The relationship between mechanical aptitude and proficiency tests for Air Force mechanics

Abstract

Taking proficiency test scores as a measure of job performance adequacy, the correlations between them and Airman Classification Battery aptitude scores were determined for three career fields: aircraft mechanic, vehicle mechanic, and weapons mechanic. In each case "… the failure rates for low aptitude men are much higher on the appropriate proficiency test [than for high aptitude men]… it would seem that present mechanical aptitude tests predict future assimilation of job knowledge to a usable degree." (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)