When you enlist in the Armed Forces of the United States of America, one constant is that you will take the ASVAB Test. The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery is a test that is given by the U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command. Sometimes you will take the test at a local MEPS processing center, at other times you might take it at a local college or even at your high school. No matter where you take it, it is done under the watchful eye of the MEPS program. The test is given to find out what you qualify for as well as judging if you are suitable and eligible to join up. Some bonuses for enlistment are also determined by your score, so it’s always best to do as good a job as you can on the exam.
The test will look at your accumulated knowledge, but it is very possible to boost your score by preparing for the test ahead of time. Commercially available study guides are available to purchase both in stores and on the Internet, so its wise to check out what study material is available. The ASVAB series of tests was developed in the 1960’s by the Department of Defense. They were looking to standardize a method of judging candidates for service with any Armed Forces Branch with the same criteria for evaluation.
Up until the turn of the century, the test battery was made up of ten tests in the following subjects, General Science, Mechanical Comprehension, Coding Speed, Numerical Operations, Word Knowledge, Arithmetic Reasoning, Paragraph Comprehension, Mathematics Knowledge, Shop and Auto Information, and Electronics Information. In 2002 the tests for Coding Speed and Numerical Operations were removed from the ASVAB test sequence, and the Department of Defense added a new test section called “Assembling Objects.”
Find a study guide. Go through it, and take a pre test of some kind at least a couple of times. Get used to the format of multiple-choice questions, and try to figure out where your strengths and weaknesses lie. Try to study the most on area that you do the poorest on, but also areas that interest you that having a high score would be important for. Remember the job you get in the military is often largely determined by how you do on the ASVAB test. If you do poorly, you can take the test again in six months. However, that is a long time, so study hard, and do the best you can the first time.