United States · Military entrance test
The ASVAB is the test you take to join the US military. It has ten short subtests, from word meanings and math to science, electronics and mechanics. Four of them make up your AFQT score, a percentile from 1 to 99 that decides whether you can enlist. All of them together decide which jobs you qualify for. You don’t pay to take it, and a recruiter schedules it for you. Below you’ll find the AFQT minimum for each branch, how long each version takes and the retest rules, then 20 free practice questions to work through without a calculator.
Key facts
How it works
Topics
Word problems you solve with basic arithmetic, without a calculator. Part of the AFQT score.
Choosing the word closest in meaning to a given word, sometimes shown in a sentence. Part of the AFQT score.
Reading short passages and answering questions about the main idea, details and what you can infer. Part of the AFQT score.
High school math: algebra, geometry and number rules. Part of the AFQT score.
Basic life, physical, and earth and space science.
Electric current, circuits, and the parts used in electronics.
How car systems work, plus common tools and shop practices. On the computer test these are two subtests; on paper they’re combined.
Simple machines, forces and motion: levers, pulleys, gears and more.
Free practice test
The real computer ASVAB has 135 scored questions across ten subtests. Here are 20 of our own, a mix of Arithmetic Reasoning, Word Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension, Math Knowledge, General Science, Electronics, Auto and Shop, and Mechanical Comprehension. They’re not official questions. The ASVAB has no pass mark of its own, so we use 60% as a practice target: 12 right hits it. That’s a goal for practice, not a prediction of your AFQT score. Work them without a calculator, just like the real test. Get a pulley or Ohm’s law question wrong and the tutor can walk you through it a different way. Anything you miss comes back at the end.
Sample of the test: same format, 20 questions.
Test day
Study options
Good ASVAB practice doesn’t have to cost anything. The official site has sample questions for every subtest, the Army’s ASVAB Challenge app and March 2 Success are free, and your recruiter can give you a short online AFQT predictor. If you’d rather pay for more questions, we’ve listed the ASVAB Mastery and ABC apps and the 2026/2027 ASVAB For Dummies book, with prices as of October 2026.
| Option | Price | Free to use | Links |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official and free | |||
Official ASVAB sample questionsOfficial · webFrom the official ASVAB program. Each subtest has a short description and a set of sample questions, and the site also explains the computer test, scoring and test-day rules. It’s a sample, not a full practice test. | Free | Sample questions for all ten subtests | |
U.S. Army ASVAB ChallengeOfficial · appThe Army’s own ASVAB app, made by Army Game Studio. You can do quick quizzes or timed practice to get used to the format and the kinds of questions. Rated 4.9 from about 22,000 ratings on the App Store and 4.9 on Google Play. Useful for any branch, not just the Army. | Free | Everything | |
March 2 SuccessArmy-sponsored · webA free study site sponsored by the US Army, with online courses and practice tests for the ASVAB, plus math, English and science lessons. | Free | Everything, after you register | |
Air Force ASVAB pageOfficial · webExplains the AFQT minimums and the Air Force’s MAGE line scores, and has sample questions you can try on the page. | Free | Sample questions and score explanations | |
AFQT Predictor TestOfficial · online, through a recruiterA 20-question adaptive test covering the four AFQT subtests. It takes 20 to 30 minutes and estimates your AFQT. You can retake it as often as you like, but only your recruiter sees the result. | Free | Everything, with a recruiter’s access code | |
ASVAB Career Exploration ProgramOfficial · at schoolHigh school and college students can take the ASVAB at school through this program. It’s free for participating schools. The scores are mainly for career planning, but you can use them to enlist within two years, after a short Verification Test if school staff gave the test. | Free | The real ASVAB, taken at school, plus career planning tools | |
| Apps and websites | |||
ASVAB MasteryApp · iPhone and AndroidFrom Higher Learning Technologies. Exam-style practice questions with explanations for every subtest. There are AFQT-only plans that cost less. Rated 4.8 from about 9,900 ratings on the App Store. | Subscription, from $4.99 a week; $119.99 a year for the full plan | 10 practice questions a day | |
ASVAB Practice Test By ABCApp · iPhonePractice questions for each subtest with a diagnostic test to find your weak spots. Rated 4.9 from about 29,000 ratings on the App Store. Some reviewers say most explanations need a subscription. | Subscription: $9.99 a week, $19.99 a month, $69.99 a year or $69.99 lifetime | Practice questions, plus a daily set of 10 with explanations | |
2026/2027 ASVAB For DummiesBook · with online practicePublished by Wiley in March 2026. Covers every subtest, with 7 online practice tests, digital flashcards and a video course included. | About $29 to $33, depending on the seller | Nothing | |
| In person | |||
Army Future Soldier Preparatory CourseOfficial · in person, for Army enlisteesIf your AFQT is 21 or higher, the Army may send you to this course. The academic track runs up to 90 days, teaches all the ASVAB subjects and gives you chances to retest. With a score from 31 to 49, there’s a 30-day option with one chance to raise your score. Ask an Army recruiter. | Free | Everything | |
Prices and ratings checked October 2026.
