Test-Taking Tips for the ASVAB

Preparation and diligence will ease your ASVAB nerves. Whether you're taking the paper- or computer-based ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery), you can benefit by keeping these points in mind:

• Read the directions carefully.

• Know what the question is asking you to do before selecting an answer.

• Read all the answer options before selecting one.

• Make sure that you mark the answer on the correct space on your answer sheet — the space that corresponds to the question you're trying to answer. This doesn't apply to the computerized version.

• Skip questions you don't know, and then go back to them if you have time. (Unless you take the computer-based test, which forces you to answer each question before you can move on to the next one.)

• Don't leave any answers blank. The ASVAB doesn't penalize you for guessing. On the computer-based ASVAB, you can't leave any questions blank.

• Never change the answer to a question after you move on to another question. Again, this doesn't apply for the computerized version — after you submit your answer, you can't change it.