British Army Recruit Battery (BARB) — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Why is mechanical comprehension tested in the BARB for certain British Army roles?

To evaluate suitability for technical and engineering trades (Correct answer)
To assess physical strength
To determine fitness classification
To measure general intelligence only

Correct answer: To evaluate suitability for technical and engineering trades

Mechanical comprehension scores help match recruits to technical trades such as engineering, vehicle mechanics, and weapons systems roles.

Question 2: Vehicle A travels at 60 km/h and Vehicle B travels at 40 km/h. Both start at the same point at the same time. After 2 hours, how far apart are they?

80 km
20 km
60 km
40 km (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 40 km

Vehicle A covers 120 km and Vehicle B covers 80 km, so they are 40 km apart.

Question 3: A lever has its fulcrum in the middle. A 10 kg load is placed 2 m to the left. Where must a 5 kg effort be placed on the right to balance it?

3 m
2 m
4 m (Correct answer)
1 m

Correct answer: 4 m

Moment = Force × Distance; 10 × 2 = 20 Nm; 5 × d = 20; d = 4 m.

Question 4: Which word is most closely associated with 'STRATEGY'?

TACTIC (Correct answer)
SUPPLY
WEAPON
UNIFORM

Correct answer: TACTIC

'TACTIC' is most closely associated with 'STRATEGY' as tactics are the specific actions used to carry out a broader strategy.

Question 5: A soldier runs 12 kilometres at a constant speed of 6 km/h. How long does the run take?

1 hour
3 hours
1.5 hours
2 hours (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 2 hours

Time = Distance ÷ Speed = 12 ÷ 6 = 2 hours.

Question 6: How many pairs match? Set A: LM NP QR | Set B: LM NP QR

1
3 (Correct answer)
0
2

Correct answer: 3

All three pairs — LM, NP, and QR — are identical, giving 3 matches.

Question 7: How many pairs match? Set A: OQ RS TU | Set B: OQ RS TU

0
1
2
3 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 3

All three pairs are identical, so the answer is 3.

Question 8: Two objects are connected by a rope over a frictionless pulley. Object A weighs 8 kg and Object B weighs 5 kg. Which way will the system move?

Object B descends
They remain stationary
They oscillate indefinitely
Object A descends (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Object A descends

Object A is heavier (8 kg > 5 kg), so it will descend and Object B will rise.

Question 9: Which formula correctly expresses the relationship between distance (D), speed (S), and time (T)?

S = D × T
D = S × T (Correct answer)
T = D × S
D = S + T

Correct answer: D = S × T

Distance equals speed multiplied by time: D = S × T.

Question 10: A patrol departs at 08:00 and must arrive 120 km away by 10:00. What speed is required?

80 km/h
60 km/h (Correct answer)
70 km/h
50 km/h

Correct answer: 60 km/h

Available time = 2 hours; Speed = 120 ÷ 2 = 60 km/h.

Question 11: A soldier uses a ramp to load a heavy crate onto a truck. What mechanical advantage does the ramp provide?

It has no mechanical advantage
It increases the distance but reduces the required force (Correct answer)
It increases both distance and force
It reduces both distance and force

Correct answer: It increases the distance but reduces the required force

A ramp (inclined plane) reduces the force required by spreading the work over a longer distance.

Question 12: Statement: 'No officers are under 18. James is 17.' Conclusion: 'James is not an officer.' Is the conclusion true?

Only if James enlisted recently
Cannot say
No
Yes (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Yes

Since no officers are under 18 and James is 17, he cannot be an officer.

Question 13: Statement: 'All vehicles in the convoy are armoured. Vehicle 4 is in the convoy.' Conclusion: 'Vehicle 4 is armoured.' Is the conclusion true?

No
Sometimes
Yes (Correct answer)
Cannot say

Correct answer: Yes

Vehicle 4 is in the convoy and all convoy vehicles are armoured, so Vehicle 4 must be armoured.

Question 14: A screw has a pitch of 2 mm. How many full turns are needed to advance it 10 mm?

4 turns
5 turns (Correct answer)
6 turns
3 turns

Correct answer: 5 turns

Turns = Distance ÷ Pitch = 10 ÷ 2 = 5 turns.

Question 15: Statement: 'Every sniper in the regiment completed advanced marksmanship. Lance Corporal Price is a sniper in the regiment.' Conclusion: 'Lance Corporal Price completed advanced marksmanship.' Is the conclusion true?

No
Yes (Correct answer)
Cannot say
Only recently

Correct answer: Yes

The universal statement covers every sniper in the regiment, and Lance Corporal Price is one of them.

Question 16: How many pairs match? Set A: WX YZ AB | Set B: WX YZ CD

2 (Correct answer)
3
0
1

Correct answer: 2

WX and YZ both match, but AB ≠ CD, giving 2 matching pairs.

