The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is an entrance exam you must take before entering the armed services. If you are considering a career in the armed forces, you will need to pass a rigorous entry process.
All major branches of the armed forces, including the Airforce, Marine Corps, Navy, Army, and the Coast Guard use the ASVAB.
This process will include a variety of tests. You will be required to do a background check, to see if you have a criminal record. A medical exam will be used to judge your overall health. This includes hearing, eye, and fitness tests.
All of these tests will show your physical and mental health levels. This reveals your learning potential as well as what military jobs you are suited for. The ASVAB is a multiple-choice test that measures your individual academic strengths and weaknesses.
There is a paper and pencil version but recently a Computer Adaptive Test (CAT) has been introduced. The two versions have slightly different questions and similar but different timing formats. The majority of candidates take the CAT version.
The ASVAB tests you on various different topics including:
Arithmetic Reasoning
This section consists of 16-word problems that require very basic mathematics to resolve. It does not include algebra and geometry. You have 39 minutes to complete this section.
General Science
This section covers your knowledge of subjects such as chemistry, biology, and physics. It tests your understanding of these basic scientific principals. There are no advanced calculations required and you get 16 minutes to complete 8 questions.
Mathematics Knowledge
In this section, you will be tested on your mathematic capabilities including high school math such as algebra and geometry. 16 questions must be completed in less than 20 minutes.
Mechanical Comprehension
This section of the test is used to determine your understanding of mechanics and physics, including Newton’s Laws of Motion. Questions will focus on simple machines such as pulleys and levers. It will also test your understanding of concepts involving force and hydraulics.
This is one of the most specific parts of the ASVAB, so extra study time should be applied to this section. You are allotted 20 minutes to complete 16 questions.
Paragraph Comprehension
This section requires you to read paragraphs and then answer comprehension questions. This can include identifying the main idea of a paragraph or explain specific details. You have 22 minutes to complete 11 questions.
Auto and Shop Information
This section tests your understanding of basic automotive designs and functions. Your knowledge of automotive systems and tools will be tested, specifically your ability to recognize tools and parts. You get 7 minutes to complete 11 questions.
Vocabulary Knowledge
This section tests your knowledge of vocabulary. This can be done by asking you to choose a synonym for the word being used in the sentence.
There are also parts where you must do this same process without the help of a sentence. You are allotted 16 questions with an 8-minute time frame.
Electronics Information
In this section, your knowledge of basic circuitry will be examined. There is a focus on concepts such as resistance and conductivity. This section requires some studying if you are not familiar with these concepts already. You have to answer 16 questions in 8 minutes.
Assembling Objects
This section uses a series of pictures of parts. You are asked to choose what the assembled version will look like assembled. There are 16 questions and the time limit is 16 minutes.
You get about 90 minutes to complete the ASVAB. You are only allowed to use scratch paper and a pencil. There are no calculators allowed and every sub-test is timed.
Once a section is completed you cannot go back and make any changes. Preparations are critical to successfully completely the ASVAB. By studying hard it is possible to score high, even if you didn’t do well in high school.
Scoring high on the ASVAB can have a significant effect on your military career. You can qualify for the military branch of your choice. Your ASVAB score can help you get the military job you prefer.
Not scoring high enough can put you at a disadvantage when selecting a military job. This could result in you not getting the job you want. Four years of a job you don’t like is a good enough reason to study hard and score high on the ASVAB.
There are many different websites and eBooks that can help you prepare. One of the most popular websites Asvaber gives you a number of helpful tools including practice tests, so you can start getting comfortable with the process.
Practice tests and studying properly can have a positive effect on your test scores. Doing the proper research is going to go a long way here.
