How to Score High on the ASVAB

The ASVAB, Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, is a test administered by military recruiters. The ASVAB measures your acquired knowledge and critical thinking skills in math, science, verbal, technology, and spatial reasoning.

The subtest consisting of the math and verbal sections is called the Armed Forces Qualifying Test (AFQT). It is your scores on the AFQT that determine which branch of the military you are eligible to join. If you want to join an elite branch of the military, such as the Coast Guard or Air Force, you must get a high score on the AFQT. Below are some tips to help you get a high overall ASVAB score, and in particular a high AFQT score.

Things You'll Need

• pencil
• paper
• timer
• asvab practice tests

Instructions

1. Obtain full-length practice tests and a timer so that you can test yourself at home under real test like conditions. The ASVAB comes in three formats: the computer adaptive version, the paper-based version given at a mobile exam test site, and the paper-based student test given in high school. Try the different versions to see which format you perform better on.

2. Review arithmetic, algebra, and geometry. In particular, you should practice doing mental math. Since calculators are not allowed on the arithmetic or mathematics knowledge sections, you will need to be comfortable doing calculations in your head or a paper.

3. Look over vocab lists and make flash cards for the verbal sections. An SAT vocab study guide will be helpful for building your vocabulary since SAT vocabulary is harder than what you'll encounter on the ASVAB

4. Once you build up your confidence with the math and verbal sections, do practice sets under timed conditions. The paper based ASVAB give you less than a minute per question on average, and the computer adaptive version gives you only a bit more.

5. The science and mechanical portions are nothing to stress over if you are not seeking a military job in these fields. There is no pressure to "ace" these sections if you are not mechanically or scientifically inclined. Just do your best and focus on the AFQT portion of the ASVAB.

6. If you do want to be considered for a mechanical or scientific military job, then you should review material from your high school science and shop classes. An ASVAB study guide will have the most commonly tested topics, and you can review your high school notes if you have them.

7. You can get a high score on the ASVAB by making sure to answer every question, even if you have to guess. Never leave a question blank. with 4 choices, you have a 25% chance of getting it right if you guess, more if you can eliminate one or two choices.

8. Since the test has over a 100 questions and can take a couple hours depending on the version, make sure you get a good night's sleep and eat a health breakfast before the exam. That way you will be able to focus and have enough energy to complete it.