If you are interested in becoming a pilot or flight officer for the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard, you will need to take the Aviation Selection Test Battery (ASTB) in order to be selected for the pilot and flight officer training programs. The ASTB Mechanical Comprehension Test is made up of 30 questions with a 15-minute time allotment and is used to assess the candidate’s ability to recognize and comprehend the nature of physical relationships as well as to solve practical problems which are relevant to mechanical principles.
The Mechanical Comprehension section of the ASTB test includes such topics generally found in a beginner's level of high school physics. Test takers are assessed on their knowledge of principles related to liquids and gases, as well as their understanding of how liquids and gases affect volume, pressure, and velocity in the Mechanical Comprehension Test of the ASTB. Other questions in this section relate to the performance and components of engines, gears, principles of electricity, the operation of simple machines (such as fulcrums and pulleys), and weight distribution.
If you're only taking the Officer Aptitude Rating (OAR) test, visit our thorough OAR test guide.