More of this Feature • ABCs of the ASVAB

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The ASVAB contains nine separately timed sub-tests.

1. General Science (GS) – includes 25 items that are to be completed in 11 min that measure general knowledge of biological and physical sciences.

Example:

Water is an example of a

 A. crystal.
 B. solid.
 C. gas.
 D. liquid.

2. Arithmetic Reasoning (AR) – includes 30 items that are to be completed in 36 min and the items are simple word problems with simple calculations.

Example:

If 12 men are needed to run four machines, how many men are needed to run 20 machines?

 A. 20.
 B. 48.
 C. 60.
 D. 80.

3. Word Knowledge (WK) – includes 35 items that are to be completed in 11 min where the applicant must select the correct meaning, or synonym of a given word.

Example:

Small most nearly means

 A. sturdy.
 B. round.
 C. cheap.
 D. little.

Or:

The wind is variable today.

 A. mild.
 B. steady.
 C. shifting.
 D. chilling.

4. Paragraph Comprehension (PC) – includes 15 items, which are to be completed in 13 min where the applicant must read several paragraphs and then answer the 15 questions on what they just read.

Example:

From a building designer's standpoint, three things that make a home livable are the client, the building site, and the amount of money the client has to spend. According to this statement, to make a home livable

 A. the prospective piece of land makes little difference.
 B. it can be built on any piece of land.
 C. design must fit the owner's income and site.
 D. the design must fit the owner's income.

5. Auto and Shop information (AS) – includes 25 items that are to be completed in 11 min an they measure knowledge of automobiles, tools, shop terminology, and shop practices.

Example:

A chisel is used for

 A. prying.
 B. cutting.
 C. twisting.
 D. grinding.

6. Mathematical Knowledge (MK) – includes 25 items that are to be completed in 24 min and measure knowledge of high school level math (algebra, geometry, elementary trigonometry)

Example:

If 50 percent of X = 66, then X = (D. is the correct answer)

 A. 33.
 B. 66.
 C. 99.
 D. 132.

7. Mechanical Comprehension (MC) – includes 25 items to be completed in 19 min and measures knowledge of basic mechanical and physical principles.

Example:

If gear A makes 14 revolutions, gear B will make

 

 A. 21.
 B. 17.
 C. 14.
 D. 9.

8. Electronics Information (EI) – includes 20 items that are to be completed in 9 min and measure knowledge of electric principles and electronic terminology.

What does the abbreviation A.C. stand for?

 A. additional charge.
 B. alternating coil.
 C. alternating current.
 D. ampere current.

9. Assembling Objects. As of December 2002, Coding Speed, and Numberical Operations has been removed from the ASVAB Test. An additional test, called "Assembling Objects," has been added. With the exception of some Navy jobs, "Assembling Objects" has not yet been incorporated into any of the Line Score calculations for military jobs, nor is it used in determining the overall ASVAB Score. At sime time in the future, "Assembling Objects" will be incorporated into various line scores for certain military jobs (mostly those which require a knowledge of spatial relations. This new sub-test has 16 questions , and you have 9 minutes to answer them. Basically, you get a picture with various disassembled parts and four drawings. You have to pick the drawing that shows what the parts would actually look like when assembled. For complete information, you may wish to purchase my book, ASVAB for Dummies.