Explore
FAQ
Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. It’s one test made up of ten subtests. The military uses it to decide whether you can enlist and which jobs suit you, and high schools also offer it free through the ASVAB Career Exploration Program to help students plan careers.
There’s no single pass mark. What counts for enlisting is your AFQT score, a percentile from 1 to 99. As of October 2026, the Army, Air Force and Marine Corps say you need at least 31, and the Coast Guard says 32. The Air Force and Marine Corps ask for 50 if you have a GED instead of a diploma. Navy.com says you need a qualifying score but doesn’t publish the number, so ask a Navy recruiter. Many jobs need higher subtest scores on top of that.
It depends on the version. The computer test (CAT-ASVAB) has 135 scored questions across ten subtests, and some subtests add tryout questions that don’t count. The paper test has 225 questions across nine subtests, because Auto and Shop are combined into one.
Most people finish the computer test (CAT-ASVAB) in about 2 hours. The paper test takes 3 to 4 hours once you count instructions and paperwork. The at-home PiCAT usually takes 2 to 3 hours, and you have 48 hours to finish it once you start. Each subtest on the computer test has its own time limit, and you get extra time when a subtest includes tryout questions.
It’s built to stretch you. The computer version adapts: when you answer well, it gives you harder questions, so it can feel tough even when you’re doing fine. The official site says the computer and paper versions are equated, so neither one is easier. There’s no pass or fail. You need an AFQT of 31 for the Army, Air Force or Marine Corps with a diploma, which means doing as well as or better than 31% of the national reference group. The 20 practice questions below are a quick way to see where you stand.
Your AFQT is a percentile. A score of 62 means you did as well as or better than 62% of a national sample of 18 to 23 year olds. A 50 is right in the middle. Scores of 65 and up put you in Category II or I, the top groups. But a “good” score really depends on the job you want, since each job sets its own minimums on the subtest scores.
No. Calculators aren’t allowed on any version. The ASVAB is meant to measure what you can do on the job, where you may have to work numbers out by hand. Practice your multiplication, division and fractions on paper before test day.
Through a recruiter. There’s no public sign-up page. A recruiter from any branch checks that you’re otherwise eligible, then schedules your test at a Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) or a nearby Military Entrance Test (MET) site. High school students can also take it at school through the ASVAB Career Exploration Program.
Yes. After your first test, wait one calendar month. After your first retest, wait another calendar month. After that, each retest needs a six-month wait. The Army says your most recent score is the one that counts, not your highest, so only retest when you’re ready. Scores can be used to enlist for up to two years.
A recruit runs 3 miles in 27 minutes at a steady pace. At the same pace, how long will it take to run 5 miles?
45 minutes First find the time for one mile: 27 ÷ 3 = 9 minutes per mile. Then multiply by 5 miles: 9 × 5 = 45 minutes.
A jacket normally costs $40. It’s on sale for 25% off. What is the sale price?
$30 25% of $40 is $10, because 0.25 × 40 = 10. Take that off the normal price: $40 − $10 = $30.
On four quizzes, Dana scored 82, 90, 76 and 88. What score does she need on the fifth quiz to have an average of exactly 85 for all five?
