ASVAB Preparation

As your students prepare to take the full-length ASVAB, you should keep in mind that the ASVAB Testing Program does not endorse any particular method of test preparation beyond recommending that examinees take a solid core of courses in mathematics, English, and science in high school and/or college.

Such academic preparation will help with performance on the Arithmetic Reasoning, Mathematics Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension, Word Knowledge, and General Science subtests. Taking technical courses will also help with performance on the Auto Information, Shop Information, Electronics Information, and Mechanical Comprehension subtests.

The following are general tips to help your students to perform their best on the ASVAB.

Steps to Take in Advance of the Actual Test Day

  • Prepare well in advance of the day of the test.
  • Know what to expect on test day.
  • Familiarize oneself with the contents of the ASVAB subtests.
    [Visit page: ASVAB Subtests]
  • Take sample questions and review content areas that need refreshing.
    [Visit page: Sample Questions]
  • Get plenty of rest the night before the test.

Strategies for Taking All Versions of the ASVAB

  • Read the directions for each test carefully before beginning the test.
  • Read each question carefully before selecting the answer.
  • Pay attention to the time — don’t spend too much time on one individual question, if that means there won’t be enough time to answer later questions.
  • When the answer to a question is unknown, try to rule out as many incorrect choices as possible, and then make an educated guess from the remaining answers.
  • Don’t get hung up trying to answer the difficult questions — answer the easy questions first and then return to the more difficult questions.
  • Answer every question. If time runs short, it is to one’s advantage to fill in random guesses for the remaining items, as there is no penalty for guessing.
  • Review answers if there is time remaining.
  • Make sure only one response per question is selected on the answer sheet, and erase completely if an answer is changed.