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Updated July 2026 with official ASVAB sources

ASVAB General Science Test 2: 127 Questions

Use this second ASVAB General Science practice test after the main ASVAB General Science Practice Test. It is built for students who know little or nothing about the ASVAB and need another full mixed set before moving into timed practice. Official ASVAB sources describe General Science as knowledge of physical and biological sciences, so this page teaches the official scope through life science, earth and space science, physical science, chemistry, and scientific reasoning.

General Science Test 1 ASVAB Study Guide ASVAB Score Guide ASVAB Score Calculator AFQT Score Calculator Scores by Branch Electronics Practice Mechanical Practice

Why This Test 2 Page Exists

This page is not a copy of the first General Science practice test. Test 1 is the entry practice page. This Test 2 page is a second mixed exam for a student who already read the basics, wants more questions, and needs to find weak spots without repeating the same examples. The SEO intent is also separate: a student searching for "ASVAB General Science Test 2" usually wants more practice, not another broad overview of what General Science is. That is why this page links to Test 1, the full ASVAB Study Guide, and the score resources instead of trying to do every job on one page.

The questions here are original practice questions. They are not copied from official ASVAB sample items, they are not real operational test questions, and they are not presented as a score predictor. Their purpose is to train the same general skill area the official ASVAB describes publicly: knowledge of physical and biological sciences. If you miss a question, the explanation tells you the concept to review, not just the letter to memorize.

Use Test 2 correctly: Take it after you have worked through the beginner review or after finishing the first General Science practice test. Then sort misses by topic. If your misses cluster in earth science, do not reread every biology paragraph. If your misses cluster in physical science, spend your next session on force, energy, heat, density, waves, electricity, and magnetism.

Official General Science Scope

Official ASVAB materials identify General Science, abbreviated GS, as a Science/Technical-domain subtest. The official subtests page describes GS as knowledge of physical and biological sciences. The official General Science sample page says the sample questions are focused on solving basic science problems. That wording matters. General Science is broad, but it is not meant to be a college biology, chemistry, geology, physics, or astronomy final exam. A beginner should study the basic vocabulary and cause-and-effect relationships that appear across ordinary high school science.

For practical study, this page divides the public official scope into five learning lanes: life science, earth and space science, physical science, chemistry, and scientific reasoning. Those lanes are study categories, not separate official score lines. Your official ASVAB score report reports General Science as a subtest score, and official score resources explain that ASVAB subtests are standard scores with a mean of 50 and standard deviation of 10. A raw practice count on this page is useful for study planning, but it is not an official standard score.

Study laneWhat to know firstCommon Test 2 traps
Life scienceCells, organs, body systems, heredity, ecosystems, producers, consumers, decomposers, microbes.Mixing up organelles, confusing arteries and veins, treating viruses like bacteria.
Earth and space scienceWater cycle, weather, atmosphere, rocks, plate motion, tides, seasons, moon phases, gravity.Confusing weather with climate, seasons with distance from the Sun, or rotation with revolution.
Physical scienceMotion, force, energy, heat transfer, density, pressure, waves, electricity, magnetism.Choosing a memorized word instead of the relationship described in the question.
ChemistryAtoms, molecules, elements, compounds, mixtures, solutions, acids, bases, physical and chemical changes.Calling every mixture a compound, or calling every state change a chemical change.
Scientific reasoningHypotheses, variables, controls, observations, measurements, graphs, evidence, lab safety.Identifying the dependent variable when the question asks for the independent variable.

Timing and Test-Day Context

Official CAT-ASVAB information lists General Science as 15 scored questions with a 12-minute time limit when no tryout questions are present. The same official CAT table lists possible tryout questions and a longer limit when tryouts appear. Official ASVAB material also explains that tryout questions do not count toward the score and may be randomly dispersed in selected subtests. The official fact sheet lists the paper-and-pencil General Science test as 25 questions in 11 minutes.

