What is the ASVAB? Where did it Originate?
Classification assessmentsbegan in World War I when there was a need to classify recruits (draftees) to determine where they could best serve the Army. The original was called the Alpha Test. The Alpha Test consisted of true/false questions in the areas of vocabulary, sentence structure, arithmetic problems, number series, general knowledge, and "common sense." However, when it became apparent that many draftees could not read or write, the Army developed an additional assessment test, the Beta Test, which minimized verbal knowledge and used only pictures and diagrams.
During World War II, the Army replaced the Alpha & Beta Tests with the Army General Classification Test. This test consisted of vocabulary, arithmetic problems, and block counting. More than 9 million recruits took this test. Interestingly, the tests showed that only 63 percent could read/write above a third grade level. During this same time, a completely separate "aptitude test" was being administered by the Navy. When Congress passed the Selective Service Act in 1948, they mandated that the Department of Defense develop a uniform screening test to be used by all of the services. In response, the Department of Defense developed the Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT), with the following subjects: vocabulary, arithmetic, spatial relations, and mechanical ability. This test was given to recruits from 1950 to the mid 1970s. The two separate tests were used to form a composite AFQT score, and each service was allowed to set its own minimum score standards.
The ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) assessment wasfirstused in high schools in1968as part of the Student Testing Program. In 1973, the draft was ended and the nation entered the contemporary period in which all military recruits are currently volunteers. Three years later, in 1976, the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) was introduced as a component of the official qualification process used by all services.
The ASVAB has continually been provided by the Department of Defense on a no cost and no obligation basis to high schools since 1968 through the Career Exploration Program. This comprehensive program offers an interest inventory,OCCU-FIND activity and other activities designed to help students explore the world of work and gain confidence in making career decisions. Close to a million students currently participate, 58% plan of attending 4 or 2 year colleges, 13% are considering the military, 3% intend to go immediately into the workforce, 2% are looking at Technical-Vocational careers. Students who annually use the program in schools do so because of their interest in making smart and satisfying future educational plans and career choices.
General Science (GS) / Word Knowledge (WK) / Paragraph Comprehension (PC)25 items with a 11 minute time-limit / 35 items with an 11 minute time-limit / 15 items with a 13 minute time-limit
Example: Water is an example of: / Example: Small most nearly means: / Example: From a building designer’s standpoint, three things that make a home livable are the client, the building site and the amount of money the client has to spend. According to this statement, to make a home livable:
A. Crystal / A. Sturdy / A. The prospective piece of land makes little difference
B. Solid / B. Round / B. It can be built on any piece of land
C. Gas / C. Cheap / C. Design must fit the owners income and site
D. Liquid / D. Little / D. Design must fit the owners income
Arithmetic Reasoning (AR) / Mathematical Knowledge (MK) / Auto Shop Information (AS)
30 Items with a 36 minute time-limit / 25 items with a 24 minute time-limit / 25 items with a 11 minutes time-limit
Example: If 12 men are needed to run four machines, how many men are needed to run 20 machines? / Example: If 50% of X is 33, then X =? / Example: A chisel is used for:
A. 20 / A. 33 / A. Prying
B. 48 / B. 66 / B. Cutting
C. 60 / C. 99 / C. Twisting
D. 80 / D. 132 / D. Grinding
Mechanical Comprehension (MC) / Electronics Information (EI)
25 items with a 19 minute time-limit / 20 items with a 9 minute time-limit
Example: If gear A makes 14 revolutions, gear B will make? / Example: What does the abbreviation A.C. stand for?
A: 21 / A. Additional Charge
B: 17 / B. Alternating Coil
C: 14 / C. Alternating Current
D: 9 / D. Ampere Current
there is no Military Obligation required to participate in the Career Exploration Program