ASVAB Word Knowledge Study Guide

The terms and information in our ASVAB Word Knowledge Study Guide will help you improve your ASVAB score in this section. Let’s get this party started!

When you join the US military, you must complete certain evaluations to help you navigate your major specialization in the military branches. Applicants, like all other military branches, must pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), which is traditionally divided into ten test subjects. The results of the test will help determine your eligibility to join or initially enlist in the Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard, Army, National Guard, and other services.

Word knowledge is included in all other tests, and it is equally important in determining an aspiring applicant’s eligibility. Furthermore, it is widely regarded as one of the most important domains to pursue because it will pre-define your vocabulary skills, particularly in times of military operations that rely on verbal deliberations, and honing such skills is a necessary step in leading or supporting a specific military operation.

What is included in the ASVAB Word Knowledge test?

The ASVAB Word Knowledge section measures your knowledge and understanding of the word meaning both individually used and when included in a sentence. You may find it difficult to remember a specific word since the English language is so rich. However, our ASVAB word knowledge practice tests are designed and simulated as the actual test to help you adapt to the test format. Improving your language and vocabulary usage will help you both prepare for the ASVAB test and boost your communication ability in your career and personal life.

Your Word Knowledge score is a part of the AFQT score that will determine if you are qualified to enrolling the military. You have to answer 16 questions in 8 minutes on the CAT-ASVAB test, while the paper-and-pencil version asks 35 questions in 11 minutes.

As we continue with the course, take note of these two primary types of questions included in the test:

Literal Definition of a word

These questions let you choose between a set of words that may define the pre-given word.

Example 1:

Nefarious most nearly means,

A. Kindness

B. Thoughtfulness

C. Worthy                

D. Evil

With the given choices above, the answer would be D. Evil. Always read the other words to know if it is likely synonymous or antonymous with the given word.

Example 2:

Flabbergasting most nearly means,

A. Plain

B. Dumbfounding         

C. Simple                     

D. Mundane

The answer above would be “B. Dumbfounding.” Like the first note, always read the other given words to know if they are similar in nature and definition.

Example 3:

Idyllic most nearly means,

A. Picturesque

B. Dreadful    

C. Flawed    

D. Atrocious

It is apparent that the answer would be A. Picturesque, considering that majority of the given words are antonymous with the questioned word.

Emphasized (italicized or underlined) Term

Unlike the first type of question, the emphasized word would be the crux of the question which can be answered by determining how it was utilized in the pre-given sentence.

Example 1:

Tim told his best friend, Cole,” Break a leg, bro!”

A. You’re a loser     

B. Good luck           

C. Good riddance

D. You’re welcome

It would be “B. Good Luck.” Break a leg is a common idiom that expresses your support to a certain someone.

Example 2:

As Gary finished the exam, he told his seatmate, Bryan,” Oh dude, the test was indeed a piece of cake.”

A. Difficult

B. Mind-boggling  

C. Easy

D. Strong

The answer is “C. Easy.” Like the first example, the phrase “ A piece of cake is a common idiomatic expression used by many people when expressing ease in doing a particular work.

Core Topics To Study/Ponder

Having much knowledge about basic to advanced grammatical appendices is a fundamental setting that is necessary for you to adapt upon taking all ASVAB tests to properly analyze the set of pre-given questions. Among these technical and grammatical components are; roots, suffixes, and prefixes.

Take note: There’s no need to memorize all of the succeeding terms but it’s more convenient to familiarize the entirety of the grammatical components for accurate deliberation.

To put it into perspective, if you’re aware that “anti” means “opposite/against” then you’d be able to figure out that “anti-Covid 19” means a notion against the concurrent Covid-19.

