CHEAT SHEET · ASVAB
ASVAB Cheat Sheet.
The ASVAB numbers, rules and traps that decide questions, on one page. Review them here, then download the free PDF for offline study.
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Written by Every Exam Prep Editorial TeamSource and review policyPublished August 7, 2026Updated September 10, 2026
On this sheet
01
Full write-up
the complete guide, in proseExact subtest lengths for both delivery modes, how the AFQT percentile is built, the branch cutoffs, and the formulas you must carry in your head — no calculator is permitted. Print it, mark what you miss, drill that.
Delivery modes: CAT vs. paper
| Attribute | CAT-ASVAB (computer) | P&P-ASVAB (paper) |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 135 items / 197 min | 225 items / 149 min |
| Subtests | 10 (AI and SI split) | 9 (AI + SI = AS) |
| Adaptive | Yes — difficulty tracks ability | No — fixed form |
| Revisit an answer | No | Yes, within the section |
| Guessing | Penalty for end-of-test guessing | No penalty — bubble everything |
Subtest table: questions and time
In administration order; only the four marked AFQT decide whether you can enlist.
| Subtest | Code | CAT items / time | Paper items / time | AFQT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Science | GS | 15 / 12 min | 25 / 11 min | — |
| Arithmetic Reasoning | AR | 15 / 55 min | 30 / 36 min | AFQT |
| Word Knowledge | WK | 15 / 9 min | 35 / 11 min | AFQT |
| Paragraph Comprehension | PC | 10 / 27 min | 15 / 13 min | AFQT |
| Mathematics Knowledge | MK | 15 / 31 min | 25 / 24 min | AFQT |
| Electronics Information | EI | 15 / 10 min | 20 / 9 min | — |
| Auto Information | AI | 10 / 7 min | combined AS: 25 / 11 min | — |
| Shop Information | SI | 10 / 6 min | — | |
| Mechanical Comprehension | MC | 15 / 22 min | 25 / 19 min | — |
| Assembling Objects | AO | 15 / 18 min | 25 / 15 min | — |
| Total | 135 / 197 min | 225 / 149 min |
Note the asymmetry: 55 min for 15 AR items, 9 min for 15 WK. Vocabulary is a speed test; arithmetic reasoning is not.
How the AFQT is built
No pass or fail. Each subtest reports a standard score; four roll into the AFQT, reported as a percentile from 1 to 99.
| Score type | Definition |
|---|---|
| Standard score | Per subtest, mean = 50, standard deviation = 10 |
| Verbal Expression | VE = the WK and PC standard scores combined |
| AFQT raw | AFQT = 2(VE) + AR + MK — verbal counts double |
| AFQT percentile | Scaled 1–99 against a 1997 sample of 18–23 year-olds; AFQT 62 = at or above 62% of it |
| Line / composite | Branch-specific mixes of all subtests; these gate jobs |
Minimum AFQT by branch
| Branch | Minimum | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Army | 31 | 21+ may enter the Future Soldier Preparatory Course academic track |
| Marine Corps | 31 | 50+ with a GED or non-traditional diploma |
| Air Force | 31 | 50 for GED holders |
| Coast Guard | 32 | Highest published entry floor |
| Navy | Not published as one figure | Recruiting Command works to 31; the Future Sailor Prep Course – Academic serves AFQT 10–30 |
| Space Force | Not published | "A qualifying ASVAB score"; career fields set composites |
The AFQT opens the door; line scores get you the job. The Army converts subtest scores into ten composites (GT, CL, EL, MM, SC, CO, FA, GM, OF, ST) that gate every MOS; GT comes from WK, PC and AR. A 90 AFQT with weak EI/MC still locks you out of technical fields. Confirm cutoffs with a recruiter — floors move.
