About Word Knowledge

Word Knowledge is a critical AFQT component that tests your vocabulary breadth and depth. Questions come in two formats: identifying synonyms (which word means the same as the given word) and understanding words in context (what does the underlined word mean in this sentence). On the CAT-ASVAB, you have approximately 9 minutes for 15 questions. WK and PC are used together to derive the Verbal Expression (VE) score used in the AFQT calculation. Official scoring converts WK and PC to VE using an official table; the relationship is not a simple raw-score addition. Strong vocabulary can therefore materially improve AFQT-related performance.

Topics Covered

Synonyms & Antonyms
Context Clues
Word Roots & Prefixes
Suffixes & Word Endings
Common SAT/GRE Vocabulary
Military-Related Terminology
Scientific & Technical Terms
Figurative Language
Connotation vs. Denotation
Multiple-Meaning Words

Sample Questions

Sample Question 1
'Ominous' most nearly means:
  • Promising
  • Threatening
  • Cheerful
  • Ordinary
Ominous means giving the impression that something bad is going to happen.
Sample Question 2
'Diligent' most nearly means:
  • Lazy
  • Hardworking
  • Smart
  • Lucky
Diligent means showing careful and persistent effort.
Sample Question 3
'Capricious' most nearly means:
  • Steady
  • Unpredictable
  • Friendly
  • Cautious
Capricious means given to sudden changes of mood or behavior.

Study Tips for Word Knowledge

Learn Word Roots

Knowing common Latin and Greek roots (e.g., 'bene' = good, 'mal' = bad, 'port' = carry) helps you decode unfamiliar words on the test.

Read Widely

The best way to build vocabulary is through reading. Read newspapers, magazines, and books at or above your reading level.

Use Our Vocabulary Flashcards

Our vocabulary study tool has 320 essential ASVAB words with definitions, example sentences, and audio pronunciation. Use it daily for best results.