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ASVAB Exam Guide 2026: All 10 Subtests, AFQT & Scores
Key Facts
- The CAT-ASVAB has 135 scored questions and takes about 154 minutes of testing time at a MEPS or MET site.
- The paper-and-pencil ASVAB has 225 questions and a 149-minute time limit, used mainly in schools and at MET sites.
- The CAT-ASVAB has 10 subtests; the paper ASVAB has 9 because Auto and Shop Information are combined into one subtest.
- The four AFQT subtests are Arithmetic Reasoning, Mathematics Knowledge, Word Knowledge, and Paragraph Comprehension.
- The AFQT score uses the formula AFQT = 2VE + AR + MK, where VE (Verbal Expression) combines Word Knowledge and Paragraph Comprehension.
- The AFQT is a percentile from 1 to 99, not a percentage of correct answers; an AFQT of 50 beats half of the reference group.
- Minimum AFQT scores for a high school graduate are about 31 (Army, Navy, Air Force), 32 (Marines), and 36 (Coast Guard).
- GED holders (Tier II) face higher AFQT floors, typically 50 or more, plus tighter enlistment quotas than diploma holders.
- ASVAB scores stay valid for 2 years, and retakes are allowed after 1 month, then 1 more month, then every 6 months.
- The ASVAB is completely free to take, and calculators are not permitted on the math subtests.
ASVAB Exam 2026: Your Complete Military Aptitude Test Guide
The ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) is a multiple-aptitude test used by all branches of the U.S. military to determine qualification for enlistment and identify the best military occupational specialties (MOS) for each recruit. Whether you're aiming for the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or Space Force, the ASVAB is your first step toward a military career.
The ASVAB measures your strengths and potential for future success in military training. Your scores help match you with jobs that fit your abilities.
Exam Format & Structure
- Component CAT-ASVAB (Computer) Paper ASVAB (P&P)
- Total Questions 135 questions 225 questions
- Total Time ~154 minutes (testing) 149 minutes
- Subtests 10 subtests (Auto and Shop separate) 9 subtests (Auto & Shop combined)
- Scoring Computer adaptive (adjusts to ability) Fixed difficulty
- Going back Cannot return to earlier questions Can review within a subtest
- Cost FREE FREE
- Location MEPS or MET (Military Entrance Test) site High schools, MET sites
The ASVAB is offered in two formats:
CAT-ASVAB (Computer Adaptive Test) - The version nearly all enlistees take at a MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station) or MET site. Questions adapt to your ability level: answer correctly and the next item gets harder. It has 135 scored questions , and the adaptive design makes it faster than paper. Each subtest is individually timed, and you cannot go back to a previous question once you submit it.
Paper-and-Pencil ASVAB (P&P) - A fixed-form test of 225 questions in 149 minutes , offered at schools through the ASVAB Career Exploration Program and at some MET sites. The paper version combines Auto Information and Shop Information into a single Auto & Shop Information subtest, so it has 9 subtests instead of the CAT's 10.
Note on CAT timing: Standard CAT-ASVAB testing time is about 154 minutes. When the computer adds unscored "tryout" research questions to 2-4 subtests, your allotted time can rise to roughly 197 minutes. Tryout questions do not affect your score, and you are given extra time when they appear.