Is The ASVAB Hard? Tips To Pass The ASVAB Easier

Are you prepared to join the armed forces? Have you been preparing your entire high school career to take the next step and join the military after graduation? In that scenario, you undoubtedly have questions about the ASVAB. What is the ASVAB, and how can you make sure that you can pass it? Is the ASVAB a hard test to take? Is it challenging to perform well on the ASVAB test? 

In this article, we will clearly answer the question “Is the ASVAB hard?” as well as recommend some tips to help you pass the test. Let’s check it out!

What is the ASVAB?

First of all, if you’re unfamiliar with the term or have only recently begun your research, you undoubtedly need to be informed as to what this test entails. The ASVAB stands for Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. Passing the ASVAB is a must-have condition for enlistment into any military branch. This assessment helps to determine your future in the military by revealing which military careers will be the best fit for you. The likelihood is that you won’t be allowed to enlist if your score is lower than 31. The level of difficulty for each question on the test will change depending on your current knowledge.

As this exam consists of multiple-choice questions, you will have a variety of available answers to choose from. And this factor makes the ASVAB significantly simpler than other assessments. However, if you don’t have a lot of understanding of the content, the test may be quite challenging. If you are unfamiliar with concepts in fields like mechanics and engineering, this test may be rather difficult for you. On the other hand, people who are well-versed in all of the test topics would probably find the exam to be simple.

Your score on the ASVAB’s sections will affect how well you perform on the Armed Forces Qualification Test. Fortunately, your scores on the ASVAB’s Word Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension, Arithmetic Reasoning, and Mathematics Knowledge sections are the only ones that count toward the AFQT; as a result, you shouldn’t worry about the fact-heavy sections like Electronics Information or Mechanical Comprehension. The truth is that simply from their English and Math classes, the majority of high school sophomores and juniors have already studied enough to perform well in the Word Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension, Arithmetic Reasoning, and Mathematics Knowledge sections, so you probably already possess a lot of these skills.

How to Calculate AFQT Score?

AFQT Score = 2 × (Paragraph Comprehension score + Word Knowledge score) + Arithmetic Reasoning score + Mathematic Reasoning score

Take note that the scores for both word knowledge and paragraph comprehension are doubled! When people talk about “ASVAB scores,” they typically refer to the AFQT score because the actual ASVAB does not have a cumulative total score (although you will receive a score in each segment). A minimum score of 31 is required for Army recruits, 32 for Marine Corps, 35 for Navy, and 36 for Air Force and Coast Guard candidates.

Is The ASVAB Hard?

The test contains some significantly simpler sections than others. For instance, the subtests for word knowledge and paragraph comprehension are among the easiest. You’ll probably perform well on these parts if you read each paragraph thoroughly and have a strong knowledge of fundamental terminology.

The complexity of the Maths section will vary based on your aptitude and mathematical understanding. This section will be quite challenging if you have trouble grasping some concepts or have forgotten them entirely. If you carefully read the questions and perform the necessary computations, the arithmetic reasoning component is rather straightforward.

Your understanding of fundamental ideas in biology, chemistry, physics, and geology is tested in the general science part. This portion should be simple for high school students who are currently enrolled in scientific courses. However, it could be a little difficult for you if you haven’t taken any science classes. This is generally one of the simpler ASVAB subtests.

There are some frequent challenges that test-takers may experience, just like with other exams. The section on mechanics comes first. You will be asked questions on this subtest about items like wheels, automobiles, and the purpose of their components. Those who lack a strong foundation in mechanics will probably struggle to perform well on this subtest. The electronics subtest is one of this test’s other common challenges. You will be asked questions on items that are operated by electricity on this particular test. Again, this portion of the test will be challenging if you are unfamiliar with how electronics operate.

Anyone taking the ASVAB should be aware that each subtest has a set amount of time allotted for completion. As a result, test-takers will need to finish a subtest as soon as possible. This makes the test more challenging because test-takers might not have enough time to check their work and give questions good thought.

How to study for the ASVAB?

You can really concentrate your ASVAB test preparation on these four sections: Word Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension, Arithmetic Reasoning, and Mathematic Reasoning. There are nine sections, which may seem like a lot, but since the AFQT score is the most crucial factor in determining your acceptance into a specific branch of the military, it is the most important one. You might need to revisit some old arithmetic formulas and principles as well as some word definitions, but you can ace these areas by just practicing and going over your mistakes.

Before your exam, try to complete at least 5–6 ASVAB practice tests. Carefully consider each wrong response. What can I do the next time to answer a question like that correctly? Learn to actively read each brief paragraph and, before looking at the answer options, come up with your own pre-phrased response. The ASVAB is a very coachable exam, and the more comfortable you are with the format and material being tested, the faster your score will rise.

The pen and paper version of the ASVAB may be slightly easier or harder depending on your comfort level with taking examinations on computers, even though the majority of individuals take the CAT (computer adaptive) version of the exam. The disadvantage of the paper version is that it has more questions (225 total against 145 on the CAT version), but you can move around inside each section and mark the correct answers directly in the test booklet.

We recommend you avoid the paper-and-pencil version unless you are extremely anxious about the CAT. The excellent thing about the CAT is that it scores exams instantly, so you can find out how you fared as soon as you’re done.

Hope that with the above information, you know is the ASVAB hard and will pass your ASVAB with flying colors!