ASTB

The Aviation Selection Test Battery is an exam to measure a candidate’s verbal and quantitative ability, spatial awareness, and knowledge of general aviation concepts.

Examinees seeking admittance to non-aviation officer programs also have the option of taking only the OAR portion of the test.

If you are interested in enlisting in the Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard, the ASTB-E is utilized by the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard to determine if candidates are qualified for flight officer training programs.

The ASTB-E is administered at Navy Recruiting Districts (NRDs), Navy ROTC units at selected universities, and Marine Corps Officer Selection Officer (OSOs).

High school candidates applying for the navy and coast guard military academies or NROTC and college graduates with a bachelor’s degree are eligible academically to take the exam.

Computer adaptive testing (CAT) allows the test administrators to get a more complete view of your skills in less time and with fewer questions. These tests start with a question of average difficulty. If you answer this question correctly, the next question will be harder; if you answer it incorrectly, the next question will be easier. This continues as you go through the section, with questions getting harder or easier based on how well you perform. Once you’ve answered enough questions for the computer to determine your score, that section of the test will end.

The ASTB-E is offered in both CAT and paper-and-pencil form.

There are seven sections on the ASTB-E: Math Skills Test, Reading Comprehension Test, Mechanical Comprehension Test, Aviation and Nautical Information Test, Naval Aviation Trait Facet Inventory, Performance Based Measures Battery, and Biographical Inventory with Response Validation.

The ASTB-E has 319 multiple-choice questions + scenarios and can take up to 3 hours and 15 minutes to complete.

There are four types of scores for the ASTB-E:

1. Aviation Qualifications Rating (AQR)

2. Pilot Flight Aptitude Rating (PFAR)

3. Flight Officer Flight Aptitude Rating (FOFAR)

4. Officer Aptitude Rating (OAR)

The AQR is used to predetermine an aviation candidate’s prospective success in preflight instruction and the primary phase of ground school. Although all subtests are used to compile this rating, the score received on the MST is heavily weighted. This rating will be a 1 – 9, where 1 is equivalent to 1 – 4 percent, 5 equals 40 – 60 percent, and 9 equals 96 – 99 percent. The percentage represents how your scores compare to those of other candidates who took the exam.

The PFAR is indicative of expected success for flight performance tasks during flight training for Student Naval Aviators (SNAs). Although all subtests are used to compile this rating, the score received on the ANIT subtest is heavily weighted. This rating will be a 1 – 9 similar to the AQR stanine.

The FOFAR identifies the probable achievement for a position as a student naval flight officer (SNFO). Although all subtests are used to compile this rating, the score received on the MST subtest is heavily weighted. This rating will be a 1 – 9 similar to the AQR stanine.

All candidates receive this rating, regardless of desired officer specialty. OAR scores are ranked from 20 to 80 based on three subtests (MST, RST, and MCT). Ratings used for positions:

• OCS—OAR

• SNA—AQR and PFAR

• SNFO—AQR and FOFAR

Minimum requirements for each program differ according to program and service, but most examinees obtain scores between 40 and 60.

The test is administered through APEX (“Automated Pilot Examination”) secure web-based testing platform. You will need to schedule to take the ASTB-E at the location at which you intend to test. Contact your local US Navy recruiter to see if you qualify.

The ASTB-E paper exam is sent back to NOMI for scoring. Unlike other military aptitude tests, recruiters must wait for the official score. They are not provided an unofficial score for the ASTB-E. The ASTB-E CAT exam is scored immediately after completing the exam.