AFCT study guide
AFCT · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Armed Forces Classification Test (AFCT) is the military's reclassification instrument: it gives enlisted service members another opportunity to post line scores used for job assignment, retraining, and certain school or program prerequisites. It is not a separate career exam with its own curriculum - it draws on the same academic content areas as the initial entrance battery, covering word knowledge, paragraph comprehension, arithmetic reasoning, mathematics knowledge, general science, electronics information, auto and shop information, and mechanical comprehension. The AFCT study guide has 8 sections and about 2,364 words.
01Word Knowledge: Vocabulary in Context
Word Knowledge questions test whether you can pick the meaning that fits how a word is used in a sentence, not just whether you recognize the word. First, use context clues: contrast words ( but, although, unlike ), cause-and-effect words ( therefore, because ), and definition signals ( that is, or, in other words ) often reveal the meaning.
284 words, about 1 min02Paragraph Comprehension: Main Idea and Inference
Paragraph Comprehension asks you to read a short passage and answer questions about its main idea, supporting details, inferences, and the author's purpose or tone. Read the passage once for overall meaning, then reread the question stem to know what to look for.
336 words, about 2 min03Arithmetic Reasoning: Word Problems
Arithmetic Reasoning tests your ability to translate real-world situations into calculations. The core operations are addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, decimals, percentages, ratios, averages, and rates (distance = rate × time).
283 words, about 1 min04Mathematics Knowledge: Core Algebra and Geometry
Mathematics Knowledge tests recall and application of fundamental math rules-arithmetic properties, fractions, exponents, algebra, and geometry-usually without a word-problem story. Speed comes from knowing formulas cold.
269 words, about 1 min05General Science: Principles and Processes
General Science covers basic biology, chemistry, physics, and earth science at a conceptual level. You do not need advanced math-you need to recognize core principles and apply them to everyday situations.
311 words, about 2 min06Electronics Information: Circuits and Components
Electronics Information tests basic electrical concepts: current, voltage, resistance, circuits, and common components. Understanding a few relationships covers most questions.
292 words, about 1 min07Auto and Shop Information: Tools, Systems, and Safety
Auto and Shop Information covers how vehicles work, common hand and power tools, materials, and shop safety. Questions are practical: which tool for which job, what a part does, and how to work safely.
287 words, about 1 min08Mechanical Comprehension: Forces, Machines, and Motion
Mechanical Comprehension tests intuitive physics: how forces, levers, gears, pulleys, and fluids behave in real devices. You rarely need heavy math-you need to reason about how a system responds.
302 words, about 2 min