AFOQT

What is the AFOQT?

  • The Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) is a standardized test similar to the SAT and ACT. The AFOQT measures aptitudes and is used to select applicants for officer commissioning programs, such as Officer Training School (OTS) or Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC). It is also used for selection into specific training programs such as pilot and navigator training.
  • Passing the AFOQT is REQUIRED for contracting, Field Training, Professional Officer Course (POC) entry, scholarships, and commissioning, in accordance with DAF categorization and commissioning requirements.
  • The AFOQT exam is composed of 516 multiple-choice questions. The exam lasts about five hours including breaks. Each subtest of the exam is timed, and the time limit for each subtest varies. The AFOQT is divided into 12 subtests, with results in the following areas: quantitative, verbal, academic aptitude, pilot, combat systems officer and air battle manager. Each question must be answered to receive results. The AFOQT’s subtests, in order of appearance, are:
    • Verbal Analogies (8 minutes, 25 questions) is meant to evaluate the test-taker’s skills with English, and how words can be used to establish assertions or illustrate certain principles (such as time or comparisons).
    • Arithmetic Reasoning (29 minutes, 25 questions) tests your ability to solve word problems. Test-takers will have to rely on their knowledge of geometry, proportions, ratios, mixtures, integers, percentages, and time-distance.
    • Word Knowledge (5 minutes, 25 questions) will focus on the test taker’s capability to define and understand the words used within written language. Questions featured on the subtest will generally offer a word, then ask test-takers to find a synonymous word within the answer choices.
    • Math Knowledge (22 minutes, 25 questions) centers on the basics of mathematics, including algebra, geometry, and arithmetic. To solve the questions contained on this subtest, test-takers must answer algebra-based word problems, as well as comprehend inequalities, algebraic expressions, equations systems, absolute values, and exponents.
    • Reading Comprehension (24 minutes, 25 questions) measures your ability to read a passage and understand its meaning, including the implied meaning.
    • Situational Judgment (35 minutes, 16 questions) measures your ability to respond to interpersonal issues and serve as a leader.
    • Self-Description Inventory (45 minutes, 240 questions) gauges the test-taker’s personality. Questions on this subtest are not graded.
    • Physical Science (10 minutes, 20 questions) tests your knowledge of high-school-level physical science concepts. You can expect to see questions relating to force relationships, physical laws, and simple machines.
    • Table Reading (7 minutes, 40 questions) evaluates how well a test-taker can interpret a simple xx–yy-axis graph.
    • Instrument Comprehension (5 minutes, 25 questions) deals with the test-taker’s comprehension of how to calculate where an airplane is in the sky through the use of altitude indicators and magnetic compasses.
    • Block Counting (5 minutes, 30 questions) addresses how well the test-taker understands the concept of spatial awareness. Questions under this category will present the test-taker with a group of blocks (rendered in 3D) and request that the test-taker count the number of blocks surrounding one individual block.
    • Aviation Information (8 minutes, 20 questions) concentrates on one’s comprehension of flight mechanics and aviation concepts. Test-takers must demonstrate their knowledge of rotary aircraft, the attributes of rudimentary aviation, aircraft with fixed wings, the security regulations enforced by modern US airports, and flight physics.

Scoring Requirements

  • Minimum scores required: Verbal – 15, Quantitative – 10 (IAW DAFMAN 36-2664, Personnel Assessment Program).
  • Rated candidates must also meet additional minimum scores as outlined in the chart below.
  • Cadets will have up to three opportunities to pass the verbal and quantitative sections.
  • Superscoring will be applied: an applicant’s best composite score on any attempt will be used as the official score of record.

How does scoring work?

  • AFOQT scores are reported as a 1-99 percentile ranking indicating your standing (how you “rack and stack”) relative to other AFOQT examinees. AFOQT scores do NOT refer to the raw number or percentage of test questions you answered correctly.
  • The AFOQT consists of 12 subtests. Subtest scores are combined to generate composite scores used to help predict success in certain types of Air Force training programs. Your raw score (number correct for one or more subtests) is converted to the percentage of the normative sample that scored below you. For example, a Quantitative score of 10 indicates your raw scores on the Arithmetic Reasoning and Math Knowledge subtests were the same or better than 10% of the normative sample who took the test. Many examinees (approximately 1 in 100) will receive a Quant score of 1, even though nearly all of these examinees would have answered much more than 1% of the math questions correctly.

Testing Timeline:

  • Per AFROTCI 36-2011V3, all cadets must take the AFOQT for the first time no later than the end of their first term in the AFROTC program.
  • Cadets requiring a third attempt must complete it no later than the end of the Fall term of their AS300 (junior) year.
  • Retests may occur no earlier than 90 days after the previous attempt.
  • Cadets who have previously passed the AFOQT Verbal and Quantitative portions of the exam are allowed to retake the examination as required to improve their Rated category scores for Rated AFSC consideration, provided they do not exceed three total test attempts.

Study Guidelines:

Current as of November 2025.
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