ASVAB AFQT For Dummies, with Online Practice Tests E-Book

Rod Powers

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Bildung
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2014

Seitenzahl: 471

Beschreibung

Your mission is an AFQT 99th percentile score - emergevictorious! If you're hoping to enter the military, the ASVAB may be themost important test you'll ever take. Your scores from the AFQTportion of the test determine your placement, and the minimumstandards are rising along with increases in enlistment. You needgreat scores to be an attractive candidate. The AFQT is scored on apercentile basis, so you're competing for rank against a millionother potential recruits. If you want to shine, you need to startpreparing now. ASVAB AFQT For Dummies, 2nd Edition is the ultimate guideto acing the English and Math sections of the ASVAB. The AFQT scorefocuses on Word Knowledge, Reading Comprehension, MathematicsKnowledge and Arithmetic Reasoning subtest, so you need to buckledown and get up to par. ASVAB AFQT For Dummies has long beenthe go-to AFQT prep resource, and the Premier version offersyou an enhanced prep experience. In addition to the wealth ofinformation in the book, you'll also get access to a host of onlinecontent that more closely mimics the actual ASVAB and CAT-ASVABtesting environment. * Create your own practice tests to eliminate yourweaknesses * Expand your vocabulary with interactive flashcards * See complete answers and explanations to each question * Learn strategies specifically geared toward taking theAFQT Your future in the military starts now. The minute you sit downto take the ASVAB, you're telling recruiters what you're worth.Start preparing now to perform to your full potential. ASVABAFQT For Dummies, 2nd Edition is your single most valuableresource for AFQT prep. Only you can decide if you're up to thechallenge.

Leseprobe

ASVAB AFQT For Dummies®, 2nd Edition

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2014931919

ISBN 978-1-118-81778-0 (pbk); ISBN 978-1-118-83076-5 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-118-83077-2 (ebk)

Manufactured in the United States of America

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ASVAB AFQT For Dummies®, 2nd Edition

Table of Contents

Introduction

About This Book

Foolish Assumptions

Icons Used in This Book

Beyond the Book

Where to Go from Here

Part I: Getting Started with ASVAB AFQT

Chapter 1: Examining the AFQT

Getting a Close-Up View of the AFQT

Reaping the Benefits of Getting the Highest Possible Score

Establishing a Study Program

Guessing Smart

Using the Practice Exams to Your Advantage

Chapter 2: Facing the AFQT Head-on

Looking at the Big ASVAB Picture

The computerized ASVAB (CAT-ASVAB)

The pencil-and-paper test

Scoring the AFQT

Understanding raw scores

Computing the verbal expression score

Getting the AFQT score formula

Normalizing the percentile score

Making Sense of Minimum Qualifying Scores

Considering the AFQT tier categories

Making the military cut

Retaking the Test

Army

Air Force

Navy

Marine Corps

Coast Guard

Chapter 3: Mastering the Art of Studying and Test Taking

Reading for Study

Checking out the survey, question, read, recall, and review method

Taking notes

Putting Study Strategies to Work for You

Working with your own learning style

Getting the most out of your study time

Taking the Test: Putting Your Best Foot Forward

The day before

Test day

Part II: English as a First Language

Chapter 4: Developing a Solid Vocabulary

Growing Your Vocabulary

Reading more to learn more

Talking to people

Adding words to your vocabulary

Using puzzles and games to improve your vocabulary

You’re on my list: Working with word lists

Flashing yourself with flashcards

Building a Word from Scratch

Rooting around for roots

Attaching prefixes and suffixes

A Word by Any Other Name: Surveying Synonyms and Antonyms

Getting Homogeneous with Homonyms

Chapter 5: The Word Knowledge Subtest

Getting Acquainted with the Test Format

Bumping Up Your Test Score

Keeping an eye on the clock

Watching out for the evil homonym

Considering guessing

Trying On Some Sample Questions

Answers and Explanations

Chapter 6: Reading for Comprehension

Taking Pointers about Points

Picking out the main point

Simplifying subpoints

Analyzing What You’ve Read

Say what? What does that passage mean?