Question 17: A convoy travels for 3 hours at 50 km/h. What distance does it cover?

200 km
175 km
150 km (Correct answer)
100 km

Correct answer: 150 km

Distance = Speed × Time = 50 × 3 = 150 km.

Question 18: Translate 1,000 euros to pounds sterling. How much will that be?

660
66
6
600 (Correct answer)
60

Correct answer: 600

Using an approximate exchange rate of 0.60 GBP per euro, 1,000 euros × 0.60 = 600 pounds sterling. The other options (6, 60, 66, 660) reflect misplaced decimal points or incorrect rates — off by factors of 10 or using a wrong conversion figure.

Question 19: Statement: 'Some army bases have a swimming pool. Base Bravo is an army base.' Conclusion: 'Base Bravo has a swimming pool.' Is the conclusion true?

Only in warm climates
Cannot say (Correct answer)
No
Yes

Correct answer: Cannot say

'Some' bases have pools, but we do not know whether Base Bravo is one of them.

Question 20: One machine fills 120 sandbags in 6 hours. A second machine fills 180 sandbags in 6 hours. How many sandbags do both machines fill together in 6 hours?

260
320
300 (Correct answer)
280

Correct answer: 300

120 + 180 = 300 sandbags in 6 hours.

Question 21: A soldier must cover 100 km. He cycles the first 40 km at 20 km/h and drives the remaining 60 km at 60 km/h. What is the total time?

2 hours 30 min
2 hours (Correct answer)
3 hours 30 min
3 hours

Correct answer: 2 hours

Cycling: 40 ÷ 20 = 2 hrs; Driving: 60 ÷ 60 = 1 hr; Total = 3 hours.

Question 22: Three engineers each repair 8 vehicles per day. How many vehicles do they repair in 5 days?

110
100
120 (Correct answer)
130

Correct answer: 120

Daily total = 3 × 8 = 24 vehicles; Over 5 days = 24 × 5 = 120 vehicles.

Question 23: An armoured vehicle engine produces 400 kW. If 80 kW is lost to heat, what is the engine's efficiency?

70%
85%
75%
80% (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 80%

Useful output = 400 − 80 = 320 kW; Efficiency = (320 ÷ 400) × 100 = 80%.

Question 24: How many pairs match? Set A: ZA BC DE | Set B: ZA BD DE

0
1
2 (Correct answer)
3

Correct answer: 2

ZA matches ZA, DE matches DE, but BC ≠ BD, so there are 2 matches — the correct answer is 2.

Question 25: What is the best strategy for maximising your score on the BARB Letter Checking subtest?

Scan each pair quickly from left to right without second-guessing (Correct answer)
Read each pair aloud to yourself
Skip difficult items and return later
Focus only on the first letter of each pair

Correct answer: Scan each pair quickly from left to right without second-guessing

Rapid, systematic scanning from left to right minimises hesitation and maximises the number of items answered correctly.

Question 26: What score represents the maximum possible matching pairs in a single BARB Letter Checking item?

3 (Correct answer)
2
5
4

Correct answer: 3

Each BARB Letter Checking item contains exactly 3 pairs, so the maximum score is 3.

Question 27: Soldier A can pack 60 supply crates in 3 hours. What is his rate per hour?

15 crates/hr
20 crates/hr (Correct answer)
25 crates/hr
30 crates/hr

Correct answer: 20 crates/hr

Rate = 60 ÷ 3 = 20 crates per hour.

Question 28: What BARB score is generally required to be eligible for the widest range of British Army jobs?

80 or above
60 or above (Correct answer)
40 or above
26 or above

Correct answer: 60 or above

A BARB score of 60 or above opens up the broadest selection of roles in the British Army.

Question 29: Which word is most closely associated with 'COMMAND'?

SURRENDER
ORDER (Correct answer)
QUESTION
RETREAT

Correct answer: ORDER

'ORDER' is most closely associated with 'COMMAND' as both refer to directing others to act.

Question 30: Statement: 'Every soldier in Unit B completed the assault course. Corporal Singh is in Unit B.' Conclusion: 'Corporal Singh completed the assault course.' Is the conclusion true?

Only if fit enough
Cannot say
No
Yes (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Yes

Every soldier in Unit B completed the course, and Corporal Singh is in Unit B, so the conclusion is true.

British Army Recruit Battery (BARB)

The BARB test is a computer-based aptitude assessment used by the British Army to evaluate candidates' suitability for military roles, measuring reasoning, perception, numerical, mechanical, and work rate abilities to produce a General Trainability Index (GTI) score.

Questions

12 min

Time Limit

70%

To Pass

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