The PiCAT test is the unproctored version of the ASVAB, which is a test used by the military to measure your suitability for enlistment.
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What is the PiCAT?
The PiCAT (Pending Internet Computerized Adaptive Test) is an unproctored version of the ASVAB test. This means you can take the test from anywhere, not strictly a MEPS or MET site! You can only take the PiCAT if you’ve never taken the ASVAB before, and you only have one chance to take it.
Test Outline
The contents of the PiCAT are exactly the same as the ASVAB, but there is no time limit for the individual subtests on the PiCAT. That said, you should only take you a few hours to finish the test.
The test is broken into ten sections:
AFQT Sections
The Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) is a scoring system used to determine your enlistment eligibility. To make this determination, the scores from four sections of the PiCAT are combined:
- Arithmetic Reasoning (AR)
- Mathematics Knowledge (MK)
- Paragraph Comprehension (PC)
- Word Knowledge (WK)
Here’s a closer look at these four sections:
Mathematics Knowledge (MK)
This section covers basic high school math, and most of the questions are multiple-choice and involve math problems. You’ll be expected to be familiar with exponents, simple geometry, factorials, and the order of operations, among other things.
Arithmetic Reasoning (AR)
This section gives you word problems to solve, testing your ability to put your math skills into action. For these questions, it’s important that you clearly identify what you’re being asked and determine the steps needed to solve the problem.
Paragraph Comprehension (PC)
This section tests your ability to comprehend written information. You’ll be given paragraphs to read, and you’ll be asked questions about key details, picking the best summary of the paragraph you just read, choosing the best meaning for specific words in the paragraph, and determining the inferred meaning of the paragraph.
Word Knowledge (WK)
This section puts your vocabulary knowledge to the test by asking you to recognize correct and incorrect spellings, definitions, and usage of various words.
Registration
To take the PiCAT, you’ll need to contact a military recruiter. They will give you an access code to take the test, and you’ll have to take the test within 30 days of receiving the code.
Taking the Test
As mentioned earlier, there is technically no time limit for the PiCAT. However, once you officially begin taking the PiCAT, you must complete it within 48 hours. In reality, it should only take you a few hours at most.
For the best results, the device you take the test on should have a screen size of at least 7 inches diagonally (tablets are acceptable!).
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Online PiCAT Test Prep Course
If you want to be fully prepared, Mometrix offers an online PiCAT prep course designed to give you everything you need to succeed!
Here’s what you’ll find in the PiCAT course:
Everyone learns differently, so we’ve tailored the PiCAT online prep course to ensure every learner has what they need to prepare for the PiCAT test.
Click below to check it out!
Score Verification
When you finish the PiCAT, you won’t be able to see your final scores. Your scores are sent to the recruiter who set you up with the registration code.
If your scores are good enough to suggest you may be a good fit for military service, you’ll be asked to go to a MEPS or MET site to take a verification test (Vtest). The Vtest is used to validate your scores by asking you 30 questions and seeing how well you actually know the subjects at hand. The test takes anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes to complete.
If the Vtest successfully validates your PiCAT scores, your scores will become the official ASVAB scores on your record!
FAQs
Q
What is the PiCAT?
A
The PiCAT (Pending Internet Computerizes Adaptive Test) is the unproctored version of the ASVAB test that you can take at home via the internet.
Q
How long is the PiCAT test?
A
There is technically no time limit, but it should only take 2-3 hours to complete.
Q
How many questions are on the PiCAT?
A
There are 120-145 questions on the test.
Q
How many questions are on the PiCAT verification test?
A
The Vtest contains 30 questions.
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