Assembling Objects Test
The Assembling Objects section was added to the ASVAB in 2002. It is not part of the core battery of tests that the military uses to determine your eligibility for enlistment. The purpose of the Assembling Objects test is to measure your aptitude for certain types of military jobs.
There are 16 questions on the Assembling Objects test, and you have nine minutes to complete them. The easiest questions are given first, with the difficulty level increasing after every question. The paper and pencil version of the exam given to high school students does not include the Assembling Objects test. Only the computer aided version has this test.
To do well on the Assembling Objects test, you must be able to conceive of and organize objects of different sizes and shapes. Objects are represented by simple geometric diagrams.
There are two types of questions on the Assembling Objects test.
- Questions about duplicating results have an initial box showing the objective of the problem, followed by four other boxes with similar shapes and instructions for how the objects must be connected. You are asked to choose the answer that will result in a graphic duplicating what is shown in the initial box.
- Jigsaw puzzle questions have a block with a series of pieces or shapes. The object is to figure out how to connect each individual piece into one specific shape. Just as in a traditional jigsaw puzzle, there is only one solution to the problem.
As you might expect, the standard high school curriculum provides little instruction in the type of skills needed to do well on the Assembling Objects section. Spatial perception is primarily a natural aptitude, although it can be enhanced by completing jigsaw puzzles and computer games focusing on spatial relationships. However, if you want to make sure you’re prepared for this section of the ASVAB, you can find practice test questions online and in printed review guides.
Last Updated: 02/24/2013
