Free ASVAB practice test (16 questions)
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Question 1A driver travels at a steady 45 miles per hour for 3.5 hours. How many miles does she travel?
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Answer: C — 157.5 miles.
Distance = rate × time = 45 × 3.5 = 157.5 miles. 135 miles counts only the 3 full hours and forgets the last half hour (another 22.5 miles); 150 and 165 miles do not equal 45 × 3.5.
Checked against: Official ASVAB — Arithmetic Reasoning (AR): ability to solve arithmetic word problems
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Question 2A recipe uses 3 cups of flour to make 24 cookies. How many cups of flour are needed to make 40 cookies?
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Answer: A — 5 cups.
Each cookie needs 3/24 = 1/8 cup of flour, so 40 cookies need 40 × 1/8 = 5 cups. Setting up 3/24 = x/40 gives the same result.
Checked against: Official ASVAB — Arithmetic Reasoning (AR): ability to solve arithmetic word problems
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Question 3A shirt normally priced at $40 is on sale for 15% off. What is the sale price?
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Answer: B — $34.00.
15% of $40 is 0.15 × 40 = $6, so the sale price is $40 - $6 = $34. $25 subtracts 15 dollars instead of 15 percent, and $46 adds the discount.
Checked against: Official ASVAB — Arithmetic Reasoning (AR): ability to solve arithmetic word problems
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Question 4One pipe can fill a tank in 6 hours and a second pipe can fill it in 3 hours. How long do the two pipes take to fill the empty tank working together?
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Answer: D — 2 hours.
Together they fill 1/6 + 1/3 = 1/2 of the tank per hour, so the whole tank takes 2 hours. Averaging the two times (4.5 hours) is a common mistake: working together must be faster than the faster pipe alone.
Checked against: Official ASVAB — Arithmetic Reasoning (AR): ability to solve arithmetic word problems
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Question 5Abundant most nearly means
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Answer: B — plentiful.
Abundant means existing in large quantities, so plentiful is the synonym. Scarce is its opposite.
Checked against: officialasvab.com, What to Expect: ASVAB Subtests table, Word Knowledge (select the correct meaning of words in context and the best synonym)
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Question 6The new recruit was reluctant to speak during the briefing. Reluctant most nearly means
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Answer: A — unwilling.
Reluctant describes someone who holds back because they do not want to do something: unwilling. Unable would mean the recruit could not speak, which is a different idea.
Checked against: officialasvab.com, What to Expect: ASVAB Subtests table, Word Knowledge (select the correct meaning of words in context and the best synonym)
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Question 7Candid most nearly means
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Answer: B — frank.
A candid person speaks openly and honestly, so frank is the best match. Sweet is a trap based on the look-alike word candy.
Checked against: officialasvab.com, What to Expect: ASVAB Subtests table, Word Knowledge (select the correct meaning of words in context and the best synonym)
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Question 8The storm caused only a transient loss of power. Transient most nearly means
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Answer: D — temporary.
Transient means passing quickly or lasting only a short time. The word only in the sentence also signals that the outage did not last.
Checked against: officialasvab.com, What to Expect: ASVAB Subtests table, Word Knowledge (select the correct meaning of words in context and the best synonym)
Read the passage: Packing for the summit
Many first-time hikers pack for the weather they see at the trailhead. Experienced hikers pack for the weather they might meet at the top. Temperatures usually drop as elevation increases, and wind on an exposed ridge can make a mild day feel cold. For that reason, a light jacket and a spare layer earn their place in the pack even when the morning is warm.
Question 9The main point of the passage is that hikers should
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Answer: A — prepare for conditions colder than those at the start.
The passage contrasts packing for the trailhead with packing for the top, where it is colder and windier. The other choices are not suggested anywhere.
Checked against: officialasvab.com, What to Expect: ASVAB Subtests table, Paragraph Comprehension (obtain information from written passages)
Same passage as above.
Question 10According to the passage, what can make a mild day feel cold?
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Answer: A — Wind on an exposed ridge.
The passage states that wind on an exposed ridge can make a mild day feel cold. The other choices are never mentioned.
Checked against: officialasvab.com, What to Expect: ASVAB Subtests table, Paragraph Comprehension (obtain information from written passages)
Read the passage: The tool library
When the library in a small river town began lending tools along with books, some residents doubted anyone would use the service. Within a year, drills, ladders and garden tools were being checked out more often than many popular novels. The librarians noticed that most borrowers needed a tool for a single job and saw no reason to buy one that would then sit unused in a garage.
