AFQT Subtest

ASVAB Paragraph Comprehension (PC)

PC tests reading comprehension — your ability to extract information, identify main ideas, and draw conclusions from short passages.

Practice PC FreeCreate Free Account

15

Questions

22 min

Time

Yes

Affects AFQT?

What PC Measures

Ability to read and understand written material. Combined with WK to form the VE composite, which is doubled in the AFQT formula.

Common Question Types

Main Idea

What is the passage primarily about?

Detail Recall

According to the passage, what/when/where…?

Inference

What can be concluded from the passage?

Vocabulary in Context

What does "X" mean in this passage?

5 Example Questions

Try these — tap any question to reveal the answer.

Q1"Military working dogs are trained to detect explosives and narcotics. Their acute sense of smell, which is up to 100,000 times more sensitive than a human's, makes them invaluable assets." — The passage implies working dogs are valuable mainly because of their:

A) Training speed

B) Sense of smell

C) Loyalty

D) Strength

Q2"A healthy diet can reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers. Experts recommend eating a variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains." — The main idea is:

A) Cancer is preventable

B) Diet affects health outcomes

C) Whole grains are essential

D) Experts disagree on diets

Q3"The commanding officer noted that morale had improved significantly since the unit began weekly recreation activities." — What caused improved morale?

A) New leadership

B) Recreation activities

C) Better food

D) Shorter shifts

Q4"Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity. While installation costs are high, long-term savings on energy bills make them cost-effective." — What is the main drawback mentioned?

A) They break easily

B) High installation cost

C) Low energy output

D) They need batteries

Q5"The term 'logistics' in a military context refers to the detailed coordination of complex operations involving people, facilities, and supplies." — Logistics mainly involves:

A) Combat strategy

B) Coordinating operations

C) Training soldiers

D) Building facilities

Study Tips for PC

1Read the question first, then the passage — you will know what to look for.
2The answer is almost always stated or strongly implied in the text. Do not overthink.
3Watch for keywords like "mainly," "primarily," "implies" — they signal what the question wants.

Line Scores That Use PC

Your PC score feeds into these composite scores, which determine job eligibility:

AFQT (via VE)GT (Army)CL (Marines)All verbal composites

Ready to practice PC?

Take a free practice test covering Paragraph Comprehension — see where you stand in 15 minutes.

Free Practice TestCreate Free Account

Free ASVAB Study Cheat Sheet

Key formulas, line score composites, and score benchmarks in one printable PDF.

Related Pages