10 Tips to Get You Ready for the ASVAB

The ASVAB test is a high stakes test for military recruits. It will determine whether you get into the military, whether you are eligible for the army,navy, marines …. and can even determine your vocation. With all this riding on the test, its important not to just pass the test but to score well on it.These 10 tips will help you prepare.

1. Pay a visit to http://www.military.com/asvab/: You can find three full length practice tests (in exchange for some basic contact info and probably one phone call from a recruiter). Please be aware that these practice tests do not match the CAT-ASVAB because the questions are not adapting to your ability.
2. Get ASVAB for Dummies: This book is the most recommended book for ASVAB Prep.  
3. Take Practice Tests: With the first two resources listed above you already have access to 7 practice tests. Take one practice test simply to get a feel for the test, the type of questions and build a comfort-level.
4. Use Your Results: You spent all that time taking the test, now use the results to help improve! Did you get a question wrong cause you didn’t know what it meant to by something by the gross (which happens to be 12-dozens or 144)? Did you get all the questions wrong involving vocab? Work on these things!
5. Use Test Taking Techniques: Use test taking techniques to help you with the ASVAB. The technique I found myself using the most often was looking for intermediate answers. On the math section, there is very often one or two answer choice that is from a calculation you have to do to get to the final answer. Smile when you see one come up in your calculations because you are on the right track and then cross it out because it is not the final result.
6. Work With Your Recruiter: Your recruiter can help you get resources, take practice tests and answer questions that you may have.
7. Use Forums: Use the experience of others to help get you ready for the test.  Most are geared towards one branch of the military.  Check back for links.
8. Use online resources for other tests: Just because the resource doesn’t say ASVAB on it, you can still use it to get prepared. Check out www.freerice.com to practice vocabulary for example.
9. Check your progress: You’ve done all of this work, take another practice test to see where you are at.
10. Get a tutor: Because this is such a high stakes test, it will be worth it to work with a tutor. If you are in the Philadelphia area, one of our tutors would be happy to meet with you. Email info@tutordelphia.com for details.