What to Expect on the ASVAB

If you’re planning to join the military, you must take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Test (ASVAB). This timed test that’s taken at over 14,000 schools all over the country is designed to determine whether or not you’re military grade material.

The results will also let military officers know where a recruit’s strengths lie as far as job training and placement are concerned. So you should expect a wide variety of questions that touch on a variety of subjects that are all designed to find out what you are best at. Feeling the pressure yet? You shouldn’t be. If you’re still wondering what to expect on the ASVAB, you’re about to learn the structure of the test as well as what kinds of questions you’re likely to encounter.

Nine Sections

When wondering what to expect on the ASVAB, you should know that there are nine sections. Each one is designed to test a particular skill-set. The sections include:

• Word Knowledge

• Arithmetic Reasoning

• Automotive and Shop Information

• Mathematics Knowledge

• Mechanical Comprehension

• Electronics Information

• General Science

• Paragraph Comprehension

• And Assembling Objects

So when you begin to wonder what to expect on the ASVAB, you should expect general questions that have to do with each of those subjects.

ASVAB Questions

If you want to know what to expect on the ASVAB, the following category explanations should help to alleviate some of your test anxiety.

General science questions are designed to measure how well you know the physical and biological sciences. If you’ve done well in science classes, the questions shouldn’t be difficult for you.

Word knowledge questions are designed to measure your ability to select the proper meaning of words as they’re presented in certain contexts and you will also be tested on synonym knowledge. If you have a large vocabulary and you’ve done well in English classes, this portion should be a breeze.

Mathematical knowledge is designed to measure your knowledge of high school level math equations. If you have done will in areas like algebra, calculus and geometry, this portion of the test shouldn’t present much of a challenge.

Electronics information is designed to test your knowledge of electricity and electronics. And paragraph comprehension is designed to measure your ability to obtain information from written materials.

These are just some of the areas of the ASVAB, but by now you should have a good idea as to what each portion of the test is designed to measure. Now that you know what to expect on the ASVAB, you’ll be much better prepared to score highly when you actually do take the test.

What to Expect on the ASVAB