89 An average of 85 over five quizzes means a total of 5 × 85 = 425 points. Her first four add up to 82 + 90 + 76 + 88 = 336. She needs 425 − 336 = 89.
Candid most nearly means:
frank Candid means open and honest, saying what you really think. Frank means the same thing.
The sergeant gave a terse answer and walked away. Terse most nearly means:
brief Terse means using very few words. A terse answer is short and to the point. The sentence backs this up: the sergeant answered and walked away.
Diligent most nearly means:
hardworking Diligent means showing steady care and effort in your work. Hardworking is the closest match.
Many people wait until they feel thirsty before they drink water. By then, the body may already be short of fluid. In hot weather or during hard exercise, a person can lose more than a liter of sweat in an hour. Drinking small amounts of water regularly, before thirst sets in, helps the body stay cool and keeps performance from dropping. What is the main idea of the passage?
It’s better to drink water regularly than to wait until you feel thirsty. The passage builds one point: thirst comes late, so you should drink small amounts regularly. The facts about sweat support that advice.
The town library changed its schedule last spring. On weekdays it now opens at 8 a.m., two hours earlier than before, and closes at 9 p.m. Weekend hours did not change. Before the change, what time did the library open on weekdays?
10 a.m. It now opens at 8 a.m., which is two hours earlier than before. So before the change it opened two hours later: 10 a.m.
If 3x − 7 = 14, what is x?
7 Add 7 to both sides: 3x = 21. Then divide both sides by 3: x = 7. Check: 3 × 7 − 7 = 21 − 7 = 14.
A circle has a radius of 4 inches. Using π ≈ 3.14, what is its area?
50.24 square inches The area of a circle is πr². Here that’s 3.14 × 4 × 4 = 3.14 × 16 = 50.24 square inches.
Multiply: (x + 3)(x − 5)
x² − 2x − 15 Multiply each term in the first bracket by each term in the second: x·x = x², x·(−5) = −5x, 3·x = 3x, and 3·(−5) = −15. The middle terms combine: −5x + 3x = −2x. So the result is x² − 2x − 15.
Which part of a plant cell carries out photosynthesis?
Chloroplast Chloroplasts contain chlorophyll, the green pigment that captures light energy. They use it to turn carbon dioxide and water into sugar, giving off oxygen.
At sea level, pure water boils at:
100°C At sea-level air pressure, pure water boils at 100°C, which is 212°F. It freezes at 0°C, which is 32°F.
Which planet is closest to the Sun?
Mercury Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun. The order going outward starts Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars.
A 12-volt battery is connected to a single 4-ohm resistor. How much current flows through the circuit?
3 amperes Ohm’s law says current equals voltage divided by resistance (I = V ÷ R). So I = 12 ÷ 4 = 3 amperes.
Which of these materials is the best conductor of electricity?
Copper Metals such as copper let electric current flow easily, which is why most household wiring is copper. Rubber, glass and dry wood are insulators.
In a gasoline engine, which part makes the spark that ignites the fuel and air in the cylinder?
Spark plug The spark plug sits in the cylinder head. The ignition system sends it a high-voltage pulse, and it jumps a gap as a spark that ignites the compressed fuel-air mixture.
Which tool would you use to check that a shelf is perfectly horizontal?
Level A level has a small vial of liquid with an air bubble. When the bubble sits centered between the lines, the surface is level, meaning horizontal.
A 60-pound box sits on a lever 2 feet from the fulcrum. How much force must you push down with at a point 6 feet from the fulcrum, on the other side, to balance it? Ignore the weight of the lever.
20 pounds A lever balances when weight × distance is the same on both sides. The load side is 60 × 2 = 120. So the force × 6 must also equal 120, and 120 ÷ 6 = 20 pounds.
A gear with 20 teeth turns at 60 revolutions per minute (rpm). It meshes with a gear that has 40 teeth. How fast does the larger gear turn?
30 rpm Meshed gears pass the same number of teeth per minute. The small gear moves 20 × 60 = 1,200 teeth a minute. The large gear has 40 teeth, so it turns 1,200 ÷ 40 = 30 times a minute.