Wrapping up

Congratulations on finishing this course! You’ve taken a great first step to your future and built a solid foundation of knowledge. You’re now ready to put this preparation to work on test day.

Additional information

• To sign up, contact your local recruiter, who schedules your ASVAB test at a MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station) or MET site (Military Entrance Test site). The student version given in high schools, the ASVAB CEP (Career Exploration Program), is free to participating schools and students.
• You CANNOT USE A CALCULATOR on the ASVAB. MEPS and MET sites don’t provide accommodations for the enlistment test; a CEP test taken with accommodations, such as extra time, can’t be used to enlist.
• The ASVAB has no pass/fail score. To retest: wait one calendar month after your first test, another month after that retest, then 6 months for any further retest. A 20+ point AFQT gain within 6 months triggers a required confirmation test (C-Test). Your most recent valid score - not your highest - is used for enlistment, and scores are valid for up to 2 years. Plan to make each attempt count!
• Each branch sets its own minimum AFQT score to enlist. The AFQT is a percentile (1-99) comparing you with a national sample of 18-to-23-year-olds, not the percent of questions you got right; it is built from Arithmetic Reasoning, Mathematics Knowledge, Word Knowledge and Paragraph Comprehension. Published minimums: Army 31; Air Force 31 (50 for GED holders); Marine Corps 31 (50 with a GED or nontraditional diploma); Coast Guard 32. Navy and Space Force don’t publish a minimum - ask your recruiter. Confirm the current minimum with your recruiter, since these change and some jobs require higher scores.

Dump sheets

Many test takers use “dump sheets” as study supplements and as a guide for the exam. Dump sheets typically include visual guides and summarized notes of important test topics. As the name suggests, you memorize key items to help you retain important topics for exam day.

The full set covers every subtest. Download any of them from this course’s Resources page:

• The test: Test format and strategy
• Word Knowledge and Paragraph Comprehension: Reading and vocabulary strategy; Prefixes, roots, and suffixes
• Arithmetic Reasoning and Mathematics Knowledge: Arithmetic and word problems; Algebra - equations, exponents, and roots; Algebra - polynomials, systems, and statistics; Geometry - lines, angles, and coordinates; Geometry - shapes, triangles, and solids
• General Science: Life science; Chemistry; Earth and space science
• Mechanical Comprehension: Forces, motion, and energy; Simple and compound machines
• Electronics Information: Electricity and circuits; AC power, magnetism, and semiconductors
• Auto and Shop Information: Engines; Cooling, chassis, and electrical systems; Measuring, striking, and turning tools; Fasteners, cutting, and finishing tools
• Assembling Objects: Assembling Objects

Tips

• Work carefully and pace yourself. Only the number of scored questions per section is fixed - 2 to 4 subtests also include unscored tryout questions with extra time, so some subtests run longer than this course’s table shows. The CAT-ASVAB penalizes unanswered questions, so keep a steady pace and reach every question.
• Write down your math. Since many people are used to relying on a calculator, it helps to work through your steps on paper.
• Sketch geometry problems. A quick diagram often makes relationships and measurements easier to see.

Final thoughts

Thank you for trusting us with your exam preparation. Good luck on your test, and thank you for your service to the country!