1,001 questions about the ASTB (post your scores & ask your questions here!)

[eagles63ol]

I'm not going to lie, I went through the math section (which I was the most nervous about) positive that I was bombing it. I felt like I for sure knew maybe a third of the answers. It was a lot of exponents plus variables. A lot of "if 1/2n+10-n=15+2n, what is n?" <<That's probably not a valid question, but you get the idea for the format. Math is my weak spot, so the best thing I could do was use the answers to work the problems. If I could work the equation in a way that ended up giving me one of the answer choices, my best bet was to pick that one. *Edit- I remembered there were a couple of questions like this: "Joe traveled 25 mph for 15 minutes, 30 mph for 40 minutes, and 50 mph for 20 minutes. How far did Joe travel?"

Mechanical was also tough for me, also taking into account that I didn't study for it nearly as much as math. A couple like AC / DC current questions. A lot of electrical stuff in general. None of it was super complex like some of the questions I've seen on here in the last couple of pages. The thing I remember is, although I felt like I didn't know most of the answers, just using common sense I felt like I could pick the most reasonable answer.

With math, the test cut me off and ended with like 15 minutes to go. The big thing about the math section for me was TAKE YOUR TIME. You have plenty. I'm not saying spend 10 minutes on a question, but if you think you've got an idea about it, you've got time to work through a couple of problems to see if you can figure it out. I was super worried as well and felt under prepared despite having a math tutor twice a week for the last two months, so I feel your pain. If you've study and/or decent at math you will do just fine. None of it is super complicated, I'm just really bad at math.

 

[gabriellehale]

I'm not going to lie, I went through the math section (which I was the most nervous about) positive that I was bombing it. I felt like I for sure knew maybe a third of the answers. It was a lot of exponents plus variables. A lot of "if 1/2n+10-n=15+2n, what is n?" <<That's probably not a valid question, but you get the idea for the format. Math is my weak spot, so the best thing I could do was use the answers to work the problems. If I could work the equation in a way that ended up giving me one of the answer choices, my best bet was to pick that one. *Edit- I remembered there were a couple of questions like this: "Joe traveled 25 mph for 15 minutes, 30 mph for 40 minutes, and 50 mph for 20 minutes. How far did Joe travel?"

Mechanical was also tough for me, also taking into account that I didn't study for it nearly as much as math. A couple like AC / DC current questions. A lot of electrical stuff in general. None of it was super complex like some of the questions I've seen on here in the last couple of pages. The thing I remember is, although I felt like I didn't know most of the answers, just using common sense I felt like I could pick the most reasonable answer.

With math, the test cut me off and ended with like 15 minutes to go. The big thing about the math section for me was TAKE YOUR TIME. You have plenty. I'm not saying spend 10 minutes on a question, but if you think you've got an idea about it, you've got time to work through a couple of problems to see if you can figure it out. I was super worried as well and felt under prepared despite having a math tutor twice a week for the last two months, so I feel your pain. If you've study and/or decent at math you will do just fine. None of it is super complicated, I'm just really bad at math.

How was the reading for you?

 

[Justice22293]

Hello all! I took the OAR for the second time this week and scored a 47! Not too shabby, considering I received a 42 when I took it the first time last month. My package was completed (literally on the last day to submit!) for the August board, thus I'm waiting to hear back next month at this point. My background: B.S. Exercise Science (3.79), M.S. Exercise Science (4.0), OAR 47, applying for SWO August board.

The first test I studied for maybe a total of 5 hours in the week leading up to the OAR with a less than awesome score. With the help of the abundance of study guides found here, I studied for approximately 30-40 hours in the past month since. If there's any one piece of advice I could give someone, it's to study MATH more than any other subject. Also, as a person who also struggles with physics, I put a lot of time into understanding principles of physics rather than actually calculating things out. I will say the OAR gave me very similar, if not most of the same, questions between the first attempt and the second attempt. Math: probability, fractions (know how to divide, multiply, add, subtract them to save time rather than turning them into decimals), how many cards are in a deck (# of hearts, # of kings, etc.), how many sides of a die (6 sides), distance = rate x time equations (in any format), triangles, basic algebra, etc. Reading: with some practice of the first exam, and suggestions of others, I was able to really focus on picking key phrases out of the dry material that was presented to me to eliminate choices that I knew were wrong. STAY CONFIDENT AND CALM! My test froze halfway through this section, and luckily, we were able to recover the exam without losing any progress. I kept my cool and stayed focused. Mechanical: know how to balance levers, the best angle of degree of force in relation to a wrench (example), two stroke engines vs four stroke engines, buoyancy, conduction/convection/radiation, ice cube floating in water (what is denser), etc. Again, I was better off understanding principles rather than trying to study exact questions that might appear on the OAR.

