Military flight aptitude tests are used by the Armed Forces to assess suitability for aviation and certain officer career paths.
These tests evaluate knowledge areas and cognitive abilities relevant to aviation training and related roles.
Results are used as part of broader selection and qualification processes within each military branch.
Different branches use different flight aptitude tests based on their specific training and personnel requirements.
Related Article – 6 Reasons the ASVAB Test is Hard
Table of Contents
#1 – Military Flight Aptitude Tests: ASTB Test
The ASTB-E is the Aviation Selection Test Battery that the Navy, Coast Guard, and Marines use to determine who is a good fit for being a flight officer or a pilot.
Also, in some cases, the test helps the Navy determine who should go to Officer Candidate School
The ASTB includes seven different subtests.
The subtests include the following:
Reading Comprehension
The reading comprehension subtest reveals how well you can find relevant information within a text.
Also, you must be able to make logical inferences based on what you read.
Mechanical Comprehension
The Mechanical Comprehension subtest explores how well you understand mechanics and physics.
Math Skills
Math Skills cover equations and the basics of computation, geometry, algebra, and data.
Aviation and Nautical Information Test
There is a tremendous amount of information related to Naval and aviation on the test, including terminology.
Performance-Based Measures Battery
The Performance-Based Measures Battery covers your spatial awareness and your ability to use a stick and throttle.
Also, you must perform these tasks at the same time.
Naval Aviation Trait Facet Inventory
This inventory measures if you have the traits necessary for success in the field of aviation.
Biographical Inventory with Response Validation
The inventory covers your background and experience in the field.
Also, you can expect the ASTB to take up to just over three hours to complete.
Furthermore, you can retake this test up to three times in your entire life as long as you wait 30 days in between tests.
However, with some targeted study skills, you should only have to take the test once.
The scores come from the different subtests.
The first three subtests make up one score, which is called the Officer Aptitude Rating.
The rest of the scores come from three other subtests. The final subtest is not scored, as it is background information on the test taker.
The minimum score depends on the military branch and the training program itself.
The ASTB has four score components.
First, you have the OAR, which has a score range of 20-80.
The rest are the Academic Qualifications rating, Pilot Flight Aptitude Rating, Flight Officer Rating.
However, the scores for these are called a stanine score, which is a 9 point scale.
These scores go from 1 to 9: The higher your stanine score, the higher your percentage.
For instance, if you score a 5, you did better than 40 to 60 percent of other test-takers that day.
#2 – Military Flight Aptitude Tests: Army SIFT Test
Soldiers who wish for consideration for the Warrant Officer Flight Training Program must take the SIFT test.
The SIFT test is the Selection Instrument for Flight Training.
There are seven subtests to the SIFT, and they include the following:
Simple Drawings
The simple drawings subtest requires you to figure out which graphic does not belong with the others.
Hidden Figures
For the Hidden Figures portion of the SIFT, you must find an image hidden behind other images.
Army Aviation Information
This subtest covers everything about Army Aviation, and it covers a great deal of ground.
Spatial Awareness
The subtest covering spatial awareness covers the ability to envision being in a cockpit and visualize its position in relation to the surrounding areas.
Math Skills
The Math Skills portion is an adaptive portion of the test, and it involves basic bath, algebra, as well as geometry.
Mechanical Comprehension
Another adaptive portion of the test is the Mechanical Comprehension subtest.
This section tests your knowledge of mechanics and physics.
Reading Comprehension
The reading comprehension subtest covers your ability to extract meaningful information from text.
These portions of the test are timed and have a fixed number of questions.
Also, the scores on the SIFT can range from 20 to 80.
You must at least score a 40 to pass, but with the training programs being competitive, you really need a higher score to have an edge.
Also, many test-takers finish the test in two hours but expect to take up to three hours to complete the exam.
You have one additional opportunity to retake the SIFT if you fail the first time.
#3 – Military Flight Aptitude Tests: AFOQT
If you wish to be an officer in the Air Force, you must take the Air Force Officer Qualification Test (AFOQT).
Not only does the AFOQT help the Air Force understand who might make the best candidate for officer training, but it also helps match officers with jobs.
Typically, you take this exam when you are a sophomore in college when you realize you want a commission.
Also, ROTC members stake the AFOQT for scholarship reasons.
The AFOQT is a lengthy test with over 500 questions to answer over five hours.
Plus, the AFOQT has 12 subtests.
Reading comprehension
Like the other tests, reading comprehension covers your ability to find important information within a text.
Verbal Analogies
The Verbal Analogies tests your ability to see relationships between words.
Arithmetic Reasoning and Math Knowledge
These are two different subsets, and the arithmetic section is your ability to use basic bath skills while the math section covers algebra, geometry, and other mathematical concepts.
Table Reading
The Table reading subtest shows how well you can pull data from tables.
Block Counting
This subtest lets the Air Force know how good your spatial awareness skills are.
Word Knowledge
If you like vocabulary and tend to know the meaning of words, you will likely do well on the Word Knowledge subtest.
Hidden Figures
While it seems like you are playing Where’s Waldo, the ability to find hidden objects or figures in complicated drawings is a necessary skill for this subtest.
General Science
The science subtest covers a wide range of science topics.
Aviation Information
This section is essential, especially if you wish to go into aviation because it tests aviation knowledge.
Each of the subtests combines to one score.
Also, each composite score tests your aptitude and knowledge for specific training programs, all of which have their unique minimum standards.
The subtests break into five different sections: pilot, navigator-technical, academic aptitude, verbal, and quantitative.
You will have a score between 1-99 for each of these sections that reflect your percentage.
For example, if you score a 60 in the pilot section, you did better than 60 percent of others taking the test that day.
What People Get Wrong About Military Flight Aptitude Tests
Military flight aptitude tests do not guarantee selection into flight training or aviation programs.
Test scores are considered alongside other requirements, evaluations, and eligibility standards.
These tests are not identical across branches and are not interchangeable between services.
Each branch uses its own test structure, scoring system, and qualifying criteria.
Flight aptitude tests do not measure flying skill or prior flight experience directly.
They are designed to assess aptitude, knowledge, and cognitive abilities relevant to training.
A passing score does not automatically qualify a candidate for a specific aviation role.
Minimum and competitive scores can vary based on program needs and applicant volume.
These tests are not limited to pilots alone and may apply to other aviation or officer tracks.
The role of flight aptitude testing is to support, not replace, comprehensive selection processes.
Conclusion
If you serve in the Armed Forces and wish to go into aviation or become an officer, you will wonder about military flight aptitude tests.
Also, if you are in college and want to join the Air Force as an officer, you will also take a knowledge and aptitude test.
Each military branch has minimum expectations and scores requirements to attend one of the advanced training programs.
The Navy, Coast Guard, and Marines use the ASTB test to find potential candidates.
Also, if you are in the Army, you take the SIFT Test.
For those who serve or wish to serve as an officer in the Air Force, you’ll begin to study for the AFOQT test.
Each test has slightly different scoring, and the scores have different meanings as they relate to different jobs and skills.
References:
https://www.med.navy.mil/sites/nmotc/nami/Pages/ASTBOverview.aspx
https://home.army.mil/rucker/application/files/9215/9318/0619/Cadets_and_Candidates_FAQ.pdf
https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/p611_256_2.pdf
See Also
Army Helicopter Pilot Requirements
Becoming A Pilot in the Air National Guard: 5 Steps
ASVAB Scores and the Military Jobs that Qualify
- 10 Best AFOQT Study Guides - June 20, 2024
- AFQT Explained: 5 Tips To Help You Score Well (2026 Update) - June 20, 2024
- AFCT Test - June 20, 2024