Question 11It can be inferred from the passage that many borrowers
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Answer: D — preferred not to buy tools they would rarely use.
The librarians saw that most borrowers needed a tool for one job and did not want it sitting unused, so they chose not to buy. Nothing is said about their income, jobs or reading habits.
Checked against: officialasvab.com, What to Expect: ASVAB Subtests table, Paragraph Comprehension (obtain information from written passages)
Read the passage: Car radios
The first radios installed in cars were bulky and expensive, and they drew enough power that listening with the engine off could drain the battery. Engineers gradually made the sets smaller and more efficient. Within a few decades, a radio had become a standard feature of a new car rather than a luxury.
Question 12In the last sentence, the word standard most nearly means
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Answer: B — normally included.
The sentence contrasts a standard feature with a luxury: the radio came with the car as a matter of course. Standard can mean a level of quality or a unit of measure, but not in this context.
Checked against: officialasvab.com, What to Expect: ASVAB Subtests table, Paragraph Comprehension (obtain information from written passages)
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Question 13If 3x + 7 = 25, what is the value of x?
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Answer: B — 6.
Subtract 7 from both sides: 3x = 18. Divide by 3: x = 6. 18 is the value of 3x, not x.
Checked against: Official ASVAB — Mathematics Knowledge (MK): knowledge of high school mathematics principles
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Question 14What is the area of a circle with a radius of 5 inches?
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Answer: D — 25 pi square inches.
Area = pi × r² = pi × 5² = 25 pi square inches. 10 pi is the circumference, and 50 pi doubles the area.
Checked against: Official ASVAB — Mathematics Knowledge (MK): knowledge of high school mathematics principles
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Question 15What is the value of 3² added to the square root of 144?
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Answer: A — 21.
The square root of 144 is 12 and 3² = 9, so 12 + 9 = 21. 18 treats 3² as 3 × 2.
Checked against: Official ASVAB — Mathematics Knowledge (MK): knowledge of high school mathematics principles
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Question 16A right triangle has legs of 9 cm and 12 cm. How long is the hypotenuse?
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Answer: C — 15 cm.
By the Pythagorean theorem, c² = 9² + 12² = 81 + 144 = 225, so c = 15 cm. 21 cm simply adds the legs.
Checked against: Official ASVAB — Mathematics Knowledge (MK): knowledge of high school mathematics principles
Official passing standard: No single passing score. Enlistment eligibility is judged on the AFQT percentile (1 to 99) and job assignment on Service composite scores; each Service sets its own minimums, which officialasvab.com does not publish.
Want more? The AFQT Practice Pack for the ASVAB has more practice tests in the same format, with every answer explained.
ASVAB format
| Section | Questions | Scored | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Science | 15 | 15 | 12 min |
| Arithmetic Reasoning | 15 | 15 | 55 min |
| Word Knowledge | 15 | 15 | 9 min |
| Paragraph Comprehension | 10 | 10 | 27 min |
| Mathematics Knowledge | 15 | 15 | 31 min |
| Electronics Information | 15 | 15 | 10 min |
| Auto Information + Shop Information (AS) | 20 | 20 | 13 min |
| Mechanical Comprehension | 15 | 15 | 22 min |
| Assembling Objects | 15 | 15 | 18 min |
No single total is published for the test as a whole. Proctored CAT-ASVAB (MEPS and most MET sites): adaptive, self-paced, with a time limit per subtest (see the section table) and about 2 hours on average according to officialasvab.com; tryout questions and extra time are added to 2 to 4 subtests. Paper-and-pencil version (a handful of MET sites): 225 questions, 149 minutes of testing, 3 to 4 hours with instructions.
