This ASVAB cheat sheet distills all 10 subtests and the AFQT into a fast, printable rundown of the facts examiners test most. It's a premium cheat sheet built by Capital Prep — the one premium prep we trust — and it's yours free. Reinforce it with the rest of your free ASVAB toolkit: the practice test, study guide, and flashcards.
ASVAB exam at a glance
- Subtests: 10 (General Science through Assembling Objects)
- Questions & time: About 145 questions in roughly 154 minutes on the CAT-ASVAB
- Enlistment score: AFQT percentile 1–99 from 4 subtests (AR, MK, WK, PC)
- AFQT formula: 2 × VE + AR + MK, where VE = WK + PC
- Cost: Free for enlistment candidates — administered by the military at a MEPS or MET site
What’s on the ASVAB cheat sheet
- Verbal — WK + PC (feeds the AFQT ×2) — vocabulary roots, prefixes, and suffixes, plus main-idea, detail, and inference tactics for reading passages.
- Math — AR + MK (feeds the AFQT) — word-problem setups (distance = rate × time, percent, ratios) and the core algebra and geometry formulas to memorize.
- Science & Technical — GS, EI, AI, SI, MC — high-yield biology, chemistry, and physics facts, Ohm's law V = I × R, auto and shop systems, and mechanical advantage.
- Spatial — Assembling Objects (AO) — connector vs puzzle question types, rotation and mirror-image traps, and a step-by-step attack for spatial items.
How to use it in your final week
- Lead with the AFQT four — Arithmetic Reasoning, Mathematics Knowledge, Word Knowledge, and Paragraph Comprehension. They set the percentile that decides enlistment, so give them your first and best reps.
- Memorize the AFQT formula on the sheet: 2×VE + AR + MK, where VE = WK + PC. Because Verbal counts twice, vocabulary and reading carry the most weight of any content on the test.
- Lock in the formula rows — distance = rate × time, part = percent × whole, area and volume shapes, Pythagorean theorem, and Ohm's law V = I × R — so numeric items become recall, not derivation.
- Pair each read-through with a short timed practice set. The CAT-ASVAB is adaptive and you can't skip back within a subtest, so rehearse steady pacing before test day.
The cheat sheet is your review layer — your ASVAB practice test drives the exam-readiness ring at the top of this page. Download it, review, then take a full practice exam (or drill with the study guide and flashcards) to see where you stand.
ASVAB cheat sheet FAQ
Yes — the ASVAB cheat sheet is 100% free to download as a PDF, with no sign-up required. It sits alongside Career Employer's free ASVAB practice test, study guide, and flashcards so you can build a full review loop without paying anything.
It condenses the highest-yield facts across all 10 subtests plus the AFQT: vocabulary roots for Word Knowledge, the arithmetic and geometry formulas for the math subtests, Ohm's law and mechanical-advantage rules for the technical subtests, and the AFQT formula 2×VE + AR + MK. Everything is grouped so the four AFQT subtests are front and center.
There is no single pass/fail line. Your AFQT is reported as a percentile from 1 to 99, and each branch sets its own minimum — commonly around 31 or higher for a high-school-diploma holder, with competitive jobs and some services wanting 50-plus. The cheat sheet frames your targets around the AFQT percentile and line scores, not a fixed passing grade.
It's built from the Department of Defense's current CAT-ASVAB structure and AFQT scoring rules, and we review it against the official ASVAB program regularly. The subtest counts and timing reflect the computer-adaptive version most candidates take at a MEPS.
Click the download button (or the preview card) at the top of this page to open the PDF instantly. Bookmark this page so you can find it again the week you test at a MEPS or MET site.
References
- 1.U.S. Department of Defense. “Official ASVAB Website — What to Expect When You Take the ASVAB.” officialasvab.com, 2026. ↑
- 2.U.S. Department of Defense. “The CAT-ASVAB (structure and subtests).” officialasvab.com, 2026. ↑
- 3.U.S. Department of Defense. “Understanding ASVAB Scores (AFQT and line scores).” officialasvab.com, 2026. ↑
- 4.U.S. Department of Defense. “ASVAB Career Exploration Program.” asvabprogram.com, 2026. ↑
Career Employer
Career Employer is the ultimate resource to help you get started working the job of your dreams. We cover topics from general career information, career searching, exam preparation with free study materials, career interviewing, and becoming successful in your career of choice.
All PostsCareer Employer’s Editorial Process
Here at Career Employer, we focus a lot on providing factually accurate information that is always up to date. We strive to provide correct information using strict editorial processes, article editing, and fact-checking for all of the information found on our website. We only utilize trustworthy and relevant resources. To find out more, make sure to read our full editorial process page here.