Variations of ASVAB/AFQT

There are both paper and computerized editions of the ASVAB. There is, first of all, a paper version of the ASVAB, which is often used specifically for military recruitment purposes. There is also the paper and pencil version of the ASVAB, which is given in American high schools to juniors and seniors. The questions on the high school version are different from those on the paper ASVAB used for military enlistment purposes, but the questions are of equal difficulty. The paper ASVAB administered in the high schools is part of a Career Exploration Program developed by the Department of Defense.

The potential military service recruit has the choice of taking either a paper and pencil ASVAB or a computer-assisted ASVAB. Statistics show that the paper ASVAB used specifically for military recruitment is not as popular with future enlistees as the computerized version of the battery of tests known as the ASVAB. While the paper tests are usually the only method of taking the ASVAB in high schools, most people elect to take the CAT-ASVAB, which is administered at military testing centers and processing stations.

The questions on the CAT-ASVAB are progressive in terms of difficulty, and the test taker is advanced to more difficult questions when the easier questions have been addressed. For the well-prepared test taker, taking the CAT-ASVAB usually results in a higher score because of a "weighting" process affecting the scoring methods. If the test taker proceeds quickly from the easier questions by answering them correctly, the test taker will have more time to address the more difficult questions. Altogether, the test taker will have more time to garner valuable points toward the total score