http://support.wiley.com or by phone at 877-762-2974.
Now you’re ready to go! You can come back to the practice material as often as you want — simply log on with the username and password you created during your initial login. No need to enter the access code a second time.
Your registration is good for one year from the day you activate your PIN.
But wait! There’s more! This book also comes with some helpful online videos that cover all the topics that you need to study to do well on the ASVAB. Check them out at www.dummies.com/go/asvabvideos.
Where to Go from Here
You don’t have to read this book from cover to cover to score well. I suggest that you begin with Chapters 1 and 2. That way, you can get a feel for how the ASVAB is organized (along with the most up-to-date changes on the test) and which subtests may be important for the military service branch and job of your choice. This plan of attack helps you set up logical and effective goals to maximize your study efforts.
You may want to start by taking one of the practice tests in Part 6. By using this method, you can discover which subjects you’re strong in and which subjects you could spend a little more time reviewing. If you choose this technique, you can use the other practice tests to measure your progress after reading through and studying the subject chapters.
If you’re taking the ASVAB for the purpose of enlisting in the U.S. military, you may want to skip entire chapters, depending on your career goals. For example, if the military careers you’re interested in don’t require a great score on the Mechanical Comprehension subtest, you may want to spend less time studying that topic and concentrate your study time on chapters focusing on developing knowledge or skills that your dream job does require.
I wish you luck on taking this battery of tests, and if you want to join the military, I hope you have a tremendously successful journey!
Part 1
Getting Started with the ASVAB
IN THIS PART …
Get the details about what topics are covered on the ASVAB, how your score is calculated, and the policies on retaking the test if you didn’t do so well on your first try.
Check out how line scores relate to military jobs and how each branch of the military computes those scores.
Review test-taking strategies and get some last-minute preparation tips.
Chapter 1
Putting the ASVAB under a Microscope
IN THIS CHAPTER
The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) consists of ten tests that cover subjects ranging from general science principles to vocabulary. Your ASVAB test results determine whether you qualify for military service and, if so, which jobs you qualify for. The ASVAB isn’t an IQ test. The military isn’t trying to figure out how smart you are. The ASVAB specifically measures your ability to be trained to do a specific job.
The famous Chinese general Sun Tzu said, “Know your enemy.” To develop an effective plan of study (check out Appendix B) and score well on the ASVAB, it’s important to understand how the ASVAB is organized and how the military uses the scores from the subtests. This chapter describes the different versions of the ASVAB, the organization of the subtests, how the AFQT score is calculated, and the various service policies for retaking the ASVAB.
Knowing Which Version You’re Taking
The ASVAB comes in five versions, depending on where and why you take it. The varieties of the test are essentially the same; they’re just administered differently. Table 1-1 boils them down.
The vast majority of military applicants are processed through a MEPS, where they take the computerized format of the ASVAB (called the CAT-ASVAB, short for computerized-adaptive testing ASVAB), undergo a physical exam, and run through a security screening, many times all in one trip. The paper-and-pencil (P&P) version is most often given in high school and at Mobile Examination Test (MET) sites located throughout the United States. Most MET sites use paper versions of the test.
TABLE 1-1 Versions of the ASVAB
| Version | How You Take It | Format | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student | Given to juniors and seniors in high school; it’s administered through a cooperative program between the Department of Education and the Department of Defense at high schools across the United States | Paper | Its primary purpose is to provide a tool for guidance counselors to use when recommending civilian career areas to high school students (though it can be used for enlistment if taken within two years of enlistment). For example, if a student scores high in electronics, the counselor can recommend electronics career paths. If a student is interested in military service, the counselor then refers her to the local military recruiting offices. |
| Enlistment | Given through a military recruiter at a Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) or at a satellite testing site | Usually computer, may be paper | This version of the ASVAB is used by all the military branches for the purpose of enlistment qualification and to determine which military jobs a recruit can successfully be trained in. |
| Enlistment Screening Test (EST) | Given at the discretion of a military recruiter for a quick enlistment qualification screening | Computer | These mini-ASVABs aren’t qualification tests; they’re strictly recruiting and screening tools. The EST contains about 50 questions similar but not identical to questions on the AFQT portion of the ASVAB. The test is used to help estimate an applicant’s probability of obtaining qualifying ASVAB scores. |
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Pre-screening, internet-delivered Computerized Adaptive Test (PiCAT)
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