Final thoughts: I exited math with 10 minutes left, used all of my time in reading comprehension, and a minute left in mechanical comprehension. Earplugs definitely would help, considering there were multiple people talking in my recruiting office that I couldn't shut out. Take your time but use it wisely! Pace yourself, stay focused, and STAY CONFIDENT! If you put in the time to study, you shouldn't be stressed out. I can't stress that enough. Good luck, candidates!

 

[gabriellehale]

Hello all! I took the OAR for the second time this week and scored a 47! Not too shabby, considering I received a 42 when I took it the first time last month. My package was completed (literally on the last day to submit!) for the August board, thus I'm waiting to hear back next month at this point. My background: B.S. Exercise Science (3.79), M.S. Exercise Science (4.0), OAR 47, applying for SWO August board.

The first test I studied for maybe a total of 5 hours in the week leading up to the OAR with a less than awesome score. With the help of the abundance of study guides found here, I studied for approximately 30-40 hours in the past month since. If there's any one piece of advice I could give someone, it's to study MATH more than any other subject. Also, as a person who also struggles with physics, I put a lot of time into understanding principles of physics rather than actually calculating things out. I will say the OAR gave me very similar, if not most of the same, questions between the first attempt and the second attempt. Math: probability, fractions (know how to divide, multiply, add, subtract them to save time rather than turning them into decimals), how many cards are in a deck (# of hearts, # of kings, etc.), how many sides of a die (6 sides), distance = rate x time equations (in any format), triangles, basic algebra, etc. Reading: with some practice of the first exam, and suggestions of others, I was able to really focus on picking key phrases out of the dry material that was presented to me to eliminate choices that I knew were wrong. STAY CONFIDENT AND CALM! My test froze halfway through this section, and luckily, we were able to recover the exam without losing any progress. I kept my cool and stayed focused. Mechanical: know how to balance levers, the best angle of degree of force in relation to a wrench (example), two stroke engines vs four stroke engines, buoyancy, conduction/convection/radiation, ice cube floating in water (what is denser), etc. Again, I was better off understanding principles rather than trying to study exact questions that might appear on the OAR.

Final thoughts: I exited math with 10 minutes left, used all of my time in reading comprehension, and a minute left in mechanical comprehension. Earplugs definitely would help, considering there were multiple people talking in my recruiting office that I couldn't shut out. Take your time but use it wisely! Pace yourself, stay focused, and STAY CONFIDENT! If you put in the time to study, you shouldn't be stressed out. I can't stress that enough. Good luck, candidates!

thank youuu! I take mine monday!

 

[eagles63ol]

How was the reading for you?

I will preface this by saying reading is my strongest point. I used to read everything I could get my hands on. So for me, it was very manageable. However, the reading is EXTREMELY dull, very administrative (policies, procedures, memos, etc.) and you really have to concentrate to not lose focus. What worked for me was, after reading the paragraph, I looked at the answers to the given question. I was able to almost always eliminate all but two answers as obviously wrong. The remaining two could usually go either way and I don't have any advice on that other than to ponder the overall tone and message of the passage and use that to make your best choice.

 

[amematt1]

While this message will likely just become one of many future posts a perspective test taker will have to sift through, I wanted to add my thank you to those of you who've answered questions and propagated the study materials found on this forum. I took the ASTB-e on July 10 and received a 62 7/7/7. I attribute much of my success to the free resources I found here. Good luck to all future test takers, and remember to lean to your target ear and draw the compass rose.

