Customer Reviews

Barron's Military Flight Aptitude Tests

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

I am reviewing this book with respect to the AFOQT, which I recently took and achieved a near-perfect score: 99 (highest possible) in Pilot, Navigator-Technical, Academic Aptitude, and Quantitative, and 95 in Verbal. I credit this book in large part for my score being that high. (Although, obviously, not everyone will score that high just because they studied this book. I've always been a good student and test taker.)

I want to stress right now, before I rip the book to shreds, that __I found it very helpful__ in preparing for the AFOQT. I managed to complete every subtest, which I'm told is very rare; I definitely would not have accomplished this without having taken practice exams first. (Two AFOQT practice tests are in this book.) I recommend this book to those who are studying for the exam, but with some significant caveats. So, with that said, I must be bluntly honest about the contents of the book itself.

SHORTCOMINGS

1) The book is fairly poorly put together. For example, I didn't even read Chapter 2 (pp. 19-68) because it's fifty pages of irrelevant information: specification tables and associated descriptions of aircraft after aircraft currently in use by the US military (weight, dimensions, payload, range, manufacturer, etc.). Who cares? The book's declared purpose is to help people prepare for the military standardized exams, and that's why I bought it. But, those tests do not cover this information. So, while this chapter may be interesting, it is completely useless for studying for these exams, and it should be omitted. It is a waste of time, and it fills nearly one quarter of the text proper. (The non-practice-test portion ends on page 228.)

2) The book contains many errors, even within the practice tests/answers (at least for the AFOQT, which were the only two I took). This didn't bother me much because I'd read this about the book before buying it, and I'd decided to turn it into a challenge to identify such errors---you know you understand the material when you can do so. (You shouldn't ever just memorize what you read, in school or in this book; always seek to *understand*.) A simple example: the diagram at the top of page 162 is just flat-out wrong. It depicts the three axes of motion for an aircraft, but all labels associated with the lateral and longitudinal axes are swapped. (Search Google *Images* for, precisely, "airplane axes aviatorthings" for a very similar, but correct, diagram. See the difference?)

3) One study area I specifically found to be lacking in this book was a section on basic aviation systems and protocols. It wouldn't need to be exhaustive, but a little coverage of some ubiquitous systems would be helpful. For example, a brief description of VOR. What do taxiway or runway lights do? (e.g. for glide slope, on landing) Or plane lights? What colors are all of these, and what do they mean? Are they solid or flashing? etc. I found a few of these sorts of questions did actually show up on both the practice and real exams. There were only a few, but it's enough to justify at least a short section covering them. (Omit Chapter 2; add a sub-section or two containing this information under "Aviation Information" in Chapter 7.)

OTHER COMMENTS

I did not read Chapter 6 (Mathematics Review Information), although I did quickly flip through it. This is because my formal training is as an engineer, and this level of mathematics was surpassed long ago. It appears to me that the section should be sufficient review for the test, although I'd definitely recommend that people practice the really basic stuff to attain speed and accuracy. In other words, practice your multiplication and long division skills on paper, because they're major time-consumers on the exam, and they crop up a lot. And learn to estimate if your answers make sense.

Also, I read much of Chapter 5 (Language Review Information), but not all of it. Specifically, I did not read through the full listing of definitions for the nouns, verbs, and adjectives. I have a decent vocabulary, and most of the words were already familiar to me. This section might be useful to some, but I find that word knowledge and understanding comes more with use than just with a reading of a definition (though that is important as well). Personally, I found the information earlier in the chapter to be more helpful, but I can understand why the vocabulary lists are included.

SUMMARY

The book itself is only mediocre. But, the practice tests are invaluable. If you buy this book, TAKE THOSE TESTS! And, do so in as close to real-test conditions as possible. They more than make-up for other short-comings, errors and all. Also, skip Chapter 2, since it's simply a waste of time; instead, do a little outside reading on common aviation systems (e.g. VOR, compasses, meanings of light colors+flashing/solid on planes/runways/whatever, etc. You don't need to get into extreme nitty-gritty details, but look at the basics of the common systems.). Above all, take those tests, and apply what you learn! Time constraints are MAJOR factors in taking the AFOQT.

Read my two comments below if you want to see how I compare the book's practice tests to the real test in terms of difficulty, and also if you want to see a listing of the errors I identified in the two practice tests. (I felt that including them in the review itself, while still relevant, would make it far too long.)

If you are taking the AFOQT buy the Barron's study book. I just took the test (Feb 2008) and the Barron's practice exams are spot on. The only difference from the practice exam in Barron's and the real thing is that in the Table Reading section, it is one giant "x and y" table on the real test, but don't worry, if you prepare by using the table section in Barron's you should do fine. The AFOQT has been changed since the publication of the ARCO and Cliffprep books, the current exam consists of 12 parts (including the personal survey). Also, you can expect the same type of questions in the Rotating Blocks section, but on the real test they are slightly more challenging. My advice is to work on your speed for each section in the practice exams, finishing all the questions is the most challenging part of the real test.

I am a cadet in an Air Force ROTC program and just took the AFOQT. Other cadets and myself spent a lot of time studying together and I saw several different test prep books by this one was by far the best. I say this because the rotated blocks and instrument reading in THIS book looked EXACTLY like how they are on the actual AFOQT. Even the hidden figures used in BARRON's book were the same figures that I had to look for on the test (of course they were different puzzles though).

