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Either I blacked out when I took it or they've changed it since I took it... Good job nonetheless

How long ago?

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Great job. I'm not here to take away from your great accomplishment. I think the SIFT is a very important test but people get hung up on the fact that a high score will definitely get you in the WOFT program, which is not at all true. In my packet, that was the part I focused on the least. It definitely reflected as I only received a 50 on the sift, but I made sure my packet reflected me as a whole in the sense of the whole soldier concept. A 40 is simply all you need to get in and that doesn't mean not to try your best on it, but I think people should not get discouraged if they are not in this 70's club. I got selected over my buddy on the same board with a 50 and he had a 72 and I'm in flight training right now doing just fine. True testament. Good luck to everyone

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Great job. I'm not here to take away from your great accomplishment. I think the SIFT is a very important test but people get hung up on the fact that a high score will definitely get you in the WOFT program, which is not at all true. In my packet, that was the part I focused on the least. It definitely reflected as I only received a 50 on the sift, but I made sure my packet reflected me as a whole in the sense of the whole soldier concept. A 40 is simply all you need to get in and that doesn't mean not to try your best on it, but I think people should not get discouraged if they are not in this 70's club. I got selected over my buddy on the same board with a 50 and he had a 72 and I'm in flight training right now doing just fine. True testament. Good luck to everyone

 

I totally understand that they look for the whole package, not just your SIFT score. I was just trying to say that a higher score can only help.

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  • 2 weeks later...

My 2 cents for future SIFT takers on the simple drawings section... You have 2 minutes for 100 questions which gives you a little over a second per question... I tapped my foot at a steady half second pace and made myself click the mouse every other time my foot tapped. You have 20 seconds of breathing room to account for some delays in your clicking, but this strategy allowed me to get all 100 questions with a couple seconds to spare. I know I missed a couple (as I clicked, I saw the correct answer out of the corner of my eye). But I know I got 96 or 97 right out of the 100. I'm not sure if I explained this well, but try it on a practice test, it really works.

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  • 4 weeks later...

Thanks for all the info everyone posted RE: the SIFT. It definitely helped me a lot in preparing for the test. Without divulging too much, I would like to add some things that helped me.

 

First off, I would like to emphasize an importance on Algebra! I'm not too good with math but I did hit this subject pretty hard to prepare. Even so, I was a little off my game, come test day, and there was indeed a significant amount of Algebra.

 

Mechanical knowledge in the SIFT seems a bit broader than that in the ASVAB. I would suggest a basic level understanding in mechanical advantage, fluid dynamics and basic electrical theory.

 

The sections that saved me were definitely the Helicopter Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension, Hidden Figures and Spacial Appreciation.

 

You seem to have plenty of time in most sections. List of sections link: http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/selection-instrument-for-flight-training-sift.html

 

Preparing for the aviation knowledge section I spent a lot of time in the FAA flying handbook:

https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/helicopter_flying_handbook/

 

It helped!!!

 

I was a bit concerned about the Hidden Figures section since I had no idea what it was. After doing a little research before the test, the only thing I could find was this Air Force practice test: http://afoqtguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/AFOQTPracTest1.pdf

 

Subtest 11 is the section on Hidden Figures. Here is a link to the practice test answer sheet: http://afoqtguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/AFOQTPracTest1Answers.pdf

 

The last thing I might suggest is to get a good night sleep the night before. It was my recruiters first time to the MEPS facility we went to, so he had us leave way too early getting their 2 hours prior to check-in. I maybe slept an hour prior to us leaving due to work, kids and studying so needless to say I was pretty wrecked when it was finally time for the test.

 

Anyway, good luck to everyone and I hope this helps!

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Good advice jwoft. The math section was definitely the hardest for me. I felt like I got every single one wrong... That being said, if you push yourself through and do well on the other sections, it seemed to average out. I got a 73 feeling like I got every math question wrong. Good luck everyone!

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Good advice jwoft. The math section was definitely the hardest for me. I felt like I got every single one wrong... That being said, if you push yourself through and do well on the other sections, it seemed to average out. I got a 73 feeling like I got every math question wrong. Good luck everyone!

Awesome score, dude! 70 or above is definitely competitive. I didn't make it into that club, obviously, but I'm satisfied with what I got. Just glad the stress of passing isn't a factor any more. Ha ha! Next step, MEPS.

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Awesome score, dude! 70 or above is definitely competitive. I didn't make it into that club, obviously, but I'm satisfied with what I got. Just glad the stress of passing isn't a factor any more. Ha ha! Next step, MEPS.

Surprised they let you test before going in for a MEPS physical. I'm currently stuck waiting for a time slot to open up for a flight physical, but that's all I need before my battalion board.

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Surprised they let you test before going in for a MEPS physical. I'm currently stuck waiting for a time slot to open up for a flight physical, but that's all I need before my battalion board.

 

Did you try to schedule your Flight Phys yourself or through your recruiter? I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the new facility near me gets approved for doing Flights Phys ASAP that way I can just get straight in after MEPS.

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Did you try to schedule your Flight Phys yourself or through your recruiter? I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the new facility near me gets approved for doing Flights Phys ASAP that way I can just get straight in after MEPS.

 

Both, but I'm at a bit of a crossroads as to what to do. Called the 3 closest Army bases to my house and was told by all that they only serve the "local area." My recruiter said he was working on scheduling one for me on his end, and said that he "got me an appointment, but they cancelled it" at one of the 3 bases I called. Not sure if he's telling the truth, full of it or just not sure on who to contact etc.

 

Got annoyed and called my local MEPS station to find out who the regional flight physician is, Army liaison said he knew who/how to schedule it but didn't want to tell me. Told me to have my recruiter contact him personally to get it done. So tomorrow I'll relay that info to my recruiter and hope to have this annoying mystery solved.

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