In simple terms, the ASTB is primarily an indicator that establishes the criteria of college graduates who intend to become a first officer or pilot in the Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or US Navy,

Moreover, the results from this test help establish criteria as a non-aviation officer in the Coast Guard or US Navy commissioning programs. The nature of these programs involves appointments related to the Coast Guard or US Navy military academies, Officer Candidate School, and NROTC.

The NOMI or Naval Operational Medicine Institute is responsible for the development and monitoring of ASTB. The underlying purpose is to collaborate with the Naval Operational Medicine Institute to produce the test, which is computer-adaptive and as well as paper format. However, Commandant of the Marine Corps and the Naval Command takes care of the standard eligibility requirements.

What Exactly Does the Test Measure?

It is imperative to understand for candidates that the ASTB is mainly an aptitude test. However, it practically evaluates your aptitudes and skills collectively. Furthermore, it checks your capability to excerpt meaning from straightforward and complex written material.

In addition, it determines your understanding of fundamental mechanical concepts. For instance, you should have the ability to figure out aircraft orientation through mental rotations in 3D space. In short, the ASTB measures your nautical terminology and aviation knowledge.

Apart from familiarity with the functionality of various aircraft components, candidates should be aware of fundamental aerodynamic principles. Simultaneously, you should possess extensive knowledge about flight regulations.

That said, you could improve your performance on each section of the ASTB with rigorous preparation from the up-to-date study material. For instance, if you already have an aviation shipboard background, there is a good chance you will perform well on the test.

In fact, shipboard and aviation experience are good indicators of whether or not you will succeed in the training. However, there is a silver lining for examinees that might not have this kind of background or experience. Therefore, if you have even some basic knowledge and understanding of aviation-related areas, you will increase your chances of success.

Who Should Take the Test?

Anyone who desires to be a flight officer or pilot for the United States Navy, Coast Guard, or Marine Corps should take the test and live up to current minimum requirements prior to acceptance into an aviation-related training program. For the most part, applicants mostly make the most out of the test for recruitment in the Navy.

ASTB: Current Administered Method

Well, the administration of the ASTB occurs at Navy ROTC units at selective universities, Marine Corps Officer Selection Offices, and Navy Recruiting Districts. If you are in high school, you can apply for the coast guard academies or Navy. Similarly, college graduates who have a bachelor’s degree fulfill the academic criteria to attempt the exam.

So long as you are ready to attempt the ASTB exam, you can get in touch with your personal recruiter. As a result, your recruiter can help you figure out whether or not your basic qualifications are enough to schedule and then take the test.

Remember, the finalization of your geographical area where you will attempt the ASTB exam happens after a particular test seat gets available. However, possible testing areas involve NROTC units and Navy enlisting stations at specific universities. Your testing location can also be one of the military institutes or Marine Corps offices.

In addition, before you jump on an ASTB exam date, you will have to fill out a BI-RV subsection. You just need a computer and internet connectivity to take care of that. And do not forget to bring your ID card and as well as the SSC (Social Security Card) for the validation of your identity.

Ordinarily, the test proctor distributes the testing materials. In addition, you cannot bring or use a calculator at the time of the test. And if you arrive at the testing area with your recruiter, he or she cannot remain in the exam area. Similarly, the proctor is responsible when it comes to scheduling breaks. The best course of action for you would be to stay in your seat until the proctor dismisses you.

ASTB: Can You Retake It?

Applicants should be aware of the fact that they will only get three-lifetime opportunities to take the ASTB exam. Therefore, if an applicant wants a retest, they cannot take it before thirty-one days of the first attempt. Similarly, if you feel like you should retest a second time, the retest time has to be ninety-one days after your attempt.

Results of the applicants who took the exam in the past (from Form 1 to Form 5) do not include in the three-lifetime opportunities. The good news is that the results of those ASTB results will still be valid until you take another ASTB exam.