This practice page is deliberately longer than the real subtest. The point is not to imitate one exact sitting. The point is to give you enough question volume to see patterns. After you finish the untimed version, make smaller timed sets: 15 questions in about 12 minutes for CAT-style practice and 25 questions in about 11 minutes for paper-style pace. On CAT-ASVAB, official guidance says you cannot go back after submitting an answer. On paper, official guidance says you may review within the current section and that there is no penalty for guessing, so filling remaining answers is better than leaving blanks.

Practice modeHow to use this Test 2 pageWhy it helps
Untimed learning passAnswer all 127 questions with explanations open only after each choice.Builds concepts before speed pressure hides the real weakness.
CAT-style setChoose any 15 unanswered or previously missed questions and set 12 minutes.Matches the official scored GS count and no-tryout time context.
P&P-style setChoose 25 questions and set 11 minutes.Builds fast recognition for paper-and-pencil timing.
Missed-question retakeRetake only missed questions after 24 hours with explanations closed.Shows whether you learned the concept or only remembered the letter.

Step-by-Step Beginner Route

If you are starting from zero, do not try to "study science" as one giant subject. Start with the official GS description, then convert it into a daily route. Day one should be life science vocabulary: cell, nucleus, membrane, mitochondria, tissue, organ, organ system, DNA, gene, producer, consumer, decomposer. Day two should be earth and space: atmosphere, water cycle, evaporation, condensation, precipitation, erosion, rock cycle, rotation, revolution, gravity, tide. Day three should be physical science: motion, force, speed, acceleration, energy, heat, conductor, insulator, circuit, magnetism, wave. Day four should be chemistry and reasoning: atom, element, compound, mixture, solution, acid, base, physical change, chemical change, independent variable, dependent variable, control.

After those four days, take this Test 2 page in blocks of 25 questions. Do not stop after the score. Make an error log with five columns: question number, topic, wrong idea, correct idea, and retake result. This small table keeps you from rereading what you already know. If question 11 shows that you confused condensation and evaporation, write that exact confusion. If question 43 shows that you treated mass and weight as identical, write that exact confusion. General Science improves quickly when every miss becomes a short repair task.

Use internal ASVAB links with intent discipline. For all exam logistics, go to the ASVAB Study Guide. For official score-report interpretation, go to the ASVAB Score Guide. For branch-level context, go to ASVAB Scores by Military Branch. For related technical subtests, use Electronics Information Practice and Mechanical Comprehension Practice. This Test 2 page should stay focused on additional GS practice.

General Science Review Before Test 2

Life Science Basics

A cell is the basic unit of life. The cell membrane controls what enters and leaves. The nucleus contains genetic instructions in many eukaryotic cells. Mitochondria release usable energy from food. Tissues are groups of similar cells. Organs are structures that perform jobs. Organ systems work together, such as the respiratory system moving gases and the circulatory system transporting materials. In ecosystems, producers make food, consumers eat other organisms, and decomposers recycle matter.

Earth and Space Basics

Weather is short-term atmospheric condition; climate is long-term pattern. Evaporation changes liquid water into water vapor. Condensation forms liquid droplets from water vapor. Precipitation returns water to Earth's surface. Earth's rotation causes day and night. Earth's revolution around the Sun, combined with axial tilt, causes seasons. The Moon's gravity helps create tides. Plate movement can build mountains, cause earthquakes, and produce volcanoes.

Physical Science Basics

Speed compares distance and time. Acceleration means velocity changes. Force can change motion. Energy is the ability to do work or cause change. Heat transfers from warmer objects to cooler objects by conduction, convection, or radiation. Density compares mass and volume. Electricity involves moving charges. A conductor allows charge or heat to move easily; an insulator resists transfer.

Chemistry and Reasoning Basics

An element contains one kind of atom. A compound contains atoms chemically bonded in a fixed ratio. A mixture combines substances without making a new substance. A solution is an evenly mixed mixture. Acids have pH below 7, bases have pH above 7, and neutral solutions are near 7. In an experiment, the independent variable is changed on purpose, the dependent variable is measured, and controlled variables are kept the same.

Fast review rule: When a question feels unfamiliar, ask what category it belongs to first. Is it life, earth and space, physical, chemistry, or reasoning? The category usually tells you which basic relationship to use.