Math formula sheet (AR + MK)
Percent, ratio, average, interest
| Concept | Formula |
|---|---|
| Percent | part = percent × whole; percent = (part ÷ whole) × 100 |
| Percent change | ((new − old) ÷ old) × 100; discount = original × (1 − r) |
| Proportion | a/b = c/d → ad = bc |
| Average | mean = sum ÷ count; sum = mean × count |
| Simple interest | I = Prt |
| Compound interest | A = P(1 + r/n)^(nt) |
| Order of operations | PEMDAS |
Rate, work, mixture
| Type | Formula |
|---|---|
| Distance | d = rt; r = d/t; t = d/r |
| Two movers | Toward each other r = r₁ + r₂; same direction r = r₁ − r₂ |
| Combined work | 1/t = 1/a + 1/b → t = ab ÷ (a + b) |
| Mixture | C₁V₁ + C₂V₂ = C_f(V₁ + V₂) |
Area, perimeter, volume
| Shape | Area / surface | Perimeter / volume |
|---|---|---|
| Rectangle | A = lw | P = 2(l + w) |
| Square | A = s² | P = 4s |
| Triangle | A = ½bh | P = a + b + c |
| Parallelogram / trapezoid | A = bh / A = ½(b₁ + b₂)h | — |
| Circle | A = πr² | C = 2πr = πd |
| Rectangular solid | SA = 2(lw + lh + wh) | V = lwh |
| Cube | SA = 6s² | V = s³ |
| Cylinder | SA = 2πr² + 2πrh | V = πr²h |
| Cone | — | V = ⅓πr²h |
| Sphere | SA = 4πr² | V = 4/3πr³ |
| Pyramid | — | V = ⅓ × base area × h |
Angle sums: triangle 180°, quadrilateral 360°, n-gon (n − 2) × 180°.
Right triangles, exponents, radicals
| Rule | Statement |
|---|---|
| Pythagorean theorem | a² + b² = c² |
| Triples to memorize | 3-4-5, 5-12-13, 8-15-17, 7-24-25 and multiples |
| Special triangles | 45-45-90 → 1 : 1 : √2; 30-60-90 → 1 : √3 : 2 |
| Radicals | √a × √b = √(ab); √(a/b) = √a ÷ √b; 1/√a = √a ÷ a |
| Exponents | xᵃ·xᵇ = xᵃ⁺ᵇ; xᵃ÷xᵇ = xᵃ⁻ᵇ; (xᵃ)ᵇ = xᵃᵇ; (xy)ᵃ = xᵃyᵃ |
| Zero, negative, fractional | x⁰ = 1; x⁻ᵃ = 1 ÷ xᵃ; x^(1/n) = ⁿ√x |
Lines, quadratics, factoring
| Rule | Form |
|---|---|
| Slope | m = (y₂ − y₁) ÷ (x₂ − x₁) |
| Line equations | y = mx + b; y − y₁ = m(x − x₁) |
| Parallel / perpendicular | m₁ = m₂ / m₁ · m₂ = −1 |
| Distance / midpoint | d = √((x₂−x₁)² + (y₂−y₁)²); M = ((x₁+x₂)/2, (y₁+y₂)/2) |
| Quadratic formula | x = (−b ± √(b² − 4ac)) ÷ 2a |
| Difference of squares | a² − b² = (a + b)(a − b) |
| Perfect squares | a² ± 2ab + b² = (a ± b)² |
| Trinomial | x² + (p + q)x + pq = (x + p)(x + q) |
Word Knowledge: decode the word
Split the word, translate the parts, pick the closest meaning.
| Prefix | Meaning | Prefix | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
a-, an- | without | inter- | between |
ante-, pre- | before | intra- | within |
anti-, contra- | against | mal- | bad |
bene- | good | mis- | wrong |
circum- | around | re- | again, back |
de- | down, away | post- | after |
dis-, un-, non- | not | sub- | under |
ex- | out | super- | above |
hyper- | excess | trans- | across |
| Root | Meaning | Root | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
aud | hear | path | feeling |
bio | life | port | carry |
chron | time | scrib, script | write |
cred | believe | spec, spect | look |
dict | say | tang, tact | touch |
duc, duct | lead | ten | hold |
ject | throw | ver | truth |
loqu, log | speak, word | vid, vis | see |
luc, lum | light | voc | call |
man | hand | terr | earth |
| Suffix | Signals | Suffix | Signals |
|---|---|---|---|
-able, -ible | capable of | -ist, -er, -or | one who |
-ance, -ence | state of | -ity, -ness | quality of |
-ate, -fy, -ize | to make | -less | without |
-ful, -ous | full of | -logy | study of |
-ism | doctrine | -tion, -sion | act of |
Paragraph Comprehension: question types
| Type | Stem | Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Main idea | "mainly about…" | Must cover the whole passage; reject choices true of one sentence only |
| Detail | "according to the passage…" | Literally in the text — locate and match, never use outside knowledge |
| Vocabulary in context | "as used here, X means…" | Cover the word, supply your own, pick the closest — not the commonest dictionary sense |
| Inference | "it can be concluded…" | One step past the text, tied to a line; reject anything needing a second assumption |
| Purpose / tone | "the author's purpose…" | Inform, persuade, describe, or instruct — tone words decide it |
General Science recurring facts
| Area | Facts |
|---|---|
| Cells | Nucleus = DNA; mitochondria = ATP; ribosomes = protein synthesis; chloroplasts = photosynthesis; cell wall = plants only |
| Body | 206 adult bones; red cells carry O₂ (hemoglobin), white cells fight infection, platelets clot |
| Photosynthesis | 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + light → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ |
| Taxonomy | Kingdom → Phylum → Class → Order → Family → Genus → Species |
| Chemistry | Atomic number = protons; isotopes differ in neutrons; pH < 7 acid, 7 neutral, > 7 base |
| Water | Freezes 0 °C = 32 °F, boils 100 °C = 212 °F; °F = (9/5)°C + 32 |
| Physics | F = ma; W = Fd; P = W/t; KE = ½mv²; PE = mgh; g ≈ 9.8 m/s² |
| Earth | Crust → mantle → liquid outer core → solid inner core; troposphere → stratosphere (ozone) → mesosphere → thermosphere |
Electronics Information
| Rule | Formula / value |
|---|---|
| Ohm's law | V = IR; I = V/R; R = V/I |
| Power | P = VI = I²R = V²/R |
| Series | R_T = R₁ + R₂ + … — current same, voltage divides |
| Parallel | 1/R_T = 1/R₁ + 1/R₂ + …; two resistors R_T = R₁R₂ ÷ (R₁ + R₂) — voltage same, current divides |
| Transformer | V_p / V_s = N_p / N_s |
| Frequency | f = 1/T; US mains 120 V AC at 60 Hz |
| Units | volt V, amp A, ohm Ω, watt W, farad F, henry H, hertz Hz |
| Prefixes | k = 10³, M = 10⁶, m = 10⁻³, µ = 10⁻⁶, p = 10⁻¹² |
| Conductors / insulators | Silver, copper, gold, aluminum / rubber, glass, plastic |
| Color code | 0 black · 1 brown · 2 red · 3 orange · 4 yellow · 5 green · 6 blue · 7 violet · 8 gray · 9 white |
| Protection | Fuses and breakers interrupt overcurrent; ground is a safety path |
Auto and Shop Information
| Topic | Key points |
|---|---|
| Four-stroke cycle | Intake → compression → power → exhaust. Gasoline ignites by spark plug; diesel by compression alone |
| Electrical | Alternator recharges the battery; starter cranks the engine |
| Exhaust | Catalytic converter cuts pollutants; muffler cuts noise |
| Cooling | Radiator, water pump, thermostat, coolant; overheating = stuck thermostat, low coolant, or failed pump |
| Drivetrain | Crankshaft = reciprocating to rotary; camshaft opens valves; transmission changes gear ratio; differential lets wheels turn at different speeds |
| Wrenches | Open-end, box-end, combination, socket, Allen; a torque wrench measures tightening force |
| Saws | Crosscut = across grain; rip = with grain; hacksaw = metal; coping = curves; miter = angles |
| Hammers | Claw = nails; ball-peen = metal; mallet = surfaces that must not be marred |
| Measuring | Micrometer, caliper = precision; feeler gauge = gaps; level, square, plumb bob = alignment |
Mechanical Comprehension
| Machine | Mechanical advantage |
|---|---|
| General | MA = output force ÷ input force; IMA = input distance ÷ output distance |
| Lever | F₁d₁ = F₂d₂; 1st class = fulcrum in middle (crowbar), 2nd = load in middle (wheelbarrow), 3rd = effort in middle (tweezers) |
| Pulley | MA = supporting rope segments; fixed MA = 1 (direction only), movable MA = 2 |
| Inclined plane | IMA = length ÷ height |
| Wedge | IMA = length ÷ thickness |
| Screw | IMA = circumference ÷ pitch — finer threads, more advantage |
| Wheel and axle | MA = wheel radius ÷ axle radius |
| Gears | Meshed gears turn opposite ways; large driving small = faster, less torque; ratio = driven teeth ÷ driver teeth |
| Hydraulics | P = F/A; F₁/A₁ = F₂/A₂ |
| Other | torque = F × r; density = m ÷ V; F = kx (springs); efficiency = (output ÷ input) × 100 |
Every machine trades distance for force — "less force over a longer distance" is usually the mechanism.
Test day, retests, score life
- No calculators — every item is built for hand calculation. Scratch paper and pencil are provided; on the CAT press
HELPfor more. - Bring valid photo ID; late arrivals are turned away and must reschedule.
- Items are controlled material — sharing them carries penalties.
- On the CAT, read once, decide, commit — you cannot go back.
| Policy | Rule |
|---|---|
| First retest | Wait 1 calendar month |
| Second retest | Wait another 1 calendar month |
| Later retests | Wait 6 calendar months between attempts |
| Score validity | 2 years from the test date |
| Where | MEPS (computer) or MET sites (computer or paper); PiCAT is an unproctored at-home version, verification-tested at MEPS |
Study order that pays: WK and PC first (verbal is doubled), then AR and MK, then the technical subtests feeding the line score for the job you want.
Frequently asked questions
What deserves the final pre-test review?
The scoring box (AFQT = AR+MK+PC+WK; percentiles 1-99; categories I-V), the retest clock (1 month, 1 month, then 6), and the highest-frequency content anchors: Ohm's law triangle, series-versus-parallel rules, four-stroke order, mechanical advantage as load over effort, supplementary 180 versus complementary 90, and percent change over the original value.
Any last strategy for the adaptive format?
Commit once, carefully — the CAT chooses your next question from your last answer and does not allow backtracking. Keep moving late in a section: unfinished items are scored as random guesses, so three considered answers beat three blanks every time. The published time limits are liberal; pacing panic, not time itself, is the real enemy.
What should I bring and expect on test day?
Valid identification — required for admission to the testing room — and an early arrival, since latecomers are turned away and rescheduled. Your recruiter can drive you to the MEPS or MET site but cannot enter the testing room. Everything else (the test itself, scratch materials) is provided.
Sources
- 1.The CAT-ASVAB — Official ASVAB — US Department of Defense (ASVAB Program) (accessed Aug 7, 2026)
- 2.ASVAB Retest Policy — Official ASVAB — US Department of Defense (ASVAB Program) (accessed Aug 7, 2026)
- 3.Understanding ASVAB Scores — Official ASVAB — US Department of Defense (ASVAB Program) (accessed Aug 7, 2026)
- 4.What to Expect When You Take the ASVAB — Official ASVAB — US Department of Defense (ASVAB Program) (accessed Aug 7, 2026)
Official sources
Primary documents used to verify the exam details shown on this page.
- Understanding ASVAB Scores — Official ASVABUS Department of Defense (ASVAB Program)officialasvab.com
- The CAT-ASVAB — Official ASVABUS Department of Defense (ASVAB Program)officialasvab.com
- What to Expect When You Take the ASVAB — Official ASVABUS Department of Defense (ASVAB Program)officialasvab.com
- ASVAB Retest Policy — Official ASVABUS Department of Defense (ASVAB Program)officialasvab.com
- ASVAB Subtests — Official ASVABUS Department of Defense (ASVAB Program)officialasvab.com
- ASVAB retest policyOfficial ASVABofficialasvab.com
- ASVAB scoringOfficial ASVABofficialasvab.com
- AFQT eligibilityOfficial ASVABofficialasvab.com
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