2019 / 2020 ASVAB For Dummies with Online Practice

by Angie Papple Johnston

Overview

Qualify for the military job you want

More than 1 million potential U.S. military recruits take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) every year. Get the scores you need to stand out with 2019/2020 ASVAB For Dummies with Online Practice. Inside this bestselling study guide, you'll encounter in-depth reviews for making sense of the verbal, math, and general components, plus expert tips and tricks to help you discover the areas where you need the most help.

If you want to put your military career on the fast track to success, ASVAB For Dummies is your first stop. Your test results will tell the Department of Defense which jobs you’re most likely to excel in. To qualify for the top jobs, you’ll need these proven study tips, cheat sheets, and practice exams, updated for the 2019/2020 test suite.

• Review all 9 subject areas covered on the test
• Access free online instructional videos hosted by the author
• Study smarter with hundreds of targeted flashcards
• Take ASVAB practice exams to sharpen your test-taking skills
• Boost your test-taking strategies and know what to expect on exam day

2019/2020 ASVAB For Dummies will put you on the road to a successful military future.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781119560746
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	07/11/2019
Series:	For Dummies Books
Edition description:	8th ed.
Pages:	592
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 10.70(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

Angie Papple Johnston joined the U.S. Army in 2006 as a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Specialist. During her second deployment in Iraq, Angie became her battalion's public affairs representative. She currently serves in an aviation battalion in Washington, D.C.

1-year access to flashcards, videos, and practice tests online!

