average ASVAB score

[mselly13]

Just curious as to what an average ASVAB score is? What is a good score or a really bad score.

I really ask because I'm nosey and curious but also because I know one person who scored a 4. My son said "mom, you get a 4 for getting your name right" So did this guy just like fail everything on it.

I also know a kid that ended up getting a waiver because he couldn't get a 21.

I've also heard of scores from 47, 67, 82 and all in between there.

[plano2001]

Your "score" on the ASVAB is a percentile based on how you fall on average compared to other test-takers. Percentile goes up to 99%.

So an average would be 50.

[Spr Steve]

[QUOTE=plano2001]Your "score" on the ASVAB is a percentile based on how you fall on average compared to other test-takers. Percentile goes up to 99%.

So an average would be 50.[/QUOTE]


I've always wondered why 99% is the 'top mark', why not 100% ?

[chd]

[QUOTE=Spr Steve]I've always wondered why 99% is the 'top mark', why not 100% ?[/QUOTE]

Because, at any given time, only one person in the world would have a score of 100.

[Spr Steve]

If you get every single question right you still wouldn't get 100%, right ?

[chd]

[QUOTE=Spr Steve]If you get every single question right you still wouldn't get 100%, right ?[/QUOTE]

No, because it's supposed to be a percentile score. So a 59 is better than or equal to 59% of the people that took it.

That's why a 100 is impossible under the system - you cannot score better or equal to 100% of the people that took it.

It's based on a random sampling of 18- to 23-year-olds who took the ASVAB in 1997. Those same people took it again in 2004, which is the data set that the current system utilizes.

[Spr Steve]

[QUOTE=chd]No, because it's supposed to be a percentile score. So a 59 is better than or equal to 59% of the people that took it.

That's why a 100 is impossible under the system - you cannot score better or equal to 100% of the people that took it.

It's based on a random sampling of 18- to 23-year-olds who took the ASVAB in 1997. Those same people took it again in 2004, which is the data set that the current system utilizes.[/QUOTE]

Cheers, very interesting.

[jayl314]

Does anyone have any tips or stategies for taking the test? My son scored a 44 and is going to take it again real soon. This time he is using a prep book. Six points seems like a small margin to make up. Is that the case?

[arb07d]

[QUOTE=jayl314]Does anyone have any tips or stategies for taking the test? My son scored a 44 and is going to take it again real soon. This time he is using a prep book. Six points seems like a small margin to make up. Is that the case?[/QUOTE]

Tell him to aim for more than just a 50. Use the prep book, take the practice tests.

DO NOT AIM FOR THE BARE MINIMUM

[Recruiter yosis]

[QUOTE=jayl314]Does anyone have any tips or stategies for taking the test? My son scored a 44 and is going to take it again real soon. This time he is using a prep book. Six points seems like a small margin to make up. Is that the case?[/QUOTE]


Study the what was on the pre-test.

Arithmetic Reasoning (AR), Mathematics Knowledge (MK), Paragraph Comprehension (PC), and Word Knowledge (WK).

When MEPS computes the scores one of the four here will be part of scoring of the line score.


For some reason thier is a misunderstanding of the ASVAB score. Yes if you get a 50 you will get the kicker.
What I would be worried about is my line scores to get the job you want.

[jayl314]

[QUOTE=Recruiter yosis]
What I would be worried about is my line scores to get the job you want.[/QUOTE]

He needed a 90 and he got a 120 (give or take).

[jayl314]

[QUOTE=arb07d]Tell him to aim for more than just a 50. Use the prep book, take the practice tests.

DO NOT AIM FOR THE BARE MINIMUM[/QUOTE]

Understood. The plan obviously is to score as high as possible but at least 51 the 44 didn't cut it.

[Mr_Loki]

Take him out to your car and show him a few things.
Give him a Geometry book.
Give him those lil blocks that kids use and tell him to make the triangle fit thru the triangle hole.

I wish I could hav edone that before the asvab...but my asvab score wasnt that bad.

[arb07d]

[QUOTE=Teuvil]
Give him those lil blocks that kids use and tell him to make the triangle fit thru the triangle hole.

I wish I could hav edone that before the asvab...but my asvab score wasnt that bad.[/QUOTE]

I wish I could have spent the day at toys r us too

[Mr_Loki]

Hey, there was a section entirely on it. And it's Kids R Us.

[arb07d]

I know.

Recruiters should take recruits to field trips....some of them need it lol. During mine, there was a girl next to me whispering "What the F**k" repeatedly during the test....literally all 4 hours, or whatever it was.

[chd]

[QUOTE=jayl314]Does anyone have any tips or stategies for taking the test? My son scored a 44 and is going to take it again real soon. This time he is using a prep book. Six points seems like a small margin to make up. Is that the case?[/QUOTE]

Test book is good, particularly for the math elements which can be learned in a few sessions.

Arithmetic Reasoning (AR) - study
Mathematics Knowledge (MK) - study
Paragraph Comprehension (PC) - slow down and read more thoroughly
Word Knowledge (WK) - not much that one can do besides catch up on years of reading

These are the only ones that matter. Tell him to focus here and relax on the others. No need to stress for three full hours.

I know exactly which questions that I got wrong after I took it. Had I known the definition of the last three words in the WK section, my score would have gone up 4 or 5 points by my math... so there should be NO problem improving by 6 points with some decent work.

