In this section, we will take a glance at how you can enlist in the US Air Force – more specifically at the various hurdles you need to cross to make it into this distinguished military profession.
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Air Force ASVAB Test Preparation
- 01/03/19
- Air force
If you wish to enlist as a member of the US Air Force, you will need to pass an exam known as the ASVAB test. This exam is composed of nine sub-tests, each of which looks at a particular aptitude. In order to pass the exam, you must prepare in the weeks and months ahead as the exam looms – as its long-term preparation that will see the greatest success. In this section, we will take a look at air force ASVAB test preparation, going through the steps you need to take to make it into this much admired profession. Though, before we dip into the resources you need, it’s worth taking some time to learn more about the steps you need to take to qualify in the first place.
About the ASVAB Air Force Exam
As we just discussed, the ASVAB exam is composed of nine distinct sub-sections. Each of these sub-tests looks at a particular area of study – whether it’s the reading comprehension exam, or the paragraph comprehension exam. The table below looks at each of the nine exams, including how many questions and how much allotted time is provided in the computerized format.
| # | ASVAB Test (Code) | Questions and Allotted Time |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | General Science (GS) | 16 Questions in 8 Minutes |
| 02 | Arithmetic Reasoning (AR) | 16 Questions in 39 Minutes |
| 03 | Word Knowledge (WK) | 16 Questions in 8 Minutes |
| 04 | Paragraph Comprehension (PC) | 11 Questions in 22 Minutes |
| 05 | Mathematics Knowledge (MK) | 16 Questions in 20 Minutes |
| 06 | Electronics Information (EI) | 16 Questions in 8 Minutes |
| 07 | Automotive & Shop Information (AS) | 11 Questions in 7 Minutes |
| 08 | Mechanical Comprehension (MC) | 16 Questions in 20 Minutes |
| 09 | Assembling Objects (AO) | 16 Questions in 16 Minutes |
It’s important to note, though, that this table reflects the computerized version of the exam. Another format – that of the written version – has a different number of questions and allotted time, so you should be sure of which format you will be taking. Nonetheless, we can see how the time varies between 7 minutes and 39 minutes – not much time if you consider the considerable amount of material you must digest and absorb for each exam. In terms of air force ASVAB test preparation, you will need to focus on two particular scores: the AFQT Score and the MOS Score.
Understanding ASVAB Scores
Understanding these scores is essential for your air force ASVAB test preparation. The AFQT score is the equivalent of an IQ test and only considers four of these exams in its calculation. These exams include Arithmetic Reasoning (AR), Mathematics Knowledge (MK), Paragraph Comprehension (PC), and Word Knowledge (WK). If you wish to enlist in the US Air Force, the score you need to achieve will depend on whether you possess a high school diploma (HS), or have the GED. If you have a HS diploma, you will need to achieve an AFQT score of 50. If you only have the GED, you will need to achieve an AFQT score of 65.
As well as attaining this AFQT score, you will also need to achieve the requisite MOS score. The MOS, or Military Occupational Speciality, score is akin to an aptitude score. It is calculated depending on the military specialty you plan to enlist. Say, for example, that you wished to operate on the electrical side of the Air Force. The MOS score would be calculated from the results of the Arithmetic Reasoning exam, Mathematics Knowledge exam, Electronics Information exam, and the General Science exam. There is overlap between the subjects on the AFQT and the MOS score for the ‘Electrical’ requirements for this particular military discipline. You get the idea.
If your goal is to enlist as a member of the US Air Force, you will need to perform well not only for the AFQT score, but also for the particular MOS score in the military speciality of your choice. Long-term preparation is essential.
There are four main specialities within the air force ASVAB, as detailed in the list below:
- General – VE + AR
- Mechanical – MC + GS (2 x AS)
- Administrative – NO + CS + VE
- Electrical – AR + MK + EI + GS
It’s worth noting that NO (Numerical Operations) and CS (Coding Speed) exams are being phased out of the ASVAB, and may be replaced by standard scores.
In review – you will need to pass the requisite AFQT score, as well as reaching the required MOS score for the particular military speciality you wish to enlist in. At this point, you simply need to study for these exams, paying particular attention to the subjects of most relevance. Nonetheless, you should still aim to achieve as high a result you can, as it can make a significant difference to recruiters. You are, after all, showing recruiters you are adaptable across a wide spectrum of subjects – and given the fierce competition for places – you will need to make that extra effort if you wish to be successful in this role.
Summary
In this section, we took a brief look at air force ASVAB test preparation, specifically focussing on the requirements you need to pass to get into this military career. We noted how difficult it is, not least because of the high result you will need to achieve across a wide array of exams. With the right resources, focussed study strategy, and dedicated plan, you will have no difficulty achieving the dizzy heights an air force career demands of you. Take note of the subjects you need to particularly focus your attention, as it’s here that will ultimately determine whether you make it into the military or not.
Learn more about how you can gain access to our exclusive resources to help you pass the ASVAB test.
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