I just took the AFOQT this morning, and figured I would share thoughts with any future testees (not testes, perverts) or other interested parties while it's fresh in my mind.
I used the Cliffnotes Military Flight Aptitude Tests book to study. Overall, I think it did a decent job on preparing me for the test. More details by section to follow.
Verbal Analogies: Analogies are analogies, easy when you know the words, hard when you don't. The majority of the analogies on the test were easy, some, very difficult. The book I used to study, overall, was not effective for this section. However, I don't feel like any book would be. If I were to have added weeks of learning new vocabulary to my test preparation, I may or may not have done better. Time was tight, a one minute warning was called when I had ~6 analogies left (the more difficult ones). Many test takers were working up until the last second. I think this was my overall weakest section on the test.
Arithmetic Reasoning: I felt like this section was very much on par with the review in the book, and actually easier than the reviews I found online. Exposure to different types of problems and the ability to do simple arithmetic quickly (manually, no calculators!) is the key to success in this section. The time provided was more than adequate, and I had time to go back and look over answers. Most testees finished before the time limit, several scrambled until the last second. I feel this was one of my strongest sections.
Word Knowledge: Very much like analogies - you know it or you don't. I feel like I have a broad vernacular, but you can only know so many words. The time given in this section seems to be more generous than the analogies section. This is probably because there is no analysis required in determining relationships between words. I feel like I did OK, but not phenomenal.
Math Knowledge: I suppose the book provided an adequate amount of preparation for this subtest. However, I would recommend using more sources. There are several obscure mathematic principles that you learned in the seventh grade and have since forgotten that are tested in this section. Simple to modest algebra (nothing advanced), geometry, exponents, scientific notation, etc. Time seemed to be adequate for those who were most prepared - others scrambled to finish. I'm comfortable with my performance in this section.
Instrument Comprehension: The book I used was good for providing directions for this section, and some decent practice. The actual pictures on the test are MUCH better than those in the book. This section is very easy as long as you know what you're doing. If you're familiar with the concept being tested prior to test day, there is plenty of time to finish. If you don't know what you're doing, there's a time crunch. I did well on this section.
Block Counting: Ouch. There's not a lot of time to do this. People's stray marks in the books don't help. I lost focus in this section and performed poorly. This was very easy for me during practice, but not on the test. The book I used to review said to only count blocks that touched on a flat surface, a review I did online said to count blacks that touched corners. I was stupid and didn't ask the proctor to clarify, and like a true genius split the difference, answering some questions one way and others a different way. The key to this is being quick and knowing whether to count blocks that touch diagonally! However easy this subtest may be, the general consensus during break was that nobody did well on this section.
Table Reading: The book was only good for directions in this section. The test didn't include any of the data tables, only x,y coordinate charts. However, unlike the book that had 5x5 tables, the test table was 34x34, and had very small print. During timed practice I finished this section comfortably, however the 34x34 changed this. I'd recommend practicing this section with a large homemade table with very small print. I'm not sure if anybody finished this section in the time allotted.
Aviation Information: Again, you know it or you don't. The book I used to review shows you what type of problems to expect. However, there is so much aviation information out there that you can't expect to memorize the problems in the book and perform well on the test. Use many private pilot materials to prepare for this, or better yet, get a pilot's license. The test asks very basic aviation questions, so there's no need to study information that would be expected of an instrument or commercial pilot. Most people finished this section in time. I'm an experienced pilot, and did a quick review of my private pilot textbook to prepare for this. I don't believe I missed any answers.
General Science: Another section where you know it or you don't. I'm a business major that paid no attention in science class, but still did OK. The questions are from material you would have learned in middle or high school. The review in the book I used to prepare was semi-helpful, but like aviation information and vocabulary, there's SO much out there that you can be tested on... There was plenty of time for this section.
Hidden Figures and Rotated Blocks: The book does a good job in preparing you for these tests as far as knowing what to expect. I'm not sure if practice makes perfect, but I found myself performing MUCH better on the test than I did in practice. It seemed like most people finished this subtest with time to spare.
The biggest factor for overall comfort in test taking is TIME. The lack of time can make it a stressful experience, in all of the subtests. I highly recommend taking TIMED practice tests before going to take your AFOQT.
