The ASVAB subtests: what’s on each section

The ten subtests at a glance

The times are without tryout questions. Any subtest can add up to 15 unscored tryouts, with more time to match.

Word Knowledge and Paragraph Comprehension

These are the two reading subtests. Word Knowledge gives you a word and asks for its closest synonym, and it moves fast: 15 questions in 9 minutes. Paragraph Comprehension gives you short passages and asks what they say or imply, with 27 minutes for 10 questions.

Together they make your Verbal Expression (VE) score, which shows up in the AFQT and in many line scores, so vocabulary work pays off twice.

The math subtests

Arithmetic Reasoning asks you to solve arithmetic word problems, and it has the longest time limit on the computer test, 55 minutes for 15 questions. Mathematics Knowledge tests high school math principles, with 31 minutes for 15 questions. No calculator is allowed on either, on any version of the test, so practice on paper.

The science and technical subtests

General Science, Electronics Information, Auto Information, Shop Information, Mechanical Comprehension and Assembling Objects don’t affect your AFQT. They matter for jobs: the Army’s Combat score, for example, uses Auto and Shop and Mechanical Comprehension, and the Air Force’s Electronics score uses Electronics Information and General Science.

Computer, paper and school versions

• Computer (CAT-ASVAB): ten subtests, with Auto and Shop given separately.
• Paper: nine subtests, because Auto and Shop are combined into one.
• At school (Career Exploration Program): nearly the same content, but no Assembling Objects, which is only given at MEPS and MET sites. School results show Verbal Skills, Math Skills, and Science and Technical Skills composites instead of service line scores.