PiCAT Army: What You Need to Know About the At-Home Test to Join
The PiCAT (Pre-screening, Internet-delivered Computer Adaptive Test) lets you take the Army entry test at home. You take it before you go to MEPS. This guide shows how the PiCAT Army test works. It tells you what to expect at the check test. It also gives you tips to get your best score.
Written by James Torres
Military Jobs Writer | 8 Years as an Army Recruiter
1What Is the PiCAT Army Test?
The PiCAT Army test is a version of the ASVAB that no one watches you take. People who want to join the Army can take it on any computer with internet. The Department of Defense started it in 2014. You can take it when it works for you, before your trip to a Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS).
The PiCAT covers all nine ASVAB subjects. It gives the same scores the Army uses to pick your job. The big difference is that it is easier. You take it at home, not at a test center.
AFQT Parts (Main Subtests)
- Arithmetic Reasoning (AR)
- Mathematics Knowledge (MK)
- Word Knowledge (WK)
- Paragraph Comprehension (PC)
Science and Tech Subtests
- General Science (GS)
- Electronics Information (EI)
- Auto & Shop Information (AS)
- Mechanical Comprehension (MC)
- Assembling Objects (AO)
Why Army Recruiters Recommend the PiCAT
Army recruiters often ask people to take the PiCAT because it makes joining faster. You will know your early scores before you go to MEPS. That lets your recruiter talk about job choices sooner. Many people also do better at home, where they feel calm.
2PiCAT vs. ASVAB: How They Are Different
The PiCAT and the ASVAB test the same skills. Their questions come from the same big set of questions. But a few things are different. These change how you get ready and what to expect.
| What | PiCAT Army | ASVAB (CAT) |
|---|---|---|
| Where You Test | Home or any computer | MEPS or MET site |
| Who Watches | No one watches | A test monitor watches |
| Time It Takes | ~2 hours | ~3 hours |
| Changes as You Go | Yes | Yes |
| How Long Scores Last | 30 days (you must pass a check test) | 2 years |
| Check Test Needed | Yes, at MEPS | No |
| Breaks Allowed | Between parts | Only a few |
30 Days to Take the Check Test
Your PiCAT Army scores run out after 30 days. You must take the check test at MEPS in that time. If not, you will need to take the full ASVAB. Plan your MEPS visit with your recruiter.
3Who Can Take the PiCAT to Join the Army?
Anyone who is working with an Army recruiter to join can take the PiCAT Army test. You can't get the test on your own. Your recruiter must start the process.
Who Can Take It
- You are working with an official Army recruiter
- You have a computer with good internet
- You have not taken the ASVAB or PiCAT in the past 30 days
- You can go to MEPS for the check test within 30 days
How to Get Started
Call your local Army recruiting office, or go to GoArmy.com to find a recruiter. Tell them you want to take the PiCAT. They will give you your own access code. They will also walk you through the next steps.
4Step-by-Step: Taking the PiCAT Army Test
The PiCAT Army process has a few steps. It starts when you meet your recruiter. It ends with the check test at MEPS. Here is what to expect:
Meet with Your Army Recruiter
Set up a meeting at your local recruiting office. Talk about your goals. Say you want to take the PiCAT as your first test.
Get Your Login
Your recruiter will make your PiCAT account. They will give you your login and tell you how to get to the test.
Set Up Your Test Space
Pick a quiet place where nothing will bother you. Make sure your internet works well. Get scrap paper and a pencil. Close any apps you don't need.
Finish All Nine Subtests
Go through each part at your own pace. You can take breaks between subtests. But once you start a part, finish it. The whole test takes about 2 hours.
Look at Your Early Results
Your recruiter gets your scores right away. Meet to talk about them. Look at the Army jobs your scores let you get.
Set Up Your MEPS Check Test
Happy with your scores? Then plan a MEPS visit within 30 days. There you take the check test to make your results official.
