Army Officer Exam Study Guide (2026)
Everything the British Army Officer (Regular, via AOSB and Sandhurst) tests, topic by topic: what each section covers, the facts that come up most, and how to study it. Pair it with the free 15-question practice test.
The exam at a glance
| Questions | AOSB is a selection board, not a single exam: computer-based aptitude tests (reasoning and numeracy), a timed planning exercise, interviews, a group discussion, command and individual tasks and fitness tests. The Army does not publish question counts |
|---|---|
| Time | Briefing 2 days; Main Board about 3.5 days (Army Commissioning Regulations). Planning exercise: candidates report about 1 hour of individual planning, then a group discussion and individual questioning |
| Passing score | No published pass mark: assessors judge your overall potential to train at Sandhurst, and no single activity alone leads to non-selection. Fitness minimums: mid-thigh pull 76 kg, medicine ball throw 3.1 m, multi-stage fitness test level 7.10 |
| Format | Closed book. The planning exercise is done with pen and paper; no calculator is mentioned by the Army, so practise mental maths. Briefing teaches you the planning method before Main Board |
| Certifying body | British Army: Army Officer Selection Board (AOSB), Westbury, and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst |
| Test provider | Online application and senior recruiter interview, then AOSB Briefing (2 days) and Main Board (residential), both at Westbury, Wiltshire. Professionally qualified officers attend a 3-day Main Board (Short) |
Mind map: the whole exam on one screen
Read the complete Army Officer study notes for “The Officer Role and Eligibility”
Our first full set of comprehensive notes, about 12 minutes of reading: What an Army officer does · Age and nationality · The academic standard · Routes in and pay, a worked exam example, the traps examiners use and a one-minute recap. Create a free account to read it and see how premium notes work before you decide.
1. The Officer Role and Eligibility
What a Regular Army officer does, the published age, nationality and qualification rules, pay, and the routes in (standard entry, bursaries and scholarships, professionally qualified officers, soldier to officer).
Key facts
- Officers lead, plan and take responsibility for their soldiers' welfare, training and discipline. A new Second Lieutenant typically commands a platoon or troop after Sandhurst and special-to-arm training.
- Age: 18 to 29 for most officer roles; over-30s are considered only by exception; higher limits apply to specialists such as doctors. Role pages say you can apply from 17 years 9 months to 28 years 11 months.
- Nationality follows the same Army rules as soldiers: British citizens (and related British statuses) and Irish citizens can apply. Some roles have stricter residency rules for security reasons.
- Qualifications (GCSE route): 35 ALIS points from up to 7 GCSEs, including grade C/4 in English Language, Maths and either a science or a foreign language, plus 72 UCAS Tariff points from up to 3 subjects (minimum 2 at Level 3). Scottish route: 34 ALIS points plus Highers.
- You do not need a degree, unless you join as a Professionally Qualified Officer (PQO) such as a doctor, nurse, lawyer or vet.
- Pay: role pages updated for 2026/27 show £35,925 during the year at Sandhurst and £42,948 on commissioning as a Second Lieutenant (older pages still show £34,676 and £41,456 from 2025/26).
- Bursaries and scholarships exist for sixth-formers and university students who pass AOSB, typically with a minimum service commitment after graduation (for example 6 years for some bursaries).
- Serving soldiers can apply to become officers with five GCSEs including English Language and Maths at grade C/4, or after an education assessment.
Flashcards
Exam tip: Calculate your ALIS points before you apply (for example grade 7 = 7 points, grade 6 = 6, grade 5 or 4 = 5) and have your certificates ready to upload. Missing paperwork is an avoidable delay.
2. AOSB Aptitude Tests: Verbal, Numerical and Abstract Reasoning
The computer-based tests taken at AOSB. The Army confirms there are written tests but does not publish their format; candidates and prep providers describe verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning tests that are harder at Main Board than at Briefing.
Key facts
- The Army Commissioning Regulations describe the Main Board as 'a series of written, oral, practical and physical tests'. Exact test names, lengths and scores are not published.
- Verbal reasoning (candidate-reported): short passages followed by conclusions; you judge which statement is supported by the passage alone.
