ASVAB Core Review, 3rd Edition

1 6526_ASVABCore_3e(FIN).qx 11/14/08 4:50 PM Page i ASVAB . CORE REVIEW. Third Edition . NEW YORK. 6526_ASVABCore_3e(FIN).qx 11/14/08 4:50 PM Page ii Copyright 2009 LearningExpress, LLC. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. Published in the United States by LearningExpress, LLC, New York. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data ASVAB Core review. 3rd ed. 978-1-57685-666-6 (pbk. : alk. paper). 1. Armed services vocational aptitude Battery Study guides. I. LearningExpress (Organization). 2008. dc22 2008034684. Printed in the United States of America 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1. Third Edition Regarding the Information in this Book We attempt to verify the information presented in our books prior to publication.

2 It is always a good idea, how- ever, to double-check such important information as minimum requirements, application and testing proce- dures, and deadlines with your local recruitment agency, as such information can change from time to time. For information on LearningExpress, other LearningExpress products, or bulk sales, please write to us at: LearningExpress 2 Rector Street 26th Floor New York, NY 10006. Or visit us at: 6526_ASVABCore_3e(FIN).qx 11/14/08 4:50 PM Page iii Contents CHAPTER 1 What Is the ASVAB Core? 1. CHAPTER 2 Getting Into the Military 7. CHAPTER 3 The Score You Need to Enlist 15. CHAPTER 4 The LearningExpress Test Preparation System 21. CHAPTER 5 Practice ASVAB Core Test 1 37.

3 CHAPTER 6 Math Review 61. CHAPTER 7 Math Practice 101. CHAPTER 8 Word Knowledge Review 111. CHAPTER 9 Word Knowledge Practice 121. CHAPTER 10 Paragraph Comprehension Review 129. CHAPTER 11 Reading Practice 139. CHAPTER 12 Practice ASVAB Core Test 2 151. CHAPTER 13 Practice ASVAB Core Test 3 173. iii 6526_ASVABCore_3e(FIN).qx 11/14/08 4:50 PM Page iv 6526_ASVABCore_3e(FIN).qx 11/14/08 4:50 PM Page 1. C H A P T E R. 1 What Is the ASVAB Core? CHAPTER SUMMARY. In order to enlist in the military, you have to take the Armed services vocational aptitude Battery ( ASVAB ). But you have to pass only four of the nine subtests on the paper-and-pencil ASVAB to qualify for enlist- ment. This chapter explains those four subtests and shows you how to use this book to score your best.

4 T he paper-and-pencil ASVAB is a multiple- aptitude test battery consisting of nine subtests. Five of these subtests General Science, Auto and Shop Information, Mechanical Comprehension, Assembling Objects, and Electronics Information are designed to determine what your aptitudes are for different jobs. However, only four of the ASVAB subtests Arithmetic Reasoning, Word Knowledge, Paragraph Compre- hension, and Mathematics Knowledge count toward your Armed Forces Qualifying Test (AFQT) score, which determines whether or not you can enlist in the military. This book will cover only the four subtests that count toward your AFQT, referred to in this book as the ASVAB core. 1. 6526_ASVABCore_3e(FIN).

5 Qx 11/14/08 4:50 PM Page 2. WHAT IS THE ASVAB CORE? . NUMBER OF ITEMS AND TESTING TIME FOR THE ASVAB . SUBTEST NUMBER OF QUESTIONS TIME (MINUTES). General Science (GS) 25 11. Arithmetic Reasoning (AR) 30 36. Word Knowledge (WK) 35 11. Paragraph Comprehension (PC) 15 13. Mathematics Knowledge (MK) 25 24. Electronics Information (El) 20 9. Auto and Shop Information (AS) 25 11. Mechanical Comprehension (MC) 25 19. Assembling Objects (AO) 25 15. Total 225 items 149 minutes Note: Bolded items count toward the Armed Forces Qualifying Test (AFQT) score. The Four ASVAB Core Subtests Part 2: Word Knowledge The Word Knowledge subtest consists of 35 questions Following is a more detailed description of each of the that ask you to choose the correct definitions of verbs, four subtests that counts towards the AFQT score.

6 Nouns, adjectives, and adverbs. These questions come in two forms: Part 1: Arithmetic Reasoning The Arithmetic Reasoning subtest consists of 30 word definitions presented alone, with no context problems describing everyday life situations, which are words in the context of a short sentence designed to measure your reasoning skills and under- standing of: The vocabulary skills you need for the Word Knowledge subtest are presented in Chapter 8. Chap- operations with whole numbers ter 9 gives you more practice using these skills. operations with fractions and decimals or money ratio and proportion Part 3: Paragraph interest and percentage Comprehension measurement of perimeters, areas, volumes, and The Paragraph Comprehension subtest is 15 questions time and temperature based on several short passages written on a variety of topics.

7 No prior knowledge of the subject will be Chapter 6 will review math and Chapter 7 gives required all the information you will need to answer you extra practice in math. the questions will be found in the passage. The ques- tions test two different skills: 2. 6526_ASVABCore_3e(FIN).qx 11/14/08 4:50 PM Page 3. WHAT IS THE ASVAB CORE? . Literal comprehension: your ability to identify About the CAT- ASVAB . stated facts, identify reworded facts, and deter- (Computer-adaptive Version). mine the sequence of events Implicit, inferential, or critical comprehension: About 70% of military applicants take the computer your ability to draw conclusions; identify the version of the ASVAB , called the CAT- ASVAB .

8 The main idea of a paragraph; determine the author's CAT- ASVAB is a computer-adaptive test, which means purpose, mood, or tone; and identify style and that the test adapts to your ability level. The computer technique will give you the first question, and, if you answer cor- rectly, it gives you another question on the same Chapter 10 gives you the skills you need to do well subject but this one is a bit harder than the first. The on this subtest. Chapter 11 gives you more instruction questions get harder as you progress, and, after you on how to read well, and also gives you more practice answer a certain number correctly, the computer skips reading questions. to the next subtest. So, you could get eight questions right, for example, and then the computer might go to Part 4: Mathematics Knowledge the next subtest instead of requiring you to answer all The Mathematics Knowledge subtest consists of 25 16 questions in the previous subtest.

9 It also differs from questions designed to measure your understanding of the paper-and-pencil version in the following ways: mathematical concepts, principles, and procedures. The emphasis is on your ability to recognize and apply It consists of ten subtests, but the same four sub- basic mathematical principles. The questions cover: tests (Arithmetic Reasoning, Word Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension, and Mathematics Number theory: factors, multiples, reciprocals, Knowledge) count toward your AFQT score. number properties, primes, integers Auto Information and Shop Information subtests Numeration: fractional parts, decimals, percent- are administered separately, but the results are ages, and conversions; order of operations; expo- combined into one score (labeled AS).

10 Nents; rounding; reducing fractions; roots and The test takes about 1 12 hours to complete. radicals; signed numbers Each subtest must be completed within a certain Algebraic operations and equations: solving or timeframe, but most individuals complete the determining equations, factoring, simplifying subtest before the time limit. algebraic expressions, converting a sentence to an Once you have completed a subtest, you do not equation have to wait for everyone else to finish; you can Geometry and measurement: coordinates and move on to the next subtest. slope, Pythagorean theorem, angle measurement, As you complete each subtest, the computer dis- properties of polygons and circles, perimeter, plays the number of items and amount of time area, volume, unit conversion remaining for that subtest in the lower right-hand Probability: determining the likelihood of an corner.