Unknowntime
New Member
I was wondering if we knew which sections applied to the pfar or the pilot score.
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1,001 questions about the ASTB (post your scores & ask your questions here!)
- Thread starter edato
- Start date
Primarily dichotic listening, tracking, and EPs. All sections I mentioned comprise a small part of the score though.
Hello everyone,
I have never in my life been a great test taker! I’ve been studying day in/ night for about 4 and a half weeks now. The OAR is a huge struggle for me currently.
1st attempt : 36
2nd attempt: 39 ( a year later )
Although I did see progress I’m feeling a little discouraged to continue trying in the process. I have one more final time as you all know but I’m not sure how to approach it. I found math to be not so hard. However, mechanics and reading took me out. I was using Gomez and kyles study guide. Is there any more resources or any advice to take on that reading section as well as mechanical?
I have never in my life been a great test taker! I’ve been studying day in/ night for about 4 and a half weeks now. The OAR is a huge struggle for me currently.
1st attempt : 36
2nd attempt: 39 ( a year later )
Although I did see progress I’m feeling a little discouraged to continue trying in the process. I have one more final time as you all know but I’m not sure how to approach it. I found math to be not so hard. However, mechanics and reading took me out. I was using Gomez and kyles study guide. Is there any more resources or any advice to take on that reading section as well as mechanical?
elariosa95
SNA (Primary - VT-6)
Reading is probably the hardest to prepare for. You might want to look into an LSAT or GRE prep book that will have similar questions to the reading portion.
Mechanical is much easier bc physics never changes and is more intuitive. I would recommend taking another look at your practice material then searching YouTube for anything that doesn’t make sense.
I actually appreciated some of Kieno Thomas' content on youtube. Especially for the mechanical sections. A lot of what he prepped for was on the ASTB, definitely more of the basic stuff but a good starting point.
https://www.youtube.com/user/kienothomas/videos
Took my second attempt at the ASTB-E recently. Write up below. This forum and the resources listed throughout were invaluable so thank you all. Going for SNA.
1st attempt(February 2022): 56 6/6/7
2nd attempt(April 2022): 61 8/7/7
Definitely was hoping for all 8s, but this is still a solid score that I'm happy to stick with. Will not be retaking.
MST: felt like I did poorly, but apparently not based on my AQR score. 2-3 questions on probability, a few easy ones involving radicals, some line slope stuff(y=mx+b). There was one that threw me off, something like "the perimeter of a rectangle is 60x^2,. and the base is 2 times the height. What is the area? It was weird and I had to guess after staring at it for about 90 seconds. This section was misleading because the first 2-3 problems were hard, then it got easier and stayed that way the whole time. Was not feeling great after finishing this one. Also, I had almost no word problems aside from probability, and no distance and time ones, surprisingly, which sucks because I studied a lot of word and distance problems.
RCT: I think I did exceptionally well this time around. I was able to successfully eliminate 3/4 answers nearly every time, to get me the right answer. The hardest part, to me, was how dull the topics of reading were. It is boring stuff, for sure. I was just drinking my coffee and staying focused here. I think it's easy to get very bored here and start getting complacent. This time around I was expecting this so I kept myself focused and attentive the whole time. Process of elimination is the name of the game here. A lot of the time, 2 answers will both seem correct, but one word(like an "and" instead of an "or") differentiates the right from the wrong. I studied for this section far less than any others.
MCT: This was one of the ones I studied most for, and I think is the main contributor to my 2 point AQR increase. I knew nearly everything on it, except for a circuit one(don't remember specifics, sorry). Lots of MA, force calculations, pulleys, classes of levers. The MCT packets in Kyle's Guide were incredible for this! Know static and dynamic friction and the basic computations associated with each!
ANIT: I only am aware of one that I might have missed, involving types of flaps on an airplane(smooth flaps, plain flaps, fowler flaps, slotted flaps, and one other one). A few from Popeye's Gouge: dissymmetry of lift, and basic aircraft stuff. I had no historical ones at all which was unfortunate because I studied a whole hell of a lot of dates and aviation history stuff. Key takeaway that you've all head before: PPL stuff is invaluable here. If you've already taken your PAR written exam, this section is pretty damn easy. Know Bernoulli's principle, basic aerodynamics, and parts of the aircraft.
PBM
UAV: average time was right around 1.8-2 seconds. I missed 2 or 3. Not much to say here, it's exactly as described here in the forums.
Dichotic listening: I think I blew it here. I don't wanna blame the crappy speakers/headphones at the testing center, but I wasn't too pleased with the sound quality and inability to increase the volume very much. I think if it weren't for the listening parts, I would have got an 8 PFAR.
Tracking: Jantzen's sim was invaluable here. Some people say it doesn't help very much: I couldn't disagree more. After playing the sim on hard difficulty the last few days before the test, it seemed easy on the actual test because it was slower. Also, I was practicing on a 32" monitor at home, so it is definitely easier on the smaller screen at the testing center.
Dichotic + Tracking: Simply think I blew it on the listening as mentioned above. Tracking was solid with green targets a lot of the time.
Emergency procedures: take your time and memorize the 3 different procedures. I just sat there for about 2-3 minutes writing them down and also just memorizing them. This section was the quickest of them all. Just one of each procedure and you're done.
1st attempt(February 2022): 56 6/6/7
2nd attempt(April 2022): 61 8/7/7
Definitely was hoping for all 8s, but this is still a solid score that I'm happy to stick with. Will not be retaking.
MST: felt like I did poorly, but apparently not based on my AQR score. 2-3 questions on probability, a few easy ones involving radicals, some line slope stuff(y=mx+b). There was one that threw me off, something like "the perimeter of a rectangle is 60x^2,. and the base is 2 times the height. What is the area? It was weird and I had to guess after staring at it for about 90 seconds. This section was misleading because the first 2-3 problems were hard, then it got easier and stayed that way the whole time. Was not feeling great after finishing this one. Also, I had almost no word problems aside from probability, and no distance and time ones, surprisingly, which sucks because I studied a lot of word and distance problems.
RCT: I think I did exceptionally well this time around. I was able to successfully eliminate 3/4 answers nearly every time, to get me the right answer. The hardest part, to me, was how dull the topics of reading were. It is boring stuff, for sure. I was just drinking my coffee and staying focused here. I think it's easy to get very bored here and start getting complacent. This time around I was expecting this so I kept myself focused and attentive the whole time. Process of elimination is the name of the game here. A lot of the time, 2 answers will both seem correct, but one word(like an "and" instead of an "or") differentiates the right from the wrong. I studied for this section far less than any others.
MCT: This was one of the ones I studied most for, and I think is the main contributor to my 2 point AQR increase. I knew nearly everything on it, except for a circuit one(don't remember specifics, sorry). Lots of MA, force calculations, pulleys, classes of levers. The MCT packets in Kyle's Guide were incredible for this! Know static and dynamic friction and the basic computations associated with each!
ANIT: I only am aware of one that I might have missed, involving types of flaps on an airplane(smooth flaps, plain flaps, fowler flaps, slotted flaps, and one other one). A few from Popeye's Gouge: dissymmetry of lift, and basic aircraft stuff. I had no historical ones at all which was unfortunate because I studied a whole hell of a lot of dates and aviation history stuff. Key takeaway that you've all head before: PPL stuff is invaluable here. If you've already taken your PAR written exam, this section is pretty damn easy. Know Bernoulli's principle, basic aerodynamics, and parts of the aircraft.
PBM
UAV: average time was right around 1.8-2 seconds. I missed 2 or 3. Not much to say here, it's exactly as described here in the forums.
Dichotic listening: I think I blew it here. I don't wanna blame the crappy speakers/headphones at the testing center, but I wasn't too pleased with the sound quality and inability to increase the volume very much. I think if it weren't for the listening parts, I would have got an 8 PFAR.
Tracking: Jantzen's sim was invaluable here. Some people say it doesn't help very much: I couldn't disagree more. After playing the sim on hard difficulty the last few days before the test, it seemed easy on the actual test because it was slower. Also, I was practicing on a 32" monitor at home, so it is definitely easier on the smaller screen at the testing center.
Dichotic + Tracking: Simply think I blew it on the listening as mentioned above. Tracking was solid with green targets a lot of the time.
Emergency procedures: take your time and memorize the 3 different procedures. I just sat there for about 2-3 minutes writing them down and also just memorizing them. This section was the quickest of them all. Just one of each procedure and you're done.
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American007
New Member
I take mine in May, are there any other sources and study material I could look at as well.
csanfilippo9
Well-Known Member
Good job !
American007
New Member
Thanks that's exactly what I'm looking at.
