Taking the ASTB

[VT3K66]

I'm going to be taking the ASTB for the first time sometime in the near future, does anyone have any advice as to how long I should study for it and what I should focus on the most. Also, does anyone know approximatly how long the test will take and like how many questions are in each section? Thanks men.

 

[Fezz CB]

I'm going to be taking the ASTB for the first time sometime in the near future, does anyone have any advice as to how long I should study for it and what I should focus on the most. Also, does anyone know approximatly how long the test will take and like how many questions are in each section? Thanks men.

If you study for 24 hours straight, you should be fine. jk. Try studying the ARCO books. Thoses prepared me pretty well.

 

[E6286]

There is a topic I posted on here called retaking the ASTB. On there, mmx has a link to a website with all the study resources you need. I would focus very heavily on the aviation/nautical information if you are going for pilot. It is a big factor I think. If you have AIM I can give you some good gouge regarding what was on mine and where you can find it.

 

[VT3K66]

my screen name is VT3K66, any info you could provide would be appreciated...what is your sreen name as well?

 

[snizo]

Also pay attention to the spacial perception section (of the ARCO book when you study). It isn't hard, but you have to move very quickly and it will help a lot to have seen that type of question before.

 

[VT3K66]

where is this "retaking the ASTB" that you're talking about?

 

[E6286]

www.columbia.edu/~mmx1/astb


There is everything you need. I PMed you VT.

 

[openbah]

where is this "retaking the ASTB" that you're talking about?

Retaking ASTB thread: http://www.airwarriors.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11294

 

[farmer]

while you guys are on the topic of taking the ASTB, i have a question of my own. i read somewhere that your grade depends on how well others are doing on the test as well. with that in mind, i just thought i would ask if you would think my scores are competative. i took the ARCO practice today and did well on the spatial, missed 1 on accident, did well on aviation and nautical section as well (missed maybe 8). my only problem is the math and verbal and mechanical stuff. i got around 50% of those right. it isnt because i dont understand it, its because of the time restriction and it leaves me to guess. i know this is no excuse because everyone has a fair chance, but it just takes me a tad bit longer than the average person to test. so thats why im asking if you guys did this poorly as well and still recieved around a 7 or so?
additionally, if anyone knows, would you mind trying to figure out what kind of score my test would amount to?
by the way, this is for the Marine Corps. thanks for any help!!

 

[E6286]

You are not craded on an absolute curve. There is no way that is possible without official test administration dates.

Regarding the Spacial Aperception: The Arco is a joke. The actual test is MUCH more difficult. Use the marine gouge and hope for the best.

I think I bombed the math b/c of time as well but I still pulled a 6/6/6. However, I think I made up for it in mechanical and I also am almost certain I got all but 1 correct on aviation/nautical knowledge.

Get an SAT math and physics book. Thats what I did. You will be fine. Just study.

 

[T-man]

while you guys are on the topic of taking the ASTB, i have a question of my own. i read somewhere that your grade depends on how well others are doing on the test as well. with that in mind, i just thought i would ask if you would think my scores are competative. i took the ARCO practice today and did well on the spatial, missed 1 on accident, did well on aviation and nautical section as well (missed maybe 8). my only problem is the math and verbal and mechanical stuff. i got around 50% of those right. it isnt because i dont understand it, its because of the time restriction and it leaves me to guess. i know this is no excuse because everyone has a fair chance, but it just takes me a tad bit longer than the average person to test. so thats why im asking if you guys did this poorly as well and still recieved around a 7 or so?
additionally, if anyone knows, would you mind trying to figure out what kind of score my test would amount to?
by the way, this is for the Marine Corps. thanks for any help!!

One thing to keep in mind, and may very well help you where time constraint is concerned, is the fact that this is a standardized test. With math and mechanical in particular, and to some extent, the verbal portion, some of the possible answers are grossly wrong. I remember encountering a few questions on the math section where I didn't have to do any calculation what so ever, because after looking at the possible answers, there was only 1 choice that was even remotely close to being right.
I would suggest that while practicing/taking the test, if you don't already do this, look at the possible answers and try to logically deduce which CANNOT possibly be a correct answer. alot of times, when you do this, you are left with only 1 possible answer. if you are left with 2 or more possible answers, then start to go about answering the question in a longform manner. I think that if you take the test with this sort of an approach, you will find that you answer questions much faster, and will be able to finish each section within the aloted time.

A prime example of this I answered in an email to another user on this forum:

# 46: In this diagram above, the area of rectangle
ABCD is 10 and the distance from point D to point A is
5. If point E is the same height (measured from the
level of line DC) as points A and B, what is the area
of the triangle CED?

A-------B . . . E
! . . . . . !
! . . . . . !
! . . . . . !
D-------C


a. 5
b. 10
c. 2
d. 22


For the sake of speed when actually taking the test, it really helps
to look at the possible answers and we can easily reduce what is
needed. This will help greatly in some cases as you will not need to
do any calculations. If you look at the question it says that the area
is 10. We can also determine from the statements in the question that
the triangle is smaller than the rectangle. This tells us that the
area of the triangle MUST be smaller than the area of the rectangle.
This rules out any possibility of answers B and D being correct. This
leaves us with A and B as the only possible answers. We can go futher
and say that the question tells us the height of the triangle is 5. If
we look at the formula of a triangle we know that 0.5 * 5 = 2.5 so
this automatically tells us that the area is larger than 2. This means
that choice C cannot be the correct answer, leaving the only possible
answer to be A.

 

[VT3K66]

men,
I talked to E6286 and he got me thinking about marine aviation vs. navy aviation. i am interested in becoming an NFO. I haven't taken the ASTB yet and im jus tryin to decide to go marines or go navy....any body have any comments?

 

[awstenberg]

Well, Tuesday is the day. I'm taking the ASTB after about one week of study. I've taken a few practice tests and read a fair amount of material. Tonight I'm taking the ARCO sample test. Thanks to all you who have posted threads on this. It's been helpful. We'll see how it goes!

 

[farmer]

let me know how you do on the ARCO practice test!?!?! i took that and am also taking my first crack at the ASTB on wednesday. i would like to know where i stand with someone else. let me know how it goes...good luck!

 

[Cordespc]

Regarding the Spacial Aperception: The Arco is a joke. The actual test is MUCH more difficult. Use the marine gouge and hope for the best.

Concur. I took the new ASTB today, and on my OSO's advice, had drilled the Arco examples for spatial apperception into my head. I found that the actual questions in this section were considerably more complex and deceptive compared to the Arco gouge.

All in all I'm hoping I did well, shame it takes three weeks to get results.
Cheers,
-Paul