ASVAB General Science Test 2: 127 Questions

Answer every question before opening the explanation. Each item is original practice content written to match the public official General Science scope, not copied from official ASVAB questions.

Take This Practice Test

Choose one answer for each question. Explanations and the answer key stay hidden until you submit, so the score reflects a real attempt.

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  1. Which cell structure controls what enters and leaves most cells?
    1. Rib cage
    2. Cell membrane
    3. Chromosome pair
    4. Bone marrow
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: B. The cell membrane is the boundary that regulates movement of materials into and out of the cell.

  2. In a plant cell, which structure is most directly responsible for photosynthesis?
    1. Chloroplast
    2. Kidney
    3. Neuron
    4. Platelet
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: A. Chloroplasts contain chlorophyll and are the main site of photosynthesis in plant cells.

  3. Which statement best describes DNA?
    1. It is a type of atmospheric pressure
    2. It is the same as body temperature
    3. It carries hereditary instructions used by living cells
    4. It is a mineral in igneous rock
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C. DNA stores genetic information that helps direct inherited traits and cell activity.

  4. Which blood cells are most associated with carrying oxygen?
    1. Skin cells
    2. Bone cells
    3. Root hair cells
    4. Red blood cells
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: D. Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, which carries oxygen through the bloodstream.

  5. Which organ system exchanges oxygen and carbon dioxide with the air?
    1. Digestive system
    2. Respiratory system
    3. Skeletal system
    4. Integumentary system
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: B. The respiratory system, including the lungs, is responsible for gas exchange.

  6. Which organ mainly filters wastes from the blood to make urine?
    1. Stomach
    2. Lung
    3. Kidney
    4. Pancreas bone
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C. Kidneys filter blood, remove wastes, and help regulate water and salt balance.

  7. What is the main job of enzymes in living organisms?
    1. Speeding up chemical reactions
    2. Blocking all cell division
    3. Creating gravity
    4. Changing weather fronts
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: A. Enzymes are biological catalysts that help reactions happen faster without being used up.

  8. In an ecosystem, which organism is a producer?
    1. A hawk eating a mouse
    2. A fungus decomposing a log
    3. A worm breaking soil
    4. A grass plant making food from sunlight
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: D. Producers, such as plants, make food using energy from sunlight or chemical sources.

  9. Which organisms return nutrients to soil by breaking down dead matter?
    1. Planets
    2. Herbivore teeth
    3. Cloud fronts
    4. Decomposers
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: D. Decomposers such as fungi and bacteria recycle matter from dead organisms.

  10. Which term means an animal that eats only plants?
    1. Herbivore
    2. Carnivore
    3. Omnivore
    4. Decomposer only
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: A. A herbivore eats plants; a carnivore eats animals, and an omnivore eats both.

  11. Which process turns liquid water at the surface into water vapor?
    1. Condensation
    2. Precipitation
    3. Evaporation
    4. Crystallization only
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C. Evaporation is the change from liquid water to water vapor.

  12. Which process forms clouds from water vapor cooling in the atmosphere?
    1. Photosynthesis
    2. Condensation
    3. Respiration
    4. Erosion
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: B. Condensation changes water vapor into tiny liquid droplets or ice crystals that can form clouds.

  13. What mostly causes Earth's seasons?
    1. Earth moving much closer to the Sun every winter
    2. Earth's tilted axis as it revolves around the Sun
    3. The Moon blocking all sunlight monthly
    4. Ocean tides stopping Earth's spin
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: B. Seasons are mainly caused by Earth's axial tilt and its yearly revolution around the Sun.

  14. Which motion of Earth causes day and night?
    1. Rotation on its axis
    2. Condensation in clouds
    3. Plate subduction
    4. Ocean evaporation
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: A. Earth's rotation turns different areas toward and away from the Sun, causing day and night.

  15. Which layer of Earth is liquid outer metal that helps create the magnetic field?
    1. Crust only
    2. Stratosphere
    3. Outer core
    4. Ocean basin
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C. The liquid outer core contains moving molten metal linked to Earth's magnetic field.