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

About This Book 1

Foolish Assumptions 2

Icons Used in This Book 2

Beyond the Book 2

Where to Go from Here 3

Part 1: Getting Started with the ASVAB 5

Chapter 1: Putting the ASVAB under a Microscope 7

Knowing Which Version You’re Taking 7

Mapping Out the ASVAB Subtests 8

Deciphering ASVAB Scores 9

Do-Over: Retaking the ASVAB 14

Chapter 2: Knowing What it Takes to Get Your Dream Job 17

Eyeing How ASVAB Scores Determine Military Training Programs and Jobs 18

Understanding How Each Branch Computes Line Scores 18

Chapter 3: Getting Acquainted with Test-Taking and Study Techniques 23

Taking the Test: Computerized or Paper? 23

Tackling Multiple-Choice Questions 26

When You Don’t Know an Answer: Guessing Smart 27

Studying and Practicing for the ASVAB 28

Making Last-Minute Preparations: 24 Hours and Counting 29

Part 2: Words to Live By: Communication Skills 31

Chapter 4: Word Knowledge 33

Grasping the Importance of Word Knowledge 33

Checking Out the Word Knowledge Question Format 34

Building Words from Scratch: Strategies to Help You Decipher Word Meanings 35

Yin and Yang: Understanding Synonyms and Antonyms 40

ASVAB Word Knowledge Strategy: Finding the Answer When You Just Don’t Know 40

You are What You Speak: Improving Your Vocabulary, Improving Yourself 46

Word Knowledge Practice Questions 49

Answers and Explanations 51

Chapter 5: Paragraph Comprehension 53

Understanding the Importance of Paragraph Comprehension for Military Jobs 53

Eyeing the Physique of the Paragraph Comprehension Subtest 54

Trying the Four Flavors of Comprehension Questions 54

Do You Get My Point? Breaking down Paragraphs 57

Analyzing What You’ve Read: Guessing at What the Writer Really Means 59

Faster than a Speeding Turtle: Tips for Slow Readers 60

Test-Taking Tips for Reading and Gleaning 62

Paragraph Comprehension Practice Questions 63

Answers and Explanations 67

Part 3: Making The Most of Math: Arithmetic Skills 69

Chapter 6: Mathematics Knowledge and Operations 71

Just When You Thought You Were Done with Vocab: Math Terminology 72

Operations: What You Do to Numbers 73

Working on Both Sides of the Line: Fractions 76

A Powerful Shorthand: Writing in Scientific Notation 84

Getting to the Root of the Problem 84

Test-Taking Techniques for Your Mathematical Journey 86

Math Knowledge and Operations Practice Questions 89

Answers and Explanations 91

Chapter 7: Algebra 93

Coming to Terms with Basic Algebra Lingo 93

Solving for x 94

When All Things are Equal: Keeping an Algebra Equation Balanced 95

Tackling Two-Variable Equations 98

Explaining Exponents in Algebra 99

A Step Back: Factoring Algebra Expressions to Find Original Numbers 99

Making Alphabet Soup: Solving Quadratic Equations 100

All Math isn’t Created Equal: Solving Inequalities 101

Algebra Practice Questions 103

Answers and Explanations 105

Chapter 8: Geometry 111

Outlining Angles 112

Pointing Out Triangle Types 114

Back to Square One: Quadrilaterals 115

Going around in Circles 116

Fillin’ it Up: Calculating Volume 118

Mapping Out Coordinates 123

Geometry Practice Questions 125

Answers and Explanations 128

Chapter 9: Arithmetic Reasoning: Math Word Problems 131

Tackling the Real World of Word Problems 132

The Guessing Game: Putting Reason in Your Guessing Strategy 135

Arithmetic Reasoning (Math Word Problems) Practice Questions 137

Answers and Explanations 140

Part 4: Examining General Science Under a Microscope 145

Chapter 10: General Science and Life Science 147

There’s a Scientific Method to the Madness 148

Understanding Forms of Measurement 149

Uncovering Biology, from Big to Small 150

Perusing the Human Body Systems 154

Digging through Plant Physiology 160

Thinking Small: A Look at Cells 162

Swimming in the Gene Pool: Genetics 164

Using Common Sense to Hypothesize about Answers 165

General and Life Science Practice Questions 166

Answers and Explanations 167

Chapter 11: Physical Sciences 169

Chemistry: Not Blowing Up the Lab 169

Physics: it Matters (and It’s Matter) 176

Physical Science Practice Questions 185

Answers and Explanations 187

Chapter 12: Earth and Space Sciences 189

Staying Down to Earth with Geology and Meteorology 189

Paleontology: Can You Dig It? 197

Where Few Have Gone Before: Astronomy 199

Getting Back to Your Latin Roots to Improve Your Test Score 204

Earth and Space Science Practice Questions 205

Answers and Explanations 207

Part 5: The Whole Ball of Facts: Technical Skills 209

Chapter 13: Auto & Shop Information 211

Checking under the Hood 211

Picking Up the Tools of the Trade 216

Sticking Materials Together with Fasteners 222

Building a Better Score 223

Auto & Shop Information Practice Questions 225

Answers and Explanations 227

Chapter 14: Mechanical Comprehension 229

Understanding the Forces of the Universe 230

You Call That Work?! 234

Relying on Machines to Help You Work 235

Working Your Way to a Better Test Score 243

Mechanical Comprehension Practice Questions 245

Answers and Explanations 248

Chapter 15: Electronics Information 251

Uncovering the Secrets of Electricity 251

Switching Things Up with Alternating and Direct Current 257

Picture It: Decoding Electrical Circuit Codes 259

Eyeing Some Electronic Information Test Tips 262

Electronics Information Practice Questions 264

Answers and Explanations 266

Chapter 16: Assembling Objects 269

Getting the Picture about Assembling Objects 269

Two Types of Questions for the Price of One 270

Tips for the Assembling Objects Subtest 273

Assembling Objects Practice Questions 275

Answers and Explanations 277