| ASVAB | Official rule |
|---|---|
| Subtests | 10 in the enlistment ASVAB: General Science, Arithmetic Reasoning, Word Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension, Mathematics Knowledge, Electronics Information, Auto Information, Shop Information, Mechanical Comprehension, Assembling Objects (Auto and Shop are one combined subtest on paper) source |
| Section table above | Proctored CAT-ASVAB figures: scored questions and time limit per subtest without tryout questions. Auto Information (10 questions, 7 minutes) and Shop Information (10 questions, 6 minutes) are separate subtests on the computer but are reported as one AS score; they are shown on one row source |
| CAT-ASVAB (computer) length | Adaptive and self-paced: 10 or 15 scored questions per subtest, each with its own time limit; unscored tryout questions, with extra time, are added to 2 to 4 subtests. About 2 hours on average source |
| Paper-and-pencil length | 225 questions in 149 minutes of testing; 3 to 4 hours in total with instructions; given at only a handful of MET sites source |
| AFQT score | Computed from the standard scores of Arithmetic Reasoning, Mathematics Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension and Word Knowledge source |
| AFQT scale | Percentile from 1 to 99, compared with a national sample of 18- to 23-year-olds tested in 1997 source |
| AFQT categories | I: 93-99, II: 65-92, IIIA: 50-64, IIIB: 31-49, IVA: 21-30, IVB: 16-20, IVC: 10-15, V: 1-9 source |
| Calculator | Not allowed source |
| Retest waiting periods | 1 calendar month after the first test, 1 more month before a second retest, then 6 months between later retests source |
| Score validity | Scores can be used for enlistment for up to 2 years from the test date source |
| Where | At one of 65 Military Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS) or a satellite Military Entrance Test (MET) site, scheduled through a recruiter source |
| At-home option (PiCAT) | Unproctored online CAT-ASVAB, only for people who have never taken the ASVAB, once; access code from a recruiter; a short proctored Verification Test within 45 days source |
| Scores released | CAT-ASVAB: right after the session. Paper-and-pencil: usually a few days source |
| Language | English only source |
| Student Testing Program | ASVAB Career Exploration Program, given in schools and free of charge to participating schools; same content except that Assembling Objects is not given source |
Checked on the official sources on September 30, 2026. Rules change: always confirm on the official site before test day.
Practice by section
ASVAB Arithmetic Reasoning practice test
10 free questions with explanations
ASVAB Word Knowledge practice test
10 free questions with explanations
ASVAB Paragraph Comprehension practice test
10 free questions with explanations
ASVAB Mathematics Knowledge practice test
10 free questions with explanations
What the ASVAB is
The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is the test every applicant takes to enlist in the U.S. military. Its scores are used for two different decisions: whether you are qualified to enlist, and which military jobs you can be assigned to (officialasvab.com fact sheet). The same test is also given in many high schools through the ASVAB Career Exploration Program, which is free of charge to participating schools.
There is only one test. The "AFQT" you hear about is not a separate exam but a score calculated from four of the ASVAB subtests (official FAQs).
The subtests and the format
The enlistment ASVAB measures four domains (verbal, math, science and technical, spatial) through 10 subtests. There are two versions: the computer-adaptive CAT-ASVAB, used at every Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) and most Military Entrance Test (MET) sites, and a paper-and-pencil version given at only a handful of MET sites. The figures below are those published on the official "What to Expect" page.
| Subtest | CAT-ASVAB: scored questions / minutes | Paper-and-pencil: questions / minutes |
|---|---|---|
| General Science (GS) | 15 / 12 | 25 / 11 |
| Arithmetic Reasoning (AR) | 15 / 55 | 30 / 36 |
| Word Knowledge (WK) | 15 / 9 | 35 / 11 |
| Paragraph Comprehension (PC) | 10 / 27 | 15 / 13 |
| Mathematics Knowledge (MK) | 15 / 31 | 25 / 24 |
| Electronics Information (EI) | 15 / 10 | 20 / 9 |
| Auto Information (AI) | 10 / 7 | Auto & Shop (AS): 25 / 11 |
| Shop Information (SI) | 10 / 6 | (combined with AI) |
| Mechanical Comprehension (MC) | 15 / 22 | 25 / 19 |
| Assembling Objects (AO) | 15 / 18 | 25 / 15 |
A few things the table does not show:
- Tryout questions. On the CAT-ASVAB, each examinee gets unscored tryout questions in 2 to 4 subtests, with extra time added. With tryouts, a subtest can have up to 15 more questions and a longer limit (for example 113 minutes instead of 55 for Arithmetic Reasoning) (What to Expect).
- Duration. The proctored CAT-ASVAB takes about 2 hours on average, and you move to the next subtest as soon as you finish one. The paper version takes 3 to 4 hours including instructions.
- No calculator. You cannot use a calculator on any version. The official reason: the ASVAB is an employment test, and hand calculation may be needed on the job (FAQs).
- English only. There is no Spanish version.