Say it again, Sam: Paraphrasing

Improving Your Reading Comprehension Skills

Taking the time to read

Skimming and scanning

Looking for the main ideas and subpoints

Building your vocabulary

Paraphrasing

Remembering by reflecting

Speaking about Speed

Chapter 7: The Paragraph Comprehension Subtest

Tackling the Test Format: Types of Questions

The treasure hunt

Getting the point

Dictionary

Deep thinking

Planning Your Attack

Surveying Sample Test Questions

Answers and Explanations

Part III: Calculating Better Math Knowledge

Chapter 8: Knowing Your Math

Making the Most of Math Terminology

The Heart of Math: Exploring Expressions and Equations

Obeying the order of operations

Keeping equations balanced

Mental Math: Dealing with the Distributive Property

Having Fun with Factors

Understanding types of factors

Finding prime factors

Looking at Least Common Multiples

Conquering the Fear of Fractions

Defining parts and types of fractions

Simplifying fractions

Multiplying fractions

Dividing fractions

Adding and subtracting fractions

Performing multiple operations

Converting fractions to decimals

Comparing fractions

Getting rational about ratios

Dealing with Decimals

Converting decimals to fractions

Adding and subtracting decimals

Multiplying decimals

Dividing decimals

Rounding

Perusing percents

Playing with Positive and Negative Numbers

Rooting for Roots and Powers

Advice about exponents

Roots

Scientific notation

Alphabet Soup: Tackling Algebra Review

Visiting variables

Following the rules of algebra

All Is Not Equal: Examining Inequalities

Solving Quadratics

Method 1: The square-root method

Method 2: The factoring method

Method 3: The quadratic formula

Knowing All the Angles: Geometry Review

Knowing all the angles

Common geometric shapes

Famous geometry formulas

Chapter 9: The Mathematics Knowledge Subtest

Taking Stock of the Test Structure

Direct math questions

Math law questions

Combined questions

Planning Your Test Attack

Keeping an eye on the all-important clock

Doubling your chances by double-checking

Using the answer choices to your advantage

Playing the guessing game

Practice Makes Perfect: Sampling Some Practice Questions

Answers and Explanations

Chapter 10: Working with Word Problems

Making Sense of Word Problems

Setting Up the Problem

Getting organized

Understanding the problem

Identifying the information you need

Translating the problem

Trying Out Typical Word Problems

Age problems

Geometric problems

Coin problems

Travel problems

Investment/loan problems

Mixture problems

Percent problems

Work problems

Number problems

Chapter 11: The Arithmetic Reasoning Subtest

Looking at the Test Structure

Developing a Test Strategy

Keeping track of the time

Choosing an answer and checking it twice

Using the answer choices: There’s more than one way to skin an equation

Logical guessing

Taking Arithmetic Reasoning out for a Spin

Answers and Explanations

Part IV: AFQT Practice Exams

Chapter 12: Practice Exam 1

Part 1: Arithmetic Reasoning

Part 2: Word Knowledge

Part 3: Paragraph Comprehension

Part 4: Mathematics Knowledge

Chapter 13: Practice Exam 1: Answers and Explanations

Part 1: Arithmetic Reasoning

Part 2: Word Knowledge

Part 3: Paragraph Comprehension

Part 4: Mathematics Knowledge

Answer Key

Chapter 14: Practice Exam 2

Part 1: Arithmetic Reasoning

Part 2: Word Knowledge

Part 3: Paragraph Comprehension

Part 4: Mathematics Knowledge

Chapter 15: Practice Exam 2: Answers and Explanations

Part 1: Arithmetic Reasoning

Part 2: Word Knowledge

Part 3: Paragraph Comprehension

Part 4: Mathematics Knowledge

Answer Key

Chapter 16: Practice Exam 3

Part 1: Arithmetic Reasoning

Part 2: Word Knowledge

Part 3: Paragraph Comprehension

Part 4: Mathematics Knowledge

Chapter 17: Practice Exam 3: Answers and Explanations

Part 1: Arithmetic Reasoning

Part 2: Word Knowledge

Part 3: Paragraph Comprehension

Part 4: Mathematics Knowledge

Answer Key

Chapter 18: Practice Exam 4

Part 1: Arithmetic Reasoning

Part 2: Word Knowledge

Part 3: Paragraph Comprehension

Part 4: Mathematics Knowledge

Chapter 19: Practice Exam 4: Answers and Explanations

Part 1: Arithmetic Reasoning

Part 2: Word Knowledge

Part 3: Paragraph Comprehension

Part 4: Mathematics Knowledge

Answer Key

