An Overview of The ASVAB Test

The ASVAB is a multiple-aptitude test battery consisting of eight subtests on various subjects. The eight  subtests that make up the ASVAB, each covering a different subject area and each carefully timed, are  shown on the table on the next page. (A more complete description of each test will follow later in  this chapter.) The ASVAB is used for two main purposes: 

- As a military recruiting tool of the U.S. Department of Defense to test potential recruits to determine their  developed abilities (that is, to gauge what they already know about certain subjects); to measure their general  learning ability and vocational aptitude; and to predict performance in certain academic areas 

- As a guide for high school and post-secondary school students, to help them decide on the career paths for  which they might best be suited, whether in the military or in some other field 

Depending on where you take the ASVAB, you will take either the computer version or the paper-and-pencil  version. Candidates for enlistment taking the ASVAB at a Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) will  take the computer version, while candidates for enlistment taking the ASVAB at a reserve center or Mobile 

Examination Team (MET) site will take the paper-and-pencil version. The content of the test is the same on both  versions; only the format, the mechanics of scoring, and the numbers of questions asked are different. 

Most sections of the ASVAB—General Science, Arithmetic Reasoning, Word Knowledge, Auto and Shop Information,Mathematics Knowledge,Mechanical Comprehension, and Electronics Information—  depend on your knowing about the subject from your  high school courses or other reading. 

The one section that does not depend on your  knowing the subject in advance is the Paragraph Comprehension  section. For the Paragraph Comprehension  questions, you will be able to find the answers  using only the information given in the paragraph and  questions that accompany it. 

The Eight ASVAB Subtests 
Following is a more detailed description of each of the  eight subtests in the ASVAB. 

Part 1: General Science 
The General Science subtest of the ASVAB consists of 25 questions that are designed to measure your ability  to recognize, apply, and analyze basic scientific principles  in the areas of: 
- Life science: botany, zoology, anatomy and physiology,  ecology 
- Physical science: force and motion, energy, fluids  and gases, atomic structure, chemistry 
- Earth and space science: astronomy, geology,  meteorology, oceanography 

Number of Items and Testing For The ASVAB 
Subtest Number of Questions Time (Minutes) 
General Science (GS) 25 11 
Arithmetic Reasoning (AR) 30 36 
Word Knowledge (WK) 25 11 
Paragraph Comprehension (PC) 15 13 
Auto and Shop Information (AS) 25 11 
Mathematics Knowledge (MK) 35 24 
Mechanical Comprehension (MC) 25 19 
Electronics Information (EI) 20 9 
Total 200 Items 134 Minutes

Part 2: Arithmetic Reasoning 
The Arithmetic Reasoning subtest consists of 30 word  problems describing everyday life situations, which are  designed to measure your reasoning skills and understanding  of: 
- Operations with whole numbers 
- Operations with fractions and decimals or money 
- Ratio and proportion 
- Interest and percentage 
- Measurement of perimeters, areas, volumes, and  time and temperature 

Part 3: Word Knowledge 
The Word Knowledge subtest consists of 25 questions  that ask you to choose the correct definitions of verbs,  nouns, adjectives, and adverbs. These questions come  in two forms: 

- Definitions presented alone, with no context 
- Words in the context of a short sentence 

Part 4: Paragraph Comprehension 
The Paragraph Comprehension subtest is 15 questions  based on several short passages written on a  variety of topics. No prior knowledge of the subject  will be required—all the information you will need to  answer the questions will be found in the passage. The  questions are designed to test your ability to obtain  the following kinds of information from written  material: 

- Literal comprehension: your ability to identify  stated facts, identify reworded facts, and determine  sequence of events 
- Implicit, inferential, or critical comprehension:  your ability to draw conclusions; identify the  main idea of a paragraph; determine the author’s  purpose, mood, or tone; and identify style and  technique 

Part 5: Auto and Shop Information 
The Auto and Shop Information subtest includes 25  questions on automotive repair and building construction. 
General shop practices are also included. 

The questions are on the following topics: 
- Automotive components 
- Automotive systems 
- Automotive tools 
- Automotive troubleshooting and repair 
- Shop tools 
- Building materials 
- Building and construction procedures 

Part 6: Mathematics Knowledge 
The Mathematics Knowledge subtest consists of 35  questions designed to measure your understanding of  mathematical concepts, principles, and procedures. 
The emphasis is on your ability to recognize and apply  basic mathematical principles. The questions cover: 
- Number theory: factors, multiples, reciprocals,  number properties, primes, integers 
- Numeration: fractional parts, decimals, percentages,  and conversions; order of operations; exponents;  rounding; reducing fractions; roots and  radicals; signed numbers 
- Algebraic operations and equations: solving or  determining equations, factoring, simplifying  algebraic expressions, converting a sentence to an  equation 
- Geometry and measurement: coordinates and  slope, Pythagorean theorem, angle measurement,  properties of polygons and circles, perimeter,  area, volume, unit conversion 
- Probability 

Part 7: Mechanical Comprehension 
The Mechanical Comprehension subtest consists of 25  problems, many of them illustrated, on general  mechanics and physical principles. The questions will  cover the principles of simple machines such as gears,  pulleys, and levers, as well as force and fluid dynamics. 

Problems involving basic properties of materials are  also included. The questions may consist of knowledge,  application, and analysis questions on: 
- Basic compound machines: gears, cams, pistons,  cranks, linkages, belts, chains 
- Simple machines: levers, planes, pulleys, screws,  wedges, wheels, axles 
- Mechanical motion: friction, velocity, direction,  acceleration, centrifugal force 
- Fluid dynamics: hydraulic forces, compression 
- Properties of materials: weight, strength, expansion/ contraction, absorption, center of gravity 
- Structural support 

Part 8: Electronics Information 
The Electronics Information subtest consists of 20  questions on electrical and electronics systems. These  questions are designed to measure basic knowledge  and principles of electrical and electronics systems: 

- Electrical tools, symbols, devices, and materials 
- Electrical circuits 
- Electricity and electronic systems 
- Electrical current: voltage, conductivity, resistance,  grounding