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ASVAB Mechanical Comprehension Practice Questions and Study Tips
Mechanical Comprehension tests how well you understand physical principles and simple machines. It does not count toward your AFQT, but it matters for many mechanical, maintenance and combat jobs.
| Questions (paper ASVAB) | 25 |
|---|---|
| Time limit | 19 minutes |
| Abbreviation | MC |
| Counts toward AFQT? | No. It is used for line scores and job qualification, not the AFQT. |
The computer version of the ASVAB (CAT-ASVAB) has fewer questions and adjusts the difficulty to your answers, but it covers the same material.
What the Mechanical Comprehension subtest covers
- Levers, pulleys, gears and inclined planes
- Mechanical advantage
- Force, pressure, work and energy
- Fluids and hydraulics
- Structural support and center of gravity
Mechanical Comprehension practice questions
Try these sample questions written in the ASVAB style. Members get hundreds more, with a worked solution the moment you answer.
1. A 100-pound load sits 2 feet from a lever's fulcrum. How much force is needed 4 feet from the fulcrum on the other side to balance it?
- 25 pounds
- 50 pounds
- 100 pounds
- 200 pounds
Show answer
B. 50 pounds 100 × 2 = force × 4, so force = 200 ÷ 4 = 50 pounds.
2. Gear A has 20 teeth and drives gear B, which has 40 teeth. If gear A turns at 10 rpm, how fast does gear B turn?
- 5 rpm
- 10 rpm
- 20 rpm
- 40 rpm
Show answer
A. 5 rpm Gear B has twice the teeth, so it turns half as fast: 10 ÷ 2 = 5 rpm.
3. What is the mechanical advantage of a single fixed pulley?
- 0.5
- 1
- 2
- 4
Show answer
B. 1 A single fixed pulley only changes the direction of the force. It does not reduce it.
Tips for the Mechanical Comprehension subtest
- For a lever, effort × effort distance = load × load distance. That one rule solves many questions.
- Gears that touch turn in opposite directions. A bigger gear driven by a smaller one turns slower.
- Draw a quick sketch when a question describes a setup without a picture.
Questions people ask
How many questions are on ASVAB Mechanical Comprehension?
The paper ASVAB has 25 Mechanical Comprehension questions with a 19-minute time limit. The computer version has fewer questions.
Does Mechanical Comprehension count toward the AFQT?
No. It is used for line scores and job qualification, not the AFQT.
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