Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)
Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)
The ASVAB is a multiple-choice test that anyone joining the United States military has to take and pass in order to move forward with their military career. Taking the ASVAB is the first step a person will take after talking with their recruiter.
ASVAB stands for Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery.
ASVAB stands for Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. There are a few different ways to take the ASVAB, but most people are going to take the CAT-ASVAB (Computerized Adaptive Testing). All this means is that you are going to take the ASVAB on the computer. The adaptive part means that based on how you answer, the computer will adapt and give you a harder or easier question. This is the version of the ASVAB that is taken at MEPS.
DO NOT study for the practice ASVAB
When you meet with your recruiter, they will have you take a practice ASVAB.
DO NOT study for the practice ASVAB. I explain why in this video.
The practice ASVAB is made up of 4 sections of the ASVAB and it helps both you and your recruiter see where you are proficient and where you need improvement.
PiCAT is another version of the ASVAB (Pre-Screening Computerized Adaptive Testing). Not everyone is given the option to take this version, it is based on your recruiter’s preference. The PiCAT-ASVAB is just like the CAT-ASVAB. It is the ASVAB taken on a computer, but the difference is you’re allowed to take it at home.
With that being said, when you go to MEPS, you will have to take a verification test. This is to make sure that you are actually the one who took the PiCAT and didn’t use someone else to take the test for you or help you. There are some people who take the PiCAT and then when they take their verification test they have to take the FULL ASVAB all over again! Sometimes it is because they failed their verification and sometimes the computer randomly selects people to have to take it all over again. In my case, my recruiter did not want to offer me the option to take the PiCAT, so I could avoid the chance of having to take the test twice.
There is also P&P which is paper and pencil. These are not offered much anymore. This is the version that students take in high school. Sometimes you can request to go to a MET site (Military Entrance Testing Site) to take the ASVAB.
Overall the most common way of taking the ASVAB is by taking the CAT-ASVAB at MEPS.
Now that you understand the different ways to take the ASVAB, you need to understand what is in the ASVAB.
Study and Pass the real ASVAB
The real ASVAB is made up of 10 sections.
4 of those sections make up the AFQT (Armed Forced Qualification Test)
This is the score that goes toward you actually passing the ASVAB. All of the other sections are to help see what categories you are proficient in to help you qualify for the job you want.
In this video I give a full break down of the ASVAB and how you can study to pass it yourself.
Good luck!
The ASVAB is the overall test that consists of 9 subsets. These are the different categories of subjects you will be tested on (listed in the order they are taken); General Science, Arithmetic Reasoning, Word Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension, Mathematics Knowledge, Electronics Information, Auto & Shop Information, Mechanical Comprehension, Assembling Objects). With the ASVAB is the AFQT (Armed Forces Qualification Test) this part of the test is what determines if you are qualified to join or not. The AFQT is the score of 4 of the 9 categories, those categories being (Arithmetic Reasoning, Word Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension, Mathematics Knowledge). These are the main categories you need to focus on to qualify to join in general, then the remaining categories will help determine what jobs you will qualify for. So when it comes to studying for the ASVAB, take a look at the jobs you want and see what score you need, so you know what you need to study for. You do not need to study for all 9 categories of the ASVAB. Study the 4 categories of the AFQT and then study only the sections that will help you qualify for the jobs you want.
Also, I wanted to answer the frequently asked question “Can you use a calculator on the ASVAB?”
NO! You cannot have a calculator and your phone will be locked away as soon as you walk into the building. You will, however, have scratch paper and a pencil. My tip is as soon as you get into the room and sit down, write down as many formulas or any of the information you have been studying at the top of your scratch paper before you even start taking the test.