[arb07d]

[QUOTE=chd]
Word Knowledge (WK) - not much that one can do besides catch up on years of reading
[/QUOTE]


SAT Prep would help with the word knowledge.
He doesn't even need to buy any of these books. They have them at libraries and bookstores. Sit down at a books-a-million, have a starbucks and pick up on of the SAT prep books for an hour and go over the words. The next time, take a look at the ASVAB study book.

After he feels like he's got enough studying done. Take Practice tests over and over until he is confident and is scoring well on those. There is no point in him going to take it again in a short time if he isn't confident, its just a waste of 4 hours. Just make sure he is ready and confident and well rested!

[eyemedic]

Finally subject i am well versed in. I began taking the ASVAB my freshman year of high school to get out of class and was hounded by recruiters. I took it every year in high school and my highest score was 86. I took it again in boot camp as part of the test dummies (in 1989) for the new computerized version you see today. I recently took the ASVAB again to reenlist and scored very well. The secret to the ASVAB is the same for every other high stress test. Eat a good breakfast, get plenty of sleep the night before, go into it as stress free as possible. Before you get to the point of going to take the test study up, the practice tests are nice because they help you to learn how to reason through how they want you to answer the questions. Read each question then read all the answers, read the question again then give the correct answer. All those basic test taking skills apply to the ASVAB. Just following those should help raise the score.

[Recruiter yosis]

[QUOTE=chd]Test book is good, particularly for the math elements which can be learned in a few sessions.

Arithmetic Reasoning (AR) - study
Mathematics Knowledge (MK) - study
Paragraph Comprehension (PC) - slow down and read more thoroughly
Word Knowledge (WK) - not much that one can do besides catch up on years of reading

These are the only ones that matter. Tell him to focus here and relax on the others. No need to stress for three full hours.

I know exactly which questions that I got wrong after I took it. Had I known the definition of the last three words in the WK section, my score would have gone up 4 or 5 points by my math... so there should be NO problem improving by 6 points with some decent work.[/QUOTE]




Check out this stud!!!
Perfect answer.
Your going to make a great recruiter.

[chd]

[QUOTE=arb07d]SAT Prep would help with the word knowledge.
He doesn't even need to buy any of these books. They have them at libraries and bookstores. Sit down at a books-a-million, have a starbucks and pick up on of the SAT prep books for an hour and go over the words. The next time, take a look at the ASVAB study book.

After he feels like he's got enough studying done. Take Practice tests over and over until he is confident and is scoring well on those. There is no point in him going to take it again in a short time if he isn't confident, its just a waste of 4 hours. Just make sure he is ready and confident and well rested![/QUOTE]

While true...

My point was mostly on efficiency. As it pertains to the ASVAB, and most math/English-content standardized tests, it's easier to improve a lower math score, from personal experiences and teaching SAT prep.

Memorize and practice math formulas, rules, laws, etc. You could learn 1000 vocabularly words and maybe only see one or two on the test.

If I fell 6 points short and was equally deficient in all categories, I'd work my hardest in math, slow down on comprehension and lastly work on vocabulary. If you buy an ASVAB prep book, review the math sections twice for every time that you review the WK/PC ones.

Before the calls come out to "reach for the stars" and "you should try to far exceed the minimum standards," the mother is asking how her son can get a 50.

And who has money to buy a Starbucks nowadays? ;)

[arb07d]

[QUOTE=chd]While true...

My point was mostly on efficiency. As it pertains to the ASVAB, and most math/English-content standardized tests, it's easier to improve a lower math score, from personal experiences and teaching SAT prep.

Memorize and practice math formulas, rules, laws, etc. You could learn 1000 vocabularly words and maybe only see one or two on the test.[/QUOTE]

Oh yea, Math is most important. I was just saying that it's a good way to "brush up" rather than 'catch up on years of reading' lol


[QUOTE=chd]And who has money to buy a Starbucks nowadays? ;)[/QUOTE]
I think Starbucks stole my soul...I have at least one a day. But I just get coffee with milk and hazelnut pumps. Not all that fancy latte cappuccino with whipped cream chocolate drizzle and vanilla sprinkle nonsense lol.

...i should buy a coffee maker

[chd]

[QUOTE=arb07d]I think Starbucks stole my soul...I have at least one a day. But I just get coffee with milk and hazelnut pumps. Not all that fancy latte cappuccino with whipped cream chocolate drizzle and vanilla sprinkle nonsense lol.

...i should buy a coffee maker[/QUOTE]

I didn't even know that they had regular coffee. Good to know (in case every one of the 10,000 Dunkin Donuts in New England simultaneously blow up).

[arb07d]

[QUOTE=chd]I didn't even know that they had regular coffee. Good to know (in case every one of the 10,000 Dunkin Donuts in New England simultaneously blows up).[/QUOTE]


If we had a dunkin donuts here, that is where I would be. Sadly, Tallahassee only has the Baskin Robins... and only 1 of those. but there are like 4 starbucks locations within 2 miles lol

[ctfrasier]

[QUOTE=arb07d]I know.

Recruiters should take recruits to field trips....some of them need it lol. During mine, there was a girl next to me whispering "What the F**k" repeatedly during the test....literally all 4 hours, or whatever it was.[/QUOTE]

This is why I'm so glad I took the electronic version. You can work at your own pace. I was in-and-out in a little over 90 minutes. Funny thing is I was hoping for the paper version.