Cheat sheet
OAR Cheat Sheet
Math Skills
- 40% of exam
- No Calculator Arithmetic Algebra Geometry Data
Reading Comprehension
- 25% of exam
- Main Idea Details Inference Tone Evidence
Mechanical Comprehension
- 35% of exam
- Forces Machines Fluids Electricity Motion
Quick Facts
- Exam OAR
- Full name Officer Aptitude Rating
- Parent test ASTB-E
- Delivery APEX adaptive
- Time 1-2 hours
- Cost No fee
- Calculator Not allowed
- Score rule Most recent counts
OAR Subtests MA
- Math reads machines
- MST: math RCT: reading MCT: mechanical
OAR vs ASTB-E MA
OAR
- MST/RCT/MCT
- One score
- Non-aviation option
ASTB-E
- Full battery
- Aviation scores
- PBM included
- Officer vs aviation
Math Picker MA
- Equal shares → Division ( Total ÷ groups )
- Percent of → Fraction ( Convert first )
- Unknown number → Equation ( Let x )
- Two rates → Proportion ( Cross multiply )
- Middle value → Median ( Order first )
- Average asked → Mean ( Sum ÷ count )
- Right triangle → Pythagorean ( Hypotenuse last )
- Circle boundary → Circumference ( pi d )
OAR Facts MA
- MST Math Skills Test
- RCT Reading Comprehension Test
- MCT Mechanical Comprehension Test
- APEX Adaptive Navy system
- CAT Adaptive item path
- OAR only Non-aviation route
- Full ASTB-E Aviation route
- Score record Newest attempt counts
No Calculator MA
- Estimate, simplify, then solve
- Cancel first Use fractions Round wisely
Speed vs Accuracy MA
Speed
- Brisk pacing
- Avoid stalls
- Finish enough
Accuracy
- No blind guessing
- Clean setup
- Check units
- Fast but deliberate
Adaptive Rules MA
- Correct streak Harder items follow
- Missed item Easier items follow
- No backtracking Answers are final
- No skipping Commit each item
- Unanswered May trigger penalty
- Random guessing Avoid late panic
- Early items Set ability estimate
- Hard questions Often positive signal
Arithmetic MA
- Mean Sum ÷ count
- Median Middle ordered value
- Mode Most frequent value
- Range High minus low
- Percent Part over whole
- Rate Distance ÷ time
- Ratio Same-unit comparison
- Proportion Equal ratios
Algebra + Geometry MA
- Linear equation Isolate variable
- Consecutive n, n+1
- Area rectangle Length × width
- Triangle area Half base height
- Circle area pi r squared
- Circumference pi × diameter
- Pythagorean a2+b2=c2
- Slope Rise over run
Reading Evidence RE
- Text first, memory last
- Find line Check scope Reject outside
Main Idea vs Detail RE
Main idea
- Whole passage
- Central claim
- Broad enough
Detail
- One fact
- Line support
- Narrow scope
- Whole vs part
Reading Picker RE
- Whole passage → Main idea ( Not detail )
- Line reference → Detail ( Quote nearby )
- Must infer → Inference ( Stay textual )
- Author feeling → Tone ( Check adjectives )
- Word meaning → Context ( Read sentence )
- Except appears → Reverse ( Find false )
- Extreme answer → Eliminate ( Check scope )
- Two good choices → Best support ( Stronger evidence )
Reading Targets RE
- Main idea Whole passage claim
- Detail Explicit text support
- Inference Text-based conclusion
- Tone Author attitude
- Purpose Why author wrote
- Structure How passage unfolds
- Context word Meaning from sentence
- Best answer Most supported choice
Inference vs Assumption RE
Inference
- Text supported
- Modest conclusion
- Evidence based
Assumption
- Outside knowledge
- Too strong
- Unproved leap
- Supported vs imported
Reading Signals RE
- However Contrast ahead
- Therefore Conclusion ahead
- For example Support follows
- Because Reason follows
- Although Concession ahead
- Always Extreme clue
- Most Qualified scope
- Except Reverse task
Mechanical Core ME
- Force, flow, current, torque
- F=ma P=F/A V=IR T=F×d
Force vs Pressure ME
Force
- Push or pull
- Measured newtons
- Causes acceleration
Pressure
- Force per area
- Fluid key
- Area matters
- Total vs spread
Mechanical Picker ME
- Acceleration asked → F=ma ( Net force )
- Turning effect → Torque ( Force × arm )
- Lifted load → MA ( Count supports )
- Gear speed → Teeth ratio ( Small faster )
- Fluid force → Pressure ( P=F/A )
- Circuit current → Ohm law ( I=V/R )
- Sinking question → Density ( Compare fluid )
- Work rate → Power ( W/t )
Forces + Motion ME
- Force Mass × acceleration
- Weight Mass × gravity
- Work Force × distance
- Power Work ÷ time
- Momentum Mass × velocity
- Kinetic energy Depends on v2
- Friction Opposes motion
- Torque Force × arm
Series vs Parallel ME
Series
- One path
- Resistance adds
- Same current
Parallel
- Many paths
- Lower total
- Same voltage
- Path count decides
Simple Machines ME
- Lever Turns about fulcrum
- Pulley Rope changes force
- Wheel axle Radius trades force
- Incline Longer path helps
- Wedge Splits by incline
- Screw Incline wrapped around
- Gear train Teeth transfer motion
- Mechanical advantage Output over input
Fluids + Electricity ME
- Pressure Force ÷ area
- Hydraulics Pressure transmits force
- Buoyancy Upward fluid force
- Density Mass ÷ volume
- Bernoulli Faster flow lowers pressure
- Voltage Electrical push
- Current Charge flow
- Resistance Opposes current
- Ohm law V = I R
- Series One current path
- Parallel Multiple current paths
Common Traps
OAR vs full battery
- OAR is three subtests ≠ ASTB-E adds aviation
Old score vs new score
- Newest score counts ≠ Higher old score replaced
Inference vs memory
- Inference uses text ≠ Memory imports facts
Area vs perimeter
- Area multiplies dimensions ≠ Perimeter adds sides
Force vs pressure
- Force is total ≠ Pressure includes area
Gear size vs speed
- Small gear faster ≠ Meshed gears reverse
Last Minute
- 1. OAR = MST/RCT/MCT
- 2. APEX means adaptive
- 3. No calculator allowed
- 4. Newest score counts
- 5. Aviation needs full ASTB-E
- 6. Main idea covers all
- 7. Inference needs text proof
- 8. F=ma; V=IR
- 9. Small gears spin faster
- 10. Series one path; parallel many