- Numerical reasoning: percentages, ratios, rates and data tables, often in military settings. Apply each change to the right base figure.
- Abstract reasoning: find the rule in a series of shapes or numbers, such as growing differences, rotations or alternating features.
- No single test decides the outcome: the Army says every aspect is assessed and no single activity leads to non-selection.
- Practise without a calculator and against the clock. Accuracy under time pressure matters more than finishing every item.
- A short essay or written exercise is also reported at Main Board; practise writing a structured, balanced argument in about 30 to 45 minutes.
Flashcards
Exam tip: Do one timed set of each test type every other day for three weeks. Review every wrong answer: most errors come from misreading the question, not from weak maths.
3. The Planning Exercise
The planning exercise (Plan Ex) is a written scenario with time, distance and resource problems that you solve alone, then discuss as a group, then defend under questioning. You meet it at Briefing and again, harder, at Main Board.
Key facts
- Format (candidate-reported, confirmed in outline by the Army's AOSB video): you read a narrative with a map and data, write your own plan in about an hour, the group then agrees a plan, and assessors question you individually on the details.
- Briefing teaches you how to approach the planning exercise; the Army's recruiters advise practising mental maths rather than paying for preparation.
- Core maths: time = distance / speed; convert minutes to decimal hours (45 min = 0.75 h); work backwards from deadlines; add up loads, seats and fuel.
- Priorities: most scenarios rank saving life first, then the main aim, then secondary tasks. State your priorities before your calculations.
- Make the plan simple and checkable: who goes where, in what vehicle, leaving and arriving when, and what happens if something goes wrong.
- In the group stage, contribute your workings, listen, and change your view if someone shows a better solution. Stubbornness and silence both score poorly.
- Under questioning, assessors change facts ('the bridge is now closed') to see how you think. Pause, recalculate aloud and give a clear answer.
Flashcards
Exam tip: Build a one-page 'speed table' (km/h to km per minute for 4, 5, 6, 12, 30, 40, 48, 60 km/h) and learn it. It turns most planning calculations into simple multiplication.
Test yourself on these topics
Take the free 15-question Army Officer test, then save your results to unlock your Readiness Score and the mistakes bank.
4. Command Tasks, Discussions and Practical Leadership
The practical and group activities: command tasks, group discussions, individual tasks (an obstacle course) and the short talk or lecturette. These test how you lead, follow and communicate.
Key facts
- Command tasks: the group must move people and equipment across an obstacle with planks, ropes and drums under rules. Each candidate leads at least one task; assessors watch both leaders and followers.
- As leader: brief the aim and rules, take ideas quickly, decide, give each person a clear job, keep watching and adapt. Completion is welcome but not essential.
Flashcards
Exam tip: Practise leading at home: plan a small event, coach a team, or lead a hike. Real examples are also the best material for your interviews.
5. Fitness, Medical and Security
The officer fitness standards, BMI and medical rules, and the security checks every officer must pass.
Key facts
- Published officer minimums: mid-thigh pull 76 kg, seated 4 kg medicine ball throw 3.1 m and multi-stage fitness test (bleep test) level 7.10. Some roles set more, for example level 8.7 for Army Legal Services.
- The bleep test is a 20 m shuttle run to beeps that speed up each level; you stop after failing to reach the line in time. Train with interval running and 20 m shuttles.
Flashcards
Exam tip: Test yourself on a full bleep test every two weeks and log the level. Aim for at least level 9 before Main Board so the standard never worries you.
6. AOSB Interviews and Army Values
The interviews at AOSB, the Army values and standards they test, and model-answer guidance for common questions.
Key facts
- Main Board includes interviews (candidate-reported as several, with different board members) covering motivation, knowledge of the Army, your background, leadership examples and current affairs.
- Army values: Courage (physical and moral), Discipline, Respect for others, Integrity, Loyalty, Selfless commitment. Standards: Lawful, Acceptable behaviour, Totally professional.
Flashcards
Exam tip: Write out five leadership stories (success, failure, conflict, moral courage, team effort) in a few lines each. Most interview questions can be answered from one of them.