Part V: The Part of Tens

Chapter 20: Ten Tips for a Better AFQT Score

Take Your Time

Make a Study Plan

Use the Practice Exams to Your Advantage

Memorize Basic Math Formulas

Memorize the Math Order of Operations

Boost Your Vocabulary

Comprehend What You Read

Arrive at the Test Site Refreshed and Prepared

Watch the Clock

Guess Smart

Chapter 21: Ten Topics to Explore

For More about the ASVAB

For More about the Military

For More about Math

For More about Math Word Problems

For More about Vocabulary

For More about Reading Comprehension

For More about Test Taking

Playing at Public Libraries

Consorting with Colleges

Trying Out a Tutor

Appendix: Matching ASVAB Scores to Military Jobs

Army Enlisted Jobs

Air Force Enlisted Jobs

Navy Enlisted Jobs

Marine Corps Enlisted Jobs

Coast Guard Enlisted Jobs

About the Author

Guide

Table of Contents

Begin Reading

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Introduction

Because you’re reading this book, there’s a very good chance that you’re interested in joining the U.S. military. I say that because the military recruiting commands are the only people in the entire world who care about the Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) score. The AFQT score is derived from four of the nine Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) subtests. It’s used to determine your overall qualification to join the military branch of your choice.

Perhaps you’ve read my best-selling ASVAB For Dummies (Wiley), or some other ASVAB prep book, and you want more practice so you can achieve the highest possible AFQT score. Maybe you’ve already taken the ASVAB, you want to retest for a higher AFQT score, and you’re looking for an advantage. In any case, you’ve chosen the right book!

Ever since ASVAB For Dummies hit the bookshelves, I’ve received hundreds of e-mails from readers, asking for ways to score higher on the AFQT portion of the ASVAB. That’s why I decided to write this book. Although the entire ASVAB is an important qualification for the military job you want, the four subtests that make up the AFQT score are ultra-important because the AFQT score determines whether you can even get into the military.

Long gone are the days when someone could just walk into a recruiter’s office and get into the military as long as he had a pulse. Today’s all-volunteer military members are the cream of the crop. For example, did you know that under current regulations, you need a minimum of a high school education to join, and that no more than 10 percent of all recruits can have a GED?

Something else you may not know: The military services can’t just grow to whatever size they want. Like any other government agency, they have a budget, and they have to operate within that budget. Every year, when Congress passes the annual Defense Authorization Act, it tells each military branch how many members it’s allowed to have at any given time. By law, the services can’t go over the size mandated by congressional leaders (who hold the military purse strings).

Did you also know that of every ten people who walk into a military recruiter’s office, only three ultimately are allowed to enlist? Sure, some are disqualified because of medical history or criminal history, but many are turned away because their AFQT scores are too low or because other qualified applicants have higher AFQT scores.

Today’s military is high-tech. Even the “common” infantry soldier has to learn how to use and maintain complicated electronic gadgets to survive on today’s battlefield. The services use the AFQT to determine whether someone is “trainable” in the high-tech military.

About This Book

Full-disclosure doctrine requires me to inform you that much of the information in this book can be found in ASVAB For Dummies. The AFQT is, after all, part of the ASVAB, and I wouldn’t cheat you by putting part of the information in one book and part of the information in another.

So why should you spend some of your hard-earned money on this book, particularly if you’ve already bought ASVAB For Dummies? Because here you find expanded, more-detailed information about the AFQT and the four subtests that make up the AFQT score. If you’re worried about your AFQT score, I guarantee this book will help you get the highest score possible.

