AFPSAT Numerical Ability: Math Review Plan
AFPSAT Numerical Ability: Math Review Plan
Reviewer sources describe AFPSAT numerical items as high-school math: arithmetic, percentages and ratios, word problems and basic algebra. The AFP does not publish the AFPSAT's subtests, item counts or weights, so use the topics below as a practice map, not an official breakdown.
This post is the topic plan that the AFPSAT guide hands off to.
Arithmetic
- Order of operations (PEMDAS)
- Fractions: add, subtract, multiply, divide
- Decimals
- Powers and roots (know squares to 12 and cubes to 5 by heart)
- Divisibility rules
- GCF and LCM
These basics feel "too easy to drill", and that's exactly where careless errors happen. Practice them until they're automatic, and plan to do them by hand, without a calculator.
Percentages, ratios and proportions
- Percent of a number; percent increase and decrease
- Reverse percentage (finding the original amount)
- Successive percentages: a 10% increase followed by another 10% increase is 21%, not 20%
- Simplifying ratios; equivalent ratios
- Direct and inverse proportion
- Profit and loss, markup, discount
Word problems
Most word problems follow a few templates:
- Mixture: solution concentrations
- Work: combined rates
- Distance-rate-time: travel
- Age: relationships between ages
Method:
- Read the whole problem before computing
- Name the unknown
- Write the equation
- Solve, then check the answer against the question
Most word-problem errors come from skipping step 1.
Basic algebra
- Linear equations in one variable
- Systems of two linear equations
- Translating word phrases into expressions
- Simple factoring
Geometry basics
- Area of squares, rectangles, triangles and circles
- Volume of cubes, rectangular solids and cylinders
- The Pythagorean theorem
- Basic angle relationships
A 4-week numerical drilling plan
| Week | Focus | Volume target |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arithmetic, percentages, ratios | 100 items |
| 2 | Word problems (mixture, work, age, distance-rate-time) | 80 items |
| 3 | Basic algebra + geometry | 60 items |
| 4 | One timed mixed set + fixing weak spots | 40 items + 1 timed set |
The volume targets are a suggested pace. Rework every wrong item from scratch the same day.
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What to read next
The AFPSAT guide covers the full review. Other area plans: Verbal, Logical Reasoning, Spatial, General Information.
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