7. Application Strategy and Timeline
The steps from application to Sandhurst, what each stage expects, and how to plan the timing around school, university or work.
Key facts
- Step 1: online application at jobs.army.mod.uk, including qualifications, medical questionnaire and references.
- Step 2: interview with a senior recruiter, who discusses the corps you are interested in. You do not make your final corps choice until training at Sandhurst.
Flashcards
Exam tip: Plan backwards from the Sandhurst intake you want: allow time for medical paperwork, Briefing, a few months' preparation and Main Board. Ask your recruiter which intakes are realistic.
8. Sandhurst and Your First Year
What happens at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and after commissioning.
Key facts
- The Regular Commissioning Course at Sandhurst lasts 44 weeks and teaches leadership, tactics, fieldcraft, military law, and Army values in practice.
- You are paid as an officer cadet during the course (£35,925 on 2026/27 role pages) and commission as a Second Lieutenant (£42,948).
Flashcards
Exam tip: Keep training after Main Board. The early weeks at Sandhurst are physically demanding, and arriving fit gives you capacity to learn rather than just survive.
How to pass
- Practise mental arithmetic for the planning exercise: speed, distance and time, 24-hour clock timings and simple fuel and load calculations. The Army's own recruiters say this is the one thing to practise before Briefing.
- Be able to pass the fitness tests comfortably, not narrowly: 76 kg mid-thigh pull, 3.1 m medicine ball throw and level 7.10 on the bleep test. Arriving fit lets you focus on the leadership tasks.
- Read the news every day for a month before Main Board, especially defence, security and UK society. Discussions and interviews test whether you can form and defend a balanced view.
- Know why you want to be an officer and which part of the Army interests you, and have real examples of leading, organising and handling setbacks. Assessors look for potential to develop at Sandhurst, not a finished officer.
Frequently asked questions
How long should I study for the Army Officer exam?
Most working candidates need 4 to 8 weeks at 45 to 60 minutes a day. Book your exam once your Readiness Score has stayed at 80 or higher for about a week.
Can I take the Army Officer exam online?
Partly. You apply online, and the Royal Navy and RAF send the Defence Aptitude Assessment to your candidate portal to sit online. Fitness tests, medicals, interviews and assessment or selection centres are in person.
What score do I need to pass the Army Officer exam?
No published pass mark: assessors judge your overall potential to train at Sandhurst, and no single activity alone leads to non-selection. Fitness minimums: mid-thigh pull 76 kg, medicine ball throw 3.1 m, multi-stage fitness test level 7.10. The exam has aosb is a selection board, not a single exam: computer-based aptitude tests (reasoning and numeracy), a timed planning exercise, interviews, a group discussion, command and individual tasks and fitness tests. the army does not publish question counts and a time limit of briefing 2 days; main board about 3.5 days (army commissioning regulations). planning exercise: candidates report about 1 hour of individual planning, then a group discussion and individual questioning.
What are the most tested topics?
The outline covers the officer role and eligibility, aosb aptitude tests: verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning, the planning exercise, command tasks, discussions and practical leadership, fitness, medical and security, aosb interviews and army values, application strategy and timeline, sandhurst and your first year. Use the free practice test to see which ones you need most.
The premium Army Officer study path
Premium Army Officer prep is studied one topic at a time. Each step starts with that topic's key notes and flashcard deck, then its own question sets of 25, so you master one topic before you move to the next. When every topic is strong, the 6 full mock exams show you're ready.
Your step-by-step study path
- 1The Officer Role and Eligibility8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Notes free with an account
- 2AOSB Aptitude Tests: Verbal, Numerical and Abstract Reasoning8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- 3The Planning Exercise8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- 4Command Tasks, Discussions and Practical Leadership8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- 5Fitness, Medical and Security7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- 6AOSB Interviews and Army Values7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- 7Application Strategy and Timeline7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- 8Sandhurst and Your First Year7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- Final step: 6 full mock exams50 questions each, timed like test day. Pass them, then book your exam.Premium
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Summarized from recruiting organisations' official candidate information and the rules cited, checked November 2026. Confirm current requirements with British Army: Army Officer Selection Board (AOSB), Westbury, and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.