Even if you’re not worried about your AFQT score, this book contains four — count ’em, four! — additional practice tests for the four most important subtests of the ASVAB. Extra practice is never a bad thing, as my high-school football coach was fond of saying.

As you read through this book, you’ll see a couple of special conventions:

Whenever I use a new term, I italicize the term and define it nearby, often in parentheses.I put web addresses and e-mail addresses in monofont so you can easily distinguish them from the surrounding text.

When this book was printed, some web addresses may have needed to break across two lines of text. If that happened, rest assured that I haven’t put in any extra characters (such as hyphens) to indicate the break. So when using one of these web addresses, just type in exactly what you see in this book, pretending as though the line break doesn’t exist (or simply click the link if you’re reading an e-book).

This book has a few sidebars (shaded boxes) sprinkled throughout. They’re full of interesting information about topics described in those chapters, but you don’t have to read them if you don’t want to; they don’t contain anything you must know about the AFQT, so if you’re in a hurry, you can skip them. You can also skip anything marked with a Technical Stuff icon. These tidbits are nonessential, too.

Foolish Assumptions

While writing this book, I made a few assumptions about you — namely, who you are and why you picked up this book. I assume the following:

You aren’t a dummy. You just want information to help you get the highest AFQT score possible.You’re a high-school graduate or have a GED or at least 15 college credits. You just want to brush up on your high-school math and/or English skills as they apply to the AFQT. (If you aren’t a high-school graduate, or you don’t have a GED or at least 15 college credits, you need to get back to school because you’re not eligible to enlist in the military.)You want to join the U.S. military and want to take advantage of all the enlistment goodies, such as enlistment bonuses or additional education benefits, that are available. Depending on current recruiting needs, the services often tie enlistment incentives to high AFQT scores.

Icons Used in This Book

Throughout this book you find icons — little pictures in the margins — that help you use the material in this book to your best advantage. Here’s a rundown of what they mean:

The Tip icon alerts you to helpful hints regarding the subject at hand. Tips can help you save time and score higher on the AFQT.

The Remember icon highlights important information you should read carefully.

The Warning icon flags information that may prove hazardous to your plans of acing the AFQT. Often, this icon accompanies common mistakes people make when taking the test or qualifying for enlistment. Pay special attention to the Warning icon so you don’t fall into one of these pitfalls.

The Example icon points out sample questions that appear in the review chapters.

The Technical Stuff icon points out information that’s interesting, enlightening, or in depth but that isn’t necessary for you to read. You don’t need this information to maximize your AFQT score, but knowing it may make you a better informed test taker — or at least help you impress your friends!

Beyond the Book

ASVAB AFQT For Dummies, 2nd Edition has eight full practice exams located online at learn.dummies.com. All you have to do to access them is register by following these simple steps:

Find your PIN code.Print-book users: If you purchased a hard copy of this book, turn to the front of this book to find your PIN.E-book users: If you purchased this book as an e-book, you can get your PIN by registering your e-book at www.dummies.com/go/getaccess. Simply select your book from the drop-down menu, fill in your personal information, and then answer the security question to verify your purchase. You’ll then receive an e-mail with your PIN.Go tohttp://learn.dummies.com.Enter your PIN.Follow the instructions to create an account and establish your own login information.

Now you’re ready to go! You can come back to the online program as often as you want — simply log on with the username and password you created during your initial login. No need to enter the PIN a second time.

If you have trouble with your PIN or can’t find it, contact Wiley Product Technical Support at 877-762-2974 or go to http://support.wiley.com.

You can use the online exams to determine exactly what areas you need to review. As you take the practice tests, the software will keep track of the areas in which you score well and the areas in which your scores aren’t so hot. From there, you can focus your study time on the topics that trip you up so you can improve your performance in those areas when you take the ASVAB.

But wait — that’s not all! In addition to the online tests, this product also comes with some other goodies you can find on the web. Stressed out about the math subtests you’ll face? Find some helpful tips and handy formulas to know on the free Cheat Sheet at www.dummies.com/cheatsheet/asvabafqt. I also give you a rundown of the minimum AFQT score standards for each branch of the military.

