TheIronMike
Active Member
Thanks, I recalled seeing something on this thread about watching for the "shoulds" and "shalls" in the reading portion, which thankfully may have saved my skin
Hope all goes well with your MEPS and Waiver business
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1,001 questions about the ASTB (post your scores & ask your questions here!)
- Thread starter edato
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Hope all goes well with your MEPS and Waiver business
Rudygoff10
Active Member
Just took the ASTB yesterday and figured I'd post about it since this thread was the most helpful resource for finding info and study material. Thanks to everyone who went before and spent their time building this thread up! Sorry in advance but this is gonna be super long. Hope this helps:
Score: 73 9/9/9
I've taken the SIFT (army's version) so I knew what to expect for some of it. I also have a flexible work schedule so I took off a little over two weeks to do nothing but study, I'd highly recommend it if possible but realize not everyone can. I was a poli sci major in college and hadn't taken math or physics since high school so I had to relearn everything. I also have my PPL but haven't flown in about 4 years.
I purchased three study guides (from Aegis group, Trivium, and Test prep books) but I didn't find them very helpful in terms of actually explaining concepts. I used them more for their practice problems and showing what the concepts were, then going on YouTube and watching Khan Academy (for math and mechanics) and Pilot Training System (for Aviation). Pilot training systems goes through the entire FAA PHAK, not in as much detail, but most likely enough to get the basics. I'm a really slow reader so this method helped me a lot. I did use the books for nautical information because I knew absolutely nothing about it when I started studying. Other than that practice tests and repetition were what I did most, lots of flash cards are on proprofs, cram, and quizlet for each subject. All the material I used i either mention or found in this thread, but I can put together a full list if anyone wants it.
MATH:
The math questions I had started out simple then quickly got extremely complex, not really in terms of the concepts, but the amount of numbers being used to find the solution. For one I remember multiplying a 7 digit number by a 4 digit number as the final step. Most of the concepts covered in the study guides were used. My test ended after 25 mins with a logarithm problem so I'm guessing that's roughly as hard as it will get. I'd recommend finding the types of problems you will face and youtubing the methods for solving them if you don't understand them, then just make sure you understand the procedure for each. Long division, multiplication, addition and subtraction are the bedrock of everything so make sure you try to get as fast as you can while staying accurate with high digit numbers and decimals.
READING:
This was definitely my worst area, I ran out of time but I think I got around 15-17 before it clocked out. A lot of study guides give you a paragraph, then a specific question, then answers. This format is only the paragraph, then four statements. Sometimes the paragraphs were only a 3 line sentence, some were 10. Additionally the answer statements can be up to 3 lines long for some, so reading the answers before and looking for it in the paragraph doesn't always work. The topics were primarily about navy procedure and some stuff about science, either way it was extremely boring and dry. Don't really have a way to study for this, but knowing what to expect always helps.
MECHANICS:
This one was kinda all over the place for me, at the end the questions got really complex and the last one was a circuit with multiple batteries, a magnetic coil (or whatever that's actually called), and an X-ray thing. There was a decent amount of math and actual calculation using formulas but it was mostly conceptual. I'd go through any books, guides, or flash cards to find the concepts, then look them up if you need further help. I used Khan Academy, but there's plenty of good ones.
ANIT:
The books did a pretty good job of covering basic nautical terms, the pilot training system videos and the FAA PHAK definitely cover the general Aviation concepts well. Make sure to know the shirt colors of the airmen on carriers and the history of aviation and naval aviation and specific aircraft types, the navy airmen guide covered a lot of this. This subtest booted me out after 5 mins at about 15 questions. Most questions are very straight forward and expected, but some are very random. Ones that stuck out were which type of dive bomber the USN purchased before Midway, and something about a commander (not a famous one you'd recognize) testing a nose tow something or other in 1963 and what capability was being developed. I'm sure my previous aviation experience was extremely helpful, but I also studied this subject the most and I'm sure this subject is what can be improved upon the most by studying.
TRAIT INVENTORY:
Don't try to game it, just answer.
