OAR

OFFICER APTITUDE RATING (OAR)

The OAR measures the academic aptitude the Navy uses, together with grades, interviews, and physical qualifications, to select officer candidates. It is developed and managed by the Navy's aerospace medicine community (the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute within Navy Medicine Operational Training Command) and delivered online through the

APEX testing system at approved, proctored testing sites.

EXAM AT A GLANCE Component Details

Math Skills Test (MST), Reading Comprehension Test (RCT), Mechanical Comprehension Test (MCT)

The OAR is the score produced by these three subtests; aviation applicants take them as part of the full

ASTB-E, while many non-aviation applicants take the OAR alone

Computer-adaptive testing through APEX at recruiting offices, NROTC units, Marine Corps Officer Selection

Delivery Offices, and other approved sites

Varies with the adaptive administration; commonly reported as about 30 math, 20–27 reading, and 30

Number of questions mechanical items

About 1 to 2 hours for the OAR alone Testing time

Multiple choice; most items have four choices, and some mechanical comparison items have three

Not permitted; formulas relevant to a problem are provided on screen

20 to 80 in one-point increments; scores near 50 are typical

No single passing score; each program sets its own requirement

Cost No fee to take the test

Reading Comprehension Test

Math Skills Test

Mechanical Comprehension Test

Short, dense passages, usually a single paragraph, each followed by a question asking which statement is best supported by, can be concluded from, or does not follow from the passage.

quadratics), and geometry. Many items are word problems that require setting up an equation before solving it.

On a computer-adaptive test, the first question is of moderate difficulty. A correct answer raises the difficulty of the next item and an incorrect answer lowers it, so the system converges on the level at which you answer about half the items correctly. Your score reflects the difficulty of the items you answered correctly, not a simple count of correct

HOW EACH ADAPTIVE ITEM IS CHOSEN

Answer an item updated to estimate

Scaled score Estimate converges reported

You cannot skip a question, and you cannot return to a previous question once it is answered. Harder questions late in a subtest are a sign that you are performing well, not a sign of trouble. Unanswered items at the time limit lower your score, so pace yourself to finish every subtest.

Scoring and How Programs Use the OAR

The OAR is reported on a 20–80 scale, with most examinees falling between about 40 and 60. The formulas that convert subtest performance into the OAR are not published. There is no universal passing score: each officer program, and in some cases each designator, sets its own minimum in its program authorization, and selection boards weigh the OAR alongside academic record, leadership, and interviews. Ask your recruiter or officer programs officer for the current minimum and the competitive range for your program.

RETEST POLICY Rule Details

Three attempts in total across the OAR and the full ASTB-E

Allowed after a full 30-day wait, on or after the 31st day following the first attempt

Allowed no sooner than the 91st day following the first retest

The most recent attempt replaces all earlier scores, even if it is lower

Because the newest score always replaces the old one, retest only when your practice results show a clear improvement.

Confirm current retest rules with your recruiter before scheduling.

The OAR is scheduled through a Navy recruiter, NROTC unit, or Marine Corps Officer Selection Office. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. Scratch paper is provided at the testing site; personal notes, calculators, phones, and smart watches are not allowed in the testing room.

WHAT TO REMEMBER F OR THE EXAM

The OAR = Math Skills + Reading Comprehension + Mechanical Comprehension; it is scored 20–80. The test is adaptive: no skipping, no going back, and early accuracy matters most. No calculator; relevant formulas appear on screen, but memorizing them saves time. Three lifetime attempts; waits of 30 days, then 90 days; the latest score counts.