Tips for Your Test Space
- Use a desktop or laptop computer (not a phone or tablet)
- Test at a time when no one will bother you
- Turn your phone to silent and put it out of reach
- Keep water close, but don't eat during the test
5The MEPS Check Test (Verification Test)
No one watches you take the PiCAT Army test. So the military makes you take a check test at MEPS. It proves you are who you say you are. It also shows you took the test honestly. You must pass this step before your PiCAT scores count.
What to Expect at the MEPS Check Test
How Long: 25-30 minutes
The check test is much shorter than the full ASVAB. It has about 30 questions from different subtests.
Do Your Scores Match?
Your check test scores must be close to your PiCAT scores. If they are far apart, you must take the full ASVAB.
Someone Watches You
At home, no one watches you take the PiCAT. But at MEPS, test monitors watch you take the check test.
What If You Don't Pass the Check Test?
Are your check test scores very different from your PiCAT scores? Then you will take the full ASVAB at MEPS that same day. Your PiCAT scores will be thrown out. Your ASVAB scores will count instead. That is why you must take the PiCAT honestly, with no outside help.
6PiCAT Army Scores and Line Scores
PiCAT Army scores work just like ASVAB scores. You get an AFQT score, which decides if you can join. You also get line scores, which decide which jobs you can get.
AFQT Score
Your Armed Forces Qualification Test score is a percentile from 1-99. It comes from the AR, MK, WK, and PC subtests.
Army Line Scores
Line scores add up subtest scores. They decide which Army jobs you can get. The Army calls these jobs Military Occupational Specialties (MOS).
GT Score: The Key to Good Army Jobs
The General Technical (GT) score may be the most important line score in the Army. Many popular jobs need GT scores of 95-110+. These include 25B (IT Specialist), 35F (Intelligence Analyst), and 68W (Combat Medic). Work on word skills and arithmetic reasoning to raise your GT.
7How to Get Ready for the PiCAT Army
You take the PiCAT Army test at home, but you still need to study hard. Your scores decide your job choices. You also need to match them at MEPS. So studying honestly pays off.
Learn the AFQT Subjects Well
Arithmetic Reasoning, Mathematics Knowledge, Word Knowledge, and Paragraph Comprehension decide if you can join. Study these four first.
Know the Job You Want (Your MOS)
Look up the Army jobs you like and the line scores they need. Spend extra study time on the subtests that go into those scores.
Take Practice Tests Regularly
Use practice tests to find weak spots and track your progress. Time yourself and work with no breaks, just like the real test.
Get Ready for the Check Test
Remember, you will need to do just as well at MEPS. Don't get outside help on the PiCAT. If your check test scores don't match, you will take the full ASVAB instead.
Start Practicing Now
Try the sample questions above. Then check out practice tests for every ASVAB subject. Build the scores you need for your Army career.
All Practice Tests8Common Questions
Can I retake the PiCAT Army if I'm unhappy with my score?
You can't take the PiCAT again. But you can take the full ASVAB at MEPS instead of the check test. Say you pass the check test and later want a higher score. Then the normal ASVAB retest rules apply. Wait 30 days for the first retest. After that, wait 6 months between tests.
How long do PiCAT Army scores last?
PiCAT scores last for 30 days after you finish. You must pass the check test at MEPS in that time. Once you pass, your scores turn into ASVAB scores. ASVAB scores last for 2 years.
Can I use a calculator on the PiCAT Army test?
No, you can't use a calculator on the PiCAT, just like the ASVAB. Practice math in your head and by hand. You can use scrap paper and a pencil during the test.
Is the PiCAT Army easier than the ASVAB?
No, it is just as hard. The questions come from the same set. But many people score better on the PiCAT. They take it at home, where they feel calm, without the stress of a test center.
What happens if I don't pass the check test?
Are your check test scores not close enough to your PiCAT scores? Then you will take the full ASVAB at MEPS that same day. Your ASVAB scores then become your official scores to join the Army.
Can I take breaks during the PiCAT Army test?
Yes, you can take a break between parts of the PiCAT. But once you start a part, finish it without stopping. The test saves your progress between subtests on its own.
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