Jeremy Sirven
Member
Does anyone have atrickpay's study gouge and be willing to send it to me?
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1,001 questions about the ASTB (post your scores & ask your questions here!)
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Intel101
Ready too see my dream come a reality
Jeremy Sirven
Member
Thanks!
mike112
"Welcome to Earf" - Capt. USMC (Ret) Steven Hiller
Just finished the ASTB and got 58/7/9/7. Used the Apatrick personal study guide (the same one from the post above), the Barrons book and the Khan academy website. All the breakdowns on here are spot on with what I saw, so I wont beat a dead horse with that. Also I used this app called iDichotic, I feel that it helped me greatly with the dichotic listening portion of the PBM. I got it on my iPhone in the app store, it was free.
I hope this helps, PM me if you have any questions about what I saw on the test.
I hope this helps, PM me if you have any questions about what I saw on the test.
Awesome scores, congrats!
mike112
"Welcome to Earf" - Capt. USMC (Ret) Steven Hiller
From a previous post from RUFiO with regards to the 18 MAY 16 board:
BOARD STATS:
Student Naval Aviator (1390)
Population AVG GPA AVG AQR AVG PFAR AVG OAR
Total Applications 146 3.24 6 7 54.61
Professionally Recommended 86 3.26 6.7 7.2 57.53
Not Recommended 60 3.2 5.1 5.7 50.47
Percent Selected 59%
Student Naval Flight Officer (1370)
Population AVG GPA AVG AQR AVG FOFAR AVG OAR
Total Applications 140 3.18 6 6 54.64
Professionally Recommended 75 3.17 6.85 6.91 58.75
Not Recommended 65 3.19 5.02 5.4 49.89
Percent Selected 54%
Hope that helps to answer your question.
Chav317
New Member
I'm going to be honest, I am extremely devastated right now. I have taken the ASTB twice in the past two years and have yet to earn a qualifying score to even be considered for flight school (Coast Guard). The first time I was still a student at the CGA and got 63/6/4/6. Two weeks ago (after being afloat for a year in the fleet) I got 49/5/4/5. I need at least a 5 on the PFAR, which I haven't been able to get. Now I'm extremely fearful and concerned. I must take it again in November if I want to make the next convening panel before getting reassigned elsewhere for my second tour. I am having a hard time figuring out why my PFAR score is so low. I think part of the problem is that I keep running out of time and didn't get to finish the math and mechanical comprehension sections both times I took the test. And of course, now I am extremely stressed because this is my last chance. If I can't get the score I need this time, my dreams will be crushed. I need as much advice and help as I can get. I just downloaded the above PDF study guide and have used Khan Academy to relearn math skills (for my previous tests I just used the new ASTB-E study guide). I guess what I am looking for most is a reliable book to study from and maybe some words of encouragement.
How did you do on the ANIT and UAV sections? Those subsets also play a big part in your PFAR score
Chav317
New Member
What is the ANIT and UAV? The spatial orientation and flight controls part?
The section that asks about aviation and nautical info and then the UAV is with the parking lot. I improved those dramatically and was able to get an 8
Chav317
New Member
This whole time I have thought that I was struggling most with the math and mechanical comprehension sections. I thought I did alright with the UAV and parking lot orientation. Having been in the Coast Guard, I didn't struggle with the nautical questions. I don't think I did well with the aviation ones, I think I got more of them wrong than the nautical ones. And again, maybe I just am giving myself too much credit, but I don't think I struggled with the parking lot. Only missed it a handful of times. Maybe I was too slow?
Gotem_coach007
Member
Big shout out to this forum. Thanks to all who contributed. I took the OAR today and got a 53. The math portion is a lot of DRT, adding work of two people, negative exponents, arithmetic and geometric sequence formulas, probability, and proportion. I don't remember anything about the reading and I don't understand how anyone can prepare for it. I feel that being active duty helped me on that portion. The mechanical comprehension section was quite easy. I had some pulley questions (MA and calculating force), some electrical problems, I had two questions just asking the formula (P=F/A and Density), Bernoulli's principle was also asked (round object surrounded by waves), torque problem with three wrenches (which picture provides more torque) and some basic F=MA.
