation selection test that every OCS candidate has to take and every prospective aviator has to take. This test contains six subtests. The first three consists of basic math, English and mechanical comprehension questions. The last three focus more on aviation.
The first of these final three consists of a basic aviation and nautical information test. An example question from this section might ask if a nautical mile is longer, shorter or the same length as a statute mile (the answer is it is a bit longer because it takes into account the curvature of the earth). Another might ask you how an aircraft actually flies (the airflow over a wing must travel faster than the airflow under a wing to keep up because the top of the wing is longer, this creates an area of high pressure above the wing and low pressure below it causing lift). Lift is also created by the downward motion of the air off the back of the wing.
The first of these final three consists of a basic aviation and nautical information test. An example question from this section might ask if a nautical mile is longer, shorter or the same length as a statute mile (the answer is it is a bit longer because it takes into account the curvature of the earth). Another might ask you how an aircraft actually flies (the airflow over a wing must travel faster than the airflow under a wing to keep up because the top of the wing is longer, this creates an area of high pressure above the wing and low pressure below it causing lift). Lift is also created by the downward motion of the air off the back of the wing.
The fifth section deals with spatial appreciation. It will give you the picture from a drone’s camera. The camera is pointing forward, as if it were the view from a cockpit. You then get the view of a tent with 4 parking lots equally spaced around the tent. You see the picture of the drone and the direction it is heading along with a compass rose and the picture from the camera. With this information you must discern which parking lot is facing north, south, east or west in as little time as possible.
The last section of the test deals with take saturation when flying. There will be a joystick set up with a throttle at you test station. The test will ask you first to use the throttle to follow the indicator on the screen (the bottom one). As it moves up and down erratically at different speeds you must try to keep the box over the indicator.
Next it will ask you to use the joystick to keep the airplane in the gun sight as it moves around the screen randomly (the top screen). Next it will ask you to do both at the same time which is where you start to become slightly task saturated. Finally, it will tell you how to solve certain emergency scenarios with the buttons on the joystick. It will ask you to remember how to solve these three different kinds of emergencies.
During the final test you will have to use the joystick and throttle to keep their cursors over their targets as you did before; but now you will also be tasked with solving an emergency at the same time and manipulating the buttons to solve the emergency. This emphasizes not only the task saturation that can be experienced in flight, but also the fact that in an emergency situation you cannot stop flying the plane.
Next it will ask you to use the joystick to keep the airplane in the gun sight as it moves around the screen randomly (the top screen). Next it will ask you to do both at the same time which is where you start to become slightly task saturated. Finally, it will tell you how to solve certain emergency scenarios with the buttons on the joystick. It will ask you to remember how to solve these three different kinds of emergencies.
During the final test you will have to use the joystick and throttle to keep their cursors over their targets as you did before; but now you will also be tasked with solving an emergency at the same time and manipulating the buttons to solve the emergency. This emphasizes not only the task saturation that can be experienced in flight, but also the fact that in an emergency situation you cannot stop flying the plane.
Upon completion of the test you will immediately be notified of you scores. You will receive four different scores; an officer aptitude rating (OAR), an academic qualification rating (AQR), a pilot flight officer rating (PFAR) and a naval flight officer flight aptitude rating (FOFAR). The OAR scores can vary from 0 to 80. The minimum required to pass is 20. The AQR scores can vary from 1 to 9. The minimum for this section is 3. The PFAR and FOFAR rating can vary for 1 to 9 as well and the minimum score needed to pass is 4.
Barron's Military Flight Aptitude Tests is a great book to purchase if you are trying to practice and study for the test. It includes information on the Navy, Army and Air Force tests. It also includes two practice tests for each services test. Studying and practicing is essential for doing well on the ASTB.