You can also access bonus articles on double-checking your algebra answers, improving your vocabulary, and ways parents can help their kids prep for the AFQT. Head to www.dummies.com/extras/asvabafqt for these goodies.

Where to Go from Here

You don’t have to read this book from cover to cover in order to maximize your AFQT score. If you decide to skip around, look over the table of contents and choose which topics you’re interested in.

You may want to brush up on word problems but already know that you’ll ace the Paragraph Comprehension subtest. If so, head to Chapters 10 and 11, but skip Chapters 6 and 7.

You may want to jump straight to Chapter 12 and take the first AFQT practice exam — that way, you can get an idea of what subjects you need to study more. Early on in your reading of the book, check out Chapter 2, which provides invaluable information regarding how the AFQT score is computed and how the score applies to military enlistment.

No matter where you start, I wish you all the best in your future military endeavors. I enjoyed every single second of my 23-year military career, and I’m confident you’ll enjoy your time in the military as well.

Part I

Getting Started with ASVAB AFQT

Visit www.dummies.com for free access to great Dummies content online.

In this part…

Get an overview of the ASVAB AFQT, how it’s scored, and how to prepare for it.Check out the differences between the paper and computerized test, find out what your score means, and get details on the possibility of retaking the test.Figure out what study strategy works best for you, take advantage of study tips, and prepare yourself for test day.

Chapter 1

Examining the AFQT

In This Chapter

Dissecting the AFQT

Checking out the advantages of a high AFQT score

Setting up a study plan

Utilizing the practice tests correctly

If you’re thinking about joining the U.S. military, your AFQT score may well be the most important score you achieve on any military test. Sure, other tests determine which military jobs you may get or whether you get promoted, but what good are those if you can’t get into the military in the first place? You need a qualifying score on the AFQT, or your plans for enlistment may be compromised. You could be a young Rambo in the making, in perfect health, able to run three miles in three minutes, and it wouldn’t matter if you didn’t have a qualifying AFQT score.

The services have years and years of research to back up their policy of using the AFQT score as qualifications for enlistment. Study after study has shown that an individual’s AFQT score is the single most significant factor in determining whether a recruit will make it through basic training and the first enlistment period. It costs the military more than $50,000 to process a new recruit for enlistment and send that person through basic training (and that’s not even including the cost of additional specialized schooling after you’ve graduated), so you can see why the services want to maximize their chances of getting their money’s worth.

Thankfully, with a little review, there’s absolutely no reason that you shouldn’t be able to score well on the AFQT. The score is, after all, composed of four areas that you studied intensely during your high-school years: basic math, math word problems, vocabulary, and reading. That’s where ASVAB AFQT For Dummies, 2nd Edition, comes in. Other test-prep books, such as my ASVAB For Dummies (Wiley), try to prepare you for the entire Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) and may be a great addition to your review, but this book is specifically designed to help you boost the most important ASVAB score of all: the AFQT score.

Getting a Close-Up View of the AFQT

The AFQT isn’t a stand-alone test. You can’t just walk into a recruiter’s office and say you want to take the AFQT. You have to take the entire ASVAB, which consists of nine separate subtests. Four of those subtests make up the score that’s known as the AFQT score. The AFQT score determines whether you’re qualified to join the service of your choice. (Turn to Chapter 2 for the minimum qualifying scores for each service.)

In the beginning, there was no AFQT

When you start basic training, you learn about military history. Why not start a little sooner and find out where this whole testing thing came from?

The Army began general testing of draftees during World War I. In order to provide a method for classifying these soldiers, the Army developed the Army Alpha Test, which consisted of 212 multiple-choice and true/false questions, including common-sense questions and vocabulary and arithmetic problems. But many of the draftees couldn’t read or write, so the Army developed the Army Beta Test, which required little word knowledge and relied on pictures and diagrams. Nearly 2 million soldiers took one of these tests during World War I.