How the CAT-ASVAB works
The computer version is adaptive: after a correct answer you usually get a harder question, after a wrong answer an easier one (The CAT-ASVAB). That is why it needs fewer questions than the paper test. Two practical consequences, both from the official preparation page:
- You cannot go back to a question once you have answered it.
- If time is running out, answer the remaining questions properly rather than guessing at random: the CAT-ASVAB applies a relatively large penalty when several wrong answers come at the end of a subtest. Items left unfinished when time runs out are scored as if answered at random (The CAT-ASVAB). On the paper test the advice is the opposite: there is no penalty for guessing, so fill in every answer.
AFQT score vs line scores
This is the part most candidates misunderstand.
Subtest scores are reported as standard scores, where about half of a national sample of 18- to 23-year-olds scores 50 or more (Understanding ASVAB Scores).
The AFQT (Armed Forces Qualification Test) score is computed from the standard scores of four subtests only: Arithmetic Reasoning, Mathematics Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension and Word Knowledge. It is a percentile from 1 to 99, not a percentage of correct answers. An AFQT of 62 means you did as well as or better than 62% of a nationally representative sample of 18- to 23-year-olds tested in 1997 (FAQs). The AFQT decides enlistment eligibility. The official site groups scores into categories: I (93-99), II (65-92), IIIA (50-64), IIIB (31-49), IVA (21-30), IVB (16-20), IVC (10-15) and V (1-9) (scores page).
Line scores (the official site calls them Service composite scores) combine different subtests and are used to assign you to military jobs (FAQs). This is why the technical subtests matter even though they are not in the AFQT.
There is no single "passing score". Each Service sets its own minimum AFQT and its own line-score requirements for each job, and officialasvab.com does not publish them. Ask your recruiter for the current requirements of the Service and jobs you are aiming for; they can change.
Where and how you take it
To take the enlistment ASVAB you contact a recruiter, who first screens you (age, health, education, legal history) and then schedules the test. It is given at one of 65 MEPS in the U.S. and Puerto Rico or at a MET site. Bring valid identification and do not be late: late arrivals are turned away and must reschedule. Your recruiter can drive you but may not enter the testing room.
CAT-ASVAB scores are available right after the session; paper answer sheets are scanned at the MEPS and usually take a few days (What to Expect).
PiCAT (at home). If you have never taken the ASVAB, your recruiter can give you an access code for the PiCAT, an unproctored online version with no time limits per subtest. The code expires after 30 days, the test must be finished within 48 hours once started, and it can be taken only once. If your scores look qualifying, you take a short proctored Verification Test (Vtest, 25 to 30 minutes) at a MEPS or MET site within 45 days; if it confirms your results, the PiCAT scores become your official scores (PiCAT).
School ASVAB. Scores from the Student Testing Program can be used to enlist for up to two years if they can be verified as yours (FAQs). The student version has no Assembling Objects subtest, and students receive three career-exploration composites (Verbal Skills, Math Skills, Science and Technical Skills) rather than the AFQT and Service composites reported in enlistment testing (FAQs).
Retakes
According to the official retest policy, you must wait one calendar month after your first test, one more month before a second retest, and six months between any later retests. The rule is the same whether your first test was a student or an enlistment test. If your AFQT jumps by 20 points or more within six months, you are required to take a confirmation test. Scores remain valid for enlistment for two years.
How to prepare
The official program does not endorse any commercial prep and warns against anyone claiming to sell actual ASVAB questions or guaranteed scores (test preparation disclaimer). Its own advice is simple: solid math, English and science courses, then practice with free material. Start there:
- The official sample questions for all 10 subtests.
- Free practice on asvabprogram.com and March2Success, both listed by the official site.
Practical tips:
- Work the AFQT four first. Arithmetic Reasoning, Mathematics Knowledge, Word Knowledge and Paragraph Comprehension decide eligibility. Then look at the subtests used for the jobs you want.
- Practice arithmetic by hand. Fractions, percentages, ratios and multi-step word problems without a calculator, with scratch paper only.
- Build vocabulary in context. Word Knowledge asks for the meaning of words alone and in sentences. Learn common roots and watch for look-alike traps (eminent/imminent, discreet/discrete).
- Read for the question asked. In Paragraph Comprehension, the answer is in the passage: separate what is stated from what is merely plausible.
- Rehearse under time. On paper, Word Knowledge gives 35 questions in 11 minutes, so speed matters.