  16. Which rock type forms when molten material cools and solidifies?
    1. Sedimentary fossil only
    2. Metamorphic air
    3. Organic tissue
    4. Igneous rock
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: D. Igneous rocks form from cooling magma or lava.

  17. Which process slowly wears away soil and rock by water, wind, or ice?
    1. Fusion
    2. Erosion
    3. Germination
    4. Magnetization only
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: B. Erosion moves weathered material from one place to another.

  18. Which force most directly keeps planets in orbit around the Sun?
    1. Friction from air
    2. Photosynthesis
    3. Gravity
    4. Static discharge
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C. Gravity attracts planets toward the Sun and helps maintain orbital motion.

  19. What are tides mainly caused by?
    1. Gravitational pull of the Moon and Sun on Earth's oceans
    2. Earth's oxygen level changing daily
    3. Clouds pushing seawater sideways
    4. Rocks dissolving in seawater
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: A. The Moon's gravity, with help from the Sun, is the main cause of tides.

  20. Which gas is most abundant in Earth's atmosphere?
    1. Oxygen
    2. Carbon dioxide
    3. Hydrogen
    4. Nitrogen
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: D. Nitrogen makes up most of Earth's atmosphere, with oxygen second.

  21. If an object travels 60 miles in 2 hours, what is its average speed?
    1. 2 miles per hour
    2. 62 miles per hour
    3. 120 miles per hour
    4. 30 miles per hour
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: D. Average speed equals distance divided by time, so 60 divided by 2 equals 30 miles per hour.

  22. Which term means a change in velocity over time?
    1. Acceleration
    2. Density
    3. Evaporation
    4. Neutralization
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: A. Acceleration is any change in velocity, including speeding up, slowing down, or changing direction.

  23. What happens to friction when two rough surfaces rub together?
    1. It always removes gravity
    2. It changes matter into light only
    3. It opposes the motion between the surfaces
    4. It makes mass disappear
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C. Friction is a force that resists relative motion between surfaces in contact.

  24. Which simple machine is a ramp?
    1. Pulley wheel only
    2. Inclined plane
    3. Electrical circuit
    4. Concave lens
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: B. A ramp is an inclined plane, a simple machine that spreads work over a longer distance.

  25. What does density compare?
    1. Color and taste
    2. Mass and volume
    3. Age and orbit
    4. Current and magnetism only
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: B. Density is mass per unit volume, commonly described as mass divided by volume.

  26. Which type of heat transfer occurs mainly by direct contact?
    1. Conduction
    2. Radiation
    3. Reflection
    4. Condensation
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: A. Conduction transfers heat through direct contact between particles or objects.

  27. Which heat transfer can occur through empty space from the Sun to Earth?
    1. Conduction
    2. Precipitation
    3. Radiation
    4. Fermentation
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C. Radiation transfers energy by electromagnetic waves and does not require matter.

  28. In a fluid, warm material rising and cool material sinking is an example of what?
    1. Mutation
    2. Condensation only
    3. Neutralization
    4. Convection
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: D. Convection is heat transfer by movement of warmer and cooler fluid.

  29. Which material usually conducts electricity well?
    1. Dry rubber
    2. Copper
    3. Glass
    4. Wood
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: B. Metals such as copper allow electric charge to move easily.

  30. What is a closed electric circuit?
    1. A broken wire with no path
    2. A rock cycle diagram
    3. A complete path that allows current to flow
    4. A type of bone joint
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C. Current flows only when the circuit path is complete.

  31. Which particle has a negative electric charge?
    1. Electron
    2. Proton
    3. Neutron
    4. Nucleus as a whole only
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: A. Electrons are negatively charged particles found outside the nucleus of an atom.

  32. Which particle has a positive electric charge?
    1. Electron
    2. Neutron
    3. Photon only
    4. Proton
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: D. Protons carry positive charge and are located in the atomic nucleus.

