General Science
What the questions cover
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.
Biology: cell structures (nucleus, mitochondria, ribosomes, chloroplasts), photosynthesis and respiration, DNA and genes, mitosis versus meiosis, classification, food webs, and human body systems such as circulatory and digestive.
Chemistry: atomic structure (protons, neutrons, electrons), the periodic table, ionic versus covalent bonds, acids and bases (pH), states of matter, and physical versus chemical change.
Physics: Newton's three laws, speed/velocity/acceleration, work and energy, simple machines, heat transfer, waves, and basic circuits.
Earth and space: rock types and the rock cycle, plate tectonics, weathering versus erosion, the water cycle, weather fronts, planets, and seasons caused by axial tilt.
Traps that cost points
- Mixing up mass (amount of matter, constant) and weight (force of gravity, changes with location).
- Calling a hypothesis a theory, or assuming 'theory' means a guess.
- Confusing weathering (breaking rock in place) with erosion (transport of material).
- Assuming heavier objects fall faster in a vacuum - they do not.
- Choosing an answer that is true but does not answer the question asked.
Worked example
A metal block has a mass of 20 g and a volume of 4 cm3. Its density is 20 / 4 = 5 g/cm3. Because that is greater than water's 1 g/cm3, the block sinks. Writing the formula and units first prevents most errors.
Rule of thumb
When a question asks for the best explanation, prefer the simplest choice that accounts for all the evidence given, and always check units.