Barron's ASVAB with CD-ROM (Barron's ASVAB (W/CD)) [Paperback]

Terry L. Duran (Author), Barron's Educational Series (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0764195468 | ISBN-13: 978-0764195464 | Publication Date: May 1, 2009 | Edition: 9th

This helpful book reviews all nine subtests of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), which is used to determine potential recruits' qualifications for military service and special training. It is also useful in helping high school students determine their vocational interests and aptitudes. This up-to-date and thoroughly researched test prep manual reviews the critical areas for test takers: word knowledge, paragraph comprehension, general science, electronics, basic mechanics, and shop and automotive information. It also offers tips and techniques for doing well on the "assembling objects" subtest. Extensively revised and updated by an experienced military officer, this information-filled book presents four practice exams with all questions answered and explained. The book's final section offers guidelines for analyzing a recruit's test scores and relates the scores to possible military occupational fields. The enclosed CD-ROM presents additional sample ASVAB tests in both timed and untimed modes.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

(back cover)

Reviews of all major test areas: word knowledge, paragraph comprehension, general science, electronics, basic mechanics, shop and automotive information, and more

Tips and techniques for doing well on the "assembling objects" subtest

Four full-length practice exams with all questions answered and explained

Guidelines for analyzing your test scores and understanding how they relate to possible military occupational fields

Two additional practice tests with answers on the enclosed CD-ROM

Product Details

• Paperback: 528 pages
• Publisher: Barron's Educational Series; 9th edition (May 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764195468
• ISBN-13: 978-0764195464
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #22,288 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #25 in Books > Education & Reference > Education > Test Guides - Careers

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A long long review, July 30, 2009

By 

Valerie Minnix (West Haven, CT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Barron's ASVAB with CD-ROM (Barron's ASVAB (W/CD)) (Paperback)

I took the asvab yesterday. I bought this book about a week and a half in advance and studied nightly at work between customers(about 3.5 hours a night total). I personally did very well (90) but I thank this book for very little of that. I'll review this book section by section.

General Science: Completely unnecessary studying on my part. The science section covered many things very briefly. The particular asvab test that I took only had about 2 questions relevant to the text in this book. Basically you can skip studying this part and just go into this test with nothing but the standard high school curriculum in your head and you'll do just fine.

Mathematics: Great chapter of the book, arguably the most helpful. Even if your good in math it will be worth it to just take a peek and do a little bit of practicing. The math covered in the book is far more difficult than that on the asvab, but it can only help you in the long run.

Word Knowledge and Paragraph Comprehension: A joke. Basically put the book does little to teach you on this subject. The words the book lists as reccomended words is much more difficult than the actual words on the test I took. It does however, positively, include about 3 pages about the meaning of root words (such as corp means body, think corpse)which will help you interpret words on the real test. The paragraph comprehension part of the chapter basically gives you a little extra practice, and a few helpful hints about context clues.

Electronics Information: Basically this is the reason I got the book. I have never before studied electronics in my life, and I read the entire electronics section front to back twice. I was still confused on the subject after the second reading. I never scored well on the electrical questions in the book but the questions on the asvab are far more simple than the examples shown and there is little need to study the subject intensely. A very basic understanding is all that is required as well as a healthy dose of common sense. Don't dread over all the conversions, abbreviations, or petty details.

Automotive: There was not a single question about cars on my computerized asvab test, I have no valid review on this subject.

Shop: Very basic, somewhat helpful. The book definitely goes into more detail than the test but this section requires a little more attention to detail. My asvab had several questions some as simple as "what would a carpenter use to put nails into wood" and some far more difficult involving the washers made for a specific trade. While reading I thought the book went into too much detail, but it definitely provides enough information and its review questions are actually simpler than the actual tests. I recommend getting this book if your weak in this area.

Mechanical Comprehension: Very good section. It all seems very simplistic but it was a vital review for the test. There were a lot of questions from this section and it can be easy to get a little confused on the subject. The practice test questions are easier than those on the asvab, be careful when studying this section, double check it even if you do well on your practice.

Assembling Objects: Horrible section. The tips and tricks for this section basically tell you "You either see it or you don't" and that is just unacceptable to me. The practice questions on this subject are a million times easier than on the asvab. I recommend a cursory glance but don't get your hopes up just because it seems easy now. The asvab assembly involves many more pieces that connect in very specific ways. The options are also more closely matched than in the practice where the correct answer is always obvious.

All this said I can appreciate the help this book gave me as a refresher. The practice tests were not the same level as the actual asvab but really it can only help you to aim high so that its safe if you shoot a little low. I gave it a 2 star because I simply expected more accurate studying for the name, and I was certainly a little let down

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My experience with this book, July 15, 2009

By 

JBuckner "JBuckner" (Portugal) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Barron's ASVAB with CD-ROM (Barron's ASVAB (W/CD)) (Paperback)

I took the practice ASVAB in my Navy recruiter's office and scored 65. I purchased this book and studied it for 8 days. I then took the actual ASVAB and scored a 93. Now I automatically qualify for the Navy nuclear program based on my total AFQT score as well as line scores.
I found this book to be very helpful and informative. Many of the ASVAB prep books that I looked at spent too much time answering individual questions. This book addressed concepts and themes. Even if I did not know the answer to a specific question, knowledge of broad themes and concepts enabled me to deduce the correct answer.
If you are planning on taking the ASVAB anytime soon you should buy this book! I believe that studying this book will definitely raise your score just like it did mine.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars About the best there is for the ASVAB, July 23, 2010

By 

Akita - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Barron's ASVAB with CD-ROM (Barron's ASVAB (W/CD)) (Paperback)

I took the ASVAB early July 2010, and after which, I can say probably there is no study guide that will prepare you exactly for what has changed. I tried Peterson's ASVAB as well along with anything online I could find. Barron's laid the material out very well for studying and was much more thorough in information compared to Peterson's. If you get the CD you get even more test questions. Now here's the real kicker. If you can study and prepare for the questions in this study guide to where you get a large percentage correct on any given section you should do fine on the computerized ASVAB section. Like I said it's not the exact same, but from my experience, Barron's is offering the best ASVAB prep, and I scored a 97. 4 stars because again nothing I found not even this book completely prepared me for the ASVAB, and this one needs an upgrade as well.