ASVAB Definition
The ASVAB, or the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, is a standardized test that the United States military gives its recruits. This test screens soldiers' knowledge and learning aptitude to determine which jobs they qualify to perform in the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard. It is mandatory and is given to all soldiers.
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Test Areas
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The ASVAB tests soldiers in specific areas. Four of these areas provide the AFQT, or Armed Forces Qualifying Test score, and cover math knowledge, math problem solving, comprehending paragraphs, and English vocabulary. The other four areas provide information that allows enlistment bonuses and the ability to apply for specialty jobs. These areas are science, electronics, mechanics, and auto, metal, and wood shop knowledge, according to the ASVAB program.
High School Students
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This test asks questions at a high school level since soldiers can enter the military before entering college. Test questions include basic reasoning as well as topics that a high school curriculum would cover, including electronics knowledge such as simple circuit design and how machines function. According to the National Academies Press, each year over 900,000 high school students take the exam as well as older military recruits.
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Test Preparation
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Test preparation materials are available for the ASVAB. Many of the schools that offer test preparation study for other common tests like the ACT and the SAT which are also given to high school students. Military recruits study for the ASVAB because it affects which specialties they may perform, and attempting to enter a popular area such as becoming a fighter jet pilot will have a lot of competition.
Location and Branch
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Different bases request applicants with different specialties, so ASVAB scores also affect where a recruit enters training and their station when they complete training. In addition, the separate branches of the military require different AFQT scores to enter. The Army and the Marines require the lowest scores to enlist and the Coast Guard requires the highest score.
Career Guidance
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The ASVAB is useful in other areas. Its design allows a high school student to figure out which careers are a good fit, even if the student does not decide to join the military. It is possible to take sample ASVAB tests at test preparation schools without registering for the U.S. military, although colleges and schools usually want applicants to take the SAT and the ACT and do not recognize the ASVAB score. Military recruiters normally administer the ASVAB and the Department of Defense owns the test rights, according to the National Academies Press.
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References
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