AFOQT Table Reading Skills 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A table is indexed by columns 10-20 and rows 30-40. To find the value at column 14, row 36, you should first locate:
- Row 36 anywhere
- Column 14 along the top, then trace down to row 36 (Correct answer)
- The number 14 inside the cells
- The corner of the table
Correct answer: Column 14 along the top, then trace down to row 36
Find the column header first, then follow it down to the matching row.
Question 2: Which finger or marker technique best reduces errors on Table Reading?
- Closing your eyes
- Using one finger on the column and tracking down to the row line (Correct answer)
- Reading the table backwards
- Covering the headers
Correct answer: Using one finger on the column and tracking down to the row line
Physically tracking the column down to the row keeps your eyes aligned to the correct cell.
Question 3: If two answer choices are identical numbers, what should you conclude?
- Both are correct
- At least one is a distractor and you must verify the exact cell (Correct answer)
- The question is invalid
- Pick the first one
Correct answer: At least one is a distractor and you must verify the exact cell
Duplicate-looking values are typical distractors, so confirm by reading the precise intersection.
Question 4: What happens to lookup accuracy as table size increases?
- Accuracy automatically improves
- Risk of drifting to an adjacent row or column rises, so careful tracing matters more (Correct answer)
- Tables shrink the answer choices
- Headers disappear
Correct answer: Risk of drifting to an adjacent row or column rises, so careful tracing matters more
Larger grids make it easier to land one row or column off, so disciplined tracking is essential.
Question 5: When the X value is negative, in which direction do you move from the zero column?
- Right
- Left (Correct answer)
- Up
- Down
Correct answer: Left
Negative X values lie to the left of the center (zero) column.
Question 6: Why should you avoid recomputing the entire table on each question?
- It is against the rules
- It wastes the limited time you need for many questions (Correct answer)
- Tables change between questions
- Computation is not allowed
Correct answer: It wastes the limited time you need for many questions
Each item only needs one cell, so full recomputation burns time you cannot spare.
Question 7: A test taker reads column +1 but mistakenly uses row +1 instead of the given row -1. This error is best prevented by:
- Reading faster
- Saying the sign aloud or noting it before tracing the row (Correct answer)
- Skipping the row entirely
- Using only positive numbers
Correct answer: Saying the sign aloud or noting it before tracing the row
Consciously registering the sign of the row value guards against direction reversals.
A table is indexed by columns 10-20 and rows 30-40.
To find the value at column 14, row 36, you should first locate: