AFOQT study guide, planned by composite

Composites are fixed groups of subtests, so your target decides where the hours go:

• Every applicant: Verbal (Verbal Analogies, Word Knowledge, Reading Comprehension) and Quantitative (Arithmetic Reasoning, Math Knowledge). These two set the commissioning floor.
• Pilot or RPA pilot: Math Knowledge, Table Reading, Instrument Comprehension and Aviation Information. The Pilot score also feeds the PCSM, so it counts twice.
• Combat systems officer: Word Knowledge, Math Knowledge, Table Reading and Block Counting.
• Air battle manager: Verbal Analogies, Math Knowledge, Table Reading, Instrument Comprehension, Block Counting and Aviation Information.

Two subtests sit in all three rated composites: Math Knowledge and Table Reading. If you are aiming at any flying or battle-management job, they come first. Physical Science feeds no published composite, so it gets whatever time is left. The full matrix is on AFOQT scores.

Part A rewards knowledge: Arithmetic Reasoning gives you about 70 seconds an item, Math Knowledge about 53. Part B rewards speed: Table Reading, Block Counting, Instrument Comprehension and Word Knowledge from Part A all run at roughly 9 to 12 seconds an item (per-item times worked out from AFPC's Table 2 limits). Speed is trainable only by timed repetition, so schedule those subtests as short daily sets rather than long weekend sessions.

1. Baseline. Sit the practice test first, before reviewing anything, one subtest at a time under its real limit, and read the Form T pamphlet's sample items for the five subtests the set leaves out.
2. Quantitative first. Rebuild arithmetic and algebra by hand, without a calculator; the AFOQT math page has the format and the links to full topic review.
3. Verbal next. Analogies get easier once you learn to name the relationship type (Verbal Analogies); vocabulary grows slowly, so start Word Knowledge work early and keep it daily.
4. Rated subtests, if you need them. Aviation Information is pure knowledge and responds to reading; Table Reading, Instrument Comprehension and Block Counting are speed drills.
5. Full rehearsal. One timed run of everything in test order, with the break, a week or two before the date. Then light review only.

• Verbal Analogies: choosing a pair on the same topic instead of the same relationship, or the right relationship in reverse order.
• Arithmetic Reasoning: mixing minutes and hours inside one rate problem; averaging two speeds as if the times were equal.
• Word Knowledge: picking a word that is associated with the capitalized word rather than one that means the same thing.
• Math Knowledge: sign errors with negative exponents and roots; not checking a factoring answer by multiplying it back.
• Reading Comprehension: answering from one paragraph when the question asks about the whole passage.
• Table Reading: reading the axes the wrong way round under time pressure.
• Instrument Comprehension: reading the bank backwards; on the attitude indicator the horizon line rises on the side of the lowered wing.
• Block Counting: counting blocks that touch only at an edge or a corner, which do not count.
• Aviation Information: treating a stall as a speed problem; it is an angle-of-attack problem.

Official prep: The Form T information pamphlet and OATTS, free official familiarization software for the AFOQT and TBAS. AFPC links both from its Form T page. OATTS runs offline and covers the TBAS as well, so a pilot applicant gets both tests in one download. Paid books and courses add more practice items; use them after the pamphlet, not instead of it.

For booking, the visit itself and retest timing, see AFOQT sections and test-day rules.