Chapter 25
IN THIS CHAPTER
Getting used to doing math correctly by hand
Knowing key rules and formulas
Expanding your vocabulary
Becoming a better reader
The ASVAB includes two math and two English subtests: Mathematics Knowledge, Arithmetic Reasoning, Word Knowledge, and Paragraph Comprehension. These four subtests are probably the most important subtests of the ASVAB, because they comprise your AFQT score, which is the score that determines whether you qualify to join the branch of your choice. (Check out Chapter 1 for more info on the AFQT and Chapters 19 and 21 for sample AFQTs. You can also peruse my book ASVAB AFQT For Dummies [published by Wiley].)
Because these four subtests are so important, this chapter includes ten surefire ways to build your skills in these critical areas before you take the test.
The best way to get a firm grasp of certain types of math is by doing math problems and not simply reading them. Take advantage of the practice math questions in this book, and visit the public library to see what kind of high school math textbooks it has to lend. The more you do math, the better you’ll get at it.
You’re not allowed to use a calculator when you take the ASVAB, so the time to get used to solving basic math problems without one is now, not during the test. You may have been taught to rely on a calculator for high school math, but you have to leave your calculator at home when you take the ASVAB. Practice working out problems by hand, and make sure you know your multiplication tables and other basic calculations. The ASVAB math questions are written by people who know how to compute 2 + 2 in their heads.
Mathematical equations with multiple steps must be solved in a specific order. Otherwise, you won’t get the correct answer. Memorize the order in which you do certain calculations when you’re solving equations, and practice applying these rules well before test day.
Whatever’s within parentheses (and other grouping symbols)
If you have multiple parentheses nested inside each other, do the innermost set first. On the ASVAB, the other grouping symbols you run across are the fraction bar and the square root sign. Do what’s beneath the square root bar before taking the root. Do any operation above the fraction bar and any operation below the fraction bar before dividing.
Multiplication and division
Operate from left to right.
Addition and subtraction
Again, work from left to right.
For example, isn’t equal to , or 15. The correct answer is 9. You first do the multiplication and then the addition. You can remember order of operations as “Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally,” or PEMDAS. Check out Chapter 6 for more explanation.
You encounter some math questions that require you to calculate area, perimeter, and volume on the ASVAB. Memorize the following area formulas:
Know these perimeter and circumference formulas:
And know these formulas for the volume of 3-D solids:
The English language has well over 200,000 words in it, so nobody expects you to know them all. However, the ASVAB writers do expect you to have a good grasp of many vocabulary words. One way to improve your vocabulary is to keep a word list.
You can skip the grammar and pronunciation, but you should get to know some of the roots, prefixes, and suffixes that English has borrowed from Latin and Greek. These word parts are the building blocks of much of the English language, and they can give you clues about what words mean.
If you see an unfamiliar word on the Word Knowledge section, try to figure out its root. For example, if you know the meaning of mercy, you can figure out the meaning of merciful. Remember that prefixes and suffixes can be added onto a root to change the word’s meaning or function. Here are some examples:
For a list of common word parts you should know, check out Chapter 4.
Flashcards help you remember important facts through the process of spaced repetition. Learning psychologists agree that this is one of the most effective methods of memorizing new information. Plus, it’s cheap — all you need is a set of blank index cards and a pen to create your very own studying machine.
You can use flashcards to improve both your mental math and vocabulary — write down vocab words, roots, prefixes, and suffixes; practice matching square roots and square numbers; or just make sure you know your math formulas.
The best way to improve your reading comprehension is simple: Read more. If you spend four hours a day watching TV or surfing the web, you can instead use those four hours to read a novel or the newspaper or a book about car repair — whatever interests you the most. You’ll be surprised at how fast your reading speed and comprehension improve with just a little daily practice.
All writing should have a point. The main point is the thing that the writer wants you to take away from his or her words. Some passages include more than one point. Usually, such passages have one main point and one or more subpoints that support the main idea. As you’re reading passages on the ASVAB (and in real life), you want to be able to easily identify the main point. You should practice identifying the points during your own reading sessions. Read each paragraph and then ask yourself what information the author is trying to convey to you.
In my humble opinion, there is no better commercial ASVAB study guide available than this one. Read the chapters carefully and then use the practice tests to determine where you need more study.
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