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ASTB-E Cheat Sheet

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Exam Structure & Scoring

  • Not published of exam
  • Six Subtests OAR Composite AQR PFAR FOFAR 20-80 Scale 1-9 Stanine Three Attempts

Math Skills Test (MST)

  • Not published of exam
  • No Calculator Distance Rate Time Percent Change Ratios And Parts Linear Equations Area And Perimeter Pythagorean Theorem

Reading Comprehension Test (RCT)

  • Not published of exam
  • Main Idea Inference Vocabulary In Context Author Purpose Skim Then Question

Mechanical Comprehension Test (MCT)

  • Not published of exam
  • Levers Pulleys Gears Pascal's Principle Ohm's Law Center Of Gravity

Aviation & Nautical Info (ANIT)

  • Not published of exam
  • Four Forces Control Surfaces Aircraft Axes Angle Of Attack Nautical Mile METAR VOR

NATFI & PBM

  • Not published of exam
  • Non-Cognitive Inventory Honest Responses Joystick And Throttle APEX System Tracking And Multitasking

Quick Facts

  • Exam ASTB-E
  • Full Name Aviation Selection Test Battery Edition E
  • Administered By NAMI / NMOTC
  • Branches Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard
  • Format Computer-adaptive, six subtests
  • Time Limit About 2 to 3.25 hours
  • Cost Free (official testing)
  • Calculator Not allowed, any subtest
  • Retest Wait 30 calendar days
  • Max Attempts 3 total attempts
  • OAR Scale 20 to 80
  • Aviation Composites 1 to 9 stanine

OAR Composite Recall SC

  • OAR = Math + Reading + Mechanical, scored 20 to 80
  • MST RCT MCT 20-80 scale

OAR vs Aviation Composites SC

OAR

  • From MST+RCT+MCT combined
  • Scale is 20 to 80
  • Used across all branches

AQR/PFAR/FOFAR

  • Aviation-specific stanine scores
  • Scale is 1 to 9
  • Screen pilot and NFO tracks
  • OAR is general, composites aviation-specific

Six Subtests SC

  • MST Math Skills Test
  • RCT Reading Comprehension Test
  • MCT Mechanical Comprehension Test
  • ANIT Aviation Nautical Info Test
  • NATFI Trait Facet Inventory
  • PBM Performance Based Measures

Composite Scores SC

  • OAR MST+RCT+MCT, scale 20-80
  • AQR Academic aptitude, stanine 1-9
  • PFAR Pilot aptitude, stanine 1-9
  • FOFAR NFO aptitude, stanine 1-9
  • OAR Use General officer qualifier
  • Score Type Composite, not raw percent

Retest Rules SC

  • Max Attempts 3 total attempts
  • Retest Wait 30 calendar days
  • Score Mixing Not allowed across attempts
  • Test Fee Free, no cost
  • Language English only

Distance vs Ratio Problems MS

Distance Problems

  • Has rate and time words
  • Use distance = rate x time

Ratio Problems

  • Has a part-to-part comparison
  • Add parts, divide, then multiply
  • Time word means rate formula

MST Problem Router MS

  • See rate, speed, or time → Apply distance = rate x time
  • See before/after value change → Apply percent change formula
  • See part-to-part ratio → Add parts, divide, multiply
  • See list of values, average → Sum values, divide by count
  • See isolate x in equation → Undo operations in reverse order
  • See right triangle, missing side → Apply a^2 + b^2 = c^2

Core Math Formulas MS

  • Distance Rate x Time
  • Percent Change (New-Old)/Old x 100
  • Average/Mean Sum / Count of values
  • Perimeter Rectangle 2 x (Length+Width)
  • Triangle Area 1/2 x base x height
  • Circle Area pi x radius squared
  • Pythagorean a^2+b^2=c^2

Algebra & Ratios MS

  • Isolate Variable Reverse order of operations
  • Ratio Word Problems Add parts, divide total
  • PEMDAS Parens, exponents, multiply/divide, add/subtract
  • Cross Multiply a/b = c/d method
  • No Calculator Mental math, estimate smart

Main Idea vs Inference RC

Main Idea

  • Explicitly stated in the text
  • Central point every paragraph supports

Inference

  • Not directly stated in text
  • Still must be text-supported
  • Main idea is stated, inference implied

RCT Reading Strategy RC

  • Main Idea Central point, all paragraphs
  • Supporting Detail Fact or example used
  • Inference Logical conclusion from evidence
  • Vocabulary In Context Use surrounding sentence clues
  • Author Purpose Inform, persuade, describe, narrate
  • Reading Order Skim, then questions, then reread

Lever Class Order MC

  • First fulcrum, second load, third effort in middle
  • 1st: direction 2nd: force 3rd: speed

Pulley vs Lever MA MC

Pulley

  • MA = rope segment count
  • Direction can also change
  • Combines fixed and movable

Lever

  • MA from fulcrum placement
  • 1st changes direction only
  • 2nd and 3rd trade force
  • Pulleys use ropes, levers arms

MCT Concept Router MC

  • See object balanced, tipping → Check center of gravity
  • See lever, fulcrum position → Identify class 1st 2nd 3rd
  • See rope, multiple pulleys → Count supporting rope segments
  • See two meshed gears → They spin opposite directions
  • See enclosed fluid, pressure → Apply Pascal's principle
  • See voltage, current, resistance → Apply Ohm's Law V=IR
  • See circuit branches, components → Determine series or parallel

Levers, Pulleys, Gears MC

  • 1st Class Lever Fulcrum between effort, load
  • 2nd Class Lever Load between fulcrum, effort
  • 3rd Class Lever Effort between fulcrum, load
  • Pulley MA Number of rope segments
  • Meshed Gears Rotate opposite directions always
  • Gear Size Effect Smaller gear: faster, less torque

