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Free OAR practice test

15 exam-style questions from the OAR Prep question bank, five from each OAR section. Answer each one to see the explanation; your score appears at the end.

15 questions · 3 sections · about 15 minutes, no calculator. Pick an answer to see whether you’re right and why.

  1. Question 1 of 15 · Math SkillsIf the ratio of the measures of the three angles in a triangle is 2:6:10, what is the actual measure of the smallest angle?
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    Answer: B. 20°

    The angles total 180°. The ratio parts sum to 2 + 6 + 10 = 18, so each part = 180° ÷ 18 = 10°. The smallest angle = 2 × 10° = 20°.

  2. Question 2 of 15 · Reading & VerbalRead the passage, then answer. Unlike a barometer, which simply measures atmospheric pressure, an altimeter uses pressure readings to estimate an aircraft's height above sea level. Because air pressure falls predictably with altitude, the instrument converts a pressure drop into a gain in elevation. According to the passage, an altimeter determines altitude by:
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    Answer: A. Interpreting changes in air pressure

    The passage says the altimeter translates a pressure drop into elevation, so it works from air pressure.

  3. Question 3 of 15 · MechanicalGear A has 20 teeth and turns at 60 rpm. It meshes with Gear B, which has 40 teeth. How fast does Gear B turn?
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    Answer: A. 30 rpm

    Teeth × rpm is the same for both gears: (20 × 60) ÷ 40 = 30 rpm. The larger gear turns slower.

  4. Question 4 of 15 · Math SkillsOne printer can produce 180 forms in 6 minutes at a constant rate. At that same rate, how many forms can it produce in 15 minutes?
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    Answer: D. 450

    Rate = 180 ÷ 6 = 30 forms per minute; 30 × 15 = 450 forms.

  5. Question 5 of 15 · Reading & VerbalRead the passage, then answer. The recruits were told that liberty would be granted only after every member of the platoon passed inspection. Despite hours of preparation, one locker failed to meet standard, and the whole platoon spent the weekend on base. Which can be inferred from the passage?
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    Answer: D. One member's failure affected the entire platoon.

    Liberty required everyone to pass; a single failed locker cost the whole platoon its weekend.

  6. Question 6 of 15 · MechanicalIn a hydraulic press, 50 lb is applied to a piston with 2 sq in of area. The output piston has 20 sq in of area. What output force is produced?
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    Answer: C. 500 lb

    Pressure = 50 ÷ 2 = 25 psi, and Pascal’s principle says it acts equally throughout the fluid, so the output force = 25 × 20 = 500 lb.

  7. Question 7 of 15 · Math SkillsOne pump drains a tank in 6 hours and a second pump drains it in 12 hours. Working together, how long do they take?
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    Answer: C. 4 hours

    Combined rate = 1/6 + 1/12 = 3/12 = 1/4 tank per hour, so 4 hours.

  8. Question 8 of 15 · Reading & VerbalThe captain's terse reply left no room for discussion. As used here, "terse" most nearly means:
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    Answer: A. brief and abrupt

    Terse describes speech that is short and to the point, often curt.

  9. Question 9 of 15 · MechanicalWater flowing through a pipe enters a section where the cross-sectional area is cut in half. In the narrow section the water's speed:
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    Answer: B. Doubles

    The same volume of water passes every point each second (A₁ × v₁ = A₂ × v₂), so halving the area doubles the speed.

  10. Question 10 of 15 · Math SkillsA jacket priced at $80 is marked down 25%, then an extra 10% is taken off the sale price. What is the final price?
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    Answer: C. $54

    80 × 0.75 = 60, then 60 × 0.90 = $54. The two discounts are not simply added (that would give 35% off, or $52).

  11. Question 11 of 15 · Reading & VerbalAnchor is to stability as rudder is to:
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    Answer: B. steering

    An anchor provides stability; a rudder provides steering (directional control).

  12. Question 12 of 15 · MechanicalA wheelbarrow is an example of which class of lever?
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    Answer: C. Second-class lever

    In a second-class lever the load sits between the fulcrum (wheel) and the effort (handles).

  13. Question 13 of 15 · Math SkillsA car covers the first half of a trip at 40 mph and the second half (equal distance) at 60 mph. What is the average speed for the whole trip?
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    Answer: A. 48 mph

    Average speed = total distance ÷ total time, not the mean of the two speeds. For equal distances it is 2 × 40 × 60 ÷ (40 + 60) = 48 mph.

  14. Question 14 of 15 · Reading & VerbalChoose the word that best completes the sentence: Because the orders were ___, the crew interpreted them in several conflicting ways.
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    Answer: D. ambiguous

    Ambiguous means open to more than one interpretation, which explains the conflicting readings.

  15. Question 15 of 15 · MechanicalAn object weighs 100 lb in air and displaces 30 lb of water when fully submerged. What is its apparent weight underwater?
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    Answer: D. 70 lb

    Buoyant force equals the weight of water displaced (30 lb), so apparent weight = 100 - 30 = 70 lb.

About this OAR practice test

These 15 questions come from the OAR Prep question bank, five from each of its practice sections: math skills, reading & verbal, mechanical. Each has a written explanation, so you learn from the questions you miss.

What the real OAR covers

The OAR is three subtests of the Navy’s Aviation Selection Test Battery (ASTB-E):

SubtestWhat it tests
Math SkillsArithmetic, fractions, percentages, ratios, algebra, geometry and word problems, all without a calculator.
Reading ComprehensionFinding what a short passage states or implies, and which conclusions it supports.
Mechanical ComprehensionLevers, pulleys, gears, forces, motion, pressure, energy and simple circuits.

The test is computer-adaptive and scored on a 20–80 scale. You get three attempts in your lifetime, at least 30 days apart, and your newest score replaces the old one, so it pays to practice before your first sitting.

Want to go deeper on one section? Try the math,reading comprehension andmechanical comprehension practice tests, or build speed with theno-calculator math drill.

FAQ

Are these real OAR test questions?
No. They are original exam-style practice questions from the OAR Prep question bank, written to match the three OAR subtests. The Navy does not release live test questions.
How many questions are on the real OAR?
It depends. The OAR is computer-adaptive, so the number of questions you see on each subtest (Math Skills, Reading Comprehension and Mechanical Comprehension) depends on your answers. Your score is reported on a 20–80 scale.
Can I use a calculator on the OAR?
No. Calculators are not allowed, so practice arithmetic, fractions and percentages by hand. All the math in this practice test can be done on scratch paper.
Where can I get more OAR practice questions?
The OAR Prep app has 2,604 practice questions with explanations, 90-question timed mock exams and flashcards, on iPhone and iPad.

Sources

  1. Naval Aerospace Medical Institute. ASTB-E Frequently Asked Questions

Original practice questions from the OAR Prep question bank — not actual OAR or ASTB-E test items. The U.S. Navy does not endorse this test.

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