CHAPTER 4
Prepare, Prepare, Prepare

Let’s face it, studying for what amounts to 10 tests that you have to take in one sitting is a daunting task. You’ve got to brush up on your algebra and learn a whole bunch of new vocabulary words. Since there are essentially three science sections on the ASVAB, you’ve got to break out your old textbooks and bone up on biology, chemistry, and physics. On top of all that, you need to get your knowledge of tools, hardware, and automotive systems up to snuff, in addition to having to figure out how to visually put puzzles together!

If you feel like there’s just too much to learn and not enough time before you have to take the ASVAB, you’re going to psych yourself out before you get anywhere near the test. The best way to get over the anxiety of preparing for what might seem like an insurmountable task is to break it down into smaller, more manageable pieces.

This chapter walks you through some general preparation strategies that will help make your studying more effective, not to mention take some of the pressure off.

Practice Tests and Planning Strategies

It’s time to put everything that you’ve learned about the ASVAB into perspective. Although studying the subject areas you’ll find on the test and learning about new strategies for taking this type of exam are extremely helpful tools, practicing is the best way to prepare.

But blindly taking practice test after practice test just to get experience doesn’t make much sense. It also takes a lot of time that you could be using more wisely. Your best bet is to think strategically about what you need to accomplish when you take the actual ASVAB and then plan your study approach accordingly.

Using Scores as a Guide

Because the ASVAB gives you scores for general entrance eligibility and job qualification, doing well on every section of the test is not absolutely necessary. One way to strategically prepare for the ASVAB is to determine your specific goals and concentrate on getting the scores you need to make them happen.

B Talk with your recruiter about your interests and aspirations to determine career paths that may interest you.

B Find out what technical scores you need to qualify for those jobs.

B Assess your skill and comfort level with the subject matter of each subtest required for that job. The best way to do this is to take practice tests (like those in this book) at home or at your recruiter’s office.

B When you know what you need the most help with, concentrate most of your study efforts on those subjects.

Your Recruiter, Your Coach

Recruiters are a great resource for what you can realistically expect to encounter as you move forward through recruitment and the ASVAB, in particular. But believe it or not, many people who are preparing for the ASVAB overlook their recruiter as a tool to help them get where they need to be.

At the end of the day, your recruiter is there to help you get through the ASVAB. Your recruiter wants you to succeed, if only to increase his or her enlistment numbers. In many ways, recruiters are like salespeople, and enlistment is a numbers game—but instead of meeting sales goals, they’re trying to meet enlistment goals.

That’s not to say that they don’t genuinely care about your future. They do. People choose recruiting as their profession because they like working with people and want to help them succeed. For all these reasons, many recruiters will do anything they can to help you prepare and get the scores you need. This can include the following types of help:

B Recommend a personal tutor, and in some cases, pay for the tutoring via the branch’s recruiting budget

B In-office timed practice testing

B Guidance on what to concentrate on, based on your goals

If you’re feeling anxious about taking the test, have questions, or just need a quiet place to study, your recruiter should be your first point of contact. Recruiters don’t mind putting in extra time or effort, so don’t feel bad about asking for help.

Maximize Your ASVAB Workouts

Chances are if you’re reading this book, you’re serious about preparing for the ASVAB. Nothing will stop you from getting the scores you want, and you will dedicate yourself to hours upon hours of studying for however many weeks you have between now and the date of your test.

Okay, so that’s a little bit extreme, but that’s how many people feel when they get ready to study for any type of test in earnest. The point is that over the coming weeks, you plan to invest quite a bit of time and effort into preparing for this exam—in addition to school, work, family, friends, sports, or whatever else you have going on in your life.

That’s why it’s important that you get the most out of your study time. Let’s look at some often overlooked yet highly effective ways to make sure your efforts will make the most impact on test day.

Timing Is Everything

Sure, study and practice will help you increase your ASVAB score. However, all the correct answers in the world won’t mean much if you don’t have the time to record the answers.

One Marine Corps recruiter in New Jersey said that one of the biggest mistakes potential recruits make when preparing for the ASVAB is not timing themselves on practice tests. If you remember our discussion in Chapter 2 about how the test is broken down, you’ll note that for many of the ASVAB subtests, you have more questions than you have minutes to answer.

A certain amount of anxiety accompanies any timed test, let alone one in which you have to answer 20 questions about the science of electrical components in 9 minutes. If you’re a slow reader or have marked test-taking anxiety issues, these can become even more pronounced when taking the ASVAB. The best remedy for this is to practice under the same time constraints you’ll face on test day. The more you practice at home, the better idea you’ll have about what pace to set, how much time to spend on your questions, and how to keep yourself on target with the clock.