During World War II, the Army General Classification Test (AGCT) replaced the Alpha and Beta tests. The new test had 150 questions — mostly vocabulary and arithmetic. The AGCT was used by the Army and Marine Corps to assign recruits to military jobs. Of the 9 million soldiers and marines who took this test during World War II, just over 60 percent could read and write above a third-grade level. During this time, a completely separate aptitude test was given to Navy recruits; it was called the Navy General Classification Test (NGCT). (The Air Force didn’t have a test because the United States technically didn’t have an Air Force as you know it today; the Air Force was part of the Army back then.)

In 1948, Congress required the Department of Defense to develop a uniform screening test to be used by all the services. In 1950, the Department of Defense came up with the Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT). This test consisted of 100 multiple-choice questions in areas such as math, vocabulary, spatial relations, and mechanical ability. The military used this test until the mid-1970s. In addition to the AFQT, service-specific tests classified prospective recruits into jobs. The Army Classification Battery, the Navy Basic Test Battery, and the Airman Qualification Examination (to name a few) were used for classification purposes from the late 1950s to the mid-1970s.

In the 1960s, as military jobs began getting more diverse and technical, the Department of Defense decided to develop a standardized military selection and classification test and administer it in high schools. That’s where the ASVAB enters the picture. The first ASVAB test was given in 1968, but the military didn’t use it for recruiting purposes for several years. In 1973, the draft ended and the nation entered the contemporary period in which all military recruits are volunteers. That year, the Air Force began using the ASVAB; the Marine Corps followed in 1974. From 1973 to 1975, the Navy and Army used their own test batteries for selection and classification. In 1976, the ASVAB became the official military job classification test used by all services, and the AFQT score became the official entry standard.

Here are the four subtests that make up your AFQT score:

Arithmetic Reasoning: The Arithmetic Reasoning subtest consists of 30 math word problems. The subtest is multiple-choice. On the paper version, you get 36 minutes to correctly solve as many of the 30 problems as you can; on the computerized-adaptive test (the CAT version or CAT-ASVAB), it’s 16 questions in 39 minutes. Chapter 10 leads you step-by-step through solving math word problems. Take a look at Chapter 11 for some tips on doing well on this subtest.Word Knowledge: The Word Knowledge subtest is a vocabulary test, plain and simple. You have to find words that are “closest in meaning” to underlined words in the question stem. You have 35 words to define in 11 minutes on the paper version, or 16 questions in 8 minutes on the CAT version. You can boost your vocabulary knowledge by following the advice in Chapter 4 and get an idea of what the subtest is all about in Chapter 5.Paragraph Comprehension: The Paragraph Comprehension subtest requires you to read a paragraph and then answer one to four questions about information contained in that paragraph. The paper version has 15 questions in all, and you’re expected to complete the subtest in 13 minutes; the CAT version has 11 questions in 22 minutes. Chapter 6 can help you improve your reading comprehension skills, and you can get a little practice with the Paragraph Comprehension subtest in Chapter 7. (Note: Many other standardized tests refer to this type of question as “reading comprehension.” The military likes to do things its own way, so it refers to them as “paragraph comprehension” questions. Different name, same thing.)Mathematics Knowledge: This subtest measures your ability to solve high-school level math problems. You have to solve 25 basic math problems in 24 minutes on the paper version or 16 questions in 20 minutes on the CAT version. Like the other subtests of the AFQT, all the questions are multiple-choice. To make sure your math skills measure up, see Chapter 8. Chapter 9 gives you an idea about the test format, as well as a little added math practice.

The AFQT isn’t the only qualifying standard the military uses. You have to meet all the set standards in order to qualify for enlistment, including age, weight, number of dependents, medical history, education level, and criminal history.

Reaping the Benefits of Getting the Highest Possible Score

Chapter 2 gives you the minimum AFQT qualifying scores for each service. But you don’t want to be satisfied with making just the minimum. You want to score as high as possible.

