Air Force Officer Qualifying Test Form U: Reviewing Cognitive Subtests from Previous Forms

This report describes empirical, theoretical, and competency evaluation of the 17 cognitive subtests included in the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) Forms O, P, Q, R/S, and T. Empirical evaluation involved a review of archival information, such as technical reports and test manuals, to document the psychometric properties of each subtest to determine whether or not to include it in the AFOQT Form U. Theoretical evaluation involved a review of the academic literature on the dominant cognitive ability frameworks, including the Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) model, to ensure alignment between the AFOQT and the theoretical frameworks. Finally, competency evaluation involved a mapping between the subtests and the critical competencies that the United States Air Force (USAF) officers need to have upon commissioning and upon classifying into rated (i.e., aircrew) career fields. Taken together, the findings led to the following recommendations: (1) do not bring back any de-commissioned subtests; (2) exclude Word Knowledge due to its poor psychometric performance and poor linkage to the USAF officer competencies; and (3) modify some operational AFOQT Form T subtests as described in this report. Because the mapping between some of the operational subtests and the core officer competencies was tenuous at best, were commend that the list of the subtests be augmented with some measures of fluid intelligence or specific abilities. We are confident that these enhancements would improve the psychometric integrity of the AFOQT as a whole.