Timing yourself also goes a long way toward making you more comfortable with working against the clock. The calmer you are when you take the test, the better the experience will be. If you think you might have trouble with this on your own, talk to your recruiter to see if you can come into the office and be timed there.

Study Strategically

It doesn’t matter whether you’re studying for every section of the ASVAB or only one or two subtests—break down the material you’re studying into smaller parts. This will keep you from feeling overwhelmed with information in one sitting. Keeping your mind concentrated in one area will also increase your chances of retention.

Additionally, always make sure you work on a handful of practice questions, no matter what you’re studying. Reading and memorizing is great, but you’ll benefit from it more if you can apply it right away. For example, if you’re studying roots to prepare for the Word Knowledge subtest, answer a few practice questions in the book or online to apply what you learned to actual questions.

Slow and Steady Is the Way

When you sit down to take the ASVAB for real, you’ll want to be as comfortable with it as possible. So it’s not very realistic to expect to be ready for the test in a week or even two. To effectively study for the ASVAB, you need time.

But nowadays, time is hard to come by, especially when you’re trying to learn the structure of a new test, refresh yourself on the subjects and topics you’ll be tested on, and test your knowledge by answering practice questions.

Our advice is to schedule a little time every day over a few weeks to work on your ASVAB skills, so it doesn’t seem like such a huge task. An hour a day is all you need. This will spread out the work and keep your stress level down. Some tips for doing this include the following:

B Give yourself enough time to realistically prepare for the test. There’s no rush to enlist. Take the time you need to study now so you can do your best the first time around.

B Look at your schedule for the next six to eight weeks and pencil in some study time every day. Then stick to it.

B Choose a place where you’re comfortable and where you’ll be undisturbed, preferably someplace without a phone or computer.

B Leave the rest of your hectic life behind. Your study time is yours. Don’t let any other worries or concerns about other aspects of your life take precedence.

B Have everything you need close at hand. Having to go from one room to another wastes a lot of time.

B Don’t beat yourself up for missing a study session or two. Life can be unpredictable. Try to adjust your routine if you need to, or sneak in some extra study time later.

Relax, It’s Only a Test

After weeks of preparing and thinking about the worlds of possibilities riding on your results, your blood pressure may be sky-high the week you’re scheduled to take the test. Putting everything in perspective now is more important than ever.

Taking the ASVAB is not rocket science, nor is it your one-and-only shot at a prosperous future. It’s a test, plain and simple. It’s made of paper and ink (or, in the case of the CAT ASVAB, software coding). Spill your water on it, and it goes back to being so much man-made material that just sits on a desk.

Now that you’ve got your head in the game, here are some other things you can do the week leading up to the test, to make sure you’re in the best shape possible for taking the ASVAB—and they have nothing to do with studying.

B Take some time off. A day or so before the test, ease back on the preparation. Better yet, stop altogether. This will give your brain a chance to rest so that it’s in top shape on test day. Instead, schedule some leisure time with friends, family, or your favorite video game.

B Get some sleep. Try to get as much sleep as you can the week of the test. One night’s rest is not enough if you want to be as rested and relaxed as possible for the test.

B Eat something. Have a little something packed with protein the morning of the test. This will help keep your blood sugar up and hunger at bay. The last thing you want is a grumbling stomach while you’re trying to concentrate. You also don’t want to be overly full, so keep it light. Protein bars are a good idea.

B Pack what you need the night before. Make sure you have everything you need for the exam with you and ready to go. A photo ID is a must. If you have to borrow or sharpen pencils in the middle of the test, you’ll lose precious time. Bring at least five sharp number 2 pencils for the PAP. Find out from your recruiter other specifics you’ll need and what you can’t bring to the site.

B Arrive early. Arrive at least 15 minutes before the test begins to take care of any administrative business and ensure you get the seat you want. Traffic and unforeseen events are not excuses for being late for the test, so allow yourself ample time.

B Come up with a plan B. If you’re not feeling well, have a fever, or have recently gone through a stressful or emotional event (good or bad), your test scores may not accurately reflect your abilities. Don’t be afraid to reschedule the test. Talk to your recruiter about options if your personal circumstances are not optimal on test day or the days leading up to it.

The Least You Need to Know

B You can maximize your study time by developing a strategy based on your goals.

B Recruiters are excellent resources if you’re looking for help preparing for the ASVAB.

B There are a lot of sections to the ASVAB, so concentrate on preparing for only one section at a time and doing a little studying every day.

B Getting your answers down in time is crucial on test day, so make sure that when you take your practice tests you time yourself.

B Don’t spend the week before the test cramming; you’ll want to be as relaxed as possible on test day.