MEPS ASVAB Administration and Purpose Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An applicant at a MEPS facility is disruptive and openly discussing specific ASVAB test questions with others in the waiting area. What is the most appropriate immediate action for the Test Administrator to take?
- Allow the applicant to take the test but make a note of the behavior.
- Issue a verbal warning and move the applicant to a different seating area.
- Confiscate the applicant's testing materials and cancel their test session.
- Report the incident to the MEPS Commander and security, as this is a serious breach of test security. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Report the incident to the MEPS Commander and security, as this is a serious breach of test security.
Discussing specific test questions is a severe breach of test security. MEPS personnel must take immediate action to stop the compromise, which includes reporting it to the command and security for appropriate handling.
Question 2: What is the primary purpose of the Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) score, which is derived from several subtests of the ASVAB?
- To determine an applicant's specific Military Occupational Specialty (MOS).
- To assess an applicant's physical fitness level for basic training.
- To determine an applicant's fundamental eligibility for enlistment across all service branches. (Correct answer)
- To grant security clearances for sensitive military roles.
Correct answer: To determine an applicant's fundamental eligibility for enlistment across all service branches.
The AFQT score is a critical component calculated from four ASVAB subtests (Arithmetic Reasoning, Mathematics Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension, and Word Knowledge) and is used to determine if an applicant is academically qualified to join any branch of the military.
Question 3: A recruiter contacts the MEPS testing section to schedule an applicant for an ASVAB retest. The applicant took their initial test 15 days ago. According to standard ASVAB retest policy, what should the MEPS personnel advise the recruiter?
- The applicant can retest immediately if they pay a retest fee.
- The applicant must wait until one calendar month has passed since the initial test. (Correct answer)
- The applicant can retest as soon as there is an open slot in the testing schedule.
- The applicant must wait six months before they are eligible for a retest.
Correct answer: The applicant must wait until one calendar month has passed since the initial test.
The official ASVAB retest policy states that an applicant must wait one calendar month after their initial test before they can take a retest. A second retest can be taken one month after the first, but subsequent retests require a six-month waiting period.
Question 4: Which of the following best describes the administration of the Computer-Adaptive ASVAB (CAT-ASVAB) at a MEPS facility?
- All applicants in the room must start and end each subtest at the same time.
- The test difficulty adjusts based on the applicant's answers, and it is self-paced. (Correct answer)
- Applicants are allowed to use personal calculators for the mathematics subtests.
- The paper-and-pencil version is the standard format, with the CAT-ASVAB used only for retests.
Correct answer: The test difficulty adjusts based on the applicant's answers, and it is self-paced.
The CAT-ASVAB is an adaptive test, meaning the difficulty of subsequent questions changes based on whether the previous question was answered correctly. Applicants proceed through the test at their own pace, moving to the next section once they finish the current one.
Question 5: An applicant has completed the Pending Internet Computerized Adaptive Test (PiCAT) at home. What is the required next step at the MEPS facility to make the score official?
- The applicant must retake the full ASVAB to ensure the scores are consistent.
- The applicant must complete a short, proctored verification test. (Correct answer)
- The applicant's recruiter must sign an affidavit confirming the score's validity.
- No further action is needed; the PiCAT score is automatically the official score of record.
Correct answer: The applicant must complete a short, proctored verification test.
To validate the scores from an unproctored PiCAT, the applicant must take a shorter, proctored verification test at a MEPS or MET site. This confirms the legitimacy of the PiCAT scores, which can then become the official scores of record.
Question 6: Besides determining the AFQT score for enlistment eligibility, what is the other major purpose of the various ASVAB subtest scores?
- To calculate an applicant's potential for promotion.
- To determine eligibility for civilian employment within the DoD.
- To match applicants with military jobs (MOS/Ratings) they are best suited for. (Correct answer)
- To establish the initial pay grade upon enlistment.
Correct answer: To match applicants with military jobs (MOS/Ratings) they are best suited for.
The individual ASVAB subtest scores are combined into various composite scores, or line scores, which are used by each military branch to determine qualification for specific military occupational specialties or jobs.
An applicant at a MEPS facility is disruptive and openly discussing specific ASVAB test questions with others in the waiting area.
What is the most appropriate immediate action for the Test Administrator to take?