1,001 questions about the ASTB (post your scores & ask your questions here!)

[youngshark]

First time I took the ASTB-e I got 52/5/6/5. Took it again and got 53/6/8/8. I have a 3.34 GPA. How are we looking for aviator selection (BDCP)?

 

[StrotherBrown]

Went to MEPS and the plate test for the color vision threw me for a whirl. Turns out I have a mild red-green deficiency after going to the optometrist to learn more about what I have going on. I heard there was an alternative test besides the plate test with the numbers in the middle. I was wondering if any of you guys have any experience with that test and what it was like?

 

[Lightning2]

Went to MEPS and the plate test for the color vision threw me for a whirl. Turns out I have a mild red-green deficiency after going to the optometrist to learn more about what I have going on. I heard there was an alternative test besides the plate test with the numbers in the middle. I was wondering if any of you guys have any experience with that test and what it was like?

Have to go next week, how many plates did you do and how many did you fail?

 

[whenschel]

First time I took the ASTB-e I got 52/5/6/5. Took it again and got 53/6/8/8. I have a 3.34 GPA. How are we looking for aviator selection (BDCP)?

I just got selected on the May board for BDCP, my first application, first score.

I scored a 41 4/6/5 with a 3.01 GPA in Info Science and Technology. I was surprised to be honest I was prepping to take it again but got in. Depends on the board but I think you would be good.

 

[hhwatson]

I just got selected on the May board for BDCP, my first application, first score.

I scored a 41 4/6/5 with a 3.01 GPA in Info Science and Technology. I was surprised to be honest I was prepping to take it again but got in. Depends on the board but I think you would be good.

What designator were you going for?

 

[whenschel]

What designator were you going for?

I got SNA

 

[CoMa]

First time I took the ASTB-e I got 52/5/6/5. Took it again and got 53/6/8/8. I have a 3.34 GPA. How are we looking for aviator selection (BDCP)?

I had similar scores and GPA as you (53 6/8/7 3.3 GPA) and got selected for SNA BDCP. As stated already, it truly just depends on the board and the number of submitted packets.

 

[StrotherBrown]

Have to go next week, how many plates did you do and how many did you fail?

I think I got 8/14 if i remember correctly.

 

[bternes98]

Went to MEPS and the plate test for the color vision threw me for a whirl. Turns out I have a mild red-green deficiency after going to the optometrist to learn more about what I have going on. I heard there was an alternative test besides the plate test with the numbers in the middle. I was wondering if any of you guys have any experience with that test and what it was like?

Hey man. I spent 3 years in optometry school, so I have some experience with these tests. When we learned about color blind testing, the step up from the Ishihara plates, which is probably what they tested you on, would most likely be the Farnsworth 100, though it sometimes will miss mild deficiencies. In the Farnsworth, you will have four rows of round caps or squares that gradually change in hue from one color to another. They will mix up the caps within each row so that they are out of order, then it is your job to sort them into the correct order. If you wanted to give it a try before taking the test for real, this website should give you an idea of how the test works. I've also attached an instruction manual for administering and scoring the test, so you can understand it a little more if you'd like. Realistically, knowing about how the test works will probably not affect your performance on it since it is randomly sorted and it relies entirely on your innate ability to differentiate between colors. Just try to stay calm and do the best you can.

If you haven't already, I would definitely discuss with your recruiter to see if they are familiar with the tests and documentation you would need to get it reconsidered.

Best of luck brother!

P.S. If you or anyone else who sees this has any vision or optometry related questions, feel free to message me, and I'll help out however I can.

 

[Posh Pretender]

Question for any Recruiters or recent OAR exam takers. I am living over seas, in England, and have been struggling to find someone to facilitate the OAR exam. Does anyone have a POC in the UK? The US Air Force recruiter (RAF Lakenheath) hasn't called or emailed me back.
It's the last step I need to complete my application and it's almost panic time.

Also any good study/practice resources? I've been using Trivium, but some of the answers are wrong, and 'Kyles ASTB Study Guide' on Drive.

Thanks for any help!

 

[FormerRecruitingGuru]

Question for any Recruiters or recent OAR exam takers. I am living over seas, in England, and have been struggling to find someone to facilitate the OAR exam. Does anyone have a POC in the UK? The US Air Force recruiter (RAF Lakenheath) hasn't called or emailed me back.
It's the last step I need to complete my application and it's almost panic time.

