CAT-ASVAB study guide
CAT-ASVAB · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is described by its official site as a multiple-aptitude battery that measures developed abilities and helps predict future academic and occupational success in the military. It is administered annually to more than one million military applicants, high school, and post-secondary students. The CAT-ASVAB study guide has 8 sections and about 2,630 words.
01General Science
General Science on the CAT-ASVAB samples high-school biology, chemistry, physics, and Earth/space science. You rarely need deep calculation, but you must recognize vocabulary and cause-and-effect relationships.
324 words, about 2 min02Arithmetic Reasoning
Arithmetic Reasoning is word problems: percentages, ratios, averages, rates, unit conversions, simple interest, and multi-step shopping or travel scenarios. The arithmetic is easy; the difficulty is translation and organization.
321 words, about 2 min03Word Knowledge
Word Knowledge asks you to pick the closest meaning (a synonym) for a given word, and occasionally the opposite. Words range from everyday to moderately academic, and the format is usually one word with four one-word options.
276 words, about 1 min04Paragraph Comprehension
Paragraph Comprehension passages are short - one to four paragraphs - and questions fall into predictable kinds: main idea, specific detail, inference, vocabulary in context, and author's purpose or tone. Read once for the overall point, then answer from the text rather than from memory or personal opinion.
348 words, about 2 min05Mathematics Knowledge
Mathematics Knowledge is direct computation and symbol manipulation: arithmetic, fractions and decimals, exponents and radicals, algebra, geometry, and basic probability. There is no story to decode, but there is also no partial credit, so check each step.
302 words, about 2 min06Electronics Information
Electronics Information tests voltage (E, electrical pressure), current (I, flow in amperes), and resistance (R, opposition in ohms), plus the components and safety practices built on them. Ohm's law: E = I x R.
340 words, about 2 min07Auto and Shop Information
Expect questions on the four-stroke cycle - intake, compression, power, exhaust - and the systems supporting it: fuel, ignition, cooling, lubrication, exhaust, and the drivetrain (transmission, driveshaft, differential, axles). Know the difference between the starting circuit and the charging system (alternator), disc versus drum brakes, and why coolant runs under pressure.
336 words, about 2 min08Mechanical Comprehension
Mechanical Comprehension rewards a feel for how forces behave. Master these: mechanical advantage of levers, pulleys, inclined planes, and gears; pressure and hydraulics; buoyancy; friction; and the relationship among work, force, and distance.
383 words, about 2 min