Using years of experience and the information from previous proctors, we’ve created a full free online SIFT Practice Test for you to use. This SIFT practice exam includes all sections and even includes a countdown timer so as to give you the full experience of the exam. Many of the questions on the SIFT may seem easy, however, when the time component is added, it can become extremely hard. So, keep that in mind as you use this online practice exam.
The Online SIFT Practice Test sections are:
Section 1: Simple Drawings (SD)
The Simple Drawings section of the SIFT exam consists of 100 questions and gives you only 2 minutes to complete. This section of the exam is to test a candidates ability to quickly see images and decipher a difference in the options. If you take the time to do this, it is extremely easy.
However, you’ll notice that you are only allotted an average of 1.2 seconds per question. That’s only enough time to quickly scan the images, and click.
This makes this portion of the exam one of the hardest. Do not underestimate the Simple Drawings section.
If you start to look back at the options or spend too much time on one question, you’ll not be able to finish the full set of questions and fail. Therefore, to give you the best practice for this we will simulate the time required per questions below.
No. of Questions: 25
Time to Complete: 30 seconds
Section 2: Hidden Figures (HF)
The Hidden Figures section of the test consists of 50 questions and only gives you 5 minutes to complete. This too is a very simple exercise if you have the time. However, this section was designed to test a candidates ability to quickly find hidden shapes inside a drawing.
The average amount of time you can afford per question is 6 seconds per question. Therefore, the below Hidden Figures SIFT Practice test will give you 6 seconds to answer.
Like the Simple Drawing portion of the SIFT, this is one of the hardest parts. It may seem simple, but you’re racing against a very unforgiving clock. In order to really excel at this portion of the exam, you’re going to need to train your memory to retain an answer bank of shapes. And then… to locate just one of those shapes within a jumble of images.
If you do not practice doing this or train your mind to operate this way, best of luck…you’re seriously going to need it.
No. of Questions: 10
Time to Complete: 60 seconds
Section 3: Spatial Apperception Test (SAT)
Spatial Apperception Test has 25 questions and gives you 10 minutes to complete. This section was designed to test a candidates ability to read the surrounds and quickly ascertain the orientation of the aircraft.
The way this works is you’ll be shown a pilot’s view of what they will see out of the cockpit’s windshield. That will be the reference point of view. Then, you’ll be shown a series of pictures from outside the aircraft. You’ll need to match up what outside point of view correlates to that of the pilot.
Like the two sections above, this is very time sensitive since you only get 24 seconds per question. This test also presents a very particular challenge. Aircraft can move within three directions: horizontally, vertically, and angular. This adds a very unique approach to this line of questioning
The best way to prepare for this is familiarization with the questions and having a system to check each point as you move through the questions. And again, if you do not practice this intensely, you will find difficulty.
No. of Questions: 10
Time to Complete: 4 min
Section 4: Army Aviation Information Test (AAIT)
The Army Aviation Information section of the SIFT exam consists of 40 questions and gives you only 30 minutes to complete. This section was designed to test a candidates understanding of basic aviation knowledge, information and history. This section allows for 45 seconds per question.
This part of the exam is pretty straightforward. However, if you’re unfamiliar with the following subjects, we recommend you pick up a study guide to help you out.
- General Aviation Knowledge
- Army Aviation History
- Aircraft Mechanics
- Aircraft Components (Fixed and Rotary Wing)
- Principles of Flight
- Commonly Used Aviation Words and Phrases
No. of Questions: 10
Time to Complete: 7 min
Section 5: Math Skills Test (MST)
The Math Skills section is between 30-40 questions and allows for 40 minutes. It is an adaptive testing system where the number of questions and the types of questions will change based on your answers and what you end up getting wrong. Show a weakness in one type of math question, and you’ll see more of it on the exam. This section doesn’t have a specific time per question considering the adaptive nature.
In order to best be prepared for this section, you’ll need to look over the following topics at a minimum:
- Algebraic Expressions
- Binomial and Trinomial Operations
- Ratios, Percentages, and Fractions
- Geometric Area and Volume Equations
- Geometric Principles
- Basic Trigonometry
- Rate Calculations
- Word Problems
- Mathematics Principles
It may seem like a lot, but trust us…. You’ll be glad you’re ready. Also, don’t make the mistake of studying too hard on topics you already know. Since this test is adaptive, the main focal point of your quiz will be determined via your weaknesses.