CaptainKirk
New Member
Taking the whole ATSB next Wednesday and been reading through these posts here on the forum (all of which seem to be pretty in line with what friends and other applicants that have been awarded flight slots have mentioned. Is there any last minute advice as to what to be most current and proficient with?
BIG Thanks guys/gals!
BIG Thanks guys/gals!
BlueSky94
Member
Just took my third and final attempt of the ASTB-E and I couldn't be more pleased: 58 8/9/8. My previous score was a 49 5/6/4, mostly due to freaking out during the exam. After my second try, I considered giving up an aviation spot. Later, during this summer, I studied hard AND developed clever tricks to do better with the ASTB in general and the PBM in particular. I'm sure this can help other people who were in the same boat I was a few months ago.
Study Materials
1. Barron's Officer Candidate School Test (especially 3rd edition)
2. FAA Flight Manual (only read the first four chapters, the rest of the manual won't be covered in great detail on the test)
3. Jobtestprep.com ASTB Mechanical Comprehension tests/handbook subscription (very helpful! Keep in mind there's a 3 month subscription when you purchase)
4. The compressed ASTB study guide an AW member posted a while ago, contains 14 pages from each sub-test.
Here's the type of questions I saw from my sitting:
MATH
Contrary to what some members claimed, the ASTB doesn't always start with the easiest questions. The first one I got was a rational equation involving two variables: 2(x-3) = y-7/2. Not terrifying, but also not one of those cakewalk questions you frequently see on the ASVAB. The questions, of course, got harder and I ran into a lot of logarithmic and statistics problems. Nothing extreme, just stuff like: log2(1/4) = x. Where you have to convert to exponential and figure out the value of x that best fits the equation (hint: it's less than 1 in this case). There was also a problem about infinite series (what is the value of n when 1/n + 1/n^2 + 1/n^3 + ... = 1) and one about finding the amount of water left in a cylinder when a sphere is dropped in it. I had two problems involving equilateral triangles and I had to make best use of the formulas I was given.
READING
Pay close attention to the sample question they give before the real test. It gives you a hint on how to eliminate the other answer choices and arrive at the one that makes the most sense. The key is identifying facts or main ideas from the passage even if they don't appeal that much at first. At first I thought I was doing bad because I started getting questions that were only 2-3 sentences long. Then I went back to getting ones involving dry military briefings that I had to dig deeply. All else I can say for this is: Don't stress too much with this sub-test. Just stay focused and keep your eyes peeled because attention is crucial for this part.
MECHANICAL
This was much easier than expected. Mostly common sense physics and only one or two problems involving calculations (F = ma). I don't recommend glossing through the AP physics study guides. Just buy a book from Barron's titled: Mechanical aptitude and spatial relations tests. It has practice tests on electricity, pulleys, gears and pliers. You won't regret this purchase
UAV
Here's a killer tip to rock this part: Just memorize the orientations of the north parking lots from different directions that the arrow is pointing towards, then use that to find the other lots (South/East/West). Example: The arrow is pointing southwest, then the north parking lot from that view is located southeast, therefore, the south parking lot is northwest, the east lot southwest, and the west lot northeast. Keep practicing like that and your speed will improve greatly, I guarantee! When I took this sub-test the second time around, I realized afterwards that I don't have the quickest wits to visual the parking lots from certain angles. This time I used my new method and I cut my speed from an average of 5 seconds per question to about 2-3 seconds, only missing 4 out of the 48 on the test.
FLIGHT STICK FUN
If you recently played video games using the joystick/throttle, you're in good shape. Keep in mind two things: 1. The controls for the test are VERY sensitive so you need to have quick reaction times to follow the yellow plane as it bolts from where you're trying to zero it in. 2. Part of the score for this exam involved the average error distance, meaning how far away your cursor is from the plane you're following during the time of the exam. So if it starts zig zagging, try to catch up with it. Even if the cursor doesn't light up green frequently (happened to me), at least stay as close as you can to the little bugger. Don't think you suck with this: my cursor for the multitasking/dichotic part was on target for like 10% of the time. The goal isn't to be perfect, it's to see how good you are with your peripherals and ears. So relax and have a bit of fun! Also, for the emergency scenarios part, try to get ALL THREE situations correctly handled. Drop what you're doing with chasing the planes and fix the emergencies with instructions listed before the test. If you need to know early, it's:
Engine malfunction: Fuel 100%, Engine 100%, then press clutch
Fire: Fuel 0%, Engine 0%, then press clutch.
