Navy Promotion Examination
Preparation
The Navy Enlisted Advancement System (NEAS) uses two major components
to determine who will advance. After each exam cycle, Final Multiple
Scores (FMS) and Quotas are used to select personnel for enlisted
advancement in the Navy. The FMS system is based on knowledge, performance,
and experience factors and considers the “whole person” in determining
who will be advanced to fill the quotas, or vacancies, within each
rating community.
FMSs and Quotas for each rating community and paygrade are used
to calculate a cutoff score. If your FMS is at or above the Minimum
Multiple Score, or cutoff score, you will be advanced.
The Final Multiple Score (FMS)
Your FMS uses more than just points earned from an examination score
to determine who will advance to the next paygrade. For E-4 through
E-6 candidates, your FMS is comprised of points earned from your
advancement-in-rate examination score, performance evaluations,
service in paygrade, awards, and previous examination performances.
For E-7 candidates, the FMS is comprised of the examination score
and performance evaluations.
The Examination
The purpose of the advancement-in-rate examination is to assess
the knowledge and experience gained in a Sailor’s years in the Navy.
It serves as a tool used to rank order already qualified candidates
on the basis of rating knowledge and professional military knowledge
(PMK) at the next higher rate. Subject matter experts (E7/8/9) within
your rating develop your exam to assess the knowledge required to
perform your job. Civilian testing specialists, statisticians, graphic
specialists, and other support personnel assist the exam writers.
Each advancement-in-rate examination contains 200 questions. The
number of rating questions that appears on your exam depends upon
your paygrade.
This table shows your maximum Standard Score points and percents
that are used to calculate your FMS.
|
Navywide Advancement-in-Rate Maximum
Final Multiple Scores (FMS)
|
| Factor |
E-4/E-5
Max
Points
|
E-6
Max
Points
|
E-7
Max
Points
|
| Exam Standard Score |
80
|
80
|
80
|
The Standard Score (SS) points that you use to calculate your FMS
come from the score you earn on your advancement-in-rate examination.
This score represents your performance in relation to everyone else
who took the same exam at the same time as you. E-4 through E-7
paygrades can earn a maximum of 80 SS points as a factor in calculating
their FMS.
Your Standard Score:
Is one factor of your FMS. Is based on your raw score.
Ranges in value from 20 to 80.
Does not tell you how many questions you answered correctly.
Shows how you compared with your shipmates taking the same exam.
Keys to Improving your Standard Score
There is no quick or easy way to prepare for an advancement exam.
It takes work, and you cannot wait until the last minute. Many E-3s
have approached their first exam with little preparation. When they
started answering questions, they realized they were not properly
prepared for the examination. The best way to prepare for your exam
is to Start Early!
Get your Bibliography (BIB), develop a study plan, form a study
group, and start studying.
After you are sure you meet eligibility requirements to take your
advancement exam, you need to obtain your current Bibliography (BIB)
for your rating community and paygrade. To get you started on the
road to advancement:
- Download your current BIB from My
Rating or from the Navy Advancement Center.
- Locate the Occupational and Professional Military Knowledge
(PMK) references for your paygrade.
- Check with your Command Career Counselor or Educational Services
Officer if you have trouble locating any of your references.
After you obtain your BIB and references, you can use them to develop
and focus your study plan. Since your BIB comes out six months before
your advancement exam, you need to develop a five to six month study
plan. The suggestions below will help you develop a plan that is right
for you:
- Review all required references on the BIB for your exam to set
your timeframe for study.
- Check your BIB date to ensure you have the BIB for the exam
you will be taking.
- Review your BIB carefully.
- Determine which chapters in each reference were used to create
your exam questions. You do not want to study too much or too
little.
- Develop a written study schedule with enough time to cover all
references.
- Include self-study and group-study time in your plan.
- Develop a study schedule with your study group.
Remember It's Your Career
Whether 4 years or 30 years, its your career and in the end it is
all up to you. You decide how much you want to be advanced, set your
goals and go for it! The system is designed to advance the best qualified
Sailors, can you make the grade?
|
Subscribe to free Military Insider Newsletter