ASTB-E Practice Test

Key point: the OAR is part of the ASTB-E, but it is not the same as the full ASTB-E. The full battery includes aviation knowledge, personality-style inventory items, and performance-based tasks in addition to math, reading, and mechanical comprehension.

Try these original ASTB-E-style sample questions. These examples reflect common ASTB-E and OAR skills, but they are not actual ASTB-E exam questions. Some sections, especially NATFI and PBM, cannot be fully reproduced in a static practice format.

1. Math Skills: Algebra

If 4x – 7 = 29, what is the value of x?

1. 7
2. 8
3. 9
4. 10

2. Math Skills: Distance, Rate, and Time

An aircraft travels 420 miles in 2 hours. At the same average speed, how far will it travel in 3.5 hours?

1. 630 miles
2. 700 miles
3. 735 miles
4. 840 miles

3. Reading Comprehension: Passage-Based Inference

A maintenance checklist is most useful when it is completed in the correct order. Completing steps out of sequence may cause a technician to miss a required inspection point, even if every step is eventually checked off.

Which statement can be inferred from the passage itself?

1. The order of checklist steps can affect inspection accuracy.
2. Checklists are useful only for inexperienced technicians.
3. Technicians should skip checklist steps when they are familiar with the equipment.
4. Every checklist should be completed after the work is finished.

4. Reading Comprehension: Text-Only Conclusion

A pilot briefing states that weather conditions along a route can change quickly near coastal areas. For this reason, updated reports should be reviewed before departure, even if the earlier forecast appeared favorable.

Which conclusion is best supported by the passage?

1. Coastal routes are never safe for flight.
2. Updated weather reports can be important even when an earlier forecast looked favorable.
3. Weather reports should be ignored if the pilot has flown the route before.
4. Earlier forecasts are always more accurate than updated reports.

5. Mechanical Comprehension: Levers

A 150-pound load is placed 2 feet from a fulcrum. How much force is needed 6 feet from the fulcrum on the opposite side to balance the lever?

1. 25 pounds
2. 50 pounds
3. 75 pounds
4. 150 pounds

6. Mechanical Comprehension: Gears

Gear A turns clockwise and meshes with Gear B. Gear B meshes with Gear C. If all three gears are arranged in a row, which direction does Gear C turn?

1. Clockwise
2. Counterclockwise
3. It does not turn
4. The direction cannot be determined unless the gear sizes are known

7. Mechanical Comprehension: Pressure

A force of 80 pounds is applied evenly over an area of 4 square inches. What is the pressure?

1. 10 pounds per square inch
2. 20 pounds per square inch
3. 40 pounds per square inch
4. 320 pounds per square inch

8. Aviation and Nautical Information

Which aircraft control surface primarily controls yaw?

1. Aileron
2. Elevator
3. Rudder
4. Flap

9. Aviation and Nautical Information

On a vessel, which term refers to the left side when facing forward?

1. Starboard
2. Port
3. Stern
4. Bow

10. NATFI and PBM Practice Awareness

The NATFI and PBM portions of the ASTB-E are not traditional knowledge tests. Which preparation approach is most appropriate?

1. Memorize a fixed answer key for all paired personality statements.
2. Practice only algebra and skip all aviation-related preparation.
3. Respond honestly to paired statements and use practice tasks to build spatial orientation, listening, and tracking familiarity.
4. Try to answer every personality item according to what sounds most impressive.

Score Basics

• OAR: Officer Aptitude Rating, reported from 20 to 80
• AQR: Academic Qualifications Rating, reported from 1 to 9
• PFAR: Pilot Flight Aptitude Rating, reported from 1 to 9
• FOFAR: Flight Officer Flight Aptitude Rating, reported from 1 to 9
• Pilot selection: commonly uses AQR and PFAR
• Flight officer selection: commonly uses AQR and FOFAR
• Score of record: your most recent attempt replaces earlier scores

Before You Register

• Confirm whether you need the OAR only or the full ASTB-E battery.
• Ask which score components are required for your program.
• Schedule through an authorized testing location.
• Confirm the appointment time, location, and check-in requirements.
• Bring photo identification and verification of your Social Security number.
• Do not bring prohibited electronics, calculators, notes, smart watches, bags, or personal belongings into the testing room.
• Be prepared to complete math problems without a calculator.

Retake Rules to Know

• Attempt limit: three attempts at the current ASTB-E or OAR
• Waiting period: at least 30 full calendar days between qualifying administrations
• Score of record: the most recent attempt replaces earlier scores
• No score mixing: full ASTB-E retakes require retaking the full battery
• Best approach: prepare carefully before your first attempt because the attempt limit is strict

ASTB-E Study Checklist

• Review arithmetic, algebra, geometry, fractions, exponents, roots, probability, area, perimeter, and distance-rate-time problems.
• Practice reading passages where the correct answer must be supported only by the text.
• Review pressure, fluids, gases, velocity, engines, gears, levers, pulleys, electricity, force, motion, and weight distribution.
• Study aircraft components, control surfaces, basic aerodynamics, aviation terminology, flight rules, nautical terminology, and seamanship basics.
• Practice mental math and organized scratch work because calculators are not allowed.
• Use timed practice to build pacing for adaptive sections.
• Practice spatial orientation and mental rotation for performance-based tasks.
• Respond honestly on trait inventory items instead of trying to game the questions.
• Review your program’s score expectations before deciding whether to retest.