- Find out which version you will take, because pacing and guessing strategy differ (Preparing for the ASVAB).
Our practice pack for the ASVAB contains two full AFQT practice tests built on the paper-and-pencil format (105 original questions in 84 minutes each) with explained answers. They show a percentage correct, not an AFQT percentile, which only the official test can give you.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a calculator on the ASVAB?
No. The official site states that you cannot use a calculator; the ASVAB is an employment test and hand calculation may be needed on the job. Source
Are the ASVAB and the AFQT two different tests?
No. There is one test, the ASVAB. Your scores on Word Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension, Arithmetic Reasoning and Mathematics Knowledge are combined into the AFQT score, which decides enlistment eligibility; all subtests are used to find the best job for you. Source
What does my AFQT score mean?
It is a percentile from 1 to 99. An AFQT of 62 means you scored as well as or better than 62% of a nationally representative sample of 18- to 23-year-olds tested in 1997. It is not a percentage of questions answered correctly. Source
How soon can I retake the ASVAB?
You must wait one calendar month after the initial test, another month before a second retest, and six months between any later retests. Source
Is the computer ASVAB harder than the paper one?
It can feel harder or easier because the CAT-ASVAB adapts to your level, but scores on both versions are statistically linked, so you should get a similar score either way. Source
Can I use the ASVAB I took at school to enlist?
Yes, for up to two years after the test date, provided the scores can be verified as yours. Source
Can I take the ASVAB at home?
Only through the PiCAT, an unproctored online version your recruiter gives you an access code for. It is open only to people who have never taken the ASVAB, can be taken once, and must be confirmed by a short proctored Verification Test within 45 days. Source
Is the ASVAB available in Spanish?
No. It is given only in English, because all military members need to be able to speak English. Source
Sources
- officialasvab.com — What to Expect When You Take the ASVAB (subtests, CAT-ASVAB and paper-and-pencil tables; page updated 2025-07-24) — ASVAB Enlistment Testing Program, U.S. Department of Defense (checked September 30, 2026)
- officialasvab.com — The CAT-ASVAB (page updated 2024-03-08) — ASVAB Enlistment Testing Program, U.S. Department of Defense (checked September 30, 2026)
- officialasvab.com — Understanding ASVAB Scores — ASVAB Enlistment Testing Program, U.S. Department of Defense (checked September 30, 2026)
- officialasvab.com — FAQs (page updated 2024-06-17) — ASVAB Enlistment Testing Program, U.S. Department of Defense (checked September 30, 2026)
- officialasvab.com — ASVAB Retest Policy (page updated 2024-11-04) — ASVAB Enlistment Testing Program, U.S. Department of Defense (checked September 30, 2026)
- officialasvab.com — Unproctored Administration of the ASVAB: PiCAT (page updated 2025-07-15) — ASVAB Enlistment Testing Program, U.S. Department of Defense (checked September 30, 2026)
- officialasvab.com — The AFQT Predictor Test: APT — ASVAB Enlistment Testing Program, U.S. Department of Defense (checked September 30, 2026)
- officialasvab.com — Preparing for the ASVAB — ASVAB Enlistment Testing Program, U.S. Department of Defense (checked September 30, 2026)
- officialasvab.com — ASVAB Subtests (page updated 2025-04-08) — ASVAB Enlistment Testing Program, U.S. Department of Defense (checked September 30, 2026)
- officialasvab.com — ASVAB Career Exploration Program — ASVAB Enlistment Testing Program, U.S. Department of Defense (checked September 30, 2026)
- officialasvab.com — Where to Take the ASVAB — ASVAB Enlistment Testing Program, U.S. Department of Defense (checked September 30, 2026)
- officialasvab.com — ASVAB Test Preparation Disclaimer (page updated 2025-06-09) — ASVAB Enlistment Testing Program, U.S. Department of Defense (checked September 30, 2026)
- officialasvab.com — Sample Questions — ASVAB Enlistment Testing Program, U.S. Department of Defense (checked September 30, 2026)
- officialasvab.com — Norming Information — ASVAB Enlistment Testing Program, U.S. Department of Defense (checked September 30, 2026)
The ASVAB is developed and administered by the U.S. Department of Defense, which is not affiliated with and does not endorse passmock. Our practice questions are original and are not ASVAB test items. Our questions are original practice questions written from the official test description and study materials; they are not questions from the real test.