Aviation Selection Test Battery (ASTB-E)
The Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard aviation selection test — math, reading, mechanical and aviation/nautical knowledge, plus the OAR for officer programs.
About the exam
The ASTB-E is the selection test for Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard pilot and naval flight officer programs. The first three subtests — Math Skills, Reading Comprehension and Mechanical Comprehension — make up the Officer Aptitude Rating (OAR), which many Navy officer programs use on its own.
The full battery has six components: the Math Skills Test (MST), Reading Comprehension Test (RCT), Mechanical Comprehension Test (MCT), Aviation and Nautical Information Test (ANIT), the Naval Aviation Trait Facet Inventory (NATFI) and the Performance Based Measures (PBM) battery. The multiple-choice subtests are computer adaptive: you can't skip or go back, and finishing too few items can lower your score. The whole battery takes about 2 to 3¼ hours; the OAR alone takes 1 to 2 hours. There is no fee.
Our practice covers the four knowledge and aptitude subtests — no-calculator math, short reading passages, mechanical problems with drawn figures, and aviation and nautical knowledge — plus flashcards, worked walkthrough cases, illustrated guides and timed practice. The NATFI and PBM are described, not simulated.
How we track your progress
Every blueprint domain moves through five levels as you study:
- Not startedNo questions answered in this domain yet.
- Getting startedFirst questions answered — not enough yet to judge.
- DevelopingAt least 5 answered and 50% or better on your recent questions.
- ProficientAt least 15 answered and 70% or better on your recent questions.
- Exam readyAt least 25 answered, 80% or better recently, and holding up on hard questions.
The exam blueprint
ASTB-E (Form E) as described by NMOTC Operational Psychology, current as of 2026: six components — MST, RCT, MCT, ANIT, NATFI and the PBM Battery. — Math Skills, Reading Comprehension and Mechanical Comprehension (the OAR), plus the Aviation and Nautical Information Test — with the NATFI personality inventory and Performance Based Measures given on test day. Tap a domain to see its topics.
1 Math Skills Test (MST) OAR subtest · adaptive · no calculator of the exam
85 practice questions in this domain so far
2 Reading Comprehension Test (RCT) OAR subtest · adaptive of the exam
60 practice questions in this domain so far
3 Mechanical Comprehension Test (MCT) OAR subtest · adaptive · figures of the exam
75 practice questions in this domain so far
4 Aviation and Nautical Information Test (ANIT) Aviation battery · adaptive of the exam
80 practice questions in this domain so far
What you get when you access this exam
Free with your QuizMe account.
Every multiple-choice subtest
Math without a calculator, short reading passages, mechanical comprehension with drawn figures, and aviation and nautical knowledge — each tagged to a subtest and topic.
Hints that teach
Reveal the formula, principle or clue behind the question when you're stuck. Every answer comes with a full explanation.
Adaptive practice
Questions steer toward your weakest subtests and get harder as you get stronger — like the real adaptive test.
Timed practice
110 questions in 100 minutes across the four knowledge subtests, with a pacing indicator and full review.
Flashcards, walkthroughs and guides
Flashcards for formulas, aircraft and nautical terms, worked walkthroughs, and illustrated guides you explore hotspot by hotspot.
Progress in every subtest
Each subtest moves from Not started to Exam ready, so you know what to study next.
Test at home or at a center
Talk to your recruiter, NROTC unit or Officer Selection Office first — you schedule the ASTB-E at the site where you'll test. If your local office doesn't offer it, NMOTC Operational Psychology can point you to the nearest location.
At a testing site
- Given on the APEX computer system at 250+ registered sites worldwide.
- Bring photo ID and proof of your Social Security number.
- No calculator — formulas you need are provided, and scrap paper and pencils are supplied.
- Phones, smartwatches and bags stay out of the testing room.
Retakes and scores
- Scores are available as soon as you finish.
- Wait at least 30 full calendar days after a complete administration to retest — this can't be waived.
- You must retake the whole battery; scores can't be mixed and matched, and the latest attempt becomes your score of record.
- Three lifetime ASTB-E attempts; older Forms 1–5 don't count toward the limit.
Exam-day game plan
How to walk in ready — and how to pace 110 questions in 100 minutes across MST, RCT, MCT and ANIT.
Pacing checkpoints
Our timed test covers the four multiple-choice knowledge subtests at a steady pace. The real ASTB-E is adaptive and times each subtest separately; the NATFI personality inventory and the Performance Based Measures battery are not simulated here.
The week before
- Drill no-calculator arithmetic: fractions, percents, square roots and rates.
- Review the simple machines — levers, pulleys, gears — and which way things turn.
- Refresh aviation basics (four forces, axes, instruments) and naval terms (port, starboard, bulkhead).
- Confirm the site, time and the ID and SSN proof you need.
During the test
- Adaptive subtests don't let you skip or go back — commit to an answer and move on.
- Pace yourself; leaving too many items unfinished can lower your score.
- On mechanical items, sketch the forces or the direction of each gear on scrap paper.
- On reading items, pick only what the passage supports — not outside knowledge.
- Answer the NATFI honestly; there's no right answer to study for.
Keep your head
- Harder questions often mean you're doing well on an adaptive test.
- The PBM is a skill task — steady, smooth stick inputs beat jerky corrections.
- A tough subtest can be offset by others — the scores are compensatory.
After you test
- Scores appear as soon as you finish all components; request a score letter from NMOTC by email if you need one.
- Minimum scores are set by each service and program — ask your recruiter or OSO for the current cutoffs.
- If you retest, your newest scores replace all earlier ones, even if they were higher.
- Your existing scores stay valid unless you take the ASTB-E again.
Official sources and further reading
- NMOTC — ASTB-E Frequently Asked Questions ↗Official format, adaptive testing rules, test-day requirements and scoring.
- NMOTC — Operational Psychology (ASTB) ↗Components, OAR and stanine scores, and the retest policy.
- Marine Corps — ASTB overview (PDF) ↗Marine Corps officer-selection overview of the aviation battery.
Ready to start?
300 questions and scenarios across the blueprint — and growing.
The ASTB-E is administered by the U.S. Navy (NMOTC). QuizMe and thinQtank Learning are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department of the Navy, the Marine Corps or the Coast Guard. All questions are original. Details are summarized from NMOTC's official pages; policies and minimum scores change — always confirm with your recruiter or NMOTC.