This study assesses the utility of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (A.S.V.A.B.) in predicting the academic success of students enrolled in the Automotive Service Specialist curriculum at the State University of New York Agricultural and Technical College (Alfred, New York). This document, part I of a two-part study, describes the relative performances of selected subgroups of the Automotive Service Specialist students on the A.S.V.A.B. A total of 211 of the 217 students in the program took part in this study. Of those participating, 116 were entering freshmen, 78 were continuing seniors, and the remainder were students enrolled in a novel time-shorted degree program involving the New York State Board of Cooperative Education Services (B.O.C.E.S.). Compared with both regional and national normative groups, the population being tested showed average scores which were: somewhat lower on the coding speed test; approximately equal on arithmetic reasoning; somewhat higher on word knowledge and space perception; and notably higher on tool knowledge, mechanical comprehension, shop information, automotive information, and electronics information. Substantial similarity in Test and Aptitude Area composite scores was found for the continuing seniors and B.O.C.E.S. graduates. Entering freshmen scored lower in both areas. Tables of data are appended. (Author/NHM)