And let me tell you... some other test prep books didnt even come close to looking how the actually AFOQT does. Also, all of the review sections in this book really help freshen up those verbal, science, and aviation information questions with detailed explanations of the answers so you can learn the concepts! 5 Stars!

I'm a bit disappointed with this study guide. I've been studying it specifically for the AFAST and have found several errors in it. I was starting to think I was an idiot when upon further research I discovered that some of the answers in the practice exams are incorrect. As far as explanation of answers I wouldn't say it's great. Some of the questions are more in depth and the pictures are definitely a bit more clear than the ARCO study guide. Other than that, I wouldn't recommend purchasing this book unless you've already memorized the ARCO book and need a back-up study guide. I have the 2007 version which is riddled with errors; hopefully they correct this problem before printing a newer version. If you have to buy this study guide, don't waste your money on a new one, buy a used copy if possible because it really isn't worth the money.

I just took the AFOQT (10/28/2010) and managed to to do well.

My scores were:
Pilot/Navigator/Acad Aptitude/Verbal/Quantitative
98/97/98/99/91

Barron's guide was extremely useful in learning the rules of the test. I can guarantee that I would not have done well at all if I did not have foreknowledge about the rotated blocks, instrumentation, hidden figure, and aviation information sections. I only had a week to study and what I recommend is learning about runway lights, aircraft lights, airport landing and takeoff protocols, and basic plane emergency operations. These did appear on my version of the test and Barron's had basically no information on it at all.

A short breakdown of the test compared to Barron's guide and studying tips:

Verbal Analogies and Word Knowledge
The same as Barron's guide. If you have a good grasp on the English language, you should do well. Study the practice exams in the guide. If you have a few months to prepare, READ. Read for fun, read for work, just read. Books, magazines, newspapers: if you read on a regular basis, these sections will be no trouble at all.

Arithmetic Reasoning + Math Knowledge
Again, nearly the same as Barron's guide. Study the practice exams in the guide. The test does not get much more difficult than algebra. If you feel you need more practice, grab an SAT prep book. The math practice in SAT guides are a level higher (it includes basic trigonometry and geometry) than what shows up on the test but SAT guides do have a few algebra questions that are the same difficulty as the actual test.

Instrument Comprehension
The pictures are MUCH clearer than what Barron's provides. Study the guide and study the Peterson practice test online.

Block Counting
Barron's is helpful but wrong on this subject. The corner blocks do not count as touching, so disregard them. Study the guide and the online practice exam.

Table Reading + Aviation Information
The table is huge. The x and y axes are fairly large -- there are over a 1000 numbers in the table -- so be prepared to work fast to find numbers.
You will need to study basic landing protocols and lighting systems for the aviation section. Barron's does a good job of prepping you for the other basic information like the forces acting on a plane, the direction ailerons and elevators move a plane, etc. Study the guide for the basic information and search online or in other books for protocol information.

General Science
Study the guide. It does not get harder than basic information on science. No balancing equations, no velocity problems, no probability of electrons.

Rotated Blocks
The blocks are much clearer than in the guide. Study the guide and practice moving the shapes in your mind/pretending that you're holding the block in your hand and rotating it around.

Hidden Figures
Again the actual test is much clearer. It is more like the last 2/3 of Barron's guide.

Self-Description Inventory
This will take you the longest. Nothing much to study here, though if you know what kind of person you are, this portion will go by fairly quickly.


Barron's Guide may have some problems -- I recommend reading Esk's review on it for a far more detailed breakdown -- but for a guy that's never flown a plane/knew how to read plane instrumentation this guide was extremely helpful.

Prepare yourself and good luck!

This book helped me a tremendous amount with taking the ASTB. Couldnt have done it without it. Great buy

I used this guide to study for the ASTB, and I have to say it worked pretty well. I scored very high on the exam and got my air contract that way. My only problem was that a few of the problems had incorrect solutions, but as long as you actually THINK about the solutions you should be fine. Otherwise, the questions were exactly as they were on the actual test. Not the hardest test I've ever taken by any means, but this guide did help understand the format and types of questions asked. Now to get my ME degree and commission in August...

I definitely recommend this book to anyone who is preparing to take the AFOQT. I study this book along with the 2005 Arco book and I passed on my first try. This book is right on, and the vocabulary words they give in here are very useful.

The book is not bad to study the only thing I have about the book is that in the reading comprehension, they
dont test you at all on vocabalary just reading passages itself, I feel the book is a little bit outdated because
they have vocab terms that the book gives you but on the real test they dont ask you at on vocab terms, and
also I thought the math in the book was harder then real ASTB I took for my test for OCS Navy.
Overall the book is not terrible its ok. I would still recommend to use it because they give you alot of review questions for you to practice and alot od supplementary material for review.

This was by far the most important book I've ever purchased in my life! This book had it all! I mean IT ALL!!!

I used it to take the AFOQT and wow!

without this book I would have been miserable!

if you are taking a military officer test, this will make you the happiest man ever.

my pilot score was an 82, nav 95, verb 68, quant 96, academic 91.

without this book i would have scored in the 50s or less in every category.