Read more >> ASVAB Mechanical Comprehension Study Guide

Prefixes

To make things clear, the subsequent terms are common prefixes along with their equivalent definition and how it is used in common words.

bene – good – beneficiary

Sample sentence: John is a beneficiary of an international scholarship.

de – opposing term – delimitation

Sample sentence: The research should have its own limit and delimitation manner.

dis – refuse, opposing factor of – disentangle

Sample sentence: Gwyn tried to disentangle the twisted rope.

em- / en – cause to happen – empower – enlist

Sample sentence: You’ll soon be empowered after enlisting in the service.

in- – inside tern – input

Sample sentence: You must always consider the raw inputs and subsequent outputs.

inter – between certain concepts – intermediary

Sample sentence: Jesus is the intermediary between humanity and the Almighty Father.

mid – in between or middle spot – midterms

Sample sentence: It’s crucial to pass the midterms with flying colors.

mis – wrongly, contradictory – misconception

Sample sentence: World as it is, bears a common misconception about life and death.

non – not – non-existent

Sample sentence: Chloe’s best friend is no less than a non-existent being that only resides in her imagination.

over – beyond, over – oversee

Sample sentence: The military force is established to oversee peace.

re – again – revitalize

Sample sentence: The essence of brotherhood revitalizes the sense of belongingness.

semi – initial, halfway – semi-bald

Sample sentence: Joe went to his barber and asked for a semi-bald cut.

under – beneath, below, under – underlying

Sample sentence: Every conflict has its own underlying reason.

Read more >> Useful ASVAB Word Knowledge Tips You Should Know

Suffixes

Common suffixes along with their meaning word application:

-able  – having the capacity – breakable

Sample sentence: True love is not a breakable bond.

-al – relevance – relational

Sample sentence: It’s nice to have an improved relational thinking style.

 -ence – instance of activity – commence

Sample sentence: The proctor remarked,” Let the exam commence!”

-ation –manner or process – evolution

Sample sentence: The evolution of man is predicted to be a paradox of life.

-ful – plenty/filled with – wonderful

Sample sentence: Life is indeed a wonderful journey.

-ist – one who epitomizes – specialist

Sample sentence: Our neighbor is a resident medical specialist.

-less – not having, the act of post-removal– boneless

Sample sentence: Have you ever tried boneless milkfish?

-let – small version – piglet

Sample sentence: The mother pig was walking alongside her three piglets.

-ment – act/progress of – development

Sample sentence: Humanity is now at the edge of AI development.

-ness – bearing a certain characteristic – holiness

Sample sentence: We shall abide by the holiness of God’s word.

-er / -or – one who acts or perform – operator

Sample sentence: Mr. Doe is a tractor operator in West Virginia.

Read more >> ASVAB Paragraph Comprehension Study Guide

Roots

Common Roots along with their meaning and  word application:

The common roots are words that are the primary origin of other words attached with either a prefix- (before a word) or -suffix (after a word).

bio – means ‘life’ – Biology

cede – going towards – precede

corp – a part of a single body – incorporation

dict – utterance – dictionary

domine – overwhelm/ overcome – domination

form – figure/shape – formulation

fract – breakage/scattered – refraction

graph – outlining – Telegraph

path – experience or feeling – Telepathy

press – deviate – suppress

tract – pulling action – retraction

vok – stimulate or call – evoke

ASVAB Word Knowledge Practice Tests – ABC Elearning

As you finish reading the ASVAB word knowledge study guide above, keep in mind that knowing more than what is provided in this study guide is the best strategy for passing the ASVAB Word Knowledge Exam. Essentially, this section of the ASVAB determines your eligibility for the service; therefore, having prior knowledge of grammatical, technical, and a hint of extensive literary background will ensure a higher score on the test.

Our FREE 2023 ASVAB practice test is a great way to get ready for the upcoming exam! To break up the monotony of traditional study methods, thousands of ASVAB practice questions are gamified round by round. Furthermore, many ASVAB full tests will assist you in familiarizing yourself with the actual test format. Our website now has the ASVAB Study Guide 2023 for all 9 parts! Let’s begin practicing right away!

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