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

[RockinTheBit07]

I'm trying to apply concepts rather than memorize for the mechanical portion especially since I'm not that great in physics or science so its like a brand new learning process for me. For math I can have some sort of an idea on what I'm looking at since my major focused on a lot of math. It's just rust that I have to brush off like learning the basic rules again, learning how to multiply and divide decimals, and all that basic stuff since I was so used to using a calculator. I'll keep that idea on the reading portion. It seems like the only concept there is for it lol. I'm just worried because I'm such a slow reader and my vocabulary isn't that great at times.

Going back to my question... There is no need to study the Aviation and Nautical Information part for the OAR, correct?

No the OAR is only math skills, reading and mechanical comprehension. I can suggest to you for reading, is to just read a lot if you can. Whether it is just reading the newspaper and trying to skillfully read through it, can't hurt!Take the practice test for the ASTB that has been posted on here, it really helps you time yourself and see what needs to be focused on. Reading fast gets you no where, unless you actually obtain what you just read, I don't know how many times I have had to re-read something because I went through it too fast. For me reading and making a connection with the passage is easy, but I am struggling with the mechanic stuff. I went and got a basic physics book from my library to read and have read through the personal study guide and gouges over and over again until it made sense. Good luck and don't over think too much!

On another note, my recruiter never gave me any kind of stuff to study for. Like these gouges and all, I only just found out about them through this site...makes me think I might have been better prepared the last two times I took the test :/ well can't change the past!

 

[B619]

Thanks! I'm assuming the practice test is from the "Peterson's" practice ASTB? I was excited to hear that he would give me something to study but when I looked at it, it was the same exact practice test (marine gouge) I found on here. Ouch, well I hope you pass your third time. When will you take your 3rd attempt btw?

 

[RockinTheBit07]

I'm taking it next Tuesday. While I feel better prepared and more knowledgeable this time around, I am still not 100% confident. My friend is going to tutor me this weekend in math so I hope it helps. I got a 41 and then a 43 previously, but I am now taking the whole test not just the OAR, so I'm feeling blind going into the other sections. And yes the petersons is the one I used. I also have gone through the flash cards online mixed in with my books. I just keep John Wayne in mind when I am feeling defeated "courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway"

 

[B619]

Let us know how it goes and good luck. You seem to have good sources now with a tutor and a better understanding. It's just risky going in "blind" with the new stuff added now that you're taking it as the whole ASTB if you ask me. More power to you though. How would you say the Peterson's practice test is compared to the actual ASTB?

 

[T-Rav]

I found the problems in Petersons to be more challenging than the actual test.

 

[ea6bflyr]

I found the problems in Petersons to be more challenging than the actual test.

That's not a bad thing. There is no such thing as over-preparing for the test!

 

[RockinTheBit07]

Let us know how it goes and good luck. You seem to have good sources now with a tutor and a better understanding. It's just risky going in "blind" with the new stuff added now that you're taking it as the whole ASTB if you ask me. More power to you though. How would you say the Peterson's practice test is compared to the actual ASTB?

Thanks! And I will. The only portion of the rest of the ASTB I feel worried about is the Aviation and Nautical information just because I didn't grow up with it, but I am fairly good at learning dates, names, history and remembering it versus remembering equations in math. Spacial apperception is one of my best sections when studying. I would say the petersons test is a bit harder than the actual test for the math section, easier than the reading and about the same for mechanical, but the last time I tool the test was last November so I could be mistaken.

 

[Mr Spenz]

trust me none of the study guides do justice for the spatial portion. the actual exam is MUCH different.

 

[RockinTheBit07]

trust me none of the study guides do justice for the spatial portion. the actual exam is MUCH different.

Well that is comforting...thanks for the heads up! What about the practice test for petersons for spacial apperception? I figured the actual test would make it hard to tell which image is correct, that you would need to be able to notice the subtle differences unlike my book where I can look at the image and almost know which one it is right off the bat.

 

[Mr Spenz]

Well that is comforting...thanks for the heads up! What about the practice test for petersons for spacial apperception? I figured the actual test would make it hard to tell which image is correct, that you would need to be able to notice the subtle differences unlike my book where I can look at the image and almost know which one it is right off the bat.

acetheastb.com is pretty accurate and gives good tips.

 

[RockinTheBit07]

acetheastb.com is pretty accurate and gives good tips.

Thanks! I appreciate this greatly!

 

[Mr Spenz]

Thanks! I appreciate this greatly!

no problem. I used the study guides for the most parts but spatial just need the concepts down cause the pictures are completely different. But I also raised my score from a 5/6/6 49 to a 7/7/6 61.

 

[RockinTheBit07]

no problem. I used the study guides for the most parts but spatial just need the concepts down cause the pictures are completely different. But I also raised my score from a 5/6/6 49 to a 7/7/6 61.

Those are some nice scores, my hope is to get around a 60 on the OAR, but that would be increasing my last score by 17 points.

 

[Mr Spenz]

Those are some nice scores, my hope is to get around a 60 on the OAR, but that would be increasing my last score by 17 points.

Ya they arent bad scores. Hopefully my OAR looks good. Still not super confident that I will get selected lol. My GPA is a little low (3.2-3.3)

 

[RockinTheBit07]

Ya they arent bad scores. Hopefully my OAR looks good. Still not super confident that I will get selected lol. My GPA is a little low (3.2-3.3)

Hey don't sell yourself short, my GPA was only 2.95 so my test scores need to be high. I wish I wouldn't have been in a rush to get out of school and took my time to raise my GPA, but it is what it is.