There are many myths about the ASVAB that are simply not true.
Some of the more persistent myths are identified here and dispelled. Below are some common myths, expand one to learn the truth:
The Truth:
To ensure that people who would take the ASVAB with a calculator have the same level of ability as those who took the ASVAB without a calculator, the scores would be adjusted to take into account any advantage the calculator may provide. So, if calculators were allowed, there would be no impact on who does or doesn’t qualify for entrance into the military, because applicants would still need to demonstrate they have the required skills necessary to be effective and succeed on the job. The video below has more information about calculators and the ASVAB.
The Truth:
The CAT-ASVAB may seem harder than the P&P-ASVAB to some applicants because the test is tailored to the ability level of each individual examinee. That is, in the CAT-ASVAB questions are administered that are best suited to each examinee’s ability level, whereas the P&P-ASVAB includes questions that range from very easy to very hard. This doesn’t mean that the P&P ASVAB is easier than the CAT-ASVAB.
Regardless of whether an applicant takes the CAT-ASVAB or the P&P-ASVAB, his/her scores should be very similar. This is because scores are statistically linked across CAT and P&P administrations through a process called equating. Equating studies are conducted for every CAT-ASVAB item pool (and for every paper and pencil ASVAB form) to ensure that scores have the same meaning regardless of which item pool or test form the examinee receives.
The Truth:
The CAT-ASVAB may seem easier than the P&P-ASVAB to some applicants for the same reasons discussed above. Again, because all ASVAB forms are equated, scores have the same meaning regardless of which item pool or test form the examinee receives.
The Truth:
Each time a new form of the ASVAB is created, it is equated (i.e., statistically linked) to prior forms to ensure that scores have the same meaning regardless of which test form the examinee receives.