Is the ASVAB Test Hard To Pass?

For the most part, the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) isn’t hard to pass per se. But, that doesn’t mean you can walk into the test without preparing or studying for it. Regardless of your previous knowledge, you’ll need to brush up on certain items to ensure you score as high as possible.

The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, often abbreviated as ASVAB, is a test that measures a test taker’s suitability to join the Military here in the United States. It assesses one’s ability to be trained in specific jobs available to both civilians and military personnel.

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The test is generally taken at a Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS), a Military Entrance Testing Station (METS) or at your local high school. Roughly 900,000 people take the ASVAB every year.

Let’s break down the ASVAB and go over each section of it.

What is covered on the ASVAB?

The ASVAB is broken up into 9 subtests. The subtests on the ASVAB are:

• General Science (GS)
  • Tests general concepts from life science, Earth and space science, and physical science
• Arithmetic Reasoning (AR)
  • Tests your ability to answer word based math problems that involve basic arithmetic
• Mathematics Knowledge (MK)
  • Tests knowledge of mathematical concepts including applied arithmetic, algebra and geometry
• Word Knowledge (WK)
  • Tests ability to recognise synonyms
• Paragraph Comprehension (PC)
  • Tests ability to answer questions about short short passages.  Usually less than 120 words
• Electronics Information (EI)
  • Tests knowledge of electronic principle, terminology and circuitry
• Auto and Shop Information (AS)
  • Tests knowledge of automobiles, tools used on them, shop practices and terminology
• Mechanical Comprehension (MC)
  • Tests knowledge of basic mechanical and physical principles
• Assembling Objects (OC)
  • Tests knowledge of how a disassembled object will look when it’s rebuilt.

For a complete breakdown of each subtest with exactly what’s covered on each subtest, see our article title “What is on the ASVAB? A complete breakdown of each subtest“

(The computer version of the ASVAB, called the CAT-ASVAB, breaks the Auto and Shop Information (AS) into two parts. Some would consider the amount of subtests on the CAT-ASVAB to be 10 compared to the standard 9 that are on the paper and pencil version of the test. But both tests cover the same material.)

What ASVAB/AFQT Score Do I Need to Get Into the Military?

Only four of the subtests from the ASVAB make up what is called your AFQT score and is generally considered your “raw score”. 

We cover AFQT, the Armed Forces Qualification Test, in depth in our “What is an AFQT Score” article. 

To qualify for a job in the military, you will need a minimum ASVAB score of 31 on the AFQT portion of the test for both the Army and Air Force. You’ll need a minimum of 32 for the Marine Corps and 35 for the Navy. The Coast Guard’s minimum is 40, the highest among the Armed Forces. There are exceptions to this rule but for the most part, you will need a 31 or higher.

The highest possible score you can get on the ASVAB is 99 and the lowest score is a 0. The reason you cannot get a 100 on the ASVAB is because the score is based on how well you did compared to others and not the percentage of questions you scored correctly. Again, this is explained more in our AFQT article.

These score requirements are for those individuals with a High School Diploma. If you have a GED, you will typically need to get a 50 AFQT to qualify. 

Notice that I previously said you need to get a 31 to “qualify” for a position. I purposely use that phrase because the ASVAB is not really a “pass/fail” type of test. In essence, there is no such thing as an ASVAB passing score. But, you will want to get a 31 or higher to qualify for any of the positions inside of the military. 

Your ASVAB scores qualify you for different jobs inside of the military. Just because you scored the minimum, that does not mean you will get the job you want. You need higher scores to get certain jobs. Furthermore, just because you scored at least the minimum, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t retake the test to try and get a higher score. 

How Long is the ASVAB Exam

The time allowed on the ASVAB depends on the version of the test you take. There is a paper and pencil version of the test (P&P) and also a computerized version of the test (CAT). 

The time limit for the paper and pencil version of the ASVAB is 149 minutes and consists of 225 questions.

The computerized version has a time limit of 154 minutes and consists of 145 questions.

Most people will take the ASVAB in under 2 hours.

We have an entire article that breaks down the different types of ASVAB test you can take and when to take which one.

What is the Hardest Part of the ASVAB Test?

The four subtests that make up your AFQT score are Arithmetic Reasoning (AR), Mathematical Knowledge (MK), Word Knowledge (WC) and Paragraph Comprehension (PC). As far as which subtest is the hardest, it’s commonly agreed upon that the Mathematical Knowledge subtest is the hardest.

As mentioned in the previous section, Mathematical Knowledge covers your knowledge of mathematical concepts including applied arithmetic, algebra and geometry. If you did not do well in math or retain this information in high school, you will likely do poorly on this section. 

Same goes with the subtest of Mechanical Knowledge. This section covers how machines work and you’ll need a good understanding of applied physics to do well on this test. This makes the MK subtest the hardest non AFQT subtest on the ASVAB.

Many people wonder if the ASVAB shows IQ and there is some correlation between your ASVAB score and IQ test scores. The most recent information we could find stated the correlation at 0.8 which is significant. This goes the same for the ASVAB and predicting your SAT scores. This correlation came in higher at .82.

There are other factors that can make the ASVAB difficult for some. You are not able to use a calculator on the ASVAB and are not allowed to use your own pencils and pens. You are also discouraged from using the restroom during the test, and as you saw, that can be a time gap of almost an hour and a half.

How to Study for the ASVAB

If you were a decent student in high school and you spend time going over study guides and doing a few ASVAB practice tests, you should do just fine on the test. Again, test prep is essential to doing well and qualifying for good jobs in the military. 

For a complete breakdown of each of the subtests on the ASVAB, check out our article on “What is on the ASVAB? A Complete Breakdown of Each Subtest“

If you were an A/B student in high school, you can typically get away with studying for just a month or two and get solid scores.

A B/C student in high school? We recommend you take a few months to study, closer to three months before taking your entrance exam.

And, if you were a C/D student and barely graduated, take 6 months or more to study for the exam. 

We have a library of ASVAB prep videos on our YouTube Channel and study guides here on MilitaryTestPrep.com/ASVAB. They are free for anyone who wants to get a better understanding of the types of knowledge and skills needed to take and score as high as possible on the test.

If you are not performing well on the practice tests and need more structured guidance on how to study and prepare, we encourage you to sign up for our membership for $19/month. The membership organizes all the content into sections and helps you prepare even better for higher scores on your ASVAB.