Score Higher on ASVAB and Score Better Military Pay

The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is the standardized test used by all branches of the U.S. military to determine an applicant's educational qualifications for military job placement.

Your score on your ASVAB test will often determine your pay grade as well; so scoring higher on your ASVAB could mean scoring a higher paying job in the military from the start of your military career.

Therefore it pays to learn how to take the ASVAB test well and how to make the most of your scoring ability.

HOW ASVAB SCORES COUNT IN MILITARY JOB PLACEMENT

Each military branch uses composites of scores from ASVAB testing categories in order to determine your eligibility for a particular military occupation. Your ASVAB score could make all the difference in getting your first-choice military job assignment so it literally pays for you to know how to keep your ASVAB test scores as high as possible.

For example, the Army derives the General Technical (GT) score by combining the verbal and arithmetic reasoning ASVAB scores. Army occupations such as diver, early warning systems operator, a variety of jobs in special forces, and journalist, require GT scores of 100-110.

FOUR EASY STEPS TO ASVAB SUCCESS

Getting into the military, just like serving in the military, requires determination, hard word, and a willingness to learn. You don't have to be a genius to achieve high ASVAB scores - but you must know how to prepare for the test.

1. Start studying using an ASVAB study guide three to five months before taking the ASVAB, reviewing and taking practice tests to familiarize yourself with the process.

2. Create detailed weekly study guides, including when and where you will study, for how long, etc and include a written track record of your scores.

3. Study in ways that will help you to retain information. Highlight important sections in the book, create a visual outline, summarize what you've read, make flashcards, and take all practice tests in the ASVAB guidebook.

4. Don't overwhelm yourself; study for 90 minutes, take a break for 30 minutes, and do two more 90 minute/30 minute break sessions in any one given day.

USE MILITARY SUPPORT RESOURCES TO RAISE YOUR ASVAB SCORES

The ASVAB is a multiple-choice test, given at most public high schools during 11th grade, and includes nine separate sections: arithmetic reasoning, assembling objects, auto shop, electronics information, general science, mathematics knowledge, mechanical comprehension, paragraph comprehension and word knowledge.

Many Army base education centers offer an admission-based program called Functional Academic Skills Training (FAST), to help raise your ASVAB score.

In order to be admitted to FAST, a military applicant must already have a GT score between 100 and 110, and an Adult Basic Education (TABE) reading and mathematics score above 10.2.

Get support, follow our studying guide, and on test day, relax. Your months of focused preparation will pay off; just stay alert, and trust your knowledge.