PBMB:
UAV: pretty straightforward, click the parking lot as fast as you can. I got one wrong but averaged about 2 seconds. The screen gives you the heading, the headphones give you the target. I used these to practice (https://www.proprofs.com/flashcards/cardshow.php?title=_36014).
I tried the compass method before, but I did better without it.
Dichotic listening: I probably went overboard and practiced this by using the voice memos function on my iPhone, recording a computer saying strings of numbers and letters, then playing different strings through different headphones and responding. I think it helped but it was probably overkill. Just for clarity it's always one target ear at a time only, characters are said at exactly the same time and volume. Throttle is odd, trigger was even the entire time (at least for me).
VTT: pretty straight forward, track the plane up and down.
ATT: also straight forward. I read that study about this test, and from what I recalled it was like aiming in any shooter video game where forward was up and back was down. It's like an actual stick on a plane, forward is down, back is up, left and right are the same.
ATT/VTT: straight forward, but unbelievably difficult. The hardest part for me was pushing forward on the stick and going down, then forward on the throttle and going up. That was difficult to get used to but just do the best you can. I did play a good amount of COD in my study breaks, I figured you're tracking a moving target with a reticle so it may help. No idea if it did.
MTT: I didn't think this was as hard as I anticipated. It was much harder initially getting used to controlling both reticles than it was to incorporate listening. Listening was definitely the easier of the three tasks. Also, 100% overkill again, I played COD while listening to the character strings in different ears and responded (squeezing the non playing fingers). It's unbelievably difficult and I think it may have actually helped at multitasking given this was actually easier than the previous test since I was already starting to get used to the multiple trackers, but maybe that's just me. Still totally overkill.
EST: When you are calibrating the controls write down which direction is 100% and which is 0% for each knob. It gives you time to memorize the procedures, make sure to write them down. For me I did it in terms of full left/right, or full forward/back. Once you write them down, practice them before moving on. I didn't physically move the knobs, but visualized and motioned like going full forward/back and full left/right until I felt comfortable. Also try to have them centered after each scenario, it's important during one of them that the top knob stays centered, so that's one less control to move if it's already there.
Sorry again for how crazy long this post is, hopefully it helps.
Score: 73 9/9/9
I've taken the SIFT (army's version) so I knew what to expect for some of it. I also have a flexible work schedule so I took off a little over two weeks to do nothing but study, I'd highly recommend it if possible but realize not everyone can. I was a poli sci major in college and hadn't taken math or physics since high school so I had to relearn everything. I also have my PPL but haven't flown in about 4 years.
I purchased three study guides (from Aegis group, Trivium, and Test prep books) but I didn't find them very helpful in terms of actually explaining concepts. I used them more for their practice problems and showing what the concepts were, then going on YouTube and watching Khan Academy (for math and mechanics) and Pilot Training System (for Aviation). Pilot training systems goes through the entire FAA PHAK, not in as much detail, but most likely enough to get the basics. I'm a really slow reader so this method helped me a lot. I did use the books for nautical information because I knew absolutely nothing about it when I started studying. Other than that practice tests and repetition were what I did most, lots of flash cards are on proprofs, cram, and quizlet for each subject. All the material I used i either mention or found in this thread, but I can put together a full list if anyone wants it.
MATH:
The math questions I had started out simple then quickly got extremely complex, not really in terms of the concepts, but the amount of numbers being used to find the solution. For one I remember multiplying a 7 digit number by a 4 digit number as the final step. Most of the concepts covered in the study guides were used. My test ended after 25 mins with a logarithm problem so I'm guessing that's roughly as hard as it will get. I'd recommend finding the types of problems you will face and youtubing the methods for solving them if you don't understand them, then just make sure you understand the procedure for each. Long division, multiplication, addition and subtraction are the bedrock of everything so make sure you try to get as fast as you can while staying accurate with high digit numbers and decimals.
READING:
This was definitely my worst area, I ran out of time but I think I got around 15-17 before it clocked out. A lot of study guides give you a paragraph, then a specific question, then answers. This format is only the paragraph, then four statements. Sometimes the paragraphs were only a 3 line sentence, some were 10. Additionally the answer statements can be up to 3 lines long for some, so reading the answers before and looking for it in the paragraph doesn't always work. The topics were primarily about navy procedure and some stuff about science, either way it was extremely boring and dry. Don't really have a way to study for this, but knowing what to expect always helps.
