{"id":23058,"date":"2026-02-09T16:13:53","date_gmt":"2026-02-09T16:13:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/blog\/prep\/?p=23058"},"modified":"2026-02-09T22:13:23","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T22:13:23","slug":"what-is-the-asvab","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/asvab\/what-is-the-asvab\/","title":{"rendered":"What's Tested on the ASVAB?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) is the most widely used multiple-aptitude test battery in the world. It measures a test taker\u2019s suitability to enlist in the United States Armed Forces and assesses his or her abilities to be trained in specific civilian or military jobs.<\/p>\n

When you take the ASVAB officially, you will be given either a paper-and-pencil version of the test or a computer version (also referred to as a Computer Adaptive Test ASVAB, or CAT-ASVAB). About 70 percent of prospective recruits take the CAT-ASVAB, so that\u2019s likely to be the version you\u2019ll encounter.<\/p>\n

What does the ASVAB test?<\/h3>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\nIn addition to evaluating math and reading skills, the ASVAB also assesses performance in categories such as science, electronics, auto repair, and the ability to assemble objects. While the section topics and question types are the same on both the paper-and-pencil and CAT-ASVAB versions of the test, the amount of time and number of questions will differ slightly on each version. In the table below, you\u2019ll see the order in which the ASVAB subtests are ordered, the material tested in each section, and the differences between the paper-and-pencil and CAT-ASVAB versions. Additionally, note the sections that are highlighted in gray. These subtests make up the AFQT. In this table, the subtests are listed in the order in which you\u2019ll take them on Test Day.
\n
Subtest<\/th>Questions \/ Time Limit in Minutes (CAT-ASVAB)<\/th>Questions \/ Time Limit in Minutes (Paper & Pencil)<\/th>What’s Tested<\/th><\/tr>
General Science (GS)<\/td>16 questions \/ 8 minutes<\/td>25 questions \/ 11 minutes<\/td>Knowledge of general concepts from life, earth and space, and physical sciences<\/td><\/tr>
Arithmetic Reasoning (AR)<\/td>16 questions \/ 39 minutes<\/td>30 questions \/ 36 minutes<\/td>Ability to answer word problems that involve basic arithmetic calculations<\/td><\/tr>
Word Knowledge (WK)<\/td>16 questions \/ 8 minutes<\/td>35 questions \/ 11 minutes<\/td>Ability to recognize synonyms of words<\/td><\/tr>
Paragraph Comprehension (PC)<\/td>11 questions \/ 22 minutes<\/td>15 questions \/ 13 minutes<\/td>Ability to answer questions based on short passages (of 30\u2013120 words)<\/td><\/tr>
Mathematics Knowledge (MK)<\/td>16 questions \/ 20 minutes<\/td>25 questions \/ 24 minutes<\/td>Knowledge of math concepts, including applied arithmetic, algebra, and geometry<\/td><\/tr>
Electronics Information (EI)<\/td>16 questions \/ 8 minutes<\/td>20 questions \/ 9 minutes<\/td>Knowledge of electronic principles and terminology and of basic electronic circuitry<\/td><\/tr>
Auto and Shop Information (AS*)<\/td>11 questions \/ 7 minutes; 11 questions \/ 6 minutes<\/td>25 questions \/ 11 minutes<\/td>Knowledge of automobiles, and of tool and shop practices and terminology<\/td><\/tr>
Mechanical Comprehension (MC)<\/td>16 questions \/ 20 minutes<\/td>25 questions \/ 19 minutes<\/td>Knowledge of basic mechanical and physical principles<\/td><\/tr>
Assembling Objects (AO)<\/td>16 questions \/ 16 minutes<\/td>25 questions \/ 15 minutes<\/td>Ability to determine how a disassembled object will look when it is put back together<\/td><\/tr>
Totals <\/td>145 questions \/ 154 minutes<\/td>225 questions \/ 149 minutes<\/td><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div>