The computerized format of the ASVAB (CAT-ASVAB) contains ten separately timed subtests, with the Auto & Shop Information subtest split in two. (Also, one small subtest is geared to Coding Speed for a few Navy jobs; this subtest isn’t included in the practice tests because very few people test for these jobs.)
*The Assembling Objects subtest isn’t part of the student version of the test.
The paper format of the test has nine subtests. The two formats differ in the number of questions in each subtest and the amount of time you have for each one. The following table outlines the ASVAB subtests in the order that you take them in the enlistment (computerized or paper) and student (paper only) versions of the test.
| Subtest | Questions/Time (CAT-ASVAB) | Questions/Time (Paper Version) | Content |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Science (GS) | 16 questions, 8 minutes | 25 questions, 11 minutes | General principles of biological and physical sciences |
| Arithmetic Reasoning (AR) | 16 questions, 39 minutes | 30 questions, 36 minutes | Simple word problems that require simple calculations |
| Word Knowledge (WK) | 16 questions, 8 minutes | 35 questions, 11 minutes | Correct meaning of a word; occasionally antonyms (words with opposite meanings) |
| Paragraph Comprehension (PC) | 11 questions, 22 minutes | 15 questions, 13 minutes | Questions based on several paragraphs (usually a few hundred words) that you read |
| Mathematics Knowledge (MK) | 16 questions, 20 minutes | 25 questions, 24 minutes | High school math, including algebra and geometry |
| Electronics Information (EI) | 16 questions, 8 minutes | 20 questions, 9 minutes | Electrical principles, basic electronic circuitry, and electronic terminology |
| Auto & Shop Information (AS) | 11 Auto Information questions, 7 minutes; 11 Shop Information questions, 6 minutes | 25 questions, 11 minutes | Knowledge of automobiles, shop terminology, and tool use |
| Mechanical Comprehension (MC) | 16 questions, 20 minutes | 25 questions, 19 minutes | Basic mechanical and physical principles |
| Assembling Objects (AO) | 16 questions, 15 minutes | 25 questions, 15 minutes* | Spatial orientation |
