How Should I Study For The Asvab Test
There are numerous resources, tips and sample tests you can take to help you prep for the exam. For example, you can practice the ASVAB on this site with the numerous practice sections offered. If you are having trouble with on particular section, you can reach out to local recruiters who have taken it before to gain further insight.
The Importance Of An Asvab Practice Test:
There are essentially two options when it comes to preparing for this test. First, a person can attempt to reassess all of the information that they learned over a decade by spending hours compiling information. Secondly, a person can find a specially formatted ASVAB practice test that covers all areas of both the written test and computerized test. Clearly, the best choice is the ASVAB practice test. The question becomes Where does one find an accurate ASVAB practice test?
Armed Forces Qualifying Test
The Armed Forces Qualifying Test is a subsection of the larger Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery that we covered above.
Four sections of the ASVAB combine to make up the score that you will receive on the Armed Forces Qualifying Test, sometimes called the Military Entrance Score.
The score you receive on the AFQT will determine if you are eligible to enlist for the military, what branches you are eligible for and what training you might receive once you have enlisted.
All entrants to the military take this exam and it is most often given to high school juniors and seniors who are considering the armed forces as a career after graduation.
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Your Asvab Score Can Be Critical
ASVAB test scores are broken down by the individual subtests and their composites. One of the most critical of these scores is the armed forces qualification test, which is used to determine whether you are qualified to join the military service. Each service determines the qualifying AFQT score for enlisting in their service.
The AFQT is comprised of your results in arithmetic reasoning, math knowledge and verbal expression times two. Your VE score is a combination of your word knowledge and paragraph comprehension scores.
“It’s important to know what the minimum scores required in each section are, so you can work on the areas you might need a little help on,” said Kris Michaelson, director of content for Peterson’s Test Prep, a leading test prep provider. “You may ace one section but fail another, and that may limit the career paths the recruiter will consider for you.”
Check out the following AFQT qualifying scores for each branch of service.
Service Branch |
What Is The Retesting Policy For The Asvab

After taking the ASVAB you may retake the test 30 days after your initial test date, but after your first retest, you must wait 6 months. The military will take your most recent score, not your highest. There is no lifetime limit for the ASVAB however, every branch of the armed forces has their own retesting policies for the ASVAB.
For the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, and Navy a retest will only be authorized if a recruit’s test scores expire, their scores are too low, if the recruiter feels your scores do not match your qualifications, or in the event of special circumstances that bar a recruit from taking the test. A retest will not be authorized to simply increase an already successful score in order to qualify for particular occupations or for enlistment bonuses. Usually, recruits with successful scores holding a job reservation or who are enrolled in the Delay Entry Program are not eligible to retest.
All of the aforementioned standards apply for the US Coast Guard as well with one notable exception. The Coast Guard will allow a retest for the sole purpose of raising test scores, but a six month window must exist between test dates.
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What To Expect When You Take The Asvab
When you decide to take the test, you will likely work with a military recruiter to schedule a time and location for the test to be administered.
On the test itself, you will find nine sections consisting of 225 questions that you will need to complete in 2.5 hours, although each section is timed separately.
The timings listed below are for the digital version of the test.
The nine sections consist of:
- General Science You will be tested on your understanding of basic scientific principles. You have 8 minutes to answer 15 questions.
- Arithmetic Reasoning Word-based numerical reasoning questions. You have 39 minutes to answer 15 questions.
- Word Knowledge A vocabulary test consisting of 15 questions in 8 minutes.
- Paragraph Comprehension You will need to read some sentences and understand what they are about. You will have 22 minutes to answer 10 questions.
- Mathematics Knowledge You will be tested on 15 simple mathematic problems in 20 minutes.
- Electronics Information Covers things like voltage, amps, circuits and more. You will have 8 minutes to answer 15 questions.
- Automotive and Shop Information Analyzes your ability to work on engines, use tools and more. You will have 7 minutes to answer 10 questions.
- Mechanical Comprehension You will be asked to solve 15 mechanical reasoning problems in 20 minutes.
- Assembling Objects You will be asked 15 spatial ability type questions in 40 minutes.
What To Expect When You Take The Afoqt
The test is comprised of 12 subtests and lasts for approximately 3.5 hours. The test is multiple-choice.
- Verbal Analogies This measures how a candidate understands the relationship between words.
- Arithmetic Reasoning Basic math word problems.
- Word Knowledge You will be asked to demonstrate your knowledge of word meanings.
- Math Knowledge Measures basic high school level maths principles.
- Reading Comprehension You will need to read a passage of text and answer questions on it.
- Situational Judgement You will be asked questions on situations commonly faced in the Air Force.
- Self-Description Inventory Personality test, not graded on the test.
- Physical Science How you understand physics principles.
- Table Reading You will be asked to answer questions on graph coordinates.
- Instrument Comprehension This test relates to using aircraft instruments whilst flying.
- Block Counting Counting 3D blocks to test spatial awareness.
- Aviation Information General questions on airplane mechanics and aviation.
After the test has been scored, the scores are broken down into five unique categories for reporting:
- Pilot
- Verbal
- Quantitative
There is no pass/fail score associated with this test. Instead, scores are compared to others in your peer group.
The test results will be used to allocate positions within the Air Force that match the candidates skills.
You can only take the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test twice .
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What To Expect When You Take The Astb
Six subtests make up the Aviation Selection Test Battery. In all, the ASTB takes approximately two and a half hours.
- Math Skills Test 30 questions. Some of the questions are basic but a few move into more complex areas of mathematics.
- Reading Comprehension 27 questions testing your reading skills.
- Mechanical Comprehension Examines mechanical aptitude over a variety of subjects with 30 total questions. The level of knowledge needed for this test can be compared to a high school physics course, with things like pressure, volume, velocity, engines, gears, and more being tested.
- Spatial Apperception Test 25 questions. Visual orientation is key in this section, with views from the cockpit being provided for the test-taker to choose from.
- Aviation and Nautical Information Test 30 questions. Aviation history, nautical terms, aerodynamics, flight rules and more are covered in this section. A general study of aviation from commonly available sources will help to prepare for this portion of the test.
- Aviation Supplemental Test 34 questions. This section may contain topics from other parts of the test to delve further into areas that were covered previously.
The scores from each of these sections will be used to calculate an overall score.
There are three versions of the test, all of them feature the same number of questions, time limit and topics.
A total of three attempts at the Aviation Selection Test Battery can be taken.
Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery
The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery is a multiple choice test, administered by the United States Military Entrance Processing Command, used to determine qualification for enlistment in the United States Armed Forces. It is often offered to U.S. high school students when they are in the 10th, 11th and 12th grade, though anyone eligible for enlistment may take it.
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Scoring Well On The Asvab
Your ASVAB score determines the military jobs for which you qualify. The higher your score, the more options you have in your military career. A very high score can give you a wide array of job options, some of which might come with special pay and bonuses. That means its a good idea to study for the ASVAB and do your best to score well.
You dont just want to take the ASVAB. You also want to get a good ASVAB score that can help open doors to a wealth of military opportunities.
Getting To Know The Ins And Outs:
The content of the test has been clearly laid out, but there is still a ton of information concerning the actual place where the test is administered and the time that is allocated for each section. The computerized test is administered in a military entrance processing station or a satellite region that is identified as a military entrance tests site . The difference in the two locations is that the METs are the places that are responsible for administering the written test, while MEPs are the places that administer the computerized tests.
The huge controversy arises when individuals hear about the differences in the time allocated for each section. That controversy dramatically increases once again when individuals hear about the huge time differences that are allowed for each type of test.
One of the individuals that are undergoing this test would be given the same kind of content and overall questions regardless of the type of test they took . However, the time changes and number of questions are extremely different. These and noted below:
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Asvab Test Purposes And Scoring
Test purposes served by the ASVAB include career counseling, enlistment screening, and placement. Scores are provided for eight tests, as well as numerous composites including verbal, math, and science-technical the tests are administered by trained individuals in high schools that make voluntary requests. The ASVAB is rooted in a rich tradition. The Army Alpha test, developed to screen recruits during World War I, evolved into the Army General Classification Test administered to recruits in World War II. Differentiation of testing occurred across the services until conformance to the ASVAB and the Armed Forces Qualifying Test composite became mandatory. Testing for secondary students began in 1968 as a value-added purpose. Computer-adaptive testing is available, but only for enlistment testing.
Currently, eight tests make up the ASVAB. The raw scores are formed into composites for multiple purposes. The tests, number of items, and content are as follow: General Science , Arithmetic Reasoning , Word Knowledge , Paragraph Comprehension , Mathematics Knowledge , Electronics Information , Auto and Shop Information , Mechanical Comprehension . The composition of the ASVAB should be continually scrutinized across purposes and populations.
The ASVAB is an intersection among societal institutions, namely testing and occupational information the armed services and education. Testing as an institution creates consequences for individuals.
How To Prepare For Armed Forces Tests

As with any test, good preparation is the key to finishing with a good score and increasing your chances of being accepted into the armed forces.
Working through sample questions and studying for the more technical parts of the tests will help you perform your best.
To prepare for the verbal tests, read a variety of non-fiction writing, including newspapers and online articles.
Reading regularly will help to sharpen your comprehension skills.
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What Is The Asvab Test
ASVAB stands for Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. It is a test that was originally established in 1968 to measure and predict the success of an applicant in various academic and occupational pursuits in the military. High school and post-secondary students and adults take the test more than one million times each year. If youre interested in joining the military, or if you already have and would like to take a sample test, simply navigate through the ten ASVAB practice test sections and take whichever tests youd like as often as youd like.
Aviation Selection Test Battery
The US Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard all use the Aviation Selection Test Battery as part of the criteria for gaining acceptance into officer aviation programs.
Because aviation training and practice are so expensive and time-consuming, applicants have to be carefully screened.
Positions within these programs are highly desirable and competition can be fierce.
How To Prepare For The Asvab
The ASVAB is a comprehensive test battery that consists of several different subtests, each assessing a specific aptitude or area of knowledge.
Candidates need to ensure that they start preparing for their ASVAB test in enough time to cover each test subject, then refresh their memory of new information.
Ways in which a candidate can ensure that they fully prepare for the ASVAB in plenty of time include:
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Creating a realistic study plan Factor in study time as well as your job and hobbies. This will ensure that you leave yourself plenty of time to cover all of the subject topics in the ASVAB test.
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Reviewing sample questions This will prepare you for the level of difficulty that the questions are set at.
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Taking practice tests This will help you to familiarize yourself with the format and style of questioning. Becoming familiar with how the questions are worded will save you time in the test itself. You want to spend your time in the actual test answering the questions and not figuring out what the question is asking.
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Assessing your strengths and weaknesses Do this for each of the subtest topics. If you find some areas of your knowledge aren’t as strong as others, you can revise basic knowledge in the assessed topics. Always make sure you go back and practice examples in the tests to ensure that you can put your knowledge into practice.
What To Expect When You Take The Afast
The AFAST is made up of seven subtests and around 200 questions.
The seven subsections of the test represent a cross-section of various areas of knowledge that are crucial to success as a helicopter pilot:
- Background Information You will need to fill out a form about your history and experience.
- Instrument Comprehension Test Evaluates your ability to read and interpret simple helicopter gauges.
- Complex Movements Test Reviews your talent for judging distance and imaging movements.
- General Helicopter Knowledge Test Twenty questions regarding the basic physics of helicopter flight.
- The Cyclic Orientation Test Examines how comfortable you are with the movements of the cyclic and the corresponding response from the helicopter.
- Mechanical Functions Test Similar to a mechanical aptitude test with questions involving topics like pulleys and gears, etc.
- Self-Description Questions about what you like to do, your interests and more.
If your results meet or exceed the established cut score, you will be able to advance in the screening process.
Should your final score fall below that line, you will be excluded from consideration for flight training programs.
After failing to meet the cut score, you will have to wait at least six months before taking the test again.
If you fail a second time, you will be eliminated from consideration for helicopter flight training in the Army.
Choosing An Asvab Test Date
While you may want to get the ASVAB over with, it is important to give yourself enough time to prepare and practice for the ASVAB. Once you take the test you will have to wait 30 days before you are eligible to re-take the test if you got a non-passing score, or if you want a better grade. After you retake the test twice, you will need to wait for a 6 month time period before being able to take the test again. For this reason, it is important to pick an ASVAB test date that gives you plenty of time to practice and prepare for each section of the test.
If you are pressed for time, it may be worthwhile to look into future ASVAB test dates in order to plan ahead in case you get a poor score on your upcoming ASVAB test. You can check with your high school counselor or your military recruiter to make sure that you will be eligible to take future tests along with your planned upcoming test date in the event that you get a bad ASVAB score.
Alternate Flight Aptitude Selection Test
The Alternate Flight Aptitude Selection Test is used to select suitable candidates to be helicopter pilots in the Army.
There is a specific set of skills and personality characteristics that are required of helicopter pilots and those skills are examined during the test.
Some of the attributes desired in an army helicopter pilot include leadership skills, coordination, motivation and more.
Armed Forces Aptitude Tests
What Should I Bring To The Asvab Test
Youll need to bring valid identification to be admitted into the ASVAB testing room. Arrive on time youll be turned away and required to reschedule if you are late. Your recruiter may give you a ride to and from the session, but he/she is not permitted in the testing room. You will not need to bring a calculator for the test.