1.1 PFE Exam Facts & Format

Air Force PFE Promotion Fitness Examination

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1 Introduction & Exam Overview

1.1 PFE Exam Facts & Format 1.2 The WAPS Scoring System 1.3 The Tested AFH 1 Chapters & Study Strategy

2 Professionalism (AFH 1, Chapter 1)

2.1 The USAF Professional & the Profession of Arms 2.2 The Air Force Core Values & Their Virtues 2.3 Ethical Standards & the Airman's Creed

3 Military Organization & Command (AFH 1, Chapter 5)

3.1 The United States Armed Forces 3.2 The Military Departments & Services 3.3 Military Command Structure & Combatant Commands 3.4 The Air Force Total Force 3.5 Air Force Organizational Structure

4 Enlisted Force Development I (AFH 1, Chapter 7A–7D)

4.1 Leadership Levels 4.2 The Enlisted Force Structure & Tiers 4.3 Duty Titles & Special Positions 4.4 Force Development & the Competency Framework

5 Enlisted Force Development II (AFH 1, Chapter 7E–7H)

5.1 Training Responsibilities & Upgrade Training 5.2 Professional Military Education 5.3 The Community College of the Air Force 5.4 Continuing Education & Voluntary Programs

6 Assessments & Recognition (AFH 1, Chapter 8)

6.1 The Airman Comprehensive Assessment 6.2 Performance Evaluations & the EPB 6.3 Reenlistments, Retention & Continuation 6.4 Awards & Decorations

7 Enlisted Promotions (AFH 1, Chapter 9)

7.1 Promotion Systems & Programs 7.2 Promotion Cycles & Eligibility 7.3 Preparation & Individual Responsibilities 7.4 Promotion Testing & Test Control 7.5 Evaluation Boards & Central Selection

8 Personnel Programs & Benefits (AFH 1, Chapter 11)

8.1 Benefits & Services 8.2 Leave & Authorized Absences 8.3 Military Associations & Civilian Programs

9 Finance, Manpower & Resources (AFH 1, Chapter 12)

9.1 Individual Finances & Allowances 9.2 Official Travel Expenses & Allowances 9.3 Manpower Management 9.4 Resource Management & Stewardship 9.5 Environmental Commitment

10 Developing Organizations (AFH 1, Chapter 13)

10.1 Strategic Thinking & Results Focus 10.2 Resources & Organizational Structure 10.3 Change Management & Problem Solving

11 Developing Others (AFH 1, Chapter 14)

11.1 Teamwork & Team Dynamics 11.2 Develops People: Mentoring, Coaching & Feedback 11.3 Service Mindset & Fostering Effective Relationships 11.4 Leadership: Styles, Power & Influence

12 Developing Self I (AFH 1, Chapter 15A–15C)

12.1 Accountability & Self-Management 12.2 Military Communication 12.3 Preparing to Communicate

13 Developing Self II (AFH 1, Chapter 15D–15F)

13.1 Written Communication 13.2 Spoken Communication 13.3 Electronic Messaging

14 Developing Ideas (AFH 1, Chapter 16)

14.1 What We Know: Priorities & Innovation 14.2 Cognitive Processes & Critical Thinking 14.3 Informed Decision-Making 14.4 What We Don't Know: Uncertainty & Assumptions

15 Emergency Management (AFH 1, Chapter 17)

15.1 Air Force Emergency Management, Disasters & Hazards 15.2 Preparedness, MOPP & Individual Protection 15.3 Crisis Response & Recovery 15.4 Department of the Air Force Mishap Prevention 15.5 Risk Management

16 Security (AFH 1, Chapter 18)

16.1 Integrated Defense & Force Protection Conditions 16.2 Operations Security (OPSEC) 16.3 Information Protection & Classification 16.4 Information Access, Cybersecurity & Mobility 16.5 Antiterrorism

