Is the ASVAB a difficult test or is it just based on common sense? This is a question often asked by high school students and high school graduates considering a career in the United States military. The answer is that the exam is really a bit of both, and in this article I will help you understand the difference.
If you are considering a military career in the United States Armed Forces, you are probably aware of the long and tedious application process. In addition to background checks, medical qualifications, physical fitness requirements, and a mountain of paperwork, you’ll also be required to pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, or ASVAB for short.
If you have yet to familiarize yourself with the exam, you may think that the exam is really difficult and potentially impossible. If you ask, you’ll get mixed answers ranging from ‘The exam is a joke, you don’t even have to study’ to ‘The exam is so hard, I failed twice’.
My advice: DON’T LISTEN TO THESE PEOPLE
While the exam isn’t a “joke,” it certainly can’t be undone. After all, there are thousands of recruits joining the military every year, how can so many take and pass an impossible exam? On the other hand, there are many who do not pass the exam, some more than once.
They all come from different backgrounds and therefore it would be unfair to compare yourself to the person who passed or failed the exam. Your best bet for the exam is to become familiar with both the exam and the topics tested. Once you understand what is expected of you, you can make a calculated decision of what is required of you before moving forward.
My advice would be to start by taking a practice test to see how you rate. Take this test in real ASVAB conditions, which means no distractions, a stopwatch handy, and absolutely no calculators. After completing and scoring your exam, review your results.
First see how well you scored in each of the sections, then analyze what concepts you missed in each section and why. Knowing where you stand will help you create an appropriate study program that focuses on strengthening your strengths and strengthening your weak study topics.
After studying the required topics for a bit, test your progress by taking another test. Your goal is to get comfortable enough with each of the given topics to ensure that while the exam may not be a “joke” it will at least be manageable.
