The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is the U.S. military’s enlistment aptitude battery. It produces subtest scores used for the AFQT and for Service-specific occupational classification.
This page owns the full ASVAB battery and administration-format intent. Use the AFQT Practice Test for the four AFQT skill areas and the ASVAB Score Chart for score interpretation.
The practice questions on this page are original JobPracticeTests exercises. They are not official ASVAB questions. OfficialASVAB states that the Enlistment Testing Program does not provide actual test questions to third-party preparation services.
ASVAB versus AFQT
The ASVAB is the full battery. AFQT is a percentile derived from four subtests:
- Arithmetic Reasoning (AR);
- Mathematics Knowledge (MK);
- Word Knowledge (WK);
- Paragraph Comprehension (PC).
AFQT supports basic enlistment eligibility. Other ASVAB subtests can contribute to Service-specific job-classification composites.
Current ASVAB subtests
OfficialASVAB lists these content areas:
| Subtest | Abbreviation | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| General Science | GS | physical and biological sciences |
| Arithmetic Reasoning | AR | arithmetic word problems |
| Word Knowledge | WK | word meaning in context and synonyms |
| Paragraph Comprehension | PC | information from written passages |
| Mathematics Knowledge | MK | high-school mathematics principles |
| Electronics Information | EI | electricity and electronics |
| Auto Information | AI | automobile technology |
| Shop Information | SI | tools and shop terminology/practices |
| Mechanical Comprehension | MC | mechanical and physical principles |
| Assembling Objects | AO | spatial assembly |
On paper ASVAB, AI and SI are combined as Auto & Shop (AS). The paper enlistment ASVAB also includes AO under the current applicant table.
CAT-ASVAB timing
OfficialASVAB currently lists these scored-question counts and limits when no tryout questions are included:
| CAT subtest | Scored questions | Minutes |
|---|---|---|
| GS | 15 | 12 |
| AR | 15 | 55 |
| WK | 15 | 9 |
| PC | 10 | 27 |
| MK | 15 | 31 |
| EI | 15 | 10 |
| AI | 10 | 7 |
| SI | 10 | 6 |
| MC | 15 | 22 |
| AO | 15 | 18 |
Possible tryout questions can increase a CAT subtest’s time limit. Do not assume the shorter “without tryouts” figure is the only time the live session can display.
CAT-ASVAB is adaptive. After submitting an item, you cannot go back to it. OfficialASVAB also describes a noncompletion penalty procedure for examinees who run out of time.
Paper-and-pencil ASVAB timing
The current paper applicant table lists:
| Paper subtest | Questions | Minutes |
|---|---|---|
| GS | 25 | 11 |
| AR | 30 | 36 |
| WK | 35 | 11 |
| PC | 15 | 13 |
| MK | 25 | 24 |
| EI | 20 | 9 |
| AS | 25 | 11 |
| MC | 25 | 19 |
| AO | 25 | 15 |
Paper administration allows review within the current subtest while time remains, but candidates cannot go back to an earlier subtest after the administrator moves on.
PiCAT is different
PiCAT is the unproctored CAT-ASVAB pathway. Current OfficialASVAB guidance says:
- recruiter authorization is required;
- the access code expires after 30 days;
- after starting, PiCAT must be completed within 48 hours;
- there are no individual subtest time limits;
- PiCAT usually takes about 2–3 hours;
- successful later verification is required before the PiCAT scores become the ASVAB score of record.
Use PiCAT Practice Test for the full verification process.
Calculators and outside assistance
Official applicant guidance does not permit calculator use on ASVAB/PiCAT. Follow the live instructions for scratch paper and other materials.
Do not use AI, websites, another person or leaked item banks during a live or unproctored enlistment test.
Original ASVAB practice
1. General Science
Which process changes liquid water into water vapor?
A. condensation
B. evaporation
C. freezing
D. deposition
Answer: B. Evaporation is the change from liquid to gas.
2. Arithmetic Reasoning
A worker completes 84 units in 7 hours at a constant rate. How many units per hour?
A. 10
B. 12
C. 14
D. 16
Answer: B. 84 ÷ 7 = 12.
3. Word Knowledge
Permanent most nearly means:
A. lasting
B. temporary
C. flexible
D. hidden
Answer: A. Permanent means intended to last or remain.
4. Paragraph Comprehension
Passage: “The supervisor moved the inspection to the morning so defects could be corrected before afternoon operations.”
Why was the inspection moved?
A. To reduce staffing
B. To allow defects to be corrected earlier
C. To cancel afternoon operations
D. To change the equipment type
Answer: B. The passage directly states the reason.
5. Mathematics Knowledge
Solve 2x + 9 = 23.
A. 5
B. 6
C. 7
D. 8
Answer: C. Subtract 9 to get 14; 14 ÷ 2 = 7.
6. Electronics Information
Which component opposes current flow in a basic circuit?
A. resistor
B. open air used as a battery
C. gear
D. pulley
Answer: A. A resistor provides electrical resistance.
7. Mechanical Comprehension
If the same force is applied over a smaller area, pressure generally:
A. decreases
B. increases
C. becomes zero
D. is unrelated to area
Answer: B. Pressure is force divided by area.
8. Assembling Objects / spatial reasoning
A square is divided diagonally into two congruent triangles. The two triangles can be reassembled to form:
A. the original square
B. only a circle
C. only a sphere
D. no closed figure
Answer: A. The two congruent halves reconstruct the square.
How to prepare efficiently
- Identify whether you will take CAT-ASVAB, paper ASVAB or PiCAT.
- Diagnose all four AFQT areas first.
- Add technical subtests based on the Service jobs you are considering.
- Review wrong answers by concept rather than memorizing the option letter.
- Add timing that matches your actual administration.
- Use official Service sources for current enlistment and job thresholds.
Service-specific guides
The same ASVAB battery is used across Services, but eligibility and occupational classification rules differ.
Retesting
OfficialASVAB’s current retest policy requires one month after the initial ASVAB before a retest, another one-month wait before the second retest, and six months between additional retests after that.
Use current OfficialASVAB and recruiter instructions rather than planning from an old prep-site retest table.
Related subtest owners
- ASVAB Arithmetic Reasoning
- ASVAB Word Knowledge
- ASVAB Paragraph Comprehension
- ASVAB Mechanical Comprehension
OfficialASVAB remains the controlling source for current ASVAB format, scoring and retest policy.