The services put great stock in your AFQT score. Not only does a high AFQT score give you a greater chance of enlistment, but it also means you may have access to special treats, such as the following:

Enlistment incentives: Depending on current recruiting needs, individual services often tie the AFQT score to enlistment incentives, such as monetary bonuses or education benefits. For example, the Army often requires a minimum AFQT score of 50 to qualify for a bonus or to qualify for the Student Loan Repayment Program and other programs and benefits.Enlistment programs: Most military jobs are tied to individual line scores derived from the entire ASVAB, but certain enlistment programs sometimes require a minimum AFQT score that is significantly higher than the minimum score needed for a regular enlistment. For example, some Navy jobs (such as those in the nuclear field) require a higher AFQT score.Education level: You have to have a high-school diploma in order to join any of the services. The services can, however, take a limited number of GED applicants each year. To qualify with a GED, you must score higher on the AFQT than a qualified high-school diploma holder.Quotas: During times when the services are doing well meeting their recruiting goals, they often get more people who want to join than they have room for. At these times, the services get to pick and choose whom they let join and whom they don’t. Branches commonly raise their AFQT minimum scores temporarily to separate the best-qualified applicants from the rest. Sometimes enlistment gets so competitive that the services may require a minimum score of 50 just to be considered. As of this writing, minimum scores for the services tend to rest in the 30s.Waivers: One past study indicated that only four out of ten people who walked into a recruiter’s office were qualified for enlistment. Certain factors — such as criminal history, age, education level, number of dependents, or medical history — made them ineligible. Some of these eligibility criteria can be waived (sometimes with difficulty and processing delays). However, when the military grants a waiver, it’s taking a chance on an otherwise ineligible recruit. For example, if you have too many criminal misdeeds in your past and require a waiver to enlist, a service is much more likely to grant the waiver if you score 85 on the AFQT than it is if you score 45.

Enlistment standards, programs, quotas, and incentives change — sometimes on a week-by-week basis, depending on the service’s current recruiting needs. For the latest information, check with a military recruiter or visit http://usmilitary.about.com.

The AFQT is scored as a percentile. That means, for example, that if you score 70, you’ve scored higher than 70 percent of the thousands of people who’ve taken the test before you. The highest possible score on the AFQT is 99.

The AFQT isn’t a one-shot deal. If you don’t achieve a qualifying score, you can retest. After your first test, you have to wait at least 30 days to take a second test. After the second test, in most cases, you have to wait six months before you can test again. Keep in mind the age requirements and needs of the service. Although you can retest, getting a qualifying score upfront is the best way to keep your recruiter happy and your training and placement on schedule.

Establishing a Study Program

If you’re not planning to make a study plan, you should plan again. A study plan is essential if you want to score well on the AFQT.

I can’t give you one best way to prepare a study plan. Each person has different ways of studying and learning that work the best for him. Still, people generally fall into one of three categories:

Auditory learners: These people learn best by hearing something. They do really well in lecture classes, and they love listening to audiobooks.Visual learners: These folks prefer to learn by seeing something. They would rather read a book or look at a diagram.Tactile learners: These people get the best results by doing something. Instead of listening to an explanation or reading an instruction manual, they need to do it in order to learn it.

Try to figure out what type of learner you are before developing a plan of study. Chapter 2 can help with this process and give you some tips about what to include in your study plan based on your own individual learning style.

Most people don’t look forward to sitting down for a study session. Because of that, they try to make study more enjoyable by spending time on the subjects they’re already good at. After all, studying familiar information is much easier than learning something new. Try not to fall into this trap! If you’re already an avid reader, you probably don’t need to spend much of your time improving your reading comprehension skills. You’re already going to ace that portion of the AFQT, right? Instead, spend most of your time boning up on the areas where you need improvement, such as math and math word problems.

Try to dedicate one to two hours per day to your AFQT studies. Pick a time and place where you won’t be interrupted. Having your dad yell at you to cut the grass probably won’t be beneficial to your study session. Also, turn off your cellphone. Is that call as important as your future military career? You won’t be allowed to use your cellphone in basic training anyway, so this is a good time to get into the practice of not texting your BFF that OMG, J4I, UBD is making me AAK.

Having raised twin daughters, I happen to be an expert on this texting stuff. Your BFF is your “best friend forever.” And “OMG, J4I, UBD is making me AAK” translates to “Oh my God, just for info, user brain damage is making me asleep at the keyboard.”

