Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) Retesting Effects.
Abstract
The Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) is a paper-and pencil aptitude battery. Test results are used to make selection decisions based on Verbal (V) and Quantitative (Q) composite scores and classification decision based on pilot (P) and Navigator-Technical (N-T) composite scores. Retests are not permitted until after 6 months, unless the applicant can show the first testing did not reflect his/her true ability. A relatively large number of waivers of the 6-month requirement are granted. This study addressed the benefits of retesting by comparing retesters with non-retesters and by determining the effects of retaking the AFOQT over various time intervals. Subjects were applicants for officer training who tested on form 0 of the AFOQT between October 1981 and December 1983. This included 2,246 retesters and 42,776 non-retesters. The retesters were divided into four groups who were retested (a) in less than 6 months, (b) from 6 to 11 months, (c) from 12 to 17 months, and (d) after 18 months. T-Test results indicated that retester's initial scores were significantly lower than those of non-retesters and that they differed significantly among groups defined on the basis of time interval between retest. Regression analyses were performed to determine whether the four retest group showed differing score gains. Retest scores were higher than initial test scores for all groups on all composites. The groups differed in amount of gain in P and N-T but not on the V and Q composites. The less-than-6-months group showed the largest gain, followed by the 6-to-11 months group.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADA168926
Entities
People
- Thomas O. Arth
Organizations
- Air Force Research Laboratory