Test Preparation Center: ASVAB

The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is a multiple-choice test used by the U.S. military to assess your qualifications for enlistment and to determine the military jobs that best match your skills and abilities.

Purpose:

• Determine eligibility for enlistment in the armed forces.
• Identify strengths and match candidates to suitable military career paths.

Sections of the ASVAB: The ASVAB consists of 10 subtests that measure a variety of skills:

1. General Science (GS) – Knowledge of life, physical, and earth sciences.
2. Arithmetic Reasoning (AR) – Problem-solving using math.
3. Word Knowledge (WK) – Understanding the meaning of words.
4. Paragraph Comprehension (PC) – Ability to obtain information from written material.
5. Mathematics Knowledge (MK) – High school-level math concepts.
6. Electronics Information (EI) – Basics of electricity and electronics.
7. Auto & Shop Information (AS) – Knowledge of automotive and workshop practices.
8. Mechanical Comprehension (MC) – Understanding mechanical and physical principles.
9. Assembling Objects (AO) – Spatial orientation and reasoning.
10. Verbal Expression (VE) – A composite of WK and PC.

Use this guide to prepare effectively for the ASVAB and access resources to strengthen your skills!

Official Site of the ASVAB Testing Program

Key ASVAB Scores

• AFQT (Armed Forces Qualification Test):

  • A critical subset of the ASVAB used to determine your eligibility for enlistment.
  • Based on scores from 4 ASVAB subtests:
    • Arithmetic Reasoning (AR)
    • Mathematics Knowledge (MK)
    • Word Knowledge (WK)
    • Paragraph Comprehension (PC)
  • Calculated as: AFQT = 2VE + AR + MK (where VE = WK + PC).
  • Presented as a percentile score indicating how you performed compared to other test-takers.

• Line Scores:

  • These are combinations of ASVAB subtest scores that vary by military branch.
  • Used to qualify you for specific military jobs or career fields (e.g., technical roles, mechanical positions, or administrative tasks).
  • Each branch has its own formulas for calculating these scores.