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If English is your second language
There is no ASVAB in Spanish or any other language. That is not a wall: the verbal part is half of the AFQT formula, so it is worth your effort, and it has a method.
The test is only in English, and verbal counts twice
The official ASVAB site says the test is given only in English, for several reasons. The first: every service member needs to be able to speak English. A Spanish version could show general ability, but not whether you can do the same tasks in English.
Why this is good news
Your AFQT (the score used to decide if you can enlist) comes from four tests: Arithmetic Reasoning (AR), Mathematics Knowledge (MK), Word Knowledge and Paragraph Comprehension. The last two make your verbal score (VE). The formula is AR + MK + 2 × VE, so your verbal score counts twice and each math score counts once. That is why every word you learn is worth so much.
How to study it
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1
Word Knowledge: learn words the way the test asks them
The test asks what a word most nearly means, alone or inside a sentence. Learning a word means knowing its closest synonym in English, not only its translation.
Use what you already know: thousands of English words come from Latin, like Spanish. Fragile is frágil, vivid is vívido, benign is benigno. When a test word looks like a Spanish word, the Spanish meaning can help you guess. Do not count on it: the test makers check Word Knowledge questions so they do not favor Spanish speakers, and some look-alikes mean something else.
Next step: False friendsCognate that helpsFortify most nearly means…
Fortificar → strengthen
Cognate that helpsPlacid most nearly means…
Plácido → calm
Key ideaEvery day, a little
Ten new words a day, reviewed the next day and again a few days later, beats a hundred in one night. The flashcards in each lesson bring back the ones you missed.
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2
Watch out for false friends
Some English words look like Spanish words but mean something else. These false friends are exactly where an English learner can pick the wrong choice with confidence.
When a word looks Spanish and the “obvious” choice matches the Spanish meaning, stop and read the sentence again.
Next step: ReadingFalse friendsEnglish word It means Not actual real actual (current) assist help asistir (attend) library a place to borrow books librería (bookstore) embarrassed uncomfortable in front of others embarazada (pregnant) eventually in the end eventualmente (maybe) sensible reasonable sensible (sensitive) -
3
Paragraph Comprehension: read the question first
Paragraph Comprehension was added to the AFQT to measure reading, because recruits need to read training instructions in English. The passages are short. You do not need to understand every word.
Read the question first, then the passage, looking for the sentence that answers it. An unknown word in the middle rarely changes the answer; skip it and keep going.
Next step: Word problemsStep 1Read the question
Know what you are looking for
Step 2Read the passage
Find the sentence that answers it. If the question says “implies” or “suggests”, the answer is not written word for word: pick the choice the passage makes clearly true, not one that only sounds reasonable.
Step 3Check the choices
The right one says the same thing in other words
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4
Arithmetic Reasoning: the math is in a few words
A word problem tells a short story with numbers. You need three things from it: what it asks (the last sentence), the numbers, and the words that say which operation. Names, places and details are decoration.
Next step: In SpanishWords that tell you the operationWord Means total, in all, sum add difference, how many more, left subtract of, times, product multiply per (for one), split, shared equally, quotient divide percent out of 100 Careful: “each” can mean multiply. 3 shirts at $12 each is 3 × 12 = 36. Ask yourself: am I finding the amount for one (divide) or for many (multiply)?
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5
Study in your language, test in English
On the free practice test, after you finish, the review of your answers has a Ver en español button: the explanation of every question in Spanish, with the questions still in English, like on the real test.
The ASVABIFY app also teaches the lessons in Spanish, while the test questions and the vocabulary you must learn stay in English. Learn the idea in the language you think in; practice the questions in the language of the test.
ExplanationsIn your language
To understand the idea
QuestionsAlways in English
To practice what the test looks like
4 more false friends to know
Each one looks like a Spanish word and means something else.
realize
“The driver realized the road was closed.”
Wrongrealize = carry out (realizar)
Rightrealize = notice, understand
attend
“All recruits must attend the briefing.”
Wrongattend = take care of (atender)
Rightattend = go to, be present at
lecture
“The lecture on first aid lasted an hour.”
Wronglecture = reading (lectura)
Rightlecture = a talk that teaches a group
carpet
“She left the keys on the carpet.”
Wrongcarpet = folder (carpeta)
Rightcarpet = a thick cover for the floor
6 questions to check yourself
Pick an answer, then read why.
In which languages is the ASVAB given?
Show the answer
A. The official ASVAB site says the test is given only in English, and no versions in other languages are developed. It is given in English only.
“The actual number of volunteers was smaller than expected.” Actual most nearly means:
Show the answer
B. In English, actual means real or true. “Current” is the Spanish meaning of actual, the false friend. Actual most nearly means real.
“Even under pressure, the sergeant gave sensible advice.” Sensible most nearly means:
Show the answer
C. Sensible in English means showing good judgment. “Sensitive” is the Spanish meaning, the false friend. Sensible most nearly means reasonable.
You are reading a Paragraph Comprehension passage and meet a word you do not know. What should you do?
Show the answer
B. One unknown word rarely changes the answer. Keep reading for the sentence that answers the question: Skip the word and find the sentence that answers the question.
In a word problem, which word usually means divide?
Show the answer
D. “Per” means “for one”. To find the amount for one, you usually divide: 60 miles in 2 hours is 60 ÷ 2 = 30 miles per hour. Total adds, difference subtracts and times multiplies. The word is per.
Why do Word Knowledge and Paragraph Comprehension matter so much for your AFQT?
Show the answer
B. The formula is AR + MK + 2 × VE, and VE is the verbal score from WK and PC. The answer: Verbal counts twice in the formula.
10 flashcards
Tap a card to flip it. Keep the ones you miss until they stick.
All 10 cards known.
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