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

[fighter-cat22]

Words

Theoretically yes, the PBM can affect AQR. Good luck on your potential retake, if they allow you to retest the whole exam take advantage and kill it.

 

[foolishjuan]

Thank you I appreciate it!

 

[exNavyOffRec]

SEEKING GUIDANCE ON MY SITUATION:

SORRY FOR LONG POST ANY FEEDBACK IS GREATLY APPRECIATED!!

I am currently Active Duty submitting for STA-21 (Pilot option), unfortunately I was not selected this year again, and have about two more years of eligibility. My main problem is my ASTB scores. My first attempt was a laughable 3/3/4, (2021) at the time I was unaware of the lifetime attempts limit of three and the extensiveness of the exam. I was told it was a requirement, and I just sent it. That was a mistake. My second attempt wasn't until May 2024, I was studying for the SAT and ASTB in tandem and didn't perform well on the ASTB 2/4/4 but, my SAT scores were decent. Also, this exam was rushed due to me going Underway for my ships work up cycle and not knowing if I had a chance to take it before the 1 JUL submission date for STA-21.

Throughout all of work up phase I studied as much as I could being an LPO of 80-160 Sailors at any given time, and lack of internet or materials while underway. I downloaded the ASTB Prep app and tried to spend at least 2-3 hours a day on there. I was finally showing progress and understanding the information, so I wanted to try my third and final attempt. However, I am deployed so that's almost impossible, except that I got lucky and a test proctor happened to be on deployment with us and had the testing equipment on board. So, May 2025 I got my test date and planned to take it on the ship, everything was working fine until I started taking the exam. The exam logged me out over 10 times, gave me black screens, skipped instructional portions, and would freeze for up to 10 minuets at a time. After about 5 hours of testing/ troubleshooting I scored a 3/4/5 which is still below the minimum. I was crushed and basically had to accept I'd never fly in the navy or marines. My proctor reached out to Apex and after reviewing my test I was granted a retake on my performance-based measures portion. I'm currently working on a request to retake the entire thing but if that does not happen it will just be for PBM.

My question is if the retake for the whole ASTB is not granted, will redoing PBM actually effect my overall scores? According to Apex each score has the potential to be affected by my PBM retake, for my ASTB wizards is this true? and do you think it will get me to the 4/5/5 mark (Minimum scores for navy) or higher if I was to ace the PBM?

FAQ:

Q: why not OCS
A: I'm already 8 years AD and I don't think I can complete a bachelors in 2 years while on the Ship on deployment, and with another one scheduled right after. I cannot compete with the 18- and 19-year-olds in here getting 9/9/9 OR 8/8/8 I have the leadership, accolades, etc. but definitely not the scores. Also, in my opinion my package is more geared toward STA-21 vis OCS.

Q: Why not study harder
A: I downloaded the resources I found in these forums to use underway, but didn't have access to all of them, and I gave my best shot at it or so I thought and fell short.

Q: Why not try something else?
A: Currently I'm not ready to give up, ultimately it could be denial, but I still believe I have a fighting chance VIA STA-21 after getting some more college credits.

Again, any feedback is appreciated even negative, I will take it in stride. Just want to talk to people about this who may have a better understand or a way forward. Lastly I have a redacted copy of this year's STA21 package if you want to see what caliber of sailor I am or have ideas for a way forward! Thank you!

They can't allow you a waiver to retake as there are only 3 versions so having you retake will give you an unfair advantage.

Yes the system can glitch but it doesn't affect the scores it just restarts where you left off, there have been people who had had issues with the test and scored 9/9/9.

I don't know why you were allowed to submit for STA-21 without qualifying scores, that is more on your COC for not catching that or guiding you. Did you have an officer mentor for STA-21? Did they talk to you about how most of the spots go to Nuke applicants? I am surprised at how many STA-21 applicants are not aware.

Your scores will also affect your selection chances so even if you had been able to get to the minimums you would be up against many with those scores you were concerned about going up against for OCS.

If by some miracle your PBM gets you to minimums your best bet would be to finish your degree and apply for URL ISPP that bypasses the standard board process so you don't compete with those with high ASTB scores.

 

[foolishjuan]

They can't allow you a waiver to retake as there are only 3 versions so having you retake will give you an unfair advantage.

Yes the system can glitch but it doesn't affect the scores it just restarts where you left off, there have been people who had had issues with the test and scored 9/9/9.

I don't know why you were allowed to submit for STA-21 without qualifying scores, that is more on your COC for not catching that or guiding you. Did you have an officer mentor for STA-21? Did they talk to you about how most of the spots go to Nuke applicants? I am surprised at how many STA-21 applicants are not aware.

Your scores will also affect your selection chances so even if you had been able to get to the minimums you would be up against many with those scores you were concerned about going up against for OCS.

If by some miracle your PBM gets you to minimums your best bet would be to finish your degree and apply for URL ISPP that bypasses the standard board process, so you don't compete with those with high ASTB scores.

