THE ASVABArmed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)

WHAT IS THE ASVAB?

• The tests are used to identify whether a candidate is qualified to enlist in a particular branch of the U.S. Military.

• They are also used to determine which military jobs (referred to as MOS for Military Occupational Specialties) a candidate is best suited for.

• Scores can also be used by test takers to help explore which careers they may be a good fit for them – whether they go into the military or not.

• While no one officially passes or fails the ASVAB, each branch of the military has specific minimum scores required for enlistment.

• Your scores also affect the type of military job, enlistment bonuses and salary you are eligible for.

THE ASVAB TEST CONSISTS OF MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS IN TEN DISTINCT CATEGORIES (SUB TESTS) LISTED BELOW:

• Arithmetic Reasoning (AR)

• Word Knowledge (WK)

• Paragraph Comprehension (PC)

• Mathematics Knowledge (MK)

• General Science (GS)

• Electronics Information (EI)

• Auto Information (AI)

• Shop Information (SI)

• Mechanical Comprehension (MC)

• Assembling Objects (AO)

STATISTICAL SMOOTHING

• An applicant’s Standard Scores on each of the individual sub tests are used to calculate two separate types of scores: Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) scores and Composite Scores.

• These are the important scores that are used to determine enlistment eligibility and MOS/Job qualifications.

AFQT SCORES – ELIGIBILITY FOR ENLISTMENT

• AFQT scores are a critical component of your ASVAB scores. AFQT scores are based on your scores from the following four subtests:• Arithmetic Reasoning (AR)• Word Knowledge (WK)• Paragraph Comprehension (PC)• Mathematics Knowledge (MK)

AFQT SCORES AND HOW THEY ARE DERIVED

• AFQT scores are represented as percentiles in the range of 1 to 99.

• The percentile score indicates how a candidate’s score compares to a reference group of test takers.

• If an ASVAB candidate has an AFQT score of 65, this implies that their score is higher than 65% of the test takers in the reference sample group.

• The formula for AFQT scores is:AFQT = MK + AR + 2xVE, whereMK = Your Mathematics Knowledge ScoresAR = Your Arithmetic Knowledge ScoresVE = PC + WK = Your Paragraph Comprehension (PC) scores + Your Word Knowledge Scores (WK)

MINIMUM SCORE REQUIREMENTS OF THE DIFFERENT BRANCHES OF THE U.S. ARMED SERVICES

• AIR FORCE AFQT SCORE REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum AFQT Score (with High School Diploma): 36Minimum AFQT Score (with GED): 65

• ARMY AFQT SCORE REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum AFQT Score (with High School Diploma): 31Minimum AFQT Score (with GED): 31

• COAST GUARD AFQT SCORE REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum AFQT Score (with High School Diploma): 40Minimum AFQT Score (with GED): 50

• MARINE CORPS AFQT SCORE REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum AFQT Score (with High School Diploma): 32Minimum AFQT Score (with GED): 50

• NAVY AFQT SCORE REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum AFQT Score (with High School Diploma): 31Minimum AFQT Score (with GED): 50

MOS SCORES

• Calculation of these scores involves a series of formulas if you wish more information about the formulas access the following link. ..\ASVAB INFO\ASVAB Scores And Their Relationship To Future Military Careers.docx

TEST SPECIFICS

•Total number of items: 200Test Time: 134 minutesAdministrative Time: 46 minutesTotal Test Time: 180 minutes

Eight subtests• General Science

• Arithmetic Reasoning

• Word Knowledge

• Paragraph Comprehension

• Auto and Shop Information

• Mathematics Knowledge

• Mechanical Comprehension

• Electronics Information

KEY CONCEPTS• If you're considering a career in the military, the ASVAB is the most

important test you'll ever take.

• If your AFQT score isn't high enough, you'll be offered the most menial jobs in the armed forces!

• The AFQT score is derived from only four of the nine ASVAB subtests: Paragraph Comprehension, Word Knowledge, Mathematics Knowledge, and Arithmetic Reasoning

• Even if you do poorly on the other 5 tests, you must score well on the 4 AFQT tests or you'll be changing jeep tires during your entire enlistment!