As an ASVAB tutor I have heard many excuses for why students don’t do well on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery or simply ASVAB exam. The list of excuses ranges from everything to “I am too lazy to study” or “I forgot everything I learned in high school” and while these can be true, they can also be rectified. However here’s an excuse I heard recently

I am not smart enough to take the ASVAB

This is absolutely NOT true. The ASVAB is an exam offered to 14,000 potential recruits on a yearly basis. Given the wide range of background and education the ASVAB is not designed to test you on the level of something astronomical like nuclear physics.

This is an exam designed to test you on the standards of high school math, science, reading, verbal knowledge and more. And since the level of education varies with each high school across the country, this exam is designed to test the averages

I have worked with many potential recruits on their test-taking strategy and skill. Some of them perhaps not the brightest, but that is not what the military is looking for. These students were motivated and hard working. They applied the ‘average’ brains to this ‘average’ test and managed to score well enough to qualify for their chosen jobs, rates, and MOS.

So why are you any different? If this is something you really want to do, then go ahead and put your mind to it. If you study and prepare yourself adequately, then YOU WILL achieve a qualifying score.

Be sure you give yourself a proper and consistent study schedule, with ample study time. Break down the desired topics into subtopics and focus on one concept a day. As you study each topic be sure you take notes and do practice problems to ensure that you have a means of review down the line

If you find that studying on your own is not enough, GET A TUTOR. Don’t let the lack of knowledge stand in the way of your future. Find someone who is qualified to help you with the individual topics, and have them teach you the information to the point where you feel confident doing practice problems on your own

If you work really hard using the above methods you will find your practice scores go up and up. And remember, you don’t have to score 100% to qualify. An AFQT of 50 is enough for most branches in the US Armed Forces.