Also any good study/practice resources? I've been using Trivium, but some of the answers are wrong, and 'Kyles ASTB Study Guide' on Drive.

Thanks for any help!

If you go to the official ASTB website, there is a POC who can help you find a name and number.

For your second question, take the 1-2 minutes to scroll up and research tips, strategies, etc.

 

[jpillo0811]

Hi all, first post here.
I took my ASTB this morning, and i got a 51 6/7/6. This was far better than what I was expecting. I studied for about 10 hours total, mainly ANIT stuff, UAV flashcards and some math refreshers on Khan academy. I'm a 2nd year undergrad studying Finance with a 3.9 GPA, so some math skills present but overall nothing crazy.

Math stuff -
More probability/statistics than I had studied for. I concentrated my studying on DRT, logs, exponential stuff, but was tested mainly on simple algebra, lots of probability, some factoring equations questions, percentages of percentages, etc. I don't remember a whole lot about this section because I thought I was doing terribly. One thing I did notice -- I finished with about 20 minutes to spare. Feel like the exam kicked me out early, I must've only done 15-20 questions???

Reading -
This was terrible. Not too difficult, but my brain struggled to process any of this after 10 minutes of reading. Not much to it. I didn't practice. My advice: get comfortable with breaking down and actually understanding how the questions work. Look at SAT reading examples, and then ask ChatGPT to convert it into Navy terms (lots of abbreviations, Navy dept program readings, etc).

Mech -
Was worried about this one, but most of the questions ended up being theoretical rather than quantitative. Make sure you know stuff about electricity, because I didn't and had to guess on a couple of those questions. Overall not bad if you understand basic physics (quite accurate to the Khan academy college physics questions).

15 min break after OAR, which is nice. Stretch your legs and breathe!

ANIT questions were a breeze if you study and understand the concepts. Maybe had one or two that confused me. I used these flashcards to study, so thanks forum user for those! No history questions for me here. Just practical naval/aero stuff.

UAV - Use the flashcards readily available online. I was getting good at doing those in my head without the compass, but i made a little compass on my scratch paper on the test itself, which honestly slowed me down a bit. I was averaging 2-6 seconds/question. Got a few wrong, but that happens.

Terrain identification sucked. I didn't know this was on the test, failed most of the practice qs and YOLO'd the questions. Basically has one image of terrain with defining features (roads, rivers, coastlines) oriented north to the left, and then the same image, just rotated and zoomed in/out on the right hand side. Your task is to figure out which way you're headed if you go in the direction of 12oclock on the right image. This section, unlike the UAV section, doesn't tell you when you score correctly or incorrectly. Good luck! I was unprepared, but with practice this should be ezpz.

Then the flight sim stuff. Never used any of these controls in my life, this section sucked. Apparently I did well enough though. Honestly no advice here. If you can, practice using a flightstick as I had never used one and kept messing up the direction due to inversion. Felt like I was always off both targets and my attention was all over the place. Emergency procedures gave me three, write down the procedure on paper and then reference it. They're pretty simple though, this wasn't terrible.

Oh yeah and the personality questions... just go through them. There's an obvious right answer for some, but others make you feel like you're outing yourself as a horrible person. It is what it is.
Did much better than I expected. My current ranking is NFO, suppo, SWO. subject to change since I've got a couple years left of college.

Thanks all for the help!

Question do you think with those score you're good enough for the program? Thanks again for sharing

 

[whenschel]

Question do you think with those score you're good enough for the program? Thanks again for sharing

Yes and pretty sure for NFO immediate select is 6/6/6, although he’s got years left of college so wouldn’t be ISEL if I’m correct

 

[dannycookss]

Just took it for the first time, no studying, 5.5 years enlisted, going for SNA, BS in Cybersecurity Technologies with a minor in Computer Science 3.88 GPA.

46/4/5/5.

Minimum for SNA eligibility but definitely rescheduling for 30 days from now lol.

 

[exNavyOffRec]

Just took it for the first time, no studying, 5.5 years enlisted, going for SNA, BS in Cybersecurity Technologies with a minor in Computer Science 3.88 GPA.

46/4/5/5.

Minimum for SNA eligibility but definitely rescheduling for 30 days from now lol.

Are you eligible for ISPP? Or have you looked into it?