Overview
The Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) is a standardized test used by the Department of the Air Force to select candidates for officer commissioning programs. It is required for Air Force ROTC (AFROTC), Officer Training School (OTS), and for cadets transferring into the Air Force or Space Force from other commissioning sources. The test also supplies the scores used to qualify applicants for rated training slots — Pilot, Combat Systems Officer (CSO), and Air Battle Manager (ABM).
Who can apply
Anyone pursuing an Air Force or Space Force officer commission through AFROTC or OTS must take the AFOQT. AFROTC cadets on scholarship or in the Professional Officer Course must take the AFOQT by 31 December of their sophomore (AS200/250) year and pass it by the end of their junior (AS300) year. Candidates applying for a rated slot — Pilot, CSO, or ABM — must also meet the composite-score requirement for that specific track, since those scores are part of the selection package the board reviews. Applicants who hold a qualifying professional license (for example in law, medicine, or ministry) and are commissioning to use that license are not required to take the AFOQT.
Exam pattern
The current version of the test, Form T, has 12 subtests, taken together in one sitting that runs about five hours including breaks.
| Subtest | Measures |
|---|---|
| Verbal Analogies | Word relationships |
| Arithmetic Reasoning | Word-problem math |
| Word Knowledge | Vocabulary |
| Math Knowledge | Algebra, geometry, arithmetic |
| Reading Comprehension | Understanding written passages |
| Situational Judgment | Responses to officer-relevant interpersonal situations |
| Self-Description Inventory | Personality-style statements |
| Physical Science | General physical-science knowledge |
| Table Reading | Reading values quickly from a table |
| Instrument Comprehension | Reading aircraft instruments to judge attitude |
| Block Counting | Spatial counting of three-dimensional blocks |
| Aviation Information | General aviation and aeronautical knowledge |
Subtest scores combine into composite scores, each reported as a percentile from 1 to 99 against other test-takers:
| Composite | Used for |
|---|---|
| Verbal | All officer candidates |
| Quantitative | All officer candidates |
| Academic Aptitude | Combines the Verbal and Quantitative subtests |
| Pilot | Pilot training selection |
| Combat Systems Officer (CSO) | CSO training selection |
| Air Battle Manager (ABM) | ABM training selection |
Situational Judgment and the Self-Description Inventory are not currently rolled into any of these composite scores.
Marking and results
Each composite score is a percentile from 1 to 99, showing how a candidate's result compares with the AFOQT reference population — a score of 60 means the candidate outperformed 60 percent of that group. Pilot, CSO, and ABM composite scores also feed into the separate selection boards for those training tracks.
Fees
The AFOQT itself is free to officer candidates. AFROTC detachments proctor it for cadets at no cost; non-ROTC applicants arrange a seat through an Air Force recruiter, who issues the voucher needed to schedule it.
How to apply
AFROTC cadets receive their AFOQT registration details and test date directly from their detachment's testing officer. Applicants outside AFROTC — including those applying through OTS — contact an Air Force recruiter, who provides a voucher and schedules the test, which is administered at Air Force bases, AFROTC detachments, and other authorized test sites.
If a candidate tests again, current policy allows a second attempt, and a third only with a waiver from the Air Force Personnel Center after a required waiting period between attempts; the Air Force uses the highest composite score achieved across all attempts (a "superscore") as the score of record.
Preparation tips
The official AFOQT Information Pamphlet, published on airforce.com, explains the structure and content of every subtest and is the primary study resource candidates are pointed to before test day. AFROTC detachments and recruiters can also direct candidates to any additional preparation material the Department of the Air Force currently makes available.
Who has to take the AFOQT?
Anyone commissioning as an Air Force or Space Force officer through AFROTC or Officer Training School, unless they qualify through a professional license such as law, medicine, or ministry. Candidates seeking a Pilot, CSO, or ABM slot also need the composite score for that track.
How is the AFOQT scored?
Each composite — Verbal, Quantitative, Academic Aptitude, Pilot, CSO, and ABM — is reported as a percentile from 1 to 99 against other test-takers, not as a raw or pass/fail score.
Does the AFOQT cost anything?
No. The test is free for officer candidates; AFROTC cadets test through their detachment at no cost, and other applicants get a voucher through their recruiter.
Can the AFOQT be retaken?
Yes, a second attempt is allowed after a waiting period. A third attempt needs a waiver from the Air Force Personnel Center. The Air Force keeps the highest composite score earned across attempts.