First, thank you for the reply, it is greatly appreciated.

To answer your first comment, I do not believe a retake is an unfair advantage, I feel like an issue on any online test would constitute a retake. Apex has already told me it was a system error and granted the PBM portion meaning that the glitch did affect my scores, I'm just saying the same issues persisted through the entire test, so I am hopeful.

Remember this was taken afloat on a deployed carrier. Also, from all the reading I have done the main purpose of the ASTB is to see the applicant's likeliness of making it through flight school, to me that seems "waiver able". Currently cannot find anything stating "non wavier able" which I could be wrong, but I have found zero PAs or instructions saying that. The navy is pretty consistent with saying "non waiver able" if there is a requirement they won't change. "Requirement" is not = No waivers.

I know that you are the guru for all the questions on these forums, but I think STA-21 is slightly different, only based off the Selected applicants I've spoken to. I'm aware of the ratio of nuke applicants picked up in STA-21I understand statistically it is the HARDEST way to become a pilot in the navy, as I have made a post about in another thread. I submitted for Core and Pilot. ASTB scores are not needed for core so that is why I still submitted. My interviews had multiple O-6 1310s who all told me to submit regardless, so that's exactly what I did. My lowest ranking interviewer was an O-5 squadron XO 1310 who again said submit the package. I have the redacted package if performance is in question. Currently ASTB is my biggest hurdle.

In regard to going against high scores, I believe that's also false. I have spoken to many of the last Pilots selected via STA-21 and they have average scores of 4s and 5s and a few with 6s here and there no ISEL numbers at all. This year someone was selected with 5/5/6 so nothing crazy. I believe STA-21 has its own quotas for pilots, so you are not competing with street applicants/ OCS, just those submitting for STA-21.

Not sure what URL ISPP is but I will have to look into it. I'm getting old (27) so being on a deployed ship is not very helpful to completing school before my age deadline, but I am trying to make it work regardless. Again thanks for the insight!

 

[exNavyOffRec]

First, thank you for the reply, it is greatly appreciated.

To answer your first comment, I do not believe a retake is an unfair advantage, I feel like an issue on any online test would constitute a retake. Apex has already told me it was a system error and granted the PBM portion meaning that the glitch did affect my scores, I'm just saying the same issues persisted through the entire test, so I am hopeful.

Remember this was taken afloat on a deployed carrier. Also, from all the reading I have done the main purpose of the ASTB is to see the applicant's likeliness of making it through flight school, to me that seems "waiver able". Currently cannot find anything stating "non wavier able" which I could be wrong, but I have found zero PAs or instructions saying that. The navy is pretty consistent with saying "non waiver able" if there is a requirement they won't change. "Requirement" is not = No waivers.

I know that you are the guru for all the questions on these forums, but I think STA-21 is slightly different, only based off the Selected applicants I've spoken to. I'm aware of the ratio of nuke applicants picked up in STA-21I understand statistically it is the HARDEST way to become a pilot in the navy, as I have made a post about in another thread. I submitted for Core and Pilot. ASTB scores are not needed for core so that is why I still submitted. My interviews had multiple O-6 1310s who all told me to submit regardless, so that's exactly what I did. My lowest ranking interviewer was an O-5 squadron XO 1310 who again said submit the package. I have the redacted package if performance is in question. Currently ASTB is my biggest hurdle.

In regard to going against high scores, I believe that's also false. I have spoken to many of the last Pilots selected via STA-21 and they have average scores of 4s and 5s and a few with 6s here and there no ISEL numbers at all. This year someone was selected with 5/5/6 so nothing crazy. I believe STA-21 has its own quotas for pilots, so you are not competing with street applicants/ OCS, just those submitting for STA-21.

Not sure what URL ISPP is but I will have to look into it. I'm getting old (27) so being on a deployed ship is not very helpful to completing school before my age deadline, but I am trying to make it work regardless. Again thanks for the insight!

They only have 3 ASTB versions, I have only heard of 1 person getting a retake and that was I believe due to the administrator not following (violating) the administration procedures. That is the only time I have ever heard of a retake, maybe you will get lucky or maybe the PBM will increase your score so it is good enough?

The ASTB is 100% not waiverable, they have even at one point increased the minimum scores to 6 for the FOFAR and PFAR, those that had qualifying scores prior to the change were allowed to go to board if they had submitted, if they hadn't they were no longer qualified.

STA-21 is a bit different and applying core makes sense. When all other things are equal that ASTB will be a factor. You are correct STA-21 does have its own quotas for pilots so you are only competing against those applying STA-21 I wasn't implying they would compete against OCS applicants.

You just have to be commissioned by age 32 for SNA. URL ISPP is a program where you just need to have a degree, no waivers, and minimum ASTB scores then you are essentially automatically processed for OCS, you just need the first flag in your COC to endorse you.

Getting into core STA-21 might be another option in hopes they put out new versions of the ASTB, it is about that time.