How to Prepare For Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery - ASVAB Exam

The ASVAB tests are so designed that they highlight even hidden skills and aptitudes. For this reason, an increasing number of high schools allow, and sometimes require, their students to take the tests. This then helps the students to make their respective career choices, not necessarily in the military. The ASVAB tests are mainly given to 11th graders. Indeed, given that most high school administrators allow military personnel to conduct their recruitment within their respective institutions, the test has become nearly a standard procedure. However, those who do not take the test in high school will have to do it either at a Military Entrance Processing Station, a recruiting station, or an armory.

ASVAB exam has multiple choice questions that are put into eight separate categories. The scores, which are graded in each category, are put on a percentile basis with the maximum possible score being 99. The minimum score, however, are different depending on various areas of the military. The composite scores are calculated from all the tests, and the higher a candidate scores, the more positions will be open to him or her. This is a timed test that requires about three hours and a half.

The ASVAB exam tests the candidates in four basic areas, namely, Arithmetic Reasoning, Mathematics Knowledge, Word Knowledge, and Paragraph Comprehension. Here is how the questions are usually divided.

Arithmetic Reasoning has 30 questions that test for basic math knowledge. There are 25 questions on Mathematics Knowledge, which involve math questions and how they are applied. Word Knowledge has 35 questions touching on both vocabulary and synonyms. There are 15 questions on paragraph comprehension that test reading and comprehension skills.

Although many students hardly prepare for the ASVAB exam, which is compounded by the fact that they are sometimes informed of it just a week prior to taking the test, there are many study guides that can help you be better prepared. The ASVAB examination preparation materials include practice tests that can be found on the Internet. These are usually available free of charge whenever you purchase an ASVAB study guide from a number of web sites. You will also be able to find some websites that offer ASVAB study guides for free. The main thing you can do in your ASVAB exam preparation is to improve your skills on those areas where you have weaknesses.

Since the ASVAB tests are designed to accommodate a lot of answers that are grouped into smaller categories, it is very easy to get frustrated in the process. Hence to be well prepared entails knowing the type of test that is taken. It is necessary to use the numerous resources available online for your preparation.

Your score on the ASVAB exam will greatly influence where you are assigned in the military, and the position in which you start. You should therefore score as much as possible. And even when the military is not your career of choice, the exam will still help you to determine the best kind of career for you.