MECHANICS:
This one was kinda all over the place for me, at the end the questions got really complex and the last one was a circuit with multiple batteries, a magnetic coil (or whatever that's actually called), and an X-ray thing. There was a decent amount of math and actual calculation using formulas but it was mostly conceptual. I'd go through any books, guides, or flash cards to find the concepts, then look them up if you need further help. I used Khan Academy, but there's plenty of good ones.
ANIT:
The books did a pretty good job of covering basic nautical terms, the pilot training system videos and the FAA PHAK definitely cover the general Aviation concepts well. Make sure to know the shirt colors of the airmen on carriers and the history of aviation and naval aviation and specific aircraft types, the navy airmen guide covered a lot of this. This subtest booted me out after 5 mins at about 15 questions. Most questions are very straight forward and expected, but some are very random. Ones that stuck out were which type of dive bomber the USN purchased before Midway, and something about a commander (not a famous one you'd recognize) testing a nose tow something or other in 1963 and what capability was being developed. I'm sure my previous aviation experience was extremely helpful, but I also studied this subject the most and I'm sure this subject is what can be improved upon the most by studying.
TRAIT INVENTORY:
Don't try to game it, just answer.
PBMB:
UAV: pretty straightforward, click the parking lot as fast as you can. I got one wrong but averaged about 2 seconds. The screen gives you the heading, the headphones give you the target. I used these to practice (https://www.proprofs.com/flashcards/cardshow.php?title=_36014).
I tried the compass method before, but I did better without it.
Dichotic listening: I probably went overboard and practiced this by using the voice memos function on my iPhone, recording a computer saying strings of numbers and letters, then playing different strings through different headphones and responding. I think it helped but it was probably overkill. Just for clarity it's always one target ear at a time only, characters are said at exactly the same time and volume. Throttle is odd, trigger was even the entire time (at least for me).
VTT: pretty straight forward, track the plane up and down.
ATT: also straight forward. I read that study about this test, and from what I recalled it was like aiming in any shooter video game where forward was up and back was down. It's like an actual stick on a plane, forward is down, back is up, left and right are the same.
ATT/VTT: straight forward, but unbelievably difficult. The hardest part for me was pushing forward on the stick and going down, then forward on the throttle and going up. That was difficult to get used to but just do the best you can. I did play a good amount of COD in my study breaks, I figured you're tracking a moving target with a reticle so it may help. No idea if it did.
MTT: I didn't think this was as hard as I anticipated. It was much harder initially getting used to controlling both reticles than it was to incorporate listening. Listening was definitely the easier of the three tasks. Also, 100% overkill again, I played COD while listening to the character strings in different ears and responded (squeezing the non playing fingers). It's unbelievably difficult and I think it may have actually helped at multitasking given this was actually easier than the previous test since I was already starting to get used to the multiple trackers, but maybe that's just me. Still totally overkill.
EST: When you are calibrating the controls write down which direction is 100% and which is 0% for each knob. It gives you time to memorize the procedures, make sure to write them down. For me I did it in terms of full left/right, or full forward/back. Once you write them down, practice them before moving on. I didn't physically move the knobs, but visualized and motioned like going full forward/back and full left/right until I felt comfortable. Also try to have them centered after each scenario, it's important during one of them that the top knob stays centered, so that's one less control to move if it's already there.
Sorry again for how crazy long this post is, hopefully it helps.
agriz33
Well-Known Member
peppergunner
ɹǝqɯǝW pǝʇɹǝʌuI
Cool idea for the studying for dichotic listening.
Took the ASTB for the second time. 54 5/5/5
Improved my scores from the first time. 48 4/4/4 and was trying to submit with my second scores. My recruiter said I didnt have a good shot with my scores but I asked if we could submit and then retake the test if needed. We began the process of putting a packet together and I went to meps. Now he said that the scoring has changed and I will need at least 6/6/6 to qualify for a pilot spot. So now im studying again for the third and final test.
