Depending on where and for what purpose you take the test, you may encounter several versions of the ASVAB. The computerized version of the ASVAB (CAT-ASVAB) contains nine separately timed subtests. On the CAT-ASVAB, Auto Information and Shop Information are separated into two different tests, whereas they’re combined on the paper version.
Check out the nine ASVAB subtests in the order that you take them; the bolded subtests are used to calculate the AFQT score.
| Subtest | Questions/Time (Paper Version) | Questions/Time (CAT-ASVAB) | Content |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Science | 25 questions, 11 minutes | 16 questions, 8 minutes | General principles of biological and physical sciences |
| Arithmetic Reasoning | 30 questions, 36 minutes | 16 questions, 39 minutes | Math word problems |
| Word Knowledge | 35 questions, 11 minutes | 16 questions, 8 minutes | Correct meaning of a word and best synonym or antonym for a given word |
| Paragraph Comprehension | 15 questions, 13 minutes | 11 questions, 22 minutes | Questions based on paragraphs (usually a few hundred words) that you read |
| Mathematics Knowledge | 25 questions, 24 minutes | 16 questions, 20 minutes | High-school math |
| Electronics Information | 20 questions, 9 minutes | 16 questions, 8 minutes | Electricity and electronic principles and terminology |
| Mechanical Comprehension | 25 questions, 19 minutes | 16 questions, 20 minutes | Basic mechanical and physical principles |
| Auto and Shop Information | 25 questions, 11 minutes | 11 Auto Information questions, 7 minutes; 11 Shop Information questions, 6 minutes | Knowledge of automobiles, shop terminology, and tool use |
| Assembling Objects | 16 questions, 15 minutes | 16 questions, 15 minutes | Spatial orientation |
You can’t take just the four AFQT subtests of the ASVAB. You have to take all nine subtests in order to get a qualifying AFQT score. The military isn’t set up to give partial ASVAB tests.
For example, if you take the ASVAB and get line scores that qualify you for the military job(s) you want, but your AFQT score is too low to join, you have to retake the entire ASVAB — not just the four subtests that make up the AFQT — to get a higher AFQT score.
During the initial enlistment process, your service branch determines your military job or enlistment program based on minimum line scores it has established. Line scores are computed from the various subtests of the ASVAB. If you get an appropriate score in the appropriate areas, you can get the job you want — as long as that job is available and you meet other established qualification factors.