I'll let you all know the results when they come out...
Looking forward to serving with you all,
Mike
I used the Cliffnotes Military Flight Aptitude Tests book to study. Overall, I think it did a decent job on preparing me for the test. More details by section to follow.
Verbal Analogies: Analogies are analogies, easy when you know the words, hard when you don't. The majority of the analogies on the test were easy, some, very difficult. The book I used to study, overall, was not effective for this section. However, I don't feel like any book would be. If I were to have added weeks of learning new vocabulary to my test preparation, I may or may not have done better. Time was tight, a one minute warning was called when I had ~6 analogies left (the more difficult ones). Many test takers were working up until the last second. I think this was my overall weakest section on the test.
Arithmetic Reasoning: I felt like this section was very much on par with the review in the book, and actually easier than the reviews I found online. Exposure to different types of problems and the ability to do simple arithmetic quickly (manually, no calculators!) is the key to success in this section. The time provided was more than adequate, and I had time to go back and look over answers. Most testees finished before the time limit, several scrambled until the last second. I feel this was one of my strongest sections.
Word Knowledge: Very much like analogies - you know it or you don't. I feel like I have a broad vernacular, but you can only know so many words. The time given in this section seems to be more generous than the analogies section. This is probably because there is no analysis required in determining relationships between words. I feel like I did OK, but not phenomenal.
Math Knowledge: I suppose the book provided an adequate amount of preparation for this subtest. However, I would recommend using more sources. There are several obscure mathematic principles that you learned in the seventh grade and have since forgotten that are tested in this section. Simple to modest algebra (nothing advanced), geometry, exponents, scientific notation, etc. Time seemed to be adequate for those who were most prepared - others scrambled to finish. I'm comfortable with my performance in this section.
Instrument Comprehension: The book I used was good for providing directions for this section, and some decent practice. The actual pictures on the test are MUCH better than those in the book. This section is very easy as long as you know what you're doing. If you're familiar with the concept being tested prior to test day, there is plenty of time to finish. If you don't know what you're doing, there's a time crunch. I did well on this section.
Block Counting: Ouch. There's not a lot of time to do this. People's stray marks in the books don't help. I lost focus in this section and performed poorly. This was very easy for me during practice, but not on the test. The book I used to review said to only count blocks that touched on a flat surface, a review I did online said to count blacks that touched corners. I was stupid and didn't ask the proctor to clarify, and like a true genius split the difference, answering some questions one way and others a different way. The key to this is being quick and knowing whether to count blocks that touch diagonally! However easy this subtest may be, the general consensus during break was that nobody did well on this section.
Table Reading: The book was only good for directions in this section. The test didn't include any of the data tables, only x,y coordinate charts. However, unlike the book that had 5x5 tables, the test table was 34x34, and had very small print. During timed practice I finished this section comfortably, however the 34x34 changed this. I'd recommend practicing this section with a large homemade table with very small print. I'm not sure if anybody finished this section in the time allotted.
Aviation Information: Again, you know it or you don't. The book I used to review shows you what type of problems to expect. However, there is so much aviation information out there that you can't expect to memorize the problems in the book and perform well on the test. Use many private pilot materials to prepare for this, or better yet, get a pilot's license. The test asks very basic aviation questions, so there's no need to study information that would be expected of an instrument or commercial pilot. Most people finished this section in time. I'm an experienced pilot, and did a quick review of my private pilot textbook to prepare for this. I don't believe I missed any answers.
General Science: Another section where you know it or you don't. I'm a business major that paid no attention in science class, but still did OK. The questions are from material you would have learned in middle or high school. The review in the book I used to prepare was semi-helpful, but like aviation information and vocabulary, there's SO much out there that you can be tested on... There was plenty of time for this section.
Hidden Figures and Rotated Blocks: The book does a good job in preparing you for these tests as far as knowing what to expect. I'm not sure if practice makes perfect, but I found myself performing MUCH better on the test than I did in practice. It seemed like most people finished this subtest with time to spare.
The biggest factor for overall comfort in test taking is TIME. The lack of time can make it a stressful experience, in all of the subtests. I highly recommend taking TIMED practice tests before going to take your AFOQT.
I'll let you all know the results when they come out...
Looking forward to serving with you all,
Mike