When Should I Take the ASVAB?

The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test (ASVAB) must be passed before you can join the United States military. If you are thinking about doing this, you will need to take the ASVAB. You may also need to take this test if you have previously served, but some time has passed. Some schools routinely administer this test to their students, so if you attend such an institution you will take this military entrance exam.

You will normally schedule an appointment to take the ASVAB. Appointments may be scheduled during either the day or evening. The amount of time needed to complete this test varies from one individual to the next, but is generally between two and four hours. This means a four-hour block is usually scheduled for this aptitude test.

If you do not receive a passing score you will be allowed to retake the test, but must wait at least 30 days. There is no limit to how many times you can take the ASVAB, but you must wait the 30 days between each attempt. Once you have successfully passed the test, the results are good for two years after the date of that exam.

You may want to take the ASVAB while you are still in high school. If you are at least 16 years old, you can take this exam. The version normally given to high school students is the student ASVAB, which also includes an interest inventory. For this reason, it is used to help people decide on a career field. If you do take this test in high school, you may later use the results when enlisting in military service.

Even if you have previously served in the armed forces, you may still need to take the ASVAB. This could be because you have had a break in service longer than 24 months. If you plan to reenlist, check with a recruiter in order to find out if your previous ASVAB scores are still valid.

Talk to an armed forces recruiter about taking the ASVAB. She can tell you a little bit about the test and how it is administered. Before doing so, you may be given a study guide or practice test to help you prepare for the actual ASVAB exam. Doing your best on the exam can help you land the job you desire, no matter what branch of service you eventually choose.