What is the ASVAB?
Where did it Originate?
Classification assessments began in World War I when there was a need to classify recruits (draftees) to determine where they could best
serve the Army. The original was called the Alpha Test. The Alpha Test consisted of true/false questions in the areas of vocabulary,
sentence structure, arithmetic problems, number series, general knowledge, and "common sense." However, when it became apparent
that many draftees could not read or write, the Army developed an additional assessment test, the Beta Test, which minimized verbal
knowledge and used only pictures and diagrams.
During World War II, the Army replaced the Alpha & Beta Tests with the Army General Classification Test. This test consisted of
vocabulary, arithmetic problems, and block counting. More than 9 million recruits took this test. Interestingly, the tests showed that only
63 percent could read/write above a third grade level. During this same time, a completely separate "aptitude test" was being
administered by the Navy. When Congress passed the Selective Service Act in 1948, they mandated that the Department of Defense
develop a uniform screening test to be used by all of the services. In response, the Department of Defense developed the Armed Forces
Qualification Test (AFQT), with the following subjects: vocabulary, arithmetic, spatial relations, and mechanical ability. This test was
given to recruits from 1950 to the mid 1970s. The two separate tests were used to form a composite AFQT score, and each service was
allowed to set its own minimum score standards.
The ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) assessment was first used in high schools in 1968 as part of the
Student Testing Program. In 1973, the draft was ended and the nation entered the contemporary period in which all military recruits are
currently volunteers. Three years later, in 1976, the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) was introduced as a component
of the official qualification process used by all services.
The ASVAB has continually been provided by the Department of Defense on a no cost and no obligation basis to high schools
since 1968 through the Career Exploration Program. This comprehensive program offers an interest inventory, OCCU-FIND
activity and other activities designed to help students explore the world of work and gain confidence in making career
decisions. Close to a million students currently participate, 58% plan of attending 4 or 2 year colleges, 13% are considering the
military, 3% intend to go immediately into the workforce, 2% are looking at Technical-Vocational careers. Students who
annually use the program in schools do so because of their interest in making smart and satisfying future educational plans
and career choices.
General Science (GS)
25 items with a 11 minute time-limit
Example: Water is an example of:
A.
B.
C.
D.
Crystal
Solid
Gas
Liquid
Word Knowledge (WK)
35 items with an 11 minute timelimit
Example: Small most nearly
means:
A.
B.
C.
D.
Sturdy
Round
Cheap
Little
Arithmetic Reasoning (AR)
30 Items with a 36 minute time-limit
Example: If 12 men are needed to
run four machines, how many men
are needed to run 20 machines?
A. 20
B. 48
C. 60
D. 80
Mathematical Knowledge (MK)
25 items with a 24 minute time-limit
Example: If 50% of X is 33, then
X =?
Mechanical Comprehension (MC)
25 items with a 19 minute time-limit
Example: If gear A makes 14
revolutions, gear B will make?
Electronics Information (EI)
20 items with a 9 minute time-limit
Example: What does the
abbreviation A.C. stand for?
A: 21
B: 17
C: 14
D: 9
A.
B.
C.
D.
A.
B.
C.
D.
33
66
99
132
Additional Charge
Alternating Coil
Alternating Current
Ampere Current
Paragraph Comprehension (PC)
15 items with a 13 minute time-limit
Example: From a building designer’s standpoint, three
things that make a home livable are the client, the
building site and the amount of money the client has to
spend. According to this statement, to make a home
livable:
A. The prospective piece of land makes little difference
B. It can be built on any piece of land
C. Design must fit the owners income and site
D. Design must fit the owners income
Auto Shop Information (AS)
25 items with a 11 minutes time-limit
Example: A chisel is used for:
A.
B.
C.
D.
Prying
Cutting
Twisting
Grinding
Answers: General Science: D
Word Knowledge: D
Paragraph Comprehension: C
Arithmetic Reasoning: C
Mathematical Knowledge: B
Auto Shop Information: B
Mechanical Comprehension: A
Electronics Information: C
THERE IS NO MILITARY OBLIGATION REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CAREER EXPLORATION PROGRAM
Updated August 2011