What is the ASVAB?

[Administrator]

Whether you come from a Family with a long military history or you’re about to be the first person in your Family to serve, you’ve probably heard about the ASVAB. Here are some commonly asked questions.

What is the ASVAB?

Every recruit entering the military takes the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), a multiple-choice aptitude test designed to find your strengths and point you toward the military career that best suits your skills—the one where you’ll be most likely to succeed.

The test measures your knowledge in eight areas:

• General Science: Life, earth, space and physical sciences
• Arithmetic Reasoning: Ability to solve basic math and word problems
• Word Knowledge: Ability to grasp the meaning of words through synonyms
• Paragraph Comprehension: Ability to understand written material
• Mathematics: Math concepts and applications
• Electronics Information: Electrical current, circuits, devices and electronic systems
• Automotive and Shop Information: Car maintenance and repair, and wood and metal shop
• Mechanical Comprehension: Principles of mechanical devices, structural support and properties of materials

The ASVAB is timed and takes about three hours to complete. It’s a good idea to practice in advance, to get familiar with the process and to find any areas you might need to improve before you take the real exam.

What materials am I authorized to use?

Some versions of the ASVAB are computerized, while others are paper versions. All are multiple-choice.

Whichever version you take, you won’t be allowed to use a calculator, a cell phone, the Internet or any other resource that might be considered cheating. Whether taking the test on a computer or on paper, you will be authorized to use a pencil and scratch paper. A test proctor, or supervisor, will administer the ASVAB.

What is the Webcast?

The Webcast is Path to Honor’s practice ASVAB, which helps estimate what you might score on the actual ASVAB. All applicants are allowed to take the Webcast two times. Failing the Webcast does not keep you from taking the actual ASVAB—it will only prevent you from continuing an online enlistment application through Path to Honor

In the event you do not pass the Webcast on your second attempt, you’ll be prompted to visit www.march2success.com. This website is designed to help potential future Soldiers pass the ASVAB.
Also, your local recruiter can always reset your Webcast scores and allow you to take the test again, once they feel that you have studied and are prepared.
Are there practice ASVAB tests available?

If you’ve started a Path to Honor application with the Army National Guard, you’ll be prompted to take the Webcast. This practice test gives you a realistic feel for the kinds of questions you can expect on the actual ASVAB. You won’t be able to see your scores—whether you pass or not—and our Path to Honor Support Team is not able to release your scores for you. If you have taken the Webcast on your Path to Honor application, you can contact your recruiter for your score.

In addition, you’ll find a great practice test and lots of other information about the ASVAB at the Department of Defense's ASVAB Career Exploration Program site. Also, with your local recruiter’s permission, they can schedule a time for you to come into their office and take a practice ASVAB, right there with them. Since your test scores can have an impact on the job you qualify for—and whether or not you can attend certain special schools (like Airborne school, Sniper school and many others)—we recommend you make the most of these additional resources.

If you have access to Facebook, you can visit the Army National Guard’s Facebook page and take a short practice test. Don’t forget to let us know how you did by posting a message on our Wall!

There are many other practice ASVAB tests on the Internet or possibly at your local library. However, if they are not listed above, they are not directly associated with www.NATIONALGUARD.com.