Form 3, Booklet 1
I just took the ASTB Form 3, Booklet 1 about an hour ago. This was my first time taking the ASTB, so I didn't have the luxuary of knowing the old version. Or having unlimited tries to take it.
I didn't study as much as I wanted to, especially beefing up on my simple algebra and mathematics. I pretty much ran out of time on the Math section. And oh by the way, there are six sections: Math, Reading Comprehension, Spacial Apperception, Mechanical, Nautical and Aviation Information, and Supplemental Aviation Information. There is no bio section; you fill out a little bit about yourself before the test starts. Everything is what it seems to be and the last section is a combination of 34 questions drawing from all the previous five sections.
As to specific questions, the packet listed online here at Airwarriors was pretty helpful. The ARCO book, although apparently outdated, did help me a little bit in some of the aviation and nautical terms, rules of the road, and a few mechanical and math questions. I did not go through the entire book, and only studied a few hours from it prior to taking the test. In general, I studied on and off over the summer, and hit it hard about four days before the test (mostly because that's when I found out when it was scheduled for).
I wouldn't say the Math section is hard - it's actually pretty easy math - but it goes fast. And if you don't remember some basic formulas (like me), it gets a little hairy. This all depends on which form you have as well. I can't think specifically of any problems right now, but studying the packet should help. Go over simple algebric equations and formulas too. Know the area of a triangle is 1/2b*h.
The Reading Comprehension section was a breeze for me. I used maybe half the time. It's all little paragraphs (no more than about five sentences) you have to read and then pick the truest statement below with the information provided. WITH THE INFORMATION PROVIDED. That's key, because some things will be true, but only because you know it beforehand, not because the paragraph states it. Only pick the answer that can reasonably be inferred with the given information. There is no vocab section.
The Spacial Apperception section wasn't as hard as everyone made it out to be. I was a little tight on time, but not too bad. Some of the pictures weren't very good quality, and I had a hard time determining whether the plane was going parallel with the coast or heading into land. A steep climb/dive is pretty apparent, the banks a little less so. The ARCO book has a good SA test; I recommend taking it. Be careful of the yawed views too. The land is pretty much diagnol across the views, so picking the right answer was a little harder. I don't know how I did, but I think I did fine.
Mechanical was pretty much common sense. The Airwarriors packet is good in this respect; the ARCO book also helped a lot. I have never had physics, so I didn't know some of the basic formulas, but if you think about it, they're all common sense. They like forces questions, pulleys, voltage and current and resistor questions, weights too. I took Naval Engineering my first year in college, but I didn't remember much of it. That stuff helps.
Nautical and Aviation Information was a piece of cake, minus two or three I had no clue on. Know the rules of the road (overtaking airplanes pass on left; two heading at each other both turn right), colors (red=port, green=starboard), runway systems (blue lights on runway at night, numbering system is by direction [North=360 numbered 36 on runway, South=180 or 18, East=90 or 9, West=270 or 27), what different parts of the plane control (elevator controls altitude, rudder controls pitch, aileron controls roll or bank), boat knowledge (parts of the boat, nautical terms for different areas [port, starboard, conning tower, bulkhead, bow and stern, fore and aft, definition of draft]), and general navy knowledge. I actually had the question, "When was the Navy founded?" 1942. Definitely.
The Supplementary part was a mix of all the previous five parts. I had a lot of Reading Comprehension. It was only 34 questions, even though there was space for 50. I think they just want to see how you do with a mix of questions instead of a block of the same type.
That's all I've got for now. Hope it helps. It's the latest (like I said, I took it today) and greatest. I'll tell you how I did when I get it back. I'm kind of nervous about this three-time limit, but I do feel like I have room for improvement, especially on the Math section. Remember though, your most recent score is the one they take, regardless if your other scores are higher.
