ASVAB Cheat Sheet: Formulas, Roots, and Timing
Every formula, word root, and time limit worth memorizing on one page
July 2, 2026
This ASVAB cheat sheet collects the math formulas, word roots, and subtest timing that show up most often on the test, in one place you can review daily. To be clear up front: you cannot bring any cheat sheet, notes, or calculator into the actual ASVAB. Everything below is a study reference to memorize before test day, not something to carry into MEPS.
What arithmetic formulas do you need for the ASVAB?
These cover the word problems on Arithmetic Reasoning.
| Formula | Use it for |
|---|---|
| Percent = (Part / Whole) x 100 | Finding what percent one number is of another |
| Selling price = Cost x (1 +/- Rate) | Markup (plus) and discount (minus) |
| Distance = Rate x Time | Speed, travel, and fuel problems |
| 1/A + 1/B = 1/Together | Two workers finishing a job together |
| I = P x R x T | Simple interest (rate as a decimal, time in years) |
| a/b = c/d, cross multiply | Ratios and proportions |
| Average = Sum / Count | Mean of a list of numbers |
| Unit rate = Quantity / Units | Cost per item, parts per hour |
What algebra rules should you memorize?
These cover the direct math on Mathematics Knowledge.
| Rule | Formula |
|---|---|
| Distributive property | a(b + c) = ab + ac |
| Linear equations | ax + b = c, subtract b then divide by a |
| Slope between two points | m = (y2 - y1) / (x2 - x1) |
| Slope-intercept form | y = mx + b |
| Exponent product rule | a^m x a^n = a^(m+n) |
| Exponent quotient rule | a^m / a^n = a^(m-n) |
| Exponent power rule | (a^m)^n = a^(mn) |
| Square roots | sqrt(144) = 12 because 12 x 12 = 144 |
What geometry formulas are on the ASVAB?
| Shape or rule | Formula |
|---|---|
| Rectangle perimeter | P = 2(l + w) |
| Rectangle area | A = l x w |
| Triangle area | A = (1/2) x base x height |
| Circle area | A = pi x r^2 |
| Circle circumference | C = 2 x pi x r |
| Box volume | V = l x w x h |
| Cylinder volume | V = pi x r^2 x h |
| Pythagorean theorem | a^2 + b^2 = c^2 |
| Angles on a straight line | Sum to 180 degrees |
| Acute angles in a right triangle | Sum to 90 degrees |
Also memorize the common conversions: 12 inches in a foot, 3 feet in a yard, 5,280 feet in a mile, 16 ounces in a pound, and 4 quarts in a gallon.
What word roots raise your Word Knowledge score?
You cannot memorize every vocabulary word, but roots let you decode words you have never seen.
| Root or prefix | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| bene | good | benevolent |
| mal | bad | malicious |
| ambi | both | ambiguous |
| dict | say | contradict |
| spec | look | inspect |
| port | carry | transport |
| cred | believe | credible |
| chron | time | chronological |
| pre | before | premature |
| anti | against | antidote |
How long is each ASVAB subtest?
CAT-ASVAB question counts and time limits, so you can practice at real pacing. [NOTE: verify current CAT-ASVAB question counts and time limits before publishing]
| Subtest | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|
| General Science (GS) | 15 | 10 min |
| Arithmetic Reasoning (AR) | 15 | 55 min |
| Word Knowledge (WK) | 15 | 9 min |
| Paragraph Comprehension (PC) | 10 | 27 min |
| Mathematics Knowledge (MK) | 15 | 23 min |
| Electronics Information (EI) | 15 | 10 min |
| Auto Information (AI) | 10 | 7 min |
| Shop Information (SI) | 10 | 6 min |
| Mechanical Comprehension (MC) | 15 | 22 min |
| Assembling Objects (AO) | 30 | 17 min |
How is the AFQT calculated?
Only four subtests feed the AFQT: AR, MK, WK, and PC. Word Knowledge and Paragraph Comprehension combine into a Verbal Expression (VE) score, and the formula is 2VE + AR + MK, converted to a percentile from 1 to 99. Because VE is doubled, the two verbal subtests carry half the weight of the whole formula, so this cheat sheet’s word roots matter as much as its math.
How should you actually use this cheat sheet?
Reading a reference sheet does not move scores by itself. Review one table per day, write the formulas out by hand until you can reproduce them cold, then drill practice questions that force you to apply them. ASVABDRILL is an ASVAB practice test platform focused on AFQT improvement, built for military recruits, covering ASVAB, PiCAT, and verification-style practice, so every formula here shows up in its question explanations.
FAQ
Can you bring a cheat sheet into the ASVAB?
No. No notes, formula sheets, calculators, or phones are allowed in the testing room. The proctor provides scratch paper and a pencil. Anything on this page has to be in your head by test day.
Does the ASVAB give you any formulas?
Some questions include the numbers you need, and a few may state a formula, but you cannot count on it. Recruits who memorize the core formulas set up problems faster and make fewer mistakes under time pressure.
What math formulas are most important for the ASVAB?
Percent, distance-rate-time, and area formulas appear most often. If you only memorize one table on this page, make it the arithmetic table, then add geometry.
Is there a printable version of this cheat sheet?
Print this page directly from your browser. The tables are the reference; keep it next to you during practice sessions, not just before the exam.
Related reading
- Complete ASVAB study guide for the full study plan these tables plug into
- ASVAB practice questions to apply the formulas under test conditions
- ASVAB math practice for how to drill AR and MK daily
- ASVAB word knowledge for the full root-based vocabulary method
Memorized a table? Prove it under the clock. Take a practice test and see which formulas hold up when the timer is running.