ASVAB Verbal (AFQT) — Cheat Sheet

AFQT Formula & Weight

AFQT = AR + MK + 2(VE) where VE = WK + PC

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Key: Verbal counts twice. Prioritize WK + PC before math.

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Word Knowledge (WK) — 35 Questions, 11 min

Two Question Formats

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Decoding Unfamiliar Words

Prefixes (learn 30+):

• un-, dis-, mis- = NOT / opposite

• pre-, fore- = BEFORE

• post-, after- = AFTER

• re- = AGAIN

• over-, sub-, under- = ABOVE / BELOW

• trans- = ACROSS

• inter-, intra- = BETWEEN / WITHIN

Roots (learn 60+):

• -port = CARRY (*import, export, transport*)

• -dict = SPEAK (*predict, dictate*)

• -scrib, -script = WRITE (*inscribe, prescription*)

• -rupt = BREAK (*disrupt, corrupt*)

• -vert = TURN (*divert, convert*)

• -struct = BUILD (*construct, instruct*)

• -tract = PULL (*contract, extract*)

• -mort = DEATH (*mortuary, mortality*)

Suffixes (learn 20+):

• -tion, -sion = ACTION / STATE

• -ment = CONDITION / RESULT

• -ness, -ity = QUALITY / STATE

• -able, -ible = CAPABLE OF

• -ous, -ious = FULL OF

• -less = WITHOUT

High-Frequency Difficult Words

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Paragraph Comprehension (PC) — 11 Questions, 8 min

Golden Rule

Read the question FIRST → Then read the passage → Answer from passage only (never outside knowledge)

Five Question Types

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Common Wrong Answers

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Component	Weight in AFQT	Study Priority
Word Knowledge (WK)	2× (via VE)	#1 — Highest
Paragraph Comprehension (PC)	2× (via VE)	#1 — Highest
Arithmetic Reasoning (AR)	1×	#3
Math Knowledge (MK)	1×	#4
Format	Strategy	Time
Definition	Direct synonym match	15–20 sec
In Sentence	Word meaning changes with context; read the sentence first	15–20 sec
Word	Meaning	Context
Abate	Reduce, lessen	*The fever began to abate.*
Acquiesce	Agree passively; give in	*He acquiesced to her demands.*
Ambiguous	Unclear, multiple meanings	*The instructions were ambiguous.*
Arduous	Difficult, exhausting	*Climbing the mountain was arduous.*
Benign	Harmless, mild	*The tumor was benign.*
Candid	Honest, frank	*Give me your candid opinion.*
Copious	Abundant, plentiful	*She took copious notes.*
Diligent	Careful, hard-working	*A diligent employee.*
Ephemeral	Short-lived, temporary	*Beauty is ephemeral.*
Fortuitous	Occurring by chance, fortunate	*A fortuitous meeting.*
Gregarious	Sociable, living in groups	*Dolphins are gregarious.*
Insipid	Dull, tasteless	*The soup was insipid.*
Meticulous	Very careful, precise	*Meticulous attention to detail.*
Nascent	Just beginning, emerging	*A nascent technology.*
Nonchalant	Casual, unconcerned	*He seemed nonchalant about it.*
Olfactory	Relating to smell	*Olfactory senses.*
Perspicacious	Having keen insight	*Perspicacious analysis.*
Pragmatic	Practical, realistic	*A pragmatic approach.*
Resilient	Recovering quickly, bouncy	*A resilient material.*
Stolid	Unemotional, calm	*A stolid expression.*
Tenuous	Weak, flimsy	*A tenuous connection.*
Verbose	Wordy, lengthy	*A verbose explanation.*
Type	What to Look For	Strategy
Main Idea	Central theme of entire passage	Eliminate extremes; look for broad statements
Specific Detail	Fact directly stated	Line-by-line matching; find exact reference
Inference	Logically deduced (stated + logic)	Must be supported; not a guess
Vocabulary in Context	Word meaning within passage	Reread sentence; consider context
Tone/Author's Intent	Attitude, purpose, mood	Listen for adjectives, exlamation marks, quotes
Trap	How to Avoid
Outside knowledge	Passage says X is true; you know Y is true → Use X
True but not mentioned	Fact is real but passage doesn't say it → Eliminate
Extreme language	Words like *always, never, all, none*	Often wrong unless passage uses exact words
Contradicts passage	Opposite of what passage states	Never pick
Too vague	Sounds reasonable but passage is more specific