PicatDrill

    PiCAT vs the ASVAB

    The PiCAT is the unproctored version of the CAT-ASVAB. It is not a practice test and not a separate test. Once a PiCAT score is verified, it becomes the ASVAB score of record.

    The four differences

    The PiCAT has four differences from the proctored CAT-ASVAB:

    1. It has no time limits on the individual subtests.
    2. It has no tryout items.
    3. It has no proctor.
    4. It may stop after five subtests when the AFQT is too low. The proctored CAT-ASVAB does not have this early-stop rule.

    The Department of Defense publishes no numeric threshold for the PiCAT early stop. PicatDrill does not substitute one.

    What stays aligned

    The PiCAT and CAT-ASVAB use the same ten subtests in this administration order: General Science, Arithmetic Reasoning, Word Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension, Mathematics Knowledge, Electronics Information, Auto Information, Shop Information, Mechanical Comprehension, and Assembling Objects.

    They have the same subtests, the same item-pool lineage, and older recycled forms. This does not mean that the PiCAT uses the same item pool as the current ASVAB.

    Auto Information and Shop Information are administered separately but reported as one combined AS score. That means ten subtests are administered and nine scores are reported.

    The question-count distinction

    The published CAT-ASVAB scored-item count is 135. The Department of Defense says only that the PiCAT has a similar number of questions to the CAT-ASVAB. It does not say the counts are identical.

    PicatDrill’s free simulator form contains 135 original items. That is the simulator’s form length, not a claim that every PiCAT contains exactly that number.

    How a PiCAT score becomes official

    After the PiCAT, the applicant takes a short, proctored Verification Test at a MEPS or MET site within 45 days. If verification succeeds, the PiCAT scores become the official ASVAB scores of record. If verification does not succeed, a follow-on full ASVAB is administered and becomes the score of record.

    Which option an applicant gets

    PiCAT access is recruiter-gated. An applicant must contact a military recruiter for an access code. Only recruiters and Site Security Managers can register someone, and high schools may not administer it.