First test I used Mometrix ASTB-E Secrets and it provided no help on my first test. The questions were far different and much more involved. Second test I used Barrons. I felt a lot more confident and more prepared for the math, reading and mechanical comprehension but, struggled with the parking lot and simulator. I have looked through a few of the study guides on here and they seem a bit out dated. Are there any study guides that have helped you guys improve your scores from 2017-2018?
Its my last shot so I want to be as well prepared as possible. Thank you.
Improved my scores from the first time. 48 4/4/4 and was trying to submit with my second scores. My recruiter said I didnt have a good shot with my scores but I asked if we could submit and then retake the test if needed. We began the process of putting a packet together and I went to meps. Now he said that the scoring has changed and I will need at least 6/6/6 to qualify for a pilot spot. So now im studying again for the third and final test.
First test I used Mometrix ASTB-E Secrets and it provided no help on my first test. The questions were far different and much more involved. Second test I used Barrons. I felt a lot more confident and more prepared for the math, reading and mechanical comprehension but, struggled with the parking lot and simulator. I have looked through a few of the study guides on here and they seem a bit out dated. Are there any study guides that have helped you guys improve your scores from 2017-2018?
Its my last shot so I want to be as well prepared as possible. Thank you.
peppergunner
ɹǝqɯǝW pǝʇɹǝʌuI
I'm a huge fan of the compass method for the nav section, helped me a lot. For raising the latter scores to 6/6/6, try out the dichotic listening guide from the guy above is who got 9/9/9.
Also, if you can get your hands on a flight simulator or invert your vertical axis in Fortnite/CoD just to adjust yourself to the left/right/up/down, I'd recommend that. It's something I really wish I had done. I expected the joystick to be full inverted over both axes, not just the vertical axis.
Last edited:
Rudygoff10
Active Member
I did the inverted axis thing for a while in COD, I read the study and switched it back, but that was a mistake. It won't be very fun to play but it should definitely help you with the tracking. If you wanted to try that dichotic listening thing I did just read my post for the method, you'll have to make it yourself but you already know what it should sound like. I think the practice I did definitely paid off when I got to the MTT.
I can also send you the study guides I used if you want to pay for shipping, but like I said before I used mostly other sources to actually explain the concepts and then the books for questions and as a guide for what might be on the test. PM me if interested. Best of luck!
peppergunner
ɹǝqɯǝW pǝʇɹǝʌuI
The "qualify" he's referring to is the "Auto Qualify". You can still apply and get in with scores like those.
Thank you for the response, do you think I have a decent chance with those scores though? My recruiter emphasized that the 8 and the 7 will look really good.
peppergunner
ɹǝqɯǝW pǝʇɹǝʌuI
The 8 and the 7 are for two different disciplines. The 8 is for Pilot. The 7 is for NFO. Want to be a pilot? The 8 looks good. Want to be an NFO? The 7 looks good as well.
Have you thought about retaking to try and bring your AQR up? I dont know your OAR score but it could be worth the time.
Here's a link for competative scores.
peppergunner
ɹǝqɯǝW pǝʇɹǝʌuI
Also, this.
Just took the test last week. I felt during the test I was doing really badly but my recruiter said the scores were good to go.
OAR: 65
8/8/7
GPA 3.15 Chemical Engineer at a state school
Intramural soccer & church band for extracurriculars
I'm wanting to go for NFO and he said I'm borderline autoselect, is this the case in your experience?
Also, when do we take the NAMI physical? I'm wanting to get all my ducks in a row before I quit work and start prepping for OCS fulltime.
OAR: 65
8/8/7
GPA 3.15 Chemical Engineer at a state school
Intramural soccer & church band for extracurriculars
I'm wanting to go for NFO and he said I'm borderline autoselect, is this the case in your experience?
Also, when do we take the NAMI physical? I'm wanting to get all my ducks in a row before I quit work and start prepping for OCS fulltime.
peppergunner
ɹǝqɯǝW pǝʇɹǝʌuI
How soon are you planning on quitting your job? Time between the ASTB and OCS for some is 4-8 months.
I'm confused. How exactly do the controls work? Left and right are left and right? Pushing the joystick forward is nose down, pulling the joystick back is nose up? Or am I misunderstanding this?