Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)
The ASVAB is a multiple-aptitude test administered by the U.S. Department of Defense to determine qualification for military enlistment and job placement across all branches. The computer-adaptive enlistment form has 10 subtests in verbal, math, science and technical, and spatial domains.
Exam Tip
The CAT has 135 scored questions in 10 subtests plus tryout items. The AFQT percentile is used for enlistment screening. Service line scores are used for job classification.
What is the ASVAB?
The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is a standardized test used by all branches of the U.S. military to assess an applicant's abilities and match them to appropriate military occupations.
ASVAB Subtests
| Subtest | Abbreviation | Scored questions (CAT) | Time without tryouts |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Science | GS | 15 | 12 min |
| Arithmetic Reasoning | AR | 15 | 55 min |
| Word Knowledge | WK | 15 | 9 min |
| Paragraph Comprehension | PC | 10 | 27 min |
| Mathematics Knowledge | MK | 15 | 31 min |
| Electronics Information | EI | 15 | 10 min |
| Auto Information | AI | 10 | 7 min |
| Shop Information | SI | 10 | 6 min |
| Mechanical Comprehension | MC | 15 | 22 min |
| Assembling Objects | AO | 15 | 18 min |
Test Versions
| Version | Where Taken | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proctored CAT-ASVAB | MEPS or MET | 135 scored, plus tryout items | About 2 hours on average |
| Paper enlistment ASVAB | Some MET sites | 225 | 149 min of testing |
| PiCAT | Online with recruiter access code | 135, no tryout items | No subtest timers. Finish within 48 hours of starting. |
Key Scores
| Score | Purpose |
|---|---|
| AFQT | Determines enlistment eligibility (percentile 1-99) |
| Line Scores | Composite scores determining job qualification |
| Standard Scores | Individual subtest scores (mean ~50, SD ~10) |
AFQT Formula
AFQT composite = 2VE + AR + MK
VE is a weighted composite of WK and PC.
The AFQT composite is converted to a percentile. On proctored CAT, 2 to 4 subtests have unscored tryout items and extra time. PiCAT requires proctored verification within 45 days to become official.
Score Validity
ASVAB scores are valid for 2 years for enlistment purposes. Retake policy: 1 month after first attempt, 1 month after second, then 6 months between additional retakes.
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Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT)
The Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) is the ASVAB percentile used to assess military enlistment eligibility. It uses four math and verbal subtests.
Line Scores (ASVAB)
Line scores, also called composite scores, combine ASVAB subtest scores for military job classification. Each service sets its own combinations and job requirements.
CAT-ASVAB (Computer Adaptive Test)
The CAT-ASVAB is the computer-adaptive version of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. The proctored enlistment form has 135 scored questions across 10 subtests, plus unscored tryout items.
MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station)
A Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) is a USMEPCOM facility for enlistment testing, medical screening and processing.
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