  33. Which part of an atom contains protons and neutrons?
    1. Cell wall
    2. Orbit of the Moon
    3. Cloud layer
    4. Nucleus
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: D. The nucleus is the dense central region containing protons and neutrons.

  34. Which term describes a substance made of only one kind of atom?
    1. Element
    2. Solution
    3. Mixture
    4. Organ system
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: A. An element is made of one type of atom and cannot be broken down by ordinary chemical means.

  35. Which term describes atoms chemically bonded in a fixed ratio?
    1. Mixture
    2. Weather front
    3. Compound
    4. Food web
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C. A compound contains elements chemically combined in fixed proportions.

  36. Which example is a mixture rather than a compound?
    1. Pure water molecules
    2. Trail mix with nuts and raisins
    3. Carbon dioxide molecules
    4. Table salt crystals only
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: B. Trail mix combines substances physically; the ingredients are not chemically bonded in a fixed ratio.

  37. Which statement best describes a solution?
    1. A moving tectonic plate
    2. An evenly mixed mixture
    3. A type of chromosome
    4. A gas giant planet
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: B. A solution is a homogeneous mixture, such as salt water after salt dissolves.

  38. What pH range is acidic?
    1. Below 7
    2. Exactly 14 only
    3. Above 12 only
    4. Always equal to 7
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: A. Acids have pH values below 7; bases are above 7, and neutral water is near 7.

  39. Which change is a physical change?
    1. Iron rusting
    2. Wood burning
    3. Ice melting into liquid water
    4. Milk souring
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C. Melting changes state but does not create a new substance.

  40. Which change is a chemical change?
    1. Glass breaking into pieces
    2. Water freezing
    3. Sugar dissolving in water only
    4. Paper burning to ash and gas
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: D. Burning produces new substances, so it is a chemical change.

  41. What does conservation of mass mean in an ordinary chemical reaction?
    1. Mass always becomes zero
    2. Atoms are rearranged, but total mass is conserved
    3. New atoms appear from nowhere
    4. Only gases have mass
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: B. In ordinary reactions, matter is not created or destroyed; atoms are rearranged.

  42. Which unit is commonly used to measure force?
    1. Liter
    2. Gram per milliliter only
    3. Newton
    4. Degree Celsius
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C. Force is commonly measured in newtons in the metric system.

  43. What is weight?
    1. The force of gravity acting on mass
    2. The same thing as volume
    3. The amount of space an object occupies
    4. The color of an object
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: A. Weight is a force caused by gravity, while mass is the amount of matter.

  44. Which measurement tells how much space matter occupies?
    1. Mass only
    2. Weight only
    3. Temperature only
    4. Volume
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: D. Volume measures the amount of space an object or substance occupies.

  45. What happens to most substances when heated?
    1. Their atoms vanish
    2. Their mass always doubles
    3. Their gravity disappears
    4. Their particles move faster on average
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: D. Heating generally increases average particle motion, which is related to temperature.

  46. Which wave property is the distance from one crest to the next crest?
    1. Wavelength
    2. Density
    3. Voltage
    4. Orbit
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: A. Wavelength is the distance between corresponding points on neighboring waves.

  47. Which type of wave needs a material medium such as air, water, or a solid?
    1. Visible light wave
    2. X-ray in space
    3. Sound wave
    4. Radio wave in vacuum
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C. Sound is a mechanical wave and needs matter to travel.

  48. Which color of visible light has the longest wavelength?
    1. Violet
    2. Red
    3. Blue
    4. Green only
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: B. Red light has a longer wavelength than violet, blue, or green visible light.

  49. What does a concave lens usually do to parallel light rays?
    1. Turns them into sound
    2. Spreads them apart
    3. Stops all motion
    4. Makes them become electrons
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: B. A concave lens diverges, or spreads, incoming parallel light rays.

  50. What does a convex lens usually do to parallel light rays?
    1. Brings them together toward a focus
    2. Removes their color permanently
    3. Changes them into magnetic poles
    4. Prevents reflection everywhere
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: A. A convex lens converges light rays toward a focal point.

