AFOQT sample questions, with worked answers

C: joey. The relationship: a young frog is called a tadpole. In the same way, a young kangaroo is called a joey. The other options fit the pattern for other words, not for kangaroo.

C: Monday is to Tuesday. The relationship: Friday comes right after Thursday. Only "Monday is to Tuesday" has the same relationship in the same order (Tuesday comes right after Monday). "second is to first" is the right relationship backwards.

C: method. "Tactic" (a noun) means method. Each wrong option is the meaning of a different noun, which is why it can look right.

C: back up. "Corroborate" (a verb) means back up. Each wrong option is the meaning of a different verb, which is why it can look right.

B: sculptor. A scalpel is the tool a surgeon works with; a chisel is the tool a sculptor works with.

1. Make a sentence: "A scalpel is the tool a surgeon uses."
2. Try each option: "A chisel is the tool a ___ uses."
3. Only "sculptor" fits the sentence.

The trap: Picking "stone" or "statue", which are related to a chisel but as the material and the product, not the user.

B: minute is to second. An hour is made of 60 minutes; a minute is made of 60 seconds. Same order (larger unit, then the unit it splits into) and the same relationship.

1. Sentence: "An hour splits into minutes."
2. Keep the order: the larger unit first.
3. "A minute splits into seconds" fits; "second is to minute" is the right words in the wrong order.

The trap: Choosing "second is to minute": the right pair of words, but reversed. Order matters in analogy pairs.

A: stubborn. An obstinate person refuses to change their mind: stubborn.

1. Recall a use: "an obstinate refusal to listen".
2. The idea is holding firm against persuasion.
3. Stubborn matches.

The trap: "Obvious" looks and sounds similar (ob-), but means easy to see.

B: 24 km/h. 30 km in 75 minutes is 6 km every 15 minutes. An hour holds 4 lots of 15 minutes, so the speed is 6 × 4 = 24 km/h.

C: 4. Slope = rise ÷ run = (5 - (-3)) ÷ (1 - (-1)) = 8 ÷ 2 = 4.

B: 6 hours. Thirty minutes of reserve at 12 gallons an hour is 6 gallons, leaving 78 − 6 = 72 usable gallons, and 72 ÷ 12 = 6 hours.

1. Reserve: 0.5 hour × 12 = 6 gallons.
2. Usable: 78 − 6 = 72 gallons.
3. Time: 72 ÷ 12 = 6 hours.

The trap: 78 ÷ 12 = 6.5 hours ignores the reserve, which is the whole point of the question.

B: 18. The ratio has 5 + 3 = 8 parts, so each part is 48 ÷ 8 = 6 cadets. Non-rated: 3 × 6 = 18.

1. Total parts: 5 + 3 = 8.
2. One part: 48 ÷ 8 = 6.
3. Non-rated: 3 parts × 6 = 18.

The trap: Answering 30, the pilot candidates. Check which side of the ratio the question asks for.

C: 17. Expand: 3x − 12 = 2x + 5. Subtract 2x: x − 12 = 5. Add 12: x = 17.

1. Distribute: 3x − 12 = 2x + 5.
2. Subtract 2x from both sides: x − 12 = 5.
3. Add 12: x = 17. Check: 3 × 13 = 39 and 2 × 17 + 5 = 39.

The trap: Distributing only to x (3x − 4) gives x = 9. Multiply every term inside the brackets.

E: 29. Find the X = −7 column along the top, then the Y = −9 row down the side; they meet at 29. The usual slips are reading the cell next door or swapping X and Y, which is why those values are among the options.

E: Ailerons. Ailerons, on the outer trailing edge of each wing, move in opposite directions to roll the aircraft about its longitudinal axis.

The trap: Choosing the rudder because it "turns" the airplane. The rudder yaws the nose; the ailerons roll the wings, which is what starts a turn.

C: The aircraft is on the correct glide path. PAPI: four white, too high; two white and two red, on glide path; four red, too low.

The trap: Reading the lights backwards. Two white and two red is on the glide path; more white means too high, more red means too low.

D: 9 °C. Temperature falls about 2 °C for every 1,000 feet of climb in the standard atmosphere: 4 × 2 = 8 °C colder, so 17 − 8 = 9 °C.

B: 30. Go across the top to the X = +1 column, then down to the Y = −2 row. The cell reads 30.

1. X runs along the top: find +1.
2. Y runs down the side: find −2 (the bottom row).
3. Where they cross: 30.

The trap: Swapping X and Y (X = −2, Y = +1) gives 29, and reading Y = +2 instead of −2 gives 36. Check both signs.

B: Elevator. The elevator, on the horizontal tail, pitches the airplane about its lateral axis. Ailerons roll it and the rudder yaws it.

1. Pitch is nose up or down, about the lateral (wingtip to wingtip) axis.
2. The horizontal tail controls pitch.
3. Its movable surface is the elevator.

The trap: Choosing flaps. Flaps change lift and drag for takeoff and landing; they are not the primary pitch control.

C: 27. Runway 09 points about 090° magnetic. The other end points the opposite way, 090 + 180 = 270°, so it is runway 27.

1. 09 means a heading of about 090°.
2. The reciprocal heading: 090 + 180 = 270°.
3. Drop the last zero: 27.

The trap: Adding 18 to the number (09 + 18 = 27) works, but adding 9 or doubling does not. Think in degrees: add or subtract 180.

B: The tilt of Earth's axis. The axis is tilted about 23.5°, so each hemisphere gets more direct sunlight for part of the year. Distance changes are too small to cause seasons.

The trap: Answering "Earth's distance from the Sun". Earth is actually closest to the Sun in early January, during the northern winter; the tilt of the axis causes the seasons.

C: 58.8 J. PE = m × g × h = 2 kg × 9.8 m/s² × 3 m = 58.8 J.

B: 5 m/s². Acceleration is the change in speed divided by time: (20 − 0) ÷ 4 = 5 m/s².

1. Change in speed: 20 − 0 = 20 m/s.
2. Time: 4 s.
3. a = 20 ÷ 4 = 5 m/s².

The trap: Multiplying (80) instead of dividing. Check the units: m/s divided by s gives m/s².

B: 4 g/cm³. Density is mass divided by volume: 200 ÷ 50 = 4 g/cm³.

1. Density = mass ÷ volume.
2. 200 g ÷ 50 cm³.
3. = 4 g/cm³.

The trap: Dividing the other way (50 ÷ 200 = 0.25). The unit, grams per cubic centimeter, tells you mass goes on top.

D: Baking soda dissolved in water. pH above 7 is basic. Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) solution is mildly basic, about pH 8 to 9. Pure water is neutral (7), and the others are acids (below 7).

1. High pH means basic; low pH means acidic; 7 is neutral.
2. Lemon juice, vinegar and stomach acid are acids.
3. Baking soda solution is basic, so its pH is highest.

The trap: Choosing pure water because it is "neutral". Neutral is the middle of the scale, not the top.