ASVAB prep: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What asvab prep is

ASVAB prep helps students prepare for the military aptitude test, reviewing math, vocabulary, science and mechanical sections with timed practice. Students and adults book it when they are preparing for a military recruiting path, when a practice score is below the level they need, or when a section like mechanical comprehension is unfamiliar.

Signs you need it

  • Practice scores are low in arithmetic or word knowledge, and the student has not reviewed those topics in years
  • The student does not know how the timed sections work and runs out of time
  • Mechanical and electronics questions are unfamiliar, and the student does not know the basics
  • The student has a recruiter's test date and no plan for the weeks before it
  • The student has taken practice tests but cannot say what the mistakes have in common

What the pro does

  • Runs a timed practice test and reviews the score for each section with the student
  • Reviews arithmetic and math with a method for each question type
  • Teaches word knowledge and paragraph comprehension with practice passages and vocabulary lists
  • Covers the science and mechanical sections with diagrams and practice questions
  • Reviews each practice test with the student and sets the next focus for the following session

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Length of each session and how many sessions are in a series
  • Whether the course is a short review or a longer program over several weeks
  • Whether sessions are in person or online
  • Private tutoring versus a small group class
  • How many sections the student needs to review and how far behind they are
  • Whether practice tests and progress reports are included

What a written quote should spell out

  • Number of sessions, session length and the start date
  • Whether practice tests and progress reports are included
  • Whether sessions are in person or online, and what materials are used
  • Cancellation and make-up policy
  • Whether the tutor will share progress with the student and parent

Questions to ask before you hire

  • How do you start, and what does the first timed practice test show?
  • How do you teach the timed sections so the student can pace themselves?
  • How do you cover mechanical and electronics questions for someone who has not studied them?
  • Do you use official practice materials, and how do you get them?
  • How many full practice tests will we do, and when?
  • Have you passed a background check, if the student is a minor?
  • What score change is realistic for my child, and how will we measure it?

Red flags

  • Promises a set score or a particular military job
  • Uses unofficial questions and claims they are the real test
  • Pushes a long package of sessions before a diagnostic test
  • Says the recruiter or the military will not accept anyone who does not use the tutor

What you can do yourself

A student can take a timed practice test on a set day, review every wrong answer and make a list of the topics to study. Use the test's official practice materials, which are often free, and review word lists each day. Hire a tutor when one section is far below the others, when timing is the main problem, or when the student needs help with the mechanical and electronics basics.

Licenses and permits

No license is usually required to tutor for a military aptitude test privately. Ask whether the tutor has teaching experience, and check with your state or local licensing agency or the recruiting office for any rules that apply to testing and to the program you choose.

ASVAB prep questions

Does a tutor affect my recruiter's decisions?

Tutoring helps you prepare for the test, but it does not replace the recruiter's process or the rules for enlistment. Ask your recruiter what they recommend and what the test requires for the job you want.

Do I need to know mechanics to pass the mechanical section?

No, but you need the basics of how simple machines and tools work. A tutor can teach those basics with diagrams and practice questions.

Does my child need a background check for a test prep tutor?

Many parents and programs ask for one when the tutor works with a minor. Ask for proof of a background check before the first session, and ask about the rules for pickup and supervision.

Pro reviewers

Pros who offer asvab prep remotely can improve this guide, like Wikipedia. We check every edit before it goes live. Every approved edit is credited in the edit history and on the pro's profile.

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