  51. Which statement best describes a magnet?
    1. It has only positive electric charge
    2. It cannot attract iron
    3. It has north and south poles
    4. It is always a living organism
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C. Magnets have north and south poles, and opposite poles attract.

  52. Which material is commonly attracted to a magnet?
    1. Plastic foam
    2. Dry wood
    3. Glass
    4. Iron
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: D. Iron and many iron-containing materials are strongly attracted to magnets.

  53. Which body system sends electrical and chemical signals to control rapid responses?
    1. Digestive system only
    2. Nervous system
    3. Skeletal system only
    4. Water cycle
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: B. The nervous system uses neurons to send fast signals through the body.

  54. Which system breaks food into smaller molecules the body can absorb?
    1. Respiratory system only
    2. Magnetic system
    3. Digestive system
    4. Solar system
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C. Digestion breaks food down mechanically and chemically so nutrients can be absorbed.

  55. Which body system includes bones and protects many internal organs?
    1. Skeletal system
    2. Endocrine system only
    3. Atmospheric system
    4. Circuit system
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: A. The skeletal system supports the body, protects organs, and helps movement.

  56. Which part of the human circulatory system pumps blood?
    1. Stomach
    2. Liver only
    3. Trachea
    4. Heart
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: D. The heart is the muscular pump that moves blood through blood vessels.

  57. Which blood vessel usually carries blood away from the heart?
    1. Vein only
    2. Alveolus
    3. Neuron
    4. Artery
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: D. Arteries generally carry blood away from the heart; veins generally return blood to the heart.

  58. Which tiny air sacs in the lungs are sites of gas exchange?
    1. Alveoli
    2. Nephrons
    3. Villi only
    4. Ligaments
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: A. Alveoli provide a large surface area for oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange.

  59. Which immune cells help defend the body against infection?
    1. Red blood cells only
    2. Platelets only
    3. White blood cells
    4. Root cells
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C. White blood cells help identify and fight pathogens.

  60. Which statement best distinguishes bacteria from viruses?
    1. Viruses are always larger than bacteria
    2. Bacteria are cells; viruses require host cells to reproduce
    3. Bacteria have no living features at all
    4. Viruses make their own food by photosynthesis
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: B. Bacteria are single-celled organisms, while viruses must use host cell machinery to reproduce.

  61. What is the role of vaccines in basic immunity?
    1. They replace all red blood cells
    2. They train the immune system to recognize a pathogen or part of it
    3. They turn bacteria into rocks
    4. They stop gravity in cells
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: B. Vaccines expose the immune system to safe forms or parts of pathogens so it can respond faster later.

  62. Which molecule is the main immediate energy currency used by cells?
    1. ATP
    2. Quartz
    3. Nitrogen gas only
    4. Table salt
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: A. ATP stores and transfers usable energy for many cell processes.

  63. Which process releases energy from glucose in cells?
    1. Weathering
    2. Condensation only
    3. Cellular respiration
    4. Plate tectonics
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C. Cellular respiration breaks down glucose to release usable energy, often with oxygen.

  64. Which process in plants uses carbon dioxide, water, and light energy to make sugar?
    1. Digestion
    2. Evaporation
    3. Friction
    4. Photosynthesis
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: D. Photosynthesis uses light energy to make sugars from carbon dioxide and water.

  65. In genetics, what is a gene?
    1. A type of cloud
    2. A segment of DNA related to a trait or function
    3. A measure of voltage
    4. A layer of Earth
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: B. A gene is a DNA segment that carries instructions affecting a trait or cell function.

  66. Which term describes different forms of a gene?
    1. Asteroids
    2. Isobars only
    3. Alleles
    4. Nephrons
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C. Alleles are alternative forms of a gene.

  67. Which term describes all living and nonliving parts interacting in an area?
    1. Ecosystem
    2. Atom
    3. Ion only
    4. Lens
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: A. An ecosystem includes organisms plus nonliving factors such as water, soil, air, and sunlight.

  68. Which relationship benefits both species involved?
    1. Predation only
    2. Weathering
    3. Conduction
    4. Mutualