ADF Aptitude

Overview

Every applicant to the Australian Defence Force (Navy, Army and Air Force) sits aptitude testing as part of recruitment through ADF Careers. The first and main test is the online Job Opportunities Assessment (JOA), a timed, multiple-choice measure of critical thinking and reasoning. The ADF uses the result to judge how well a candidate is likely to take in, organise and apply information in a military setting, and to match the candidate to the jobs that best suit their abilities.

Some roles add further tests on top of the JOA: technical and electronic trades, officer entry (including the Australian Defence Force Academy, ADFA), and aircrew and aviation roles.

Who can apply

You can start an application from 16.5 years of age, but you must be at least 17 to join. You must be an Australian citizen to serve, although some Australian permanent residents may be eligible. Many roles ask for at least Year 10 (or equivalent) with passes in English and Maths; exact education, medical and fitness requirements vary by role and are listed on each job page.

All applicants, whether for General Entry (other ranks), Officer Entry or ADFA, attempt the general ability testing.

Exam pattern

Job Opportunities Assessment (all applicants)

The JOA is taken online on a laptop or desktop computer; phones and iPads are not supported. Supported browsers are Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox and Safari. Candidates without a suitable device can sit it at their nearest ADF Careers Centre by appointment.

The aim is to answer as many questions as you can in the time. ADF Careers notes that very few people finish all 51.

Additional testing by role

Syllabus

Job Opportunities Assessment: mixed numerical, verbal and abstract reasoning items. It tests reasoning ability rather than knowledge learned at school.

General ability content: the aptitude testing guide describes the general ability items as covering arithmetic problems, number series, word meanings and verbal classification, coding tasks and patterns.

Mechanical Comprehension: your ability to picture and work with mechanical objects such as pulleys and levers in three dimensions.

Advanced Mathematics: algebra, geometry and trigonometry relevant to technical trade training, along with basic arithmetic, up to roughly Year 11 to 12 level.

Aircrew battery: picturing an aircraft's position in three-dimensional space from instrument readings and from spoken or written descriptions of manoeuvres, reading and interpreting aircraft instruments quickly and accurately, and hand-eye coordination.

Officer Aviation (MACTS): a set of computer-based tests run over two four-hour sessions, which assess aviation aptitude and the potential to learn in a fast-paced flight training environment.

Marking and results

After the JOA you receive a personalised Job Opportunities Report (JOR) by email. It shows the roles your results suit, which you then talk through with a Careers Coach. You can attempt the JOA up to three times, with at least six months between attempts. ADF Careers says the waiting period keeps conditions equal for everyone and limits the effect of practice.

How to apply

1. Apply online at ADF Careers with your personal details, academic results and up to three job preferences, then complete the Supplementary Application Form in your Candidate Hub (education, work history, hobbies and other experience).

2. Complete the online JOA using the link emailed to you. ADF Careers asks for this to be done within 14 days.

3. Attend your Your Opportunities Unlimited (YOU) Session: a phone conversation with a Careers Coach about your education, fitness, sport and leadership experience, and the roles open to you based on your JOA results. Then complete the Medical History Questionnaire in your Candidate Hub.

4. Attend an Assessment Session, which includes any role-specific aptitude tests.

ADF Careers can be contacted on 13 19 01 to book a JOA at a Careers Centre.

After the exam

The Assessment Session covers a medical examination, a psychological interview (education and work history, family and social life, and how you are likely to cope with military life) and an ADF interview where you explain why you want to join and what you know about the role.

Officer applicants who pass these stages attend a virtual Officer Selection Board (OSB). It checks leadership potential through activities such as an oral presentation, group tasks (Navy and Army officer candidates only) and formal interviews.

Some roles then require a Pre-entry Fitness Assessment (PFA) about 12 weeks before joining, set to the fitness standard for that job. The process ends with a final medical check, paperwork, and enlistment (General Entry) or an appointment ceremony (Officer Entry).

Preparation tips

ADF Careers says the JOA measures ability rather than learned knowledge, so no study is needed for it. The more useful preparation is practical: be well rested, use a supported computer and browser, and sit the test somewhere quiet without interruptions. Work quickly, because the test rewards answering as many questions as possible in 20 minutes.

If you are aiming for a technical or electronic trade, revising algebra, geometry and trigonometry to about Year 11 to 12 level is sensible, since the Advanced Mathematics test covers them. The official aptitude testing guide includes practice questions, and ADF Careers also publishes example JOA questions.