test prep
aptitude test
ASVAB
The ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational
Aptitude Battery) is a timed multi-
aptitude test, which is given at over
14,000 schools and Military Entrance
Processing Stations (MEPS) nationwide
and is developed and maintained by the
Department of Defense.
The ASVAB tests students on four critical
subject areas—Arithmetic Reasoning,
Word Knowledge, Paragraph Compre-
hension and Mathematics Knowledge.
These scores count towards your Armed
Forces Qualifying Test (AFQT) score. The
AFQT score determines whether you're
qualified to enlist in the U.S. military.
How to Apply the Results
The other aspects of the ASVAB test your
qualifications for specific careers or job
positions. This test is more than a mili-
tary entrance exam, it is an aptitude test
which serves students in many areas. We
spoke to the counselor at Pell City High
School, Amy Smith, and asked her views
on the ASVAB and how it applies to her
students.
“The ASVAB is an excellent
predictor of future ACT scores,
it is especially helpful for those
students that may have not been
able to take the ACT before.
When used for students at the
beginning of their junior year, it
gives both the students and the
teachers a good idea of what they
should score when they take the
State-administered ACT in the
spring,” - Amy Smith, Pell City
High School Counselor.
ACT: THE TRIPLE E’S
The Three E’s
She shared an interesting take on the
aptitude test. At Pell City High School,
they have a program set in place called
the “Triple E” program. This program
consists of three options the school
encourages for seniors:
Enroll
Enlist
Employ
The ASVAB helps to satisfy
these three options:
The
test provides a predicted ACT
score which can be determined
through a conversion chart to help
students with college enrollment.
The
test provides a way for students to
enlist in the military.
e test provides a career inventory of
Th
the students to assist them in figuring
out what they want to pursue in terms
of employment.
How does the ASVAB correlate
with the ACT?
The scores on this aptitude test can accu-
rately predict a student’s success on the
ACT. Amy shared how her school utilizes
this feature and what it has meant to her
students.
The ASVAB scores can be converted using this table:
ACT COMPOSITE SCORE AFQT SCORE RANGE
10 or below V (1-9)
11 IV-C (10-15)
12 IV-B (16-20)
13-14 IV-A (21-30)
15-16 III-B (31-49)
17-18 III-A (50-64)
19-26 II (65-92)
27-36 I (93-99)
For further information on the ASVAB and to view the conversion chart for the SAT, visit www.asvabprogram.com.
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| Spring 2020
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