Cross-Validation of the Computerized Adaptive Screening Test (CAST)

The Computerized Adaptive Screening Test (CAST) was developed to provide an estimate at recruiting stations of prospects' Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) scores. The CAST was designed to replace the paper-and-pencil Enlistment Screening Test (ES'"). The initial 7alidation study of CAST indicated that CAST predicts AFQT at least as accurately as EST and that it is more efficient to use. This report summarizes the findings from a cross-validation study of CAST that used the following procedure. Prospects ' CAST scores were recorded by recruiters in the united States Army recruiting stations and were subsequently matched by social security number to applicant tapes from Military Entrance Processing Stations to obtain AFQT scores and relevant demographic data. These data were examined using regression, discriminant function, and cross-tabulation analyses to provide recruiters with informati-il on how to interpret prospects&apos