The Army Officer Selection Board (AOSB) briefing is very similar to the assessment centre you might have for any other job. The centre lasts for three days with the tests, known as the Army Officer Mental Aptitude Profile, given on the first day. The Army Officer aptitude test includes numerical, verbal and abstract reasoning sections. This article focuses on the aptitude testing section of the AOSB briefing. However, the centre also includes physical fitness tests, a planning exercise, group discussions and an interview.
The British army is looking for certain mental abilities in their potential officers and uses aptitude tests to determine whether or not you are up to par. Each of these tests examine a different skill set, such as logical thinking, understanding, analysis, and problem solving skills. Ideal officer candidates are able to generate a variety of ideas and find creative solutions to problems. They are able to focus on and identify what is relevant to their current task. These abilities are all examined through the aptitude tests.
The Army Officer aptitude test is comprised of three sections: numerical reasoning, verbal reasoning and abstract awareness. The entire test is made up of multiple choice questions completed on the computer. You are given paper to jot down any notes or rough-working necessary during the tests. Note that the tests are strictly timed and it is possible you will not finish all of the questions in the time allotted. Therefore it is necessary to work quickly and efficiently in order to answer as many questions as you can. Practice tests help you improve your time management skills.
This section contains 36 questions and lasts for 15 minutes. You are given numerical data, presented in a graph or table and asked four questions pertaining to the data. For each question you are given five answer options to choose from. You may not use a calculator during the test, as mental arithmetic is one of the abilities the assessors are on the lookout for.
The verbal section of the test involves 40 questions to answer in 15 minutes. You are presented with short passages to read and then four statements related to the text. Your task is to decide if the statement is true, false or you cannot say based on the information in the text. Careful reading is imperative here, as you need to fully understand the text.
This portion of the test contains 70 questions and is 12 minutes in length. Each question presents two sets of shapes, Set A and Set B. Your first task is to determine how the shapes in each set are related. You are then given five further shapes and must determine if they belong in Set A, Set B or neither.
The best way to prepare for the mental section of the AOSB briefing is with AOSB practice tests. Here at JobTestPrep we have designed a pack specific for Army Officer applicants taking the AOSB. These practice tests give you a feel of the question style and help practice your skills so you can manage your time wisely during the real test.