17 Standards of Conduct (AFH 1, Chapter 19)

17.1 A Way of Life: Oaths, Standards & Off-Duty Conduct 17.2 The Law of War 17.3 The Code of Conduct

18 Enforcing Military Standards (AFH 1, Chapter 20)

18.1 The Air Force Inspection System 18.2 Individual Accountability & Corrective Action 18.3 Appropriate Working Relationships & Fraternization 18.4 Addressing Misconduct & Prohibited Behavior

19 Fitness & Readiness (AFH 1, Chapter 22)

19.1 USAF Fitness & Comprehensive Airman Fitness 19.2 The Official Fitness Assessment 19.3 Nutrition & Performance 19.4 Substance Use, Abuse & Treatment Programs 19.5 Readiness State of Mind & Resilience

20 Military Customs & Courtesies (AFH 1, Chapter 24)

20.1 Honored Traditions: Saluting, Titles & Reporting 20.2 Respect for the Flag 20.3 Respect for Individuals 20.4 Ceremonies & Events 20.5 Drill & Formation 20.6 Preserving Our Heritage

21 SJT Format & Competencies

21.1 SJT Format & Mechanics 21.2 Airman Leadership Qualities (ALQs) 21.3 Foundational Competencies & Behaviors

22 SJT Reasoning, Scenarios & Traps

22.1 SJT Reasoning Strategies 22.2 Sample SJT Scenarios 22.3 SJT Traps & Best Practices

1.1 PFE Exam Facts & Format

Key Takeaways Explain This Topic AI

The PFE has 80 items — 60 knowledge questions drawn solely from Air Force Handbook 1 plus 20 situational judgment items — each worth 1.25 points for a 100-point maximum.

DAFMAN 36-2664 states the SKT and PFE each take approximately 2 hours to administer including instructions; when an Airman takes both, the second begins exactly 15 minutes after the first ends.

WAPS testing applies only to promotion to Staff Sergeant (E-5) and Technical Sergeant (E-6); MSgt, SMSgt, and CMSgt are selected by central board score.

The 26E6 testing window is 15 February to 15 April 2026 and the 26E5 window is 1 May to 30 June 2026.

All promotion tests are administered electronically; paper administration is an exception requiring Air Force Personnel Center approval.

Last updated: August 2026

What the PFE Is

The Promotion Fitness Examination (PFE) is one of two promotion tests in the Weighted Airman Promotion System (WAPS) . The other is the Specialty Knowledge Test (SKT) , which is AFSC-specific. Per DAFMAN 36-2664 , "the PFE measures general military and supervisory knowledge and Air Force competencies," while the SKT samples career-field knowledge.

Who takes it. WAPS testing applies to promotion to Staff Sergeant (E-5) and Technical Sergeant (E-6) only. Under AFI 36-2502, Table 2.4 , SSgt and TSgt promotions are computed from weighted factors; Table 2.5 places MSgt, SMSgt, and CMSgt promotion on a central board score instead. An item claiming the PFE is used for Master Sergeant promotion is wrong under the current instruction.

Some Airmen test PFE only. The 2026 WAPS Catalogs mark many AFSCs, reporting identifiers, and special duty identifiers as "PFE only" — those members take no SKT, and their PFE score is doubled in the minimum-score calculation.

The 80-Item Format

The restructured PFE dates to a 15 December 2021 announcement, effective with the 22E5 and 22E6 promotion testing cycles .

Component Items Source

Knowledge 60 Air Force Handbook 1, Airman — the WAPS Catalog states "the PFE is based solely on the Air Force Handbook 1, Airman"

• Situational Judgment Test (SJT) 20 Air Force foundational competencies , as outlined in AFH 36-2647
• Total 80 Each item is worth 1.25 points , for a 100-point maximum

Before the change the PFE was 100 knowledge questions . Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs stated the change "decreases PFE knowledge questions from 100 to 60, and adds 20 Situational Judgment Test questions," and that "the overall points for the PFE will not change and will still make up 100 points of an Airman's total score."

The arithmetic is worth doing once: 80 items × 1.25 points = 100 points. Fewer items, same maximum score, so each item is worth more than it used to be — one missed question now costs 1.25 points rather than 1.00.

