I took the astb today for the first time, was supposed to start at nine but the first computer took a dive and I had to wait an hour for my OR to go to the local NROTC unit to get a backup lap top. I started studying the Barrons book and multiple ANIT Quizlets and math Khan acadmey vids right after I graduated on 4 May for 2-5 hours each day with one day off a week and I did only a cursory glance of flashcards the night before the test.
I got a
56 7/8/8
Finance and Real Estate grad
GPA: 3.01
Math: Basically Identical to the the post above,
Boston 2512. I remember what is the cube root of .27, If Jimmy ran at 8mph for two hours and sally started from where jimmy started, how far would she have to drive in order to pick him up? A few factoring problems and one where I had to find the area of a track when given the area of the field around it. I spent far too long I ran out of time and thats when my morale took a big hit. I was sure I had bombed this test.
Reading: Boring but cake. Just look for the buzz words like Never or always and I eliminated that answer. Try not to use the answer that necessarily makes the most sense using prior knowledge, rather which answer concurs with the info from the passage (tho they could be the same). I studied using the Barrons book and expected to have some word equivocation, Beautiful most nearly means A. Pretty B. Ugly C. French, but it was all reading passages. I had a few that stumped me but I was done long before the timer said zero.
Mechanical: Simple physics class could cover most of the questions I had. One about four springs holding a 100 kg mass, how much mass is spring B supporting, If paul can only supply a torque force of 60 lb ft, how long does his wrench have to be to turn 80 lb ft nut (forgive me if its the wrong units), showed two barrels filled with different liquids surrounded by water, which one was more dense. I only had prob 3 to 5 questions that required calculations, the rest were physics concepts. I did well but my mood was still bad from the math portion and I was salty.
ANIT: I used this study set on Cram
https://www.cram.com/flashcards/astb-aviation-nautical-information-test-anit-comprehensive-8330117 . My father was a Naval Aviator and Im a history buff so this was hella easy for me. I have been reading about the stuff since I could read. Questions I remember what aircraft did the navy modify to be a tanker during Desert Storm, what was the first plane to escort bombers into Germany, what creates vortices behind the wing, how do you "lean" an aircraft, I think a question about the first fly by wire too was on there. Thats all I can remember on the question front. I had all the confidence in the world coming out of this cuz I knew every answer (or thought I did). I did this part in less than 10 minutes.
UAV: Use the compass rose.
. Only reason I got any of these wrong was because A. I was rushing or B. I didnt use the compass rose for some reason. I missed maybe 4 but I got on a roll and slammed through this section. I did suffer a morale loss tho cuz all my wrong ones happened towards the end when I thought I could do it without the rose. If you watch the video and take a second to use your compass rose, you'll do better than I did, and I did alright.
PBM: This one really killed my mood at the time, after it was I certain I failed and looked at the results screen for a good 60 seconds dreading what score was in store for me. The listening, I like everybody else learned towards target ear. I missed a few cuz twitchy fingers but not many. Next came the vertical tracking, I often overshot the aircraft but once I dialed it in, cake. Next came the 2D tracking, that was much harder. I have used a stick before and have very limited flight time in a Cessna 172 but I still hated this one. I barely ever got my pip on the aircraft and thiis slowly made me angry. So when the vertical and 2D came about, I focused on the vertical tracking while following 2D out of the corner of my eye. When it came for the emergency procedures, write them down. You have 10 seconds to do the correct response and it helped not trying to remember do i put it to half power or full power? Over all this and the math made my confidence waver.
NAFTI: I dont remember where this came in the line-up but it was either first part of the ASTB portion or the last I feel like. Just a bunch or questions that may not necessarily describe you but, if given between those two choices and no other alternatives, which would you choose. I saw a lot of repeat options but in different combos like I like to eat ham or Im vegan then a few questions later would be like I like to eat ham or I get angry when my curtains catch fire (obvi not real choices but I literally remember none of these questions). I feel like theyre looking for what you choose and if you make consistent choices.
When I finished this test, I had done it way too fast I felt and I had totally expected to get a non-qualifying score. But like another poster said, dont count yourself out until you get the results. I was preemptively looking for dates I could retake the test before the next board in my mind and how much better I planned on studying for round 2.
Believe in your abilities. I normally dont get so down on myself but I was definitely feeling the pressure. I clicked that button to see the results and I got a 56-7-8-8, I couldn't believe it. I learned to better trust myself next ime. I am waiting to see when the next auto-qual board is, I think I scored well enough for it though correct me if Im wrong. I look forward to serving with yall and let me know if yall hear any good scuttlebutt about the next board, even though my OR says Im probs going for the August one regardless. Good Luck and God speed.