What Sections Are on the ASVAB? All 9 Subtests
Every subtest explained, plus which ones actually decide enlistment
June 27, 2026
The ASVAB has nine subtests: General Science, Arithmetic Reasoning, Word Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension, Mathematics Knowledge, Electronics Information, Auto and Shop Information, Mechanical Comprehension, and Assembling Objects. On the computer version (CAT-ASVAB), Auto and Shop Information splits into two short sections, so you see ten sections on screen. Only four of them, Arithmetic Reasoning, Mathematics Knowledge, Word Knowledge, and Paragraph Comprehension, count toward the AFQT score that decides whether you can enlist. The rest feed the line scores that decide which jobs you qualify for.
What are the nine ASVAB subtests?
Here is each section in plain terms, in the order the CAT-ASVAB presents them.
General Science (GS). High school level science across biology, chemistry, physics, and earth science. Expect questions about the human body, weather, and basic physical principles.
Arithmetic Reasoning (AR). Math word problems. You read a short scenario about rates, percentages, ratios, or money and work out the answer. The math itself is not advanced, but translating words into numbers under time pressure is the skill being tested.
Word Knowledge (WK). Vocabulary. Most questions ask for the word closest in meaning to a given word, sometimes in a sentence for context.
Paragraph Comprehension (PC). Reading. You read short passages and answer questions about the main point, specific details, or what the passage implies.
Mathematics Knowledge (MK). Straight math with no story attached. Algebra, geometry, exponents, and equations, testing whether you know the concepts and formulas directly.
Electronics Information (EI). Circuits, current, voltage, resistance, and common electrical components and terms.
Auto and Shop Information (AS). Automotive systems (engines, brakes, transmissions) and shop practices (tools, fasteners, materials). On the CAT-ASVAB this runs as two short sections, Auto Information and Shop Information.
Mechanical Comprehension (MC). Physical principles in action. Levers, pulleys, gears, springs, and questions about which way something moves or which setup takes less force.
Assembling Objects (AO). Spatial reasoning. You look at disassembled shapes and pick the image showing how they fit together. Not every branch uses this score.
Which ASVAB sections count toward the AFQT?
This is the split that should drive your study plan. Four subtests build your AFQT, the percentile score every branch uses for enlistment eligibility. The other five build line scores, the composites that qualify you for specific jobs.
| Subtest | Feeds AFQT | Feeds line scores |
|---|---|---|
| Arithmetic Reasoning (AR) | Yes | Yes |
| Mathematics Knowledge (MK) | Yes | Yes |
| Word Knowledge (WK) | Yes | Yes |
| Paragraph Comprehension (PC) | Yes | Yes |
| General Science (GS) | No | Yes |
| Electronics Information (EI) | No | Yes |
| Auto and Shop Information (AS) | No | Yes |
| Mechanical Comprehension (MC) | No | Yes |
| Assembling Objects (AO) | No | Yes (some branches) |
The AFQT formula combines Word Knowledge and Paragraph Comprehension into a Verbal Expression (VE) score, then computes 2VE + AR + MK as a percentile from 1 to 99. The full scoring picture, including how each branch builds line scores, is covered in the ASVAB test hub.
Which sections deserve the most study time?
Start with the four AFQT subtests, because they control whether you can enlist at all. A perfect score on General Science does nothing for a recruit whose AFQT is below the branch minimum. Within those four, math usually pays off fastest. Arithmetic Reasoning and Mathematics Knowledge cover a defined set of skills (fractions, percentages, algebra, geometry) that respond quickly to drilling, and AR counts once while MK counts once, so together they are half the formula. Verbal scores move slower since vocabulary builds over weeks, which is a reason to start Word Knowledge practice early rather than cramming it.
Once your AFQT is safely above your branch minimum, shift time to the technical sections that feed the line scores for jobs you want. A recruit aiming at a mechanical or electronics job should treat MC and EI as seriously as the AFQT four. If you do not yet know which jobs you want, the AFQT sections remain the safest investment.
ASVABDRILL is an ASVAB practice test platform focused on AFQT improvement, built for military recruits, covering ASVAB, PiCAT, and verification-style practice. A baseline practice test shows you which of the nine sections are costing you points, which beats guessing at a study plan.
FAQ
How many sections are on the ASVAB?
Nine subtests. The CAT-ASVAB displays ten sections because Auto and Shop Information runs as two separate short sections on the computer version.
Do all ASVAB sections count toward enlistment?
No. Only Arithmetic Reasoning, Mathematics Knowledge, Word Knowledge, and Paragraph Comprehension feed the AFQT, which decides eligibility. The other sections matter for job qualification through line scores.
Can you skip sections on the ASVAB?
No. Every examinee completes every section. On the CAT-ASVAB you also cannot return to a question once you answer it, so pacing within each section matters.
What is the hardest section of the ASVAB?
It varies by person, but recruits most often struggle with Arithmetic Reasoning because of the time pressure on word problems, and with Mechanical Comprehension if they have no hands-on background. A practice test will tell you your own weakest section quickly.
Related reading
- ASVAB test: what it is and how it works, the hub for this series
- Can you use a calculator on the ASVAB
- How many times can you take the ASVAB
- ASVAB tutor if a weak section will not move on its own
Want to know which sections are costing you points? Take a full-length ASVAB practice test and get a section-by-section breakdown of where you stand.