Series vs Parallel Circuit MC

Series

  • Current identical at every point
  • Resistances add together directly
  • One break stops all current

Parallel

  • Voltage identical across each branch
  • Resistance drops as branches add
  • One break, others keep working
  • Series shares current, parallel shares voltage

Forces & Circuits MC

  • Pascal's Principle Pressure transmits equally, enclosed fluid
  • Work Formula Force x Distance
  • Ohm's Law V = I x R
  • Series Circuit Current same, resistance adds
  • Parallel Circuit Voltage same, resistance drops
  • Center of Gravity Lower + wider = stable

1st vs 2nd Class Lever MC

1st Class

  • Fulcrum between effort and load
  • Example: seesaw or crowbar
  • Can change force direction

2nd Class

  • Load between fulcrum and effort
  • Example: wheelbarrow
  • Always multiplies force applied
  • Fulcrum position separates the classes

Four Forces Mnemonic AN

  • Lift up, Weight down, Thrust forward, Drag back
  • Lift Weight Thrust Drag

Nautical vs Statute Mile AN

Nautical Mile

  • About 6,076 feet long
  • Used in aviation, naval nav
  • Pairs with knots for speed

Statute Mile

  • Exactly 5,280 feet long
  • Standard US land measure
  • Not used for air speed
  • Nautical mile is longer

ANIT Concept Router AN

  • See plane flying straight, level → Lift = weight, thrust = drag
  • See wing losing lift suddenly → Check critical angle of attack
  • See bank left or right → Ailerons control the roll
  • See nose up or down → Elevators control the pitch
  • See nautical distance or speed → Use nautical miles, knots
  • See hourly weather report format → That is a METAR

Aerodynamics Basics AN

  • Four Forces Lift, weight, thrust, drag
  • Lift Generation Airfoil shape, faster airflow top
  • Angle of Attack Chord line to relative wind
  • Stall Cause Exceeds critical angle of attack
  • Level Flight Lift=weight, thrust=drag

Control Surface Axes AN

  • Ailerons roll, elevators pitch, rudder controls the yaw
  • Aileron: roll Elevator: pitch Rudder: yaw

Warm vs Cold Front AN

Warm Front

  • Gradual rising cloud layers
  • Steady precipitation ahead of it
  • Shallow sloping leading edge

Cold Front

  • Fast-moving, often severe storms
  • Steeper leading edge angle
  • Shorter, more intense precipitation
  • Cold fronts move in faster

Controls & Axes AN

  • Ailerons Control roll, on wings
  • Elevators Control pitch, horizontal stabilizer
  • Rudder Control yaw, vertical stabilizer
  • Longitudinal Axis Roll axis, nose to tail
  • Lateral Axis Pitch axis, wingtip to wingtip
  • Vertical Axis Yaw axis, top to bottom

Navigation & Weather AN

  • Nautical Mile About 6,076 feet
  • Statute Mile 5,280 feet, land measure
  • Knot Nautical miles per hour
  • Port Left side, facing forward
  • Starboard Right side, facing forward
  • Altimeter Measures altitude via pressure
  • METAR Hourly surface weather report
  • VOR Ground radio bearing aid
  • Warm Front Gradual clouds, steady rain
  • Cold Front Fast storms, steep edge

NATFI Response Rule NA

  • Answer honestly and consistently, never guess the ideal profile
  • Be honest Be consistent Don't fake it

NATFI vs PBM NA

NATFI

  • Non-cognitive personality inventory
  • Not scored right or wrong
  • Scoring criteria not published

PBM

  • Performance-based, computer tasks
  • Uses joystick and throttle
  • Tests tracking, multitasking, orientation
  • Personality test versus skill test

NATFI & PBM Basics NA

  • NATFI Non-cognitive personality inventory
  • NATFI Scoring Proprietary, not published
  • NATFI Strategy Answer honestly, consistently
  • PBM Performance-based multitasking measures
  • PBM Platform APEX, joystick and throttle
  • PBM Skills Tracking, spatial orientation, multitasking

Common Traps

No Calculator Allowed

  • Mental math must be fast ≠ Practice estimation, not just formulas

Confusing OAR With Aviation Composites

  • OAR is not aviation-specific ≠ AQR/PFAR/FOFAR gate flight tracks

Mixing Scores Across Attempts

  • Retest scores do not combine ≠ Each attempt stands on its own

Second Vs Third Class Levers

  • 2nd always multiplies force ≠ 3rd always trades force away

Nautical Mile Vs Statute Mile

  • Nautical mile is longer ≠ Aviation uses nautical, not statute

Treating PBM Like Multiple Choice

  • PBM is a live control task ≠ Static practice only approximates concepts

Overthinking NATFI Responses

  • It is not scored right/wrong ≠ Consistency matters more than 'ideal'

Last Minute

  • 1. ASTB-E has six total subtests
  • 2. No calculator on any subtest
  • 3. OAR scored on 20-80 scale
  • 4. AQR PFAR FOFAR use 1-9 stanines
  • 5. Retest requires a 30-day wait
  • 6. Maximum of three total attempts
  • 7. NATFI has no right answers
  • 8. PBM uses joystick and throttle
  • 9. Four forces: lift weight thrust drag
  • 10. Ailerons roll, elevators pitch, rudder yaw
  • 11. Nautical mile is about 6,076 feet
  • 12. Testing is completely free of charge

ASTB-E

  • Practice Questions 217 questions Study Guide 27 topics Cheat Sheet 74 facts Flashcards 50 cards Shorts 7 short s