That said, things might be confusing to people who just want to take the OAR part of the test rather than the entire test. Therefore, if you retake the ASTB solely for an OAR, you might have to come back within thirty days after your first attempt to finish the remaining subtests of the test. This entire process is a test merge.

You should, however, wait until you receive your OAR score before attempting the remaining subsections of the test. In addition, even if you took your OAR part on paper format, you will have to attempt the remaining portion of the test through CAT format. Again, the date you finish the remaining subsections will be your official test date when it comes to those three-lifetime limitations.

Difference between the Old and the New ASTB Forms

Often, applicants presumptuously make the mistake of generalizing ASTB. As of now, it has numerous new forms that serve different reasons. Well, the new forms are important because they represent updates or revision from the ASTB exam. Historically, the last update was more than ten (10) years ago.

In fact, the new forms cut out a lot of outdated questions that were no more relevant to aviation. Therefore, the inclusion of updates is crucial for modern exposure of aviation to the applicants who could study the subject matter on their own from the reliable study material.

Is It Better to Take the Test on Computer?

The majority of the test websites of ASTB have a web-oriented format. However, applicants should take a sigh of relief in knowing that the computer-administered format has the same material as the paper format of the test. Evidently, the best aspect of the web-oriented ASTB format is that you can take it in any part of the world.

The system is highly secured, which allows NOMI to monitor and control the operational segments of the tests effortlessly. Sure, you might find attempting the test on paper more comfortable as compared to the computerized version. However, there are no proven studies that suggest that the results rates are better on paper than the computer version of the exam.

ASTB: Format of the Test

The ASTB is a standardized multiple choice-based computer test that comprises seven subsections in total. The design of the seven subsections measures applicants’ abilities that are vital to achieve success in an aviation atmosphere.

The initial five subsections are computer-adaptive. It means every question will automatically be adapted to your level of skill. So, if you perform better on your previous answers, the level of difficulty of questions will continue to increase. Apart from NATFI or Naval Aviation Trait Facet Inventory, these adaptive subsections can contain 20 questions to 30 questions in total.

As for the NATFI subsection, which is also a computer-adaptive facet inventory, contains 88 questions in total. You cannot talk about the format of the test without taking into account the entire test or just the OAR portion. It comprises three (3) subsections out of seven (7).

The OAR format structure is perfect for applicants who want to be an officer but have no intention in pursuing an aviation-related career. The OAR aspect of the ASTB test can take between 1.5 and 2 hours. But if you want to attempt the whole ASTB at home, you can complete the test in 2 or 3 and additional separate 15 minutes for the break.

Which Score Serves the Highest Contribution

Here is the thing, the formulas NOMI uses to calculate different components of ASTB are proprietary. But most importantly, NOMI does not release the information to the general public. However, here are some of the guidelines you can follow to get the highest possible score for your test or retest of ASTB:

OAR: Officer Aptitude Rating

The score of this portion relates to an applicant’s performance on the initial three subtests. (i.e., Mathematics Skills, Mechanical Comprehension, and Reading Comprehension)

PFAR: Pilot Flight Aptitude Rating

The score of PFAT has to do with the performance of all of the subsections. However, the highest contribution comes from Spatial Apperception and Nautical Information & Aviation.

AQR: Academic Qualifications Rating

The score of the AQR has to do with the performance of all your subsections as well. However, the highest contribution comes from the Mathematics Skills section.

FOFAR: Flight Officer Flight Aptitude Rating

Just like AQR and PFAT, the score of FOFAR has to do with the performance of your subsections. Again, the Mathematics Skills section takes center stage because it can make the most influence on your score performance.

ASTB: Division Of Time

• Mathematics Skills – 37 questions – 35 minutes

• Reading Comprehension – 27 questions – 25 minutes

• Mechanical Comprehension Test – 30 questions – 15 minutes

• Spatial Apperception Test – 35 questions – 10 minutes

• Nautical Information and Aviation – 30 questions – 15 minutes