The SJT is the last section. The official Situational Judgment Informational Guide states that "the last section of the PFE will include situational judgment test (SJT) questions," and its sample begins at item 61 — confirming the layout of items 1–60 knowledge, items 61–80 SJT .

Time and Administration

DAFMAN 36-2664, Personnel Assessment Program (17 January 2025) is the governing source on administration, and it states: "The SKT and PFE each take approximately 2 hours to administer, including instructions."

Two further rules from the same manual:

"All promotion tests are only administered electronically and all Airmen must take the test electronically." AFH 1 adds that paper administration is an exception requiring Air Force Personnel Center approval

"For examinees completing both a PFE and SKT, the second test administration begins exactly 15 minutes after completing the first exam." Examinees may leave the room, but the second exam begins 15 minutes after the first ends whether or not the examinee has returned

Plan for a roughly two-hour PFE, and if you are also testing SKT, plan for a four-hour block with a hard 15-minute turn between them. That is a different planning problem from the shorter figure many unofficial study sites quote.

Cost: there is no candidate fee . Testing is conducted at your base education and testing center , scheduled through your unit WAPS monitor and the Force Support Squadron .

The Testing Windows

The 2026 WAPS Catalogs set the windows by grade:

• Cycle Grade Testing window AFPT
• 26E6 Technical Sergeant 15 February – 15 April 2026 00036
• 26E5 Staff Sergeant 1 May – 30 June 2026 00035

Note how the windows follow the promotion eligibility cutoff dates in AFH 1 Chapter 9 — 31 January PECD for TSgt feeding a February–March/April window, and 31 March PECD for SSgt feeding a May–June window.

Edition matters. The 2026 E5 catalog directs administration of the 1 April 2026 E5 PFE/SKT starting 1 May 2026 , and continued use of the 1 April 2025 edition through 31 March 2026 — which is why the catalog for your specific cycle, not a general study site, is the authoritative source for what you will sit.

Eligibility to Test

AFH 1 Chapter 9 sets the eligibility factors, which "may include proper skill level, sufficient time in grade, sufficient time in service, commander recommendation, completion of enlisted professional military education, completion of a college degree, cumulative years of enlisted service, and high year of tenure."

For the two tested grades:

• Promotion to Time in service Time in grade Required skill level
• Staff Sergeant 3 years 6 months 5-level
• Technical Sergeant 5 years 23 months 7-level

Ineligibility voids the test. AFH 1 states that when individuals are ineligible for promotion, "they cannot test, cannot be considered if already tested, and the projected promotion, if already selected, will be canceled." Reasons include approved retirement, declination for extension or reenlistment, court-martial conviction, control roster action, no commander recommendation, failure to appear for scheduled testing without a valid reason, and absent without leave.

Individual Responsibilities Before Test Day

AFH 1 is direct: "Preparing for promotion testing is an individual responsibility." Every promotion-eligible Airman must:

• Know their eligibility status
• Maintain specialty and military qualifications
• Initiate a self-study plan
• Obtain all applicable study references listed in the WAPS Catalog
• Ensure the selection folder is accurate if it will be reviewed by a central board
• Be prepared to test on the beginning of the testing window

Two practical allowances follow: members unavailable during the entire testing cycle must be prepared to test before departure , even before the window opens, and Airmen may opt to test early provided the correct test booklets are available.

The 60-day reference rule protects you. Per DAFMAN 36-2664, promotion-eligible Airmen must have access to reference materials at least 60 days before the scheduled test date — and if they do not, the Airman may request a delay in testing.

What Happens to Your Score

All promotion tests are electronically scored at HQ AETC SAS following quality control steps. Your PFE score is based on percentage correct to two decimal places , then combined with your other WAPS factors into a composite. Selection is by order of merit within your AFSC , and if more than one Airman ties at the cutoff, everyone with that score is promoted.

There is no standalone pass/fail letter grade — but there are minimum scores, and missing them ends your cycle regardless of every other factor. The next section works that math in full.

If you believe a question is no longer valid because a reference changed, the WAPS Catalog directs you to answer it to the best of your knowledge and then submit an AFPT 230, AFPT Query , immediately upon completion of testing through the test control officer.