Propeller failure: Engine 0%, then press clutch.
Bottom line is: Don't go hard on yourself; put your nerves aside and focus on the exam at hand. Good luck to y'all!
Study Materials
1. Barron's Officer Candidate School Test (especially 3rd edition)
2. FAA Flight Manual (only read the first four chapters, the rest of the manual won't be covered in great detail on the test)
3. Jobtestprep.com ASTB Mechanical Comprehension tests/handbook subscription (very helpful! Keep in mind there's a 3 month subscription when you purchase)
4. The compressed ASTB study guide an AW member posted a while ago, contains 14 pages from each sub-test.
Here's the type of questions I saw from my sitting:
MATH
Contrary to what some members claimed, the ASTB doesn't always start with the easiest questions. The first one I got was a rational equation involving two variables: 2(x-3) = y-7/2. Not terrifying, but also not one of those cakewalk questions you frequently see on the ASVAB. The questions, of course, got harder and I ran into a lot of logarithmic and statistics problems. Nothing extreme, just stuff like: log2(1/4) = x. Where you have to convert to exponential and figure out the value of x that best fits the equation (hint: it's less than 1 in this case). There was also a problem about infinite series (what is the value of n when 1/n + 1/n^2 + 1/n^3 + ... = 1) and one about finding the amount of water left in a cylinder when a sphere is dropped in it. I had two problems involving equilateral triangles and I had to make best use of the formulas I was given.
READING
Pay close attention to the sample question they give before the real test. It gives you a hint on how to eliminate the other answer choices and arrive at the one that makes the most sense. The key is identifying facts or main ideas from the passage even if they don't appeal that much at first. At first I thought I was doing bad because I started getting questions that were only 2-3 sentences long. Then I went back to getting ones involving dry military briefings that I had to dig deeply. All else I can say for this is: Don't stress too much with this sub-test. Just stay focused and keep your eyes peeled because attention is crucial for this part.
MECHANICAL
This was much easier than expected. Mostly common sense physics and only one or two problems involving calculations (F = ma). I don't recommend glossing through the AP physics study guides. Just buy a book from Barron's titled: Mechanical aptitude and spatial relations tests. It has practice tests on electricity, pulleys, gears and pliers. You won't regret this purchase
UAV
Here's a killer tip to rock this part: Just memorize the orientations of the north parking lots from different directions that the arrow is pointing towards, then use that to find the other lots (South/East/West). Example: The arrow is pointing southwest, then the north parking lot from that view is located southeast, therefore, the south parking lot is northwest, the east lot southwest, and the west lot northeast. Keep practicing like that and your speed will improve greatly, I guarantee! When I took this sub-test the second time around, I realized afterwards that I don't have the quickest wits to visual the parking lots from certain angles. This time I used my new method and I cut my speed from an average of 5 seconds per question to about 2-3 seconds, only missing 4 out of the 48 on the test.
FLIGHT STICK FUN
If you recently played video games using the joystick/throttle, you're in good shape. Keep in mind two things: 1. The controls for the test are VERY sensitive so you need to have quick reaction times to follow the yellow plane as it bolts from where you're trying to zero it in. 2. Part of the score for this exam involved the average error distance, meaning how far away your cursor is from the plane you're following during the time of the exam. So if it starts zig zagging, try to catch up with it. Even if the cursor doesn't light up green frequently (happened to me), at least stay as close as you can to the little bugger. Don't think you suck with this: my cursor for the multitasking/dichotic part was on target for like 10% of the time. The goal isn't to be perfect, it's to see how good you are with your peripherals and ears. So relax and have a bit of fun! Also, for the emergency scenarios part, try to get ALL THREE situations correctly handled. Drop what you're doing with chasing the planes and fix the emergencies with instructions listed before the test. If you need to know early, it's:
Engine malfunction: Fuel 100%, Engine 100%, then press clutch
Fire: Fuel 0%, Engine 0%, then press clutch.
Propeller failure: Engine 0%, then press clutch.
Bottom line is: Don't go hard on yourself; put your nerves aside and focus on the exam at hand. Good luck to y'all!