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What is the ASVAB & scoring?

The ASVAB is a timed multi-aptitude test, which is given at over 14,000 schools and Military Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS) nationwide and is developed and maintained by the Department of Defense.

Your scores in four critical areas count towards your Armed Forces Qualifying Test (AFQT) score. The AFQT score determines whether you're qualified to enlist in the U.S. military.

-Arithmetic Reasoning

The process of solving math word problems

-Word Knowledge

This section of the test is all about your vocabulary

-Paragraph Comprehension

This measures your ability to comprehend and explain information imparted via paragraph

-Mathematics Knowledge

The questions are designed to test your knowledge of high school math


ASVAB Quick Facts

Subtest

Description

Domain

Number of Questions

Time Limit

 

General Science (GS)

Knowledge of physical and biological sciences

Science/Technical

25

11 minutes

 

Arithmetic Reasoning (AR)

Ability to solve arithmetic word problems

Math

30

36 minutes

*AFQT Score

Word Knowledge (WK)

Ability to select the correct meaning of a word presented in context and to identify best synonym for a given word

Verbal

35

11 minutes

Paragraph Comprehension (PC)

Ability to obtain information from written passages

Verbal

15

13 minutes

Mathematics Knowledge (MK)

Knowledge of high school mathematics principles

Math

25

24 minutes

Electronics Information (EI)

Knowledge of electricity and electronics

Science/Technical

20

9 minutes

 

Auto and Shop Information (AS)

Knowledge of automobile technology and Knowledge of tools and shop terminology and practices

Science/Technical

25

11 minutes

 

Mechanical Comprehension (MC)

Knowledge of mechanical and physical principles

Science/Technical

25

19 minutes

 

Assembling Objects (AO)

Ability to determine how an object will look when its parts are put together

Spatial

25

15 minutes

 

 

225 questions

149 minutes

 

 

*Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) - used to determine your eligibility for enlistment in the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps (see below). The AFQT is a percentile score that indicates the percentage of examinees in a reference group who scored at or below that particular score.

Scores on ALL of the ASVAB subtests are used to determine the best job for you in the military.

AFQT Qualifying Scores

 

Branch

Qualifying Score with HS Diploma

Qualifying Score with GED

Army (including Army National Guard and Army Reserves)

31

*When experiencing high recruiting rates, HS qualifying score can be temporarily increased to 50

50

Air Force (including Air National Guard and Air Force Reserves)

36

* Over 70% of people who are accepted for an Air Force enlistment score 50 or above

65

*Only .5% of all AF enlistments each year are GED holders

Navy

35

50

Navy Reserves

31

50

Marine Corps (including Marine Corps Reserves)

32

50

*Limits GED enlistments to no more than 5% per year

Coast Guard (including Coast Guard Reserves)

40

50

*Less than 5% are allowed to enlist with a GED


For more information about the ASVAB, click HERE.
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Study Resources
Free Study Guide:

https://uniontestprep.com/asvab/study-guide

Sample Questions:

http://official-asvab.com/samples_app.htm

http://todaysmilitary.com/joining/asvab-test-sample-questions

http://www.usmilitary.com/asvab-sample-questions/

 

Practice Tests:

http://www.asvabpracticetests.com/

https://www.4tests.com/asvab

http://www.military.com/join-armed-forces/asvab