Willfly4crayons
New Member
Just took the ASTB and scored a OAR 53: 6, 5, 6. Unfortunately I did not discover this page until now. My aim is to go back to the Marine Corps on a pilot contract. My degree is Aviation and Aerospace Science. Also have my commercial pilot’s license with instrument rating. I felt like I did pretty well on the PBM, but my PFAR certainly does not reflect. I’ll definitely be using a stick/throttle with the simulator at home till my next test. I’m actually wondering if the missed questions on the ANIT (nautical questions) could have been the larger contributing factor? I can think of at least 4 that I guessed on, I had no idea on any of the questions about ships. Also I know I did poorly on the math section, I guessed on a few and definitely did not finish all the questions. I will be brushing up. I know the Marine Corps will waiver 1 point on any of the three tests if you come in low, but they won’t waiver until after your third attempt. MInimum PFAR for the Corps is a 6. This is uncommon though, my recruiter has said he’s never had to submit one. Just want to see in case I can’t achieve at least a 6 on my PFAR for the remainder of my attempts. Has anyone heard of someone getting the waiver? One thing that was definitely weird was using the stick in my right hand. I’m left handed, and I’ve also always flown from the left seat with my left hand, right hand on the throttle. Considering trying it the other way. Maybe the hand/eye coordination just isn’t there for me…
You can definitely get your ANIT up with some studying. Check out Kyle's drive(search these forums). It has almost everything you need. Based on your scores, you probably need some work on MCT as well. Kyle's drive has a breadth of study material for everything. Know the parts of airplanes, helicopters, and ships(beam, gunwale, transom, thwart, fore, aft, bow, stern, and MANY more). Obviously you already know everything related to airplanes, I assume based on your flight xp. I practiced a lot with the simulator for the PBM. Bought the exact same HOTAS that my testing center uses(Logitech), then played the sim for 20-30 min almost every day. This definitely helped. I wouldn't be down on your hand/eye coordination, as you mentioned in your last sentence. You're a pilot, I'm sure you've got what it takes. They make the PBM pretty damn difficult in the latter phases. Sure, you probably won't get that PFAR to a 9, but you can absolutely get it up to a 7 or 8. Study hard. Treat it like the SATs or any big test. I studied every day for 2-3 weeks before my retake(nothing crazy, just an hour or two on weekdays and longer sessions on Weekends). Upped my scores from 56 6/6/7 to 61 8/7/7
Willfly4crayons
New Member
Thanks for the advice! I will definitely be putting in more man hours until my next test. This is the simulator I have found and have been practicing with since I took the test last: https://jantzenx.github.io/ASTB/
I'm scoring about an 80 or 90 on each round for the throttle and joystick. From what I have been reading people said they were getting consistent 70's and their PFAR scores were 7's or higher. Getting the nautical information down should be no sweat, I am curious to see how much it affects my score. I think there were only about 20 questions on the ANIT, so if I missed 3 or 4 that could have a big effect. I scored 50/50 for the UAV test, but I'm reading here that how fast you answer matters as well. I'll have to be quicker on the draw. Also you're right, I think I missed a few/guessed on the MCT. Simple stuff, that I just was not prepared for.
lildudeIII
Member
I am looking at going SNA for the navy and took the ASTB a year ago. I am currently studying again as I don't feel that my scores were great.
ASTB Scores:
OAR: 42
AQR: 4
PFAR: 7
FOFAR: 5
I am currently in my master's for Public Administration with a GPA of 3.5 and plan on doing some flight hours over the summer break to try and boost my rating as well as trying to get my OAR up. My recruiter has been kind of flaky and so I am not quite sure what I am to do other than just hope that he gets back to me. Any recommendations to do better on the ASTB would or make myself a better applicant would be great to hear! I know my first ASTB scores weren't great so maybe that is why he's not really talking to me but that was when I was first applying for the Marines and realized that wasn't the direction I wanted to take with my military career. They basically told me to just take it a few weeks after getting the study guide so I think I just didn't prepare for it as well as I wasn't mentally prepared for the duration of the questions on it. However, I feel a lot better but just want to be the best I can be for my application. I'm not really worried about the simulator as my father has a good setup at home and I tend to play the simulators he has when I get the chance to go home.
ASTB Scores:
OAR: 42
AQR: 4
PFAR: 7
FOFAR: 5
I am currently in my master's for Public Administration with a GPA of 3.5 and plan on doing some flight hours over the summer break to try and boost my rating as well as trying to get my OAR up. My recruiter has been kind of flaky and so I am not quite sure what I am to do other than just hope that he gets back to me. Any recommendations to do better on the ASTB would or make myself a better applicant would be great to hear! I know my first ASTB scores weren't great so maybe that is why he's not really talking to me but that was when I was first applying for the Marines and realized that wasn't the direction I wanted to take with my military career. They basically told me to just take it a few weeks after getting the study guide so I think I just didn't prepare for it as well as I wasn't mentally prepared for the duration of the questions on it. However, I feel a lot better but just want to be the best I can be for my application. I'm not really worried about the simulator as my father has a good setup at home and I tend to play the simulators he has when I get the chance to go home.
csanfilippo9
Well-Known Member
Your AQR needs to be worked on. Study more for the ANIT section and getting better at the math section will help you. UAV section is the reason why you got a 5 fofar my guess is you got a few of them wrong. study up and retake you should be fine.