ApacheIndian
New Member
I took the ASTB today to qualify for SNA. My scores were 44 4/4/4. Obviously, this is not a passing score but I've been asked to re-take within a month (July end).
Math (MST): This is the section heavily weighted towards the computation of the AQR score which is crucial for SNA/SNFO. I saw a lot of probability problems as well as problems dealing with fractions. For example, if a family gives away 1/8 of their produce how much of their 2 2/3 produce remains? Express in vulgar fraction.
Ex2: 3 green balls, 3 blue balls and 5 white balls. Sally takes one blue ball, what is the probability of Timmy taking a white ball?
The questions were not complicated but were on a level with those found on the SAT.
Reading (RCT): This section caught me off guard a little bit since the passages were very much based on Naval working policies so the language contained therein was quite technical. The prep books did not have such passages and so I was not prepared for this and was second-guessing my answers quite a bit. Again, SAT reading comes close to the reading section here.
Mechanical (MST): Here, I was prepared for a lot of pulleys and gears but instead found general science questions posed as mechanical questions. Brushing up on basic mechanical physics is beneficial. Fulcrums are a big feature, or at least I got many of those questions. Know your levers.
ANIT: Was largely okay. Some questions were very technical especially for the aviation bit so its necessary to have a basic working knowledge of aerodynamics as well as Naval aviation trivia.
PBM (UAV/Tracking): For the UAV portion it is vitally important to be able to re-orient one's mind for every question. Look at the tracker map and then at the presented view and see how the directions need to be adjusted. The responses are timed so the lower the better.
The tracking exercise with the stick was really hard as they had inverted the Y axis and the throttle was setup such that it simulated the power buildup in a real turbine engine. The power takes time to buildup and so you need to think ahead. The more time you spend locked on to the target, the faster it moves along the Y axis. The second screen was quite tough due to the inverted Y axis and the stick having a lag. Again simulating real targeting conditions so one has to think ahead here as well.
In conclusion: Apart from the mechanical knowledge and the naval and aviation related stuff, most of the prep can be done from SAT books themselves so I'll be focused on those. Brushing up on basic physics will help out with mechanical a whole lot. I'm hoping for a vastly improved score next month.
Current prep books:
Solomons 6e
Petersons
Learning Express 5e
Barrons Military Flight Tests
Math (MST): This is the section heavily weighted towards the computation of the AQR score which is crucial for SNA/SNFO. I saw a lot of probability problems as well as problems dealing with fractions. For example, if a family gives away 1/8 of their produce how much of their 2 2/3 produce remains? Express in vulgar fraction.
Ex2: 3 green balls, 3 blue balls and 5 white balls. Sally takes one blue ball, what is the probability of Timmy taking a white ball?
The questions were not complicated but were on a level with those found on the SAT.
Reading (RCT): This section caught me off guard a little bit since the passages were very much based on Naval working policies so the language contained therein was quite technical. The prep books did not have such passages and so I was not prepared for this and was second-guessing my answers quite a bit. Again, SAT reading comes close to the reading section here.
Mechanical (MST): Here, I was prepared for a lot of pulleys and gears but instead found general science questions posed as mechanical questions. Brushing up on basic mechanical physics is beneficial. Fulcrums are a big feature, or at least I got many of those questions. Know your levers.
ANIT: Was largely okay. Some questions were very technical especially for the aviation bit so its necessary to have a basic working knowledge of aerodynamics as well as Naval aviation trivia.
PBM (UAV/Tracking): For the UAV portion it is vitally important to be able to re-orient one's mind for every question. Look at the tracker map and then at the presented view and see how the directions need to be adjusted. The responses are timed so the lower the better.
The tracking exercise with the stick was really hard as they had inverted the Y axis and the throttle was setup such that it simulated the power buildup in a real turbine engine. The power takes time to buildup and so you need to think ahead. The more time you spend locked on to the target, the faster it moves along the Y axis. The second screen was quite tough due to the inverted Y axis and the stick having a lag. Again simulating real targeting conditions so one has to think ahead here as well.
In conclusion: Apart from the mechanical knowledge and the naval and aviation related stuff, most of the prep can be done from SAT books themselves so I'll be focused on those. Brushing up on basic physics will help out with mechanical a whole lot. I'm hoping for a vastly improved score next month.
Current prep books:
Solomons 6e
Petersons
Learning Express 5e
Barrons Military Flight Tests
