Introduction
This is Part 1 of our ASVAB Word Knowledge Study Guide. It is a 5-part section of our ASVAB Free Online Study Guide. It includes tips, strategies, word lists, and vocabulary review quizzes.
The purpose of the Word Knowledge portion of the ASVAB Test is to assess the strength of your vocabulary. This guide will give you simple, straightforward advice about how to master these questions and get a high score.
Before the test
Tip 1: Read, read, read
There is no substitute for reading when it comes to building your vocabulary. This is a long-term strategy, but reading challenging texts, looking up words you don’t know, and actively trying to learn the words you find is the most effective way to improve your vocabulary.
Tip 2: Use vocabulary lists
Our tools for studying for the Word Knowledge portion of the ASVAB Test include vocabulary lists to make sure you’re familiar with some of the common words and definitions you’ll need to know.
During the test
Tip 3: Eliminate the obviously wrong answers
There is usually at least one answer choice that is obviously wrong. Try to find it and eliminate it.
Tip 4: Look for close synonyms in the answer choices.
If any two answer choices are the same, or very similar, then they are wrong. Since there is only one correct answer, two answers that mean the same thing must be wrong.
Tip 5: Don’t waste time on words you have no idea about.
Since you are on a timer, if you have absolutely no idea what the answer is to a question, take a guess and move on. There’s no point missing all the questions that follow this one because you’re stuck.
Let’s put these ideas into practice:
Examples
(A) ask.
(B) question.
(C) tell.
(D) ignore.
Recall tip 3: Eliminate the obviously wrong answers
Even if the complete definition of “inform” is slipping your mind, you can identify that (D) “ignore” is an incorrect answer choice. All of the other choices at least denote an attempt to convey or receive information.
Recall tip 4: Look for close synonyms in the answer choices.
Answer choices (A) “ask” and (B) “question” are pretty close synonyms. It is unlikely that either of these answers is correct because that would make the other answer correct as well.
By eliminating answer choices (A), (B), and (D), we can say with some certainty that the correct answer is (C) “tell.”
(A) ask.
(B) question.
(C) tell.
(D) ignore.
Let’s try one more:
(A) signals.
(B) care.
(C) traffic.
(D) haste.
The most difficult word here is (D) “haste,” so let’s put that one to the side for now.
Recall tip 3: Eliminate the obviously wrong answers
We can eliminate (A) “signals” because, although you can be signaled to caution, it doesn’t really make sense for a synonym/definition of caution. We can actually eliminate (C) “traffic” for the same reason. A caution may lead to traffic, but they are not the same.
(A) signals.
(B) care.
(C) traffic.
(D) haste.
We’re left with a 50% chance of getting the question right. We can then use our logic to identify that caution and care are closely related, so the correct answer is (B) “care.” If you’re not able to make that connection, then at least you have eliminated 2 wrong answers and given yourself a much better chance of getting the question right.