No. of Questions: 10
Time to Complete: 5 min
Section 6: Mechanical Comprehension Test (MCT)
The Mechanical Comprehension Test section is like the Math Skills section in that it is an adaptive testing system that averages between 20-30 questions, with a 15 minute length.
Again, you’ll need to really focus on your weak points in to ace this part of the exam. The Mechanical Comprehension part of this exam blends a mixture of physics principles, mathematics, and scientific theory. Here are just a few of the topics you’ll need to understand in order to pass:
- Laws of Physics
- Force Relations and Calculations
- Simple Machines and Related Calculations
- Work Equations
- Principles of Heat Transfer
- Fluid Dynamics Theories
- Gear Operations
- Inter-connectivity of Systems and How they Operate
No. of Questions: 10
Time to Complete: 5 min
Section 7: Reading Comprehension Test (RCT)
The Reading Comprehension Test section consists of 20 questions and allows for 30 minutes. It was designed to test a candidate’s ability to read and interpret information as well as the sub context of the meaning. It will consist of a passage and four options with one being the only correct one. The average length of time you get per question is 90 seconds per question.
For most, this will be one of the easiest portions of the exam. It is not nearly as time intensive or mentally challenging as some of the other portions. But don’t neglect reading comprehension as part of your studies. You’ll need to train your mind to examine context clues, infer relationships, and extrapolate from given information.
No. of Questions: 8
Time to Complete: 6 min
BONUS: Extra SIFT Practice Tests
A SIFT practice test is one of the best ways to prepare for the Selection Instrument for Flight Training. However, practicing the wrong content or using a badly produced SIFT study guide will not help your chance of success. In order to help you find the best SIFT practice test for your needs, I checked through the following SIFT study guides, took their Selection Instrument for Flight Training practice tests, and came up with the following suggestions.
Below is my recommendation of the top study guides due to their SIFT practice exams and their level of difficulty. Then below that you can read my individual reviews for each book so as to understand why it was graded the way it was.
#1. No products found.
Some of the main advantages of this particular guide include a practice test section which is as close to the real SIFT test as possible (the SAT section uses a helicopter, for example, unlike other guides) and lots of useful information and external resources covering every section of the SIFT are provided.
So, be sure to get your copy of No products found..
#2 No products found.
Now that doesn’t mean we aren’t fans of this book. It does the job. But I’d only recommend picking this book up if you’ve already picked up The Complete SIFT Study Guide and want another crack at a practice test.
#3. No products found.
There is some similarity between sections of the SIFT and the other military flight tests such as the ASTB and the AFOQT. Aspects of the content relating to those exams may, therefore, help with your SIFT study efforts. However, since your focus is on the SIFT, it’s best to get a guide that focuses solely on your information.
Extra Online SIFT Practice Tests to Try
The below links are to other online SIFT practice tests. However, we’ll warn that many of these use questions that aren’t exact replications of what you’ll experience on the exam. Many of them are over simplified and may give a sense of false confidence.
- ProProfs offers Different Sections to the SIFT: (But they require your email address)
- Peterson’s AFOQT Practice Tests: Offers a Paid SIFT practice test but it isn’t worth the money. There are a couple of questions you can click on though.
- Owlcation’s Practice Test: Has a couple of questions in each section
- Quizlet SIFT Army Aviation Information Section: 40 flashcards on just the one section
Extra Resources:
- Reddit Discussions on the SIFT Exam: Great place to check if there is an update or change to the test
- Fundamentals of Flight pdf: Excellent resource to increase your knowledge on flight mechanics
- Khan Academy for Math: Excellent resource to help improve your math understanding
- Helicopter Flying Handbook pdf: Free access to the handbook
Written Form of the SIFT Practice Test
Some visitors to Military Flight Tests have requested a written version of the above interactive SIFT Practice Test. You can find a written version below – just remember to keep track of your score and take into account the real test will have time constraints.
Army Aviation Information Test
Directions: Each question below has four possible answer choices. For each question, determine the best answer choice and circle it.
