{"id":14422,"date":"2021-06-29T14:45:26","date_gmt":"2021-06-29T20:45:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.petersons.com\/blog\/?p=14422"},"modified":"2022-01-19T06:41:00","modified_gmt":"2022-01-19T13:41:00","slug":"a-complete-guide-to-mastering-the-oar-exam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.petersons.com\/blog\/a-complete-guide-to-mastering-the-oar-exam\/","title":{"rendered":"A Complete Guide to Mastering the OAR Exam"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re serving in the military and are looking to become a commissioned officer, passing the <\/span>Officer Aptitude Rating (OAR) exam<\/span><\/a> is the first step. Passing the exam does not guarantee a position and is only one element of the application process. High school and college GPAs and general application components all factor into placement.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you are taking the OAR as a civilian that has yet to enlist, you must contact your recruiter to discuss next steps in the application process. Your scores will be used to determine admittance to Officer Candidate School.<\/span><\/p>\n

About the exam<\/span><\/h3>\n

The OAR exam is a multiple-choice, standardized exam that measures a test taker\u2019s knowledge of mathematics, reading comprehension, and mechanical comprehension. It\u2019s similar in format to the SAT or ACT exam, however topics on the OAR are more in-depth and technical. The OAR exam is a subset of the larger <\/span>ASTB test<\/span><\/a> used by the Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard, and includes three subtests, each with its own time restrictions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Results from the OAR exam are used to qualify for officer training programs. However, the exam results are not the sole decider and other factors including work history and college GPA are factored in.<\/span><\/p>\n

Eligibility requirements<\/span><\/h3>\n

Both civilians and enlisted are eligible to take the OAR exam. To take the OAR exam, test takers must:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  • Be between the ages of 19-35\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Hold a bachelor\u2019s degree or higher<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Testing formats<\/span><\/h3>\n

    Test takers have a choice between two testing options:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    • Paper-based format: <\/b>With a total test time of 85 minutes, this format is longer and has a fixed number of questions with a specific sequence of questions by subtest. The paper format does not penalize you for incorrect questions, however any item left blank will be scored as incorrect, so make sure to guess as time is running out.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Computer Adapted Testing (CAT): <\/b>The CAT format adjusts the number and difficulty of the questions based on the answers provided during the test. As you answer questions, the test automatically modifies the difficulty level (and the weight applied to the scoring of the question) up or down depending on the number of correct answers. If a test taker does not answer enough questions in the time allotted, a penalty is applied to the score. Unlike the paper-based test, guessing on the CAT format can cause your score to decrease, so avoid it at all costs.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Exam breakdown\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

      The OAR exam consists of three subtests that cover core topics including math skills, reading comprehension, and mechanical comprehension. Let\u2019s take a closer look at each subtest:<\/span><\/p>\n

        \n
      • Math Skills: <\/b>This section of the exam measures your ability to compute math problems that focus on algebraic equations, fractions, percentages, and geometry, resembling a traditional math test with mainly numeric questions and some word problems.<\/span><\/li>\n
      • Reading Comprehension:<\/b> This portion of the exam assesses your reading level and ability to retain and evaluate information provided in a variety of short passages ranging in level of difficulty.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
      • Mechanical Comprehension: <\/b>This subtest section evaluates your overall understanding of mechanical concepts, with a heavy focus on physics. Over half of the questions on this test consist of problems utilizing image analysis to answer them. You will need to\u00a0 move quickly through this section with only 30 seconds per question.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Here is a breakdown of the subtests outlining the number of questions and time allotted for each section of the exam:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
        <\/td>\nPaper Format<\/span><\/td>\nCAT Format<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Subtest<\/span><\/td>\nQuestions<\/span><\/td>\nTime Allotted<\/span><\/td>\nQuestions<\/span><\/td>\nTime Allotted<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Math Skills<\/span><\/td>\n30<\/span><\/td>\n40 minutes<\/span><\/td>\n30\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n25 minutes<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Reading Comprehension<\/span><\/td>\n20<\/span><\/td>\n30 minutes<\/span><\/td>\n27<\/span><\/td>\n25 minutes<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Mechanical Comprehension<\/span><\/td>\n30<\/span><\/td>\n15 minutes<\/span><\/td>\n30<\/span><\/td>\n15 minutes<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Total Questions<\/span><\/td>\n80<\/span><\/td>\n85 minutes<\/span><\/td>\n87<\/span><\/td>\n65 minutes<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

        Preparing for the exam<\/span><\/h3>\n

        Peterson\u2019s <\/span>OAR test prep<\/span><\/a> includes three full-length practice tests, online lessons that cover math skills, reading comprehension tips, an overview of mechanical reasoning, and more.<\/span><\/p>\n

        Watch the brief video to see what\u2019s included in Peterson\u2019s OAR test prep:<\/span><\/p>\n