Guessing Smart

All the questions on the ASVAB/AFQT are multiple-choice with four possible answers. That means if you answer eeny-meeny-miny-mo, by the law of averages, you’d get one-fourth of the questions right.

Of course, you can increase these odds immensely by studying. But the chances are good that no matter how much time you put into advanced study, you’ll come across at least one question on the test that leaves you scratching your head.

When this happens, you can improve your odds of guessing correctly by guessing smart. Chapter 3 includes tips and techniques about smart guessing in general. Flip to Chapter 5 for tips on intelligent guessing for the Word Knowledge subtest, Chapter 7 for techniques you can use on the Paragraph Comprehension subtest, Chapter 9 for Mathematics Knowledge subtest guessing plans, and Chapter 11 to discover how to make intelligent guesses on the Arithmetic Knowledge subtest.

Using the Practice Exams to Your Advantage

This book includes four full-length AFQT practice exams, with questions that are very similar to the ones you see on the ASVAB subtests that comprise the AFQT score. The practice exams included in this book can help increase your confidence and ensure that you’re ready to take the actual ASVAB, but you have to use them correctly.

When I wrote my first book, ASVAB For Dummies, many readers contacted me. Some were disappointed that the practice tests included in the book weren’t the exact same as the questions they found on the actual ASVAB. I’ll let you in on a little not-so-secret secret: No ASVAB or AFQT preparation book includes the exact same questions as what you find on the actual test. Not only would that be unethical, but it would probably also result in several federal law-enforcement agents knocking on the author’s door — not my idea of a good time. Actual ASVAB test questions are controlled items; that means that the military keeps them to itself. If you see any questions on the actual ASVAB or AFQT that are the exact same as the ones you find in this book (or any other preparation guide), it’s pure coincidence.

However, just because the practice exams don’t include the exact same questions that you see on the AFQT doesn’t mean that the practice exams aren’t valuable — just use them the way they were designed to be used:

Practice Exam 1: The first practice test is intended as an initial assessment tool. Take this test before you set up your study plan. You can use the results of Practice Exam 1 to determine which areas of the AFQT you need to spend the most time on.Practice Exam 2: Use this test as a progress check after a week or two of study. Adjust your study plan accordingly.Practice Exam 3: Take this practice exam about a week before you’re scheduled to take the actual ASVAB. Use the results to determine which AFQT subjects need a little extra attention.Practice Exam 4: Take the final practice exam a day or two before the ASVAB to make sure you’re ready and to boost your confidence. If you don’t score well, you may want to consider asking your recruiter to reschedule your ASVAB test for a later date to give you more time to study.

You may find your recruiter trying to rush you to take the ASVAB and medical exam so he can get you signed up quickly. Recruiters live and die off their recruiting goals. Make sure you don’t let the recruiter schedule your exam until you’re sure you’re ready to take the test.

The mini-AFQT computerized test (see Chapter 2) that recruiters have in their offices is a pretty good indicator of whether you’re ready for the real test. Usually, people’s AFQT scores are within five or six points of what the mini-AFQT predicts.

Although you can’t equate scores on the practice exam with actual AFQT scores (because of the method of scoring the AFQT; see Chapter 2), shoot for a minimum of 80 percent on each subtest, keeping in mind whether your practice test mimics the paper version, the computerized version, or a random number of questions replicating the question type:

Arithmetic Reasoning: For the paper version, this subtest has 30 questions. If you miss more than 6 on a practice exam, you should dedicate more study time to solving math problems. For the CAT-ASVAB, you have 16 questions. If you miss more than 3, you should concentrate on improving this score.Word Knowledge: The Word Knowledge subtest has 35 questions on the paper version. You need to focus more attention on this area if you miss more than 7 questions. You must complete 16 questions on the computer version, so you should study more if you miss more than 3 questions.Paragraph Comprehension: If you miss more than 3 of the 15 Paragraph Comprehension questions on the paper version or 2 out of 11 on the CAT version, dedicate more study time to your reading skills.Mathematics Knowledge: Missing more than 5 questions on this 25-question subtest indicates you need further study. Concentrate on your math skills if you miss more than 3 on a CAT-ASVAB practice test.