1. Which of the following is not a commonly used helicopter taxi maneuver?
A) Ground Taxi
B) Hover Taxi
C) Rotor Taxi
D) Air Taxi
2. Lift gives a helicopter altitude by –
A) Overcoming weight
B) Decreasing thrust
C) Increasing torque
D) None of the above
3. A single main rotor helicopter requires –
A) A greater amount of cargo capacity
B) A tail rotor to balance torque
C) A nose rotor to balance torque
D) A tail rotor to counterweight
4. Bernoulli’s Principle primarily relates to…
A) Helicopter payload capacity
B) Lift
C) Thrust
D) Drag
5. Tandem Rotor Helicopters make use of…
A) A main rotor and tail rotor
B) Two rotors, one above the other
C) A front and a rear rotor spinning in counter directions
D) A front and a rear rotor spinning in the same direction
Maths Skills Test
Directions: Each question below has four possible answer choices. For each question, determine the best answer choice and circle it.
1. The correct order of operations in mathematics is…
A) DEMPAS
B) PEDMAS
C) PESMAD
D) PEMDAS
2. If 66 out of 200 planes are not operational, how is this expressed as a %?
A) 33%
B) 166%
C) 66%
D) 52%
3. What is the mode of the following sequence? 7, 7, 9, 11, 13, 13, 13, 19, 19, 21
A) 7
B) 19
C) 13
D) 9
4. (4 x -3) =
A) -12
B) -7
C) 12
D) 7
5. Greatest common factor refers to…
A) The product of two numbers
B) The mean average of a series of values
C) The largest whole number two or more numbers can both be divided by
D) The square root of two numbers
Mechanical Comprehension Test
Directions: Each question below has four possible answer choices. For each question, determine the best answer choice and circle it.
1. The two main types of friction are…
A) Static Friction & Diversionary Friction
B) Kinetic Friction & Motion Friction
C) Kinetic Friction & Diversionary Friction
D) Static Friction & Kinetic Friction
2. The Law of Inertia refers to…
A) Bernoulli’s Principle
B) Newton’s 1st Law of Motion
C) Newton’s 2nd Law of Motion
D) Newton’s 3rd Law of Motion
3. Force =
A) Lift x Thrust
B) Mass x Lift
C) Mass x Thrust
D) Mass x Acceleration
4. Scalars have…
A) Only magnitude
B) Only direction
C) Both magnitude and direction
D) Either magnitude or direction
5. Which of the following are not a common simple machine?
A) Wedge
B) Pulley
C) Lever
D) Rotor
6. ‘For every reaction, there is an equal and opposite reaction’ refers to…
A) Newton’s 2nd Law of Motion
B) Newton’s 3rd Law of Motion
C) Newton’s 1st Law of Motion
D) None of the above
Reading Comprehension Test
Directions: For the following questions, choose either the word which best completes the sentence, or choose the answer that could only be inferred from the passage itself. Each choice may be true and/or reasonable but, only one of them could have resulted exclusively from the material in the passage.
1. In spite of his… Alex finished the race in a respectable time.
A) Height
B) Sore foot
C) Excellent speed
D) Dedication
2. Although it was…they did not feel tired.
A) pleasant
B) exciting
C) late at night
D) superb
3. John is an experienced pilot with a long record of service.
A) John has participated in major wars
B) John enjoys flying
C) John is an aviator
D) John can fly multiple aircraft type
4. The vast majority of students enjoyed their experience.
A) All students enjoyed their experience
B) Slightly more than 50% of students enjoyed their experience
C) Significantly more than 50% of students enjoyed their experience
D) An estimated % is unknowable
SIFT Practice Test Answer Key
Army Aviation Information Test
1. C
2. A
3. B
4. B
5. C
Math Skills Test
1. D
2. A
3. C
4. A
5. C
Mechanical Comprehension Test
1. D
2. B
3. D
4. A
5. D
6. B
Reading Comprehension Test
1. B
2. C
3. C
4. C
SIFT Practice Test Conclusion
Hopefully, you found this short sample of SIFT test type questions useful. They really only scratch the surface of the SIFT test. If you want to feel as prepared as possible it is vital to becoming familiar with the format of the SIFT test.
Above all else, buying a good quality SIFT study guide will give you the best chance to delve deep into each SIFT section and identify your weaknesses by taking in-depth SIFT practice tests.
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