Relationship between AQB and ACB Scores

Abstract : The Army Qualification Battery (AQB) was developed in the early 1960's to serve as a supplementary screening instrument for use at the Armed Forces Entrance and Examining Stations (AFEES). It is administered to individuals who are in mental Category IV (AFQT percentile scores 10-30) and to the men desiring enlisted commitment to a specific type of training. The tests in the AQB were designed to measure the same attributes as the tests in the Army Classification Battery (ACB); the AQB, however, is shorter and is designed to make maximum discrimination at the low end of the ability continuum, whereas the ACB is designed for use with the full range of ability. One aspect that was questioned was the use of a dual testing program in the Army. The arguments advanced in favor of the ACB were that it is a better, more reliable instrument and that some Category IV personnel can improve their scores upon retesting. Data on the relationship between AQB and ACB scores can shed some light on changes in scores upon retesting with the ACB.