General Science Test

There are 25 items on the General Sciences portion of the ASVAB. The questions can be divided into three areas:

• Physical science: The physical sciences include physics and chemistry. Questions in this area will cover topics such as the properties of acids and bases.
• Earth science: Earth science focuses on geology, meteorology, and astronomy. In this section, you will be expected to know information such as how long it takes the Earth to make one trip around the sun.
• Life science: The life science section includes issues relating to nutrition, health, and biology. One example of the type of the type of information covered in this section would be naming the heart rate for a healthy adult.

Technical knowledge is not considered part of the General Sciences portion of the test. Your knowledge of automotive repair, electronics components, and tools will be measured in the following sections:

• Automotive and Shop Information
• Shop Terminology and Tools
• Electronics Information
• Mechanical Comprehension

If you are planning on using your scores for the purpose of military enlistment, keep in mind that the General Sciences portion of the test is not used to calculate your Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) score. Your AFQT score is calculated with results from the Word Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension, Arithmetic Reasoning, and Mathematics Knowledge sections. The other sections provide information regarding what types of military jobs you may be able to perform once you have enlisted.

The information covered on the General Sciences portion of the test is covered as part of a standard high school science curriculum. However, you can help prepare for this part of the test by reviewing study guides, flashcards, or practice questions. When you’re studying, remember that you should try to spend no more than one minute on each question. As with all standardized tests, pacing yourself is important to getting the best possible score on the ASVAB.

Last Updated: 02/24/2013

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