 

[Leva]

Do you remember any of the mechanical questions at all? What do you mean conceptual? Gears? Levers?

i got one pulley question with a standard moveable pulley so the mechanincal adavanatge was 2. the lever question i got was two forces at different lengths on one side of a seesaw and had to find where to put a 100lb weight on the other side to balance it. i got one question of how many gears were counter clockwise and a belt question where you had to know that the closer it is to the center the faster it turns. but thats all i can remember rn

 

[eagles63ol]

Variations on the speed of water flow through different sized pipes. Like is it slower or faster through a smaller pipe vs a larger pipe. I had one question on Bournelli effect, so just know what that is, it's not hard

 

[gabriellehale]

HEY GUYS! I passed my OAR for SWO! waiting for next board. I got a 45! I found out today that last week they lowered the score for SWO to 40 from my recruiter. However I do have good LORs for my score and he said that 45 is taken for SWO pretty well. So now is the waiting gameee!!!

Math: mine was mostly algebra, no logs, one subtle geometry question, two distance rate problems.
Reading: Mine was various... some longer passages some short, only a few were hard to read and understand the rest were pretty interesting. What helped me was use scratch paper and write out each choices probability of being right and wrong due to passage facts...
Mechanical: MORE CONCEPTS THAN ANYTHING! Two seesaw questions on how much weight a child should be, and where the fulcrum should be, a couple of volume questions on hot air balloons, a few conceptual electrical questions.
Other than that thats it.. gouge helped a lot, Barrons book on mechanical and flight tests is worth the read I believe those books have very specific definitions and explanations.

 

[gabriellehale]

oh also I bought the Kaplan ASVAB prep book.. helped a LOT. comes with free flashcards in the book too!

 

[OperationChungus]

HEY GUYS! I passed my OAR for SWO! waiting for next board. I got a 45! I found out today that last week they lowered the score for SWO to 40 from my recruiter. However I do have good LORs for my score and he said that 45 is taken for SWO pretty well. So now is the waiting gameee!!!

Congrats! I’m happy that you improved OAR score!

 

[Jmack2019]

Hi Everyone! I would like to thank you everyone on this forum for all the help, support and positivity! I took the OAR my first time today and I, personally, don't feel too thrilled about my score, it isn't the worst by any means! I received a 45 on the OAR. I studied only for about 2.5 weeks and went through everything I could find here. If you would like the study material I used, please let me know and I'd be very happy to help/give you the study material.
Quick rundown of my experience:

Math: All algebra. I did not as good as I wanted to and it showed. I had a scientific notation question in the very start, which I didn't study for. But other than that, I had basic probability, D=RT and a few geometry questions.

Reading: Not too bad. A few dry sections, but not bad.

Mechanical: Very conceptual and more Potential Energy questions then I would have thought. I had only 1 Bernoulli's principal question. And a few AC questions.

I hope I'm competitive enough. But I won't be surprised to find out I need to take it again.

My background:
3.55 B.A in Energy Policy and Management
Going for either SWO or Supply Corp

Thank everyone again for everything!

 

[Jmack2019]

HEY GUYS! I passed my OAR for SWO! waiting for next board. I got a 45! I found out today that last week they lowered the score for SWO to 40 from my recruiter. However I do have good LORs for my score and he said that 45 is taken for SWO pretty well. So now is the waiting gameee!!!

Math: mine was mostly algebra, no logs, one subtle geometry question, two distance rate problems.
Reading: Mine was various... some longer passages some short, only a few were hard to read and understand the rest were pretty interesting. What helped me was use scratch paper and write out each choices probability of being right and wrong due to passage facts...
Mechanical: MORE CONCEPTS THAN ANYTHING! Two seesaw questions on how much weight a child should be, and where the fulcrum should be, a couple of volume questions on hot air balloons, a few conceptual electrical questions.
Other than that thats it.. gouge helped a lot, Barrons book on mechanical and flight tests is worth the read I believe those books have very specific definitions and explanations.

Congratulations gabriellehale on your score too! I appreciate your positivity and energy! I hope everything goes well for you too and that you get accepted! Best of luck!

 

[gabriellehale]

Congrats! I’m happy that you improved OAR score!

THANKKKKSS!!

 

[gabriellehale]

Congratulations gabriellehale on your score too! I appreciate your positivity and energy! I hope everything goes well for you too and that you get accepted! Best of luck!

Thanks!! Best of luck to you and your endeavors too!