AOSB Aptitude case studies
AOSB Aptitude · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The Army Officer Selection Board (AOSB) Aptitude Assessment is the psychometric and practical stage of officer selection for the British Army. It is aimed at candidates who have applied for a commission and need to demonstrate the reasoning ability, planning skill and personal qualities expected of a potential officer. The assessment samples verbal reasoning, numerical reasoning, abstract and spatial reasoning, planning and problem-solving, group and practical leadership exercises, and interview-based assessment of personal qualities. It is not a knowledge test: you cannot revise facts to pass it. The AOSB Aptitude case studies are 5 cases and about 2,130 words.
1The Supply Drop Window
You command a four-vehicle resupply convoy moving to a forward position 90 km away. Vehicles must travel in convoy at 30 km/h on the only route, which passes through a single-lane bridge.
461 words, about 2 min2The Ambiguous Brief
Vehicles will be fuelled before departure. Your second-in-command argues that "ready to move" means physically loaded and waiting, so you should load now and depart the moment clearance arrives.
392 words, about 2 min3The Pattern Grid
You are shown a 3x3 grid of symbols. Row 1: a solid circle, a solid circle with one vertical line through it, a solid circle with two vertical lines.
406 words, about 2 min4The Section Attack Decision
You lead an eight-person section on a training exercise. The objective is a two-room building 400 m across open ground.
462 words, about 2 min5The Selection Interview Question
In an interview you are asked: "Tell me about a time you failed." You have three candidate stories: (1) you missed a deadline on a coursework project because you underestimated the work; (2) you led a team that lost a sports final after you changed the tactics at half-time; (3) you once argued with a manager and were formally reprimanded. The interviewer follows up with: "What would you do differently, and how do you know you have changed?".
409 words, about 2 min