Can I retake the SIFT to raise a passing score?

No. Once you pass, that score is permanent. Only candidates who score below 40 may retest — once, and no sooner than the 46th day after the first attempt (AR 611-110, August 2023; the old 180-day wait no longer applies).

Anyone applying to Army aviation: warrant officer flight training applicants (including street-to-seat civilians) and commissioned officers seeking an aviation branch.

Do I also need the ASVAB?

Street-to-seat warrant officer applicants enlist first, so they take the ASVAB and then the SIFT. Our ASVAB track covers that first step.

SIFT · U.S. Army

SIFT: the Army flight aptitude test you only get one shot at

The Selection Instrument for Flight Training — format, all seven subtests, scoring, and the retake rule that makes first-attempt preparation non-negotiable.

Free SIFT practice test Start training

At a glance

Subtests: 7 · 2–3 h
Minimum score: 40 · competitive 50+
Adaptive sections: Math & mechanical
Retakes: One retest · from day 46

Format & timing

All 7 subtests at a glance

Subtest	Questions	Time limit	Key skills
Simple Drawings	100	2 min	Pure processing speed
Hidden Figures	50	5 min	Visual search
Army Aviation Information	40	30 min	Rotary-wing knowledge
Spatial Apperception	25	10 min	Attitude from outside views
Reading Comprehension	20	30 min	Passage analysis
Math Skills	Adaptive	40 min	Algebra & geometry
Mechanical Comprehension	Adaptive	15 min	Forces & machines

Deep dives

The perception subtests nobody else practices

Simple drawings, hidden figures, and spatial apperception barely exist outside Army aviation — they reward specific, targeted practice.

Simple Drawings

100 items in 2 minutes — answer fast, keep moving.

Hidden Figures

Find embedded shapes at speed.

Spatial Apperception

Match the outside view to aircraft attitude and bank.

Army Aviation Information

Rotary-wing aerodynamics, helicopter systems, flight rules.

Math Skills

Computer-adaptive — early accuracy sets your ceiling.

Mechanical Comprehension

Levers, pulleys, fluids, gears — classic physics.

Retake policy: pass once, keep it forever

If you achieve the minimum score of 40, that score is final — you may never retake the SIFT to improve it. If you score below 40, you may retest exactly once, no sooner than the 46th day after your first attempt; a second failure means permanent ineligibility for Army aviation. This is why competitive candidates prepare to score 50+ on the first attempt.

Strategy

Tips for success

Train the speed sections daily

Simple drawings and hidden figures are trainable reflexes — short daily drills beat long cram sessions.

Learn rotary-wing fundamentals

Army aviation information is helicopter-centric: rotor aerodynamics, systems, and terminology.

Master spatial apperception patterns

There are only so many attitude/bank combinations. Learn to read horizon and coastline cues systematically.

Protect the adaptive sections

Math and mechanical adapt to your answers and stop when confident — early mistakes cost more than late ones.

FAQ

Common questions

The minimum qualifying score is 40 on a 20–80 scale. Selection for flight training is competitive, so boards like to see 50 or higher.

Frontline Forge web app

Build your test-day method

Exam-aligned drills under deliberate time pressure
Instant explanations after every item
Your score estimate, tracked drill after drill

Open the training app

Pick your track 4 TRACKS

ASVAB All enlisted branches 9 subtests SIFT ● YOUR TRACK U.S. Army 7 subtests AFOQT U.S. Air Force 12 subtests ASTB-E Navy · Marines · USCG 9 subtests