Acing the Exam Study Guide for McGraw-Hill's ASVAB

Seven Steps to Acing the ASVAB

There are several steps you can take to give yourself a leading edge on acing the ASVAB. If you follow these simple rules and stick to them during the time leading up to the ASVAB, you will do well. You need to be disciplined and persistent. Merely wishing that you will do well won't cut it. Merely flipping through this book won't do it. You need to work hard, stay consistent, and focus like a laser to achieve your goal.

1. Be Prepared

Don't count on luck, your good looks, or your charming personality to get you high scores on the ASVAB. The best way to do well on the ASVAB is to study hard and do well in your courses at school. Even if you did well in school, focusing on the contents of this book will help you perform better on the ASVAB. Since the main criterion for military entrance is the AFQT, you need to do especially well on the math and verbal tests. Reviewing the contents of this book should help boost your score in those areas.

The other ASVAB tests are used for entry into certain occupational fields and training programs. Doing well on these tests gives you a better chance of getting into the career field of your choice.

You may or may not have taken courses in these other areas. For example, not everyone takes automotive courses or shop courses in school, so it will be very helpful to review the material in this book and take the practice exams. Not everyone has had formal training in the skills of mechanical comprehension. Spending time on learning the content of these areas is well worth your while in getting good jobs in the military.

2. Set Up a Study Plan and Don't Procrastinate

Give yourself three to five months of study and review before taking the ASVAB. You may need to spend more or less time studying, depending on how strong your abilities are in each content area. For example, maybe your math skills are just fine, but your knowledge of auto and shop concepts or general science needs a lot of work. Adjust the schedule to meet your own needs.

3. Set Up a Weekly Study Schedule

If you want to do well on the ASVAB, it is very important that you make studying for it a priority in your life. You should spend six to eight hours per week on your studies for this test. Setting up a weekly schedule and sticking to it is very important.

On page 43 You'll see a sample weekly study schedule. It is followed by a blank form that you can use to make your own schedule.

When can you study? Before completing the plan, you need to review your typical week to determine when you can make time to study. If you go to school or have a job, your time for study may be limited to evenings and weekends.

What time of day is best? Do you work better in the mornings, afternoons, or evenings? Schedule your study time when you are most likely to be efficient in your study. Use the chart at the bottom of this page to determine if you are a morning or an evening person.

How long can you study? You know yourself better than anyone. Are you able to study well for short or long periods of time? Can you focus for one hour and then get restless, or can you work undistracted and focused for several hours? Block out the times that seem ideal for you. Adjust the time as you learn what's best for you.

It's not just the clock time. Don't fool yourself into thinking that just because the clock has indicated that three hours have passed, you have spent three hours studying. Make sure that you are spending quality time on your studies.

Make room for exercise. It's very important that you schedule in some exercise, as that will help reduce the stress associated with working hard to achieve a goal. It will also keep you healthier so that your study schedule is not interrupted by illness.

Write down your study schedule and stick to it. Posting your schedule for your friends and family to see can help them understand that you need to use your time for study. This could help eliminate distractions. If you are really serious about doing well on the ASVAB, you may need to give up some nonessential activities, like dates, movies, and hanging out with your friends.

Be realistic. Don't plan study periods during the week if it is unlikely that you will follow through. In the beginning you may schedule one or two study periods and then increase your commitment to study as you get focused and organized. Your success depends on you.