ASVAB

The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is a multiple-aptitude test developed by the Department of Defense and administered by the United States Military Entrance Processing Command (USMEPCOM). It measures your strengths and potential for success in military training and careers, and it is the entrance test for every branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Purpose of the ASVAB

The Subtests

The ASVAB is made up of subtests that fall into two groups. The AFQT subtests measure the verbal and math skills every service member needs. The technical subtests measure science knowledge and mechanical, electrical, and spatial aptitude that qualify you for specialized jobs.

Subtest	Group	WhatItMeasures
ArithmeticReasoning(AR)	AFQT	Abilitytosolvearithmeticwordproblems
MathematicsKnowledge(MK)	AFQT	Knowledgeofhighschoolmathprinciples:algebra geometry and , ,
		numberconcepts
WordKnowledge(WK)	AFQT	Abilitytoidentifythemeaningofwordsthroughsynonymsandcontext
ParagraphComprehension(PC)	AFQT	Abilitytoobtaininformationfromwrittenpassages
GeneralScience(GS)	Technical	Knowledgeoflife earthandspace andphysicalscience , ,
ElectronicsInformation(EI)	Technical	Knowledgeofelectricalcurrent circuits devices andsystems , , ,
AutoInformation(AI)	Technical	Knowledgeofautomotivemaintenanceandrepair
ShopInformation(SI)	Technical	Knowledgeofwoodandmetalshoppractices tools andmaterials , ,
MechanicalComprehension(MC)	Technical	Knowledgeofmechanicalandphysicalprinciples
AssemblingObjects(AO)	Technical	Abilitytodeterminehowobjectswilllookwhentheirpartsareput
		together

Number of Questions and Time Limits

The ASVAB is given in two formats. The CAT-ASVAB is a computer-adaptive test taken at a Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS). The paper-and-pencil (P&P) ASVAB is given at some Military Entrance Test (MET) sites. On the paper version, Auto and Shop Information are combined into one subtest (AS); on the computer version they are separate.

Subtest	CATQuestions	CATTime	P&PQuestions	P&PTime
GeneralScience	15	12min	25	11min
ArithmeticReasoning	15	55min	30	36min
WordKnowledge	15	9min	35	11min
ParagraphComprehension	10	27min	15	13min
MathematicsKnowledge	15	31min	25	24min
ElectronicsInformation	15	10min	20	9min
AutoInformation	10	7min	25(combinedAS)	11min
ShopInformation	10	6min
MechanicalComprehension	15	22min	25	19min
AssemblingObjects	15	18min	25	15min
Total	135	197minmaximum	225	149min

The CAT-ASVAB times are maximums; most applicants finish in about 2 hours. You may also see additional unscored tryout questions on the CAT-ASVAB, which lengthen the time allowed for that subtest. Tryout questions look like scored questions, so treat every question as if it counts.

How the Computer-Adaptive Test Works

The CAT-ASVAB tailors each subtest to you. After you answer a question, the computer estimates your ability and selects the next question that best matches that level: a correct answer tends to bring a harder question, and a missed question tends to bring an easier one. Because each question is chosen from your previous answers, you cannot skip questions or go back to change an answer. The adaptive design measures ability with fewer questions, which is why the CAT has fewer questions than the paper version.

Cat-Asvab

P&P Asvab

Taken at MEPS on a computer. Adaptive difficulty, answers

Taken at some MET sites with a test booklet and answer sheet.

cannot be changed once submitted, and each subtest ends

Everyone answers the same questions, and you may review

when you finish its questions. Scores are available right away.

and change answers within the subtest you are working on, but not return to an earlier subtest.

Some recruiters also offer the PiCAT, an unproctored version of the ASVAB you can take on a personal computer. If you use it, you must later take a short proctored verification test at a MEPS or MET site to confirm your score.

The AFQT Score

The AFQT is calculated from four subtests. Word Knowledge and Paragraph Comprehension first combine into a Verbal Expression (VE) score, and VE counts twice in the AFQT formula.

AFQT = 2VE + AR + MK

VE (Verbal Expression) is derived from Word Knowledge and Paragraph Comprehension.

Your AFQT is reported as a percentile from 1 to 99. It shows the percentage of a national reference group of 18- to 23- year-olds who scored at or below your score. An AFQT of 60 means you scored as well as or better than 60 percent of that group. It is not the percentage of questions you answered correctly.

Category	PercentileRange	Meaning
I	93–99	Wellaboveaverage
II	65–92	Aboveaverage
IIIA	50–64	Average
IIIB	31–49	Average
IVA IVB IVC , ,	10–30	Belowaverage;enlistmentislimited
V	1–9	Wellbelowaverage;noteligibletoenlist

Each service sets its own minimum AFQT for enlistment, and the minimum changes with recruiting needs. For applicants with a high school diploma, minimums generally fall in the low to mid 30s; applicants with a GED usually need a higher score, often 50 or more. Confirm the current requirement with a recruiter from the service you plan to join.

Line Scores

Each service adds specific subtest scores together to create its own line scores (also called composite or aptitude area scores). A job that involves electronics repair, for example, draws heavily on Electronics Information, Arithmetic Reasoning, Mathematics Knowledge, and General Science, while a mechanical job draws on Auto and Shop Information and Mechanical Comprehension. Because every subtest feeds at least one line score, the technical subtests matter even though they are not part of the AFQT.

Find out which line scores the jobs you want require, and give extra study time to the subtests that feed them. A strong AFQT gets you in; strong line scores open the jobs you want.

Exam at a Glance

ExamAspect	Details
Administeredby	US MilitaryEntranceProcessingCommand(USMEPCOM) atMEPSandMETsites;alsogivenin . . ,
	manyhighschoolsthroughtheASVABCareerExplorationProgram
Formats	CAT-ASVAB (computer-adaptive at MEPS); paper-and -pencil ASVAB (at some MET sites); PiCAT ,
	(unproctored followedbyaverificationtest) ,
Questions	CAT:135scoredquestionsin10subtests pluspossibleunscoredtryoutquestions P&P:225 , .
	questionsin9subtests
Time	CAT:about2hoursonaverage(197minutesmaximumwithouttryoutquestions) P&P:149minutesof .
	testingtime
Scoring	AFQTpercentile(1–99)forenlistmenteligibility;standardscoresforeachsubtest;linescoresforjob
	qualification Nopenaltyforwronganswers .
Calculators	Notpermitted;scratchpaperisprovided
Retesting	Waitonecalendarmonthafterthefirsttest anothercalendarmonthafterthesecond andsix , ,
	calendarmonthsbeforeeachtestafterthat
Scorevalidity	Scorescanbeusedforenlistmentforuptotwoyearsfromthetestdate
Cost	Nofee;testingisarrangedthroughamilitaryrecruiter

Preparation pays off directly on this exam. Higher scores open more jobs, more training options, and more enlistment incentives, and the skills you build while studying are the same skills your future training will draw on.