Part 6: Practice ASVAB Exams 279

Chapter 17: Practice Exam 1 281

Answer Sheet for Practice Exam 1 283

Subtest 1: General Science 285

Subtest 2: Arithmetic Reasoning 287

Subtest 3: Word Knowledge 291

Subtest 4: Paragraph Comprehension 294

Subtest 5: Mathematics Knowledge 297

Subtest 6: Electronics Information 300

Subtest 7: Auto & Shop Information 302

Subtest 8: Mechanical Comprehension 305

Subtest 9: Assembling Objects 310

Chapter 18: Practice Exam 1: Answers and Explanations 313

Subtest 1: General Science Answers 313

Subtest 2: Arithmetic Reasoning Answers 315

Subtest 3: Word Knowledge Answers 318

Subtest 4: Paragraph Comprehension Answers 320

Subtest 5: Mathematics Knowledge Answers 321

Subtest 6: Electronics Information Answers 324

Subtest 7: Auto & Shop Information Answers 326

Subtest 8: Mechanical Comprehension Answers 327

Subtest 9: Assembling Objects Answers 329

Chapter 19: Practice Exam 2 333

Answer Sheet for Practice Exam 2 335

Subtest 1: General Science 337

Subtest 2: Arithmetic Reasoning 339

Subtest 3: Word Knowledge 343

Subtest 4: Paragraph Comprehension 346

Subtest 5: Mathematics Knowledge 349

Subtest 6: Electronics Information 352

Subtest 7: Auto & Shop Information 354

Subtest 8: Mechanical Comprehension 357

Subtest 9: Assembling Objects 362

Chapter 20: Practice Exam 2: Answers and Explanations 365

Subtest 1: General Science Answers 365

Subtest 2: Arithmetic Reasoning Answers 367

Subtest 3: Word Knowledge Answers 369

Subtest 4: Paragraph Comprehension Answers 371

Subtest 5: Mathematics Knowledge Answers 372

Subtest 6: Electronics Information Answers 375

Subtest 7: Auto & Shop Information Answers 376

Subtest 8: Mechanical Comprehension Answers 378

Subtest 9: Assembling Objects Answers 379

Chapter 21: Practice Exam 3 383

Answer Sheet for Practice Exam 3 385

Subtest 1: General Science 387

Subtest 2: Arithmetic Reasoning 390

Subtest 3: Word Knowledge 393

Subtest 4: Paragraph Comprehension 396

Subtest 5: Mathematics Knowledge 399

Subtest 6: Electronics Information 402

Subtest 7: Auto & Shop Information 404

Subtest 8: Mechanical Comprehension 407

Subtest 9: Assembling Objects 412

Chapter 22: Practice Exam 3: Answers and Explanations 415

Subtest 1: General Science Answers 415

Subtest 2: Arithmetic Reasoning Answers 417

Subtest 3: Word Knowledge Answers 421

Subtest 4: Paragraph Comprehension Answers 422

Subtest 5: Mathematics Knowledge Answers 424

Subtest 6: Electronics Information Answers 426

Subtest 7: Auto & Shop Information Answers 428

Subtest 8: Mechanical Comprehension Answers 429

Subtest 9: Assembling Objects Answers 431

Chapter 23: AFQT Practice Exam 1 435

Answer Sheet for AFQT Practice Exam 1 437

Subtest 1: Arithmetic Reasoning 439

Subtest 2: Word Knowledge 443

Subtest 3: Paragraph Comprehension 446

Subtest 4: Mathematics Knowledge 450

Chapter 24: AFQT Practice Exam 1: Answers and Explanations 453

Subtest 1: Arithmetic Reasoning Answers 453

Subtest 2: Word Knowledge Answers 456

Subtest 3: Paragraph Comprehension Answers 458

Subtest 4: Mathematics Knowledge Answers 459

Chapter 25: AFQT Practice Exam 2 463

Answer Sheet for AFQT Practice Exam 2 465

Subtest 1: Arithmetic Reasoning 467

Subtest 2: Word Knowledge 471

Subtest 3: Paragraph Comprehension 474

Subtest 4: Mathematics Knowledge 477

Chapter 26: AFQT Practice Exam 2: Answers and Explanations 481

Subtest 1: Arithmetic Reasoning Answers 481

Subtest 2: Word Knowledge Answers 485

Subtest 3: Paragraph Comprehension Answers 487

Subtest 4: Mathematics Knowledge Answers 488

Part 7: The Part of Tens 493

Chapter 27: Ten Surefire Ways to Fail the ASVAB 495

Choosing Not to Study at All 495

Failing to Realize How Scores are Used 496

Studying for Unnecessary Subtests 496

Losing Focus 496

Panicking over Time 497

Deciding Not to Check the Answers 497

Making Wild Guesses or Not Guessing at All 497

Changing Answers 498

Memorizing the Practice Test Questions 498

Misunderstanding the Problem 498

Chapter 28: Ten Tips for Doing Well on the AFQT 499

As Soon as the Test Starts, Write Down What You’re Likely to Forget 499

Read All the Answer Choices before Deciding 499

Don’t Expect Perfect Word Matches 500

Read the Passages before the Questions 500

Reread to Find Specific Information 500

Base Conclusions Only on What You Read 500

Change Percents to Decimals 500

Understand Inverses 501

Remember How Ratios, Rates, and Scales Compare 501

Make Sure Your Answers are Reasonable 501

Chapter 29: Ten Ways to Boost Your Math and English Skills 503

Practice Doing Math Problems 503

Put Away Your Calculator 503

Memorize the Order of Operations 504

Know Your Geometry Formulas 504

Keep a Word List 505

Study Latin and Greek 505

Use Flashcards 506

Read More, Watch TV Less 506

Practice Finding Main and Supporting Points 506

Use a Study Guide 506

Part 8: Appendixes 507

Appendix A: Matching ASVAB Scores to Military Jobs 509

Army Enlisted Jobs 509

Air Force Enlisted Jobs 514

Navy Enlisted Jobs 517

Marine Corps Enlisted Jobs 521

Coast Guard Enlisted Jobs 525

Appendix B: Countdown to Taking the ASVAB 527

How Much Time Do You Have to Prepare? 527

Outline Your ASVAB Study Strategy 527

12 weeks out: Identify your weak spots 528

10 weeks out: Dust off your strengths 528

8 weeks out: Studying with your recruiter 529

6 weeks out: Retest yourself 529

4 weeks out: Zeroing in on your targets 529

2 weeks out: Flashcards, practice tests, and more flashcards 529

The day before the test 530

Appendix C: Word Knowledge Resources 531

Digging Down to Word Roots 531

Pointing Out Prefixes 540

Spotting Hard-Working Suffixes 545

Index 549