Chapter 14

Assembling Objects

Know What to Expect

The ASVAB analyzes your abilities and aptitude to help you discover what military careers would be the best match for you. For example, pilots, mechanics, machine operators, and engineers need to develop good spatial relationship skills—that is, the ability to see how parts will look when assembled into a whole. The Assembling Objects (AO) subtest examines your spatial relationship skills, so it gives you an opportunity to show that you are good at putting things together. As always, we recommend checking with your recruiter or career counselor to learn more about which subtests will be important to you in reaching your goals.

The skills required for the AO test are learnable. Even test takers who struggle to visualize how shapes fit together can greatly improve their spatial relationship skills by learning strategies and practicing. In this chapter, you’ll have the opportunity to do just that.

The CAT-ASVAB test includes 16 AO questions, with a time limit of 16 minutes. Remember, unlike the paper-and-pencil ASVAB, you will not be able to review or change an answer once you submit it. The paper-and-pencil ASVAB includes 25 AO questions, with a 15-minute time limit.

The Assembling Objects subtest contains two types of test items. We’re going to call these:

• Jigsaw-Puzzle-Type Problems, which test your ability to choose how an object will look when its parts are put together into a larger shape.
• Connector-Type Problems, which test your ability to correctly connect two objects with a line at the indicated points.

In both types of AO items, you are offered five boxes. The leftmost or first box contains drawings of unconnected parts. The four answer-choice boxes hold drawings of shapes, only one of which shows the shape that would result when all the parts are correctly assembled.