ASVAB Exam Overview

The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) determines an individual’s potential for service in the United States Armed Forces. It is typically given in high school, but can also be administered by an Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine, or Navy recruiter. You are required to bring a form of personal identification to the test session. If you are late you will be turned away and must reschedule. Some recruiters provide transportation to testing facilities.

The ASVAB is timed and contains a series of nine subtests in the following subjects: General Science, Arithmetic Reasoning, Word Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension, Mathematics Knowledge, Electronics Information, Auto and Shop Information, Mechanical Comprehension, and Assembling Objects. Each subtest takes between 11-36 minutes to complete. The entire test contains 225 questions to be completed in a maximum of 149 minutes. The test is designed to allow ample time to answer all questions, and unanswered questions will be randomly answered for you. There is no penalty for wrong answers.

The test can be taken with pencil and paper (P&P-ASVAB) or on a computer (CAT-ASVAB). The P&P-ASVAB is the same for all examinees and requires you to answer all of the questions. If you finish early, you must wait the remaining time before beginning the next subtest. In contrast, the CAT-ASVAB will adjust each subtest in response to your aptitude, bypassing easy questions when you answer difficult questions correctly or offering you easier questions when you answer difficult questions incorrectly. When you finish a subtest on the CAT-ASVAB you may immediately move on to the next subtest. The CAT-ASVAB takes about half as long to complete as the P&P-ASVAB. Availability of the P&P-ASVAB and CAT-ASVAB varies by testing facility.

ASVAB subtest scores are reported as percentiles. Eligibility for the Armed Forces is determined by the Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT), the combined scores for the Arithmetic Reasoning, Mathematics Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension and Word Knowledge subtests. Each military branch has a different minimum AFQT score for eligibility, and you should speak to your recruiter to determine what is required. Additionally, high AFQT scores may qualify you for enlistment incentives. Taking core academic classes such as mathematics, English, and sciences in high school and/or college offers the best preparation for these subtests. Scores on the remaining subtests are used primarily as recommendations for job placement in and out of the military. Taking technical courses in your desired field may improve your scores on the subtests.

ASVAB scores remain valid for two years. If you are not satisfied with your initial score you may reattempt the ASVAB one month later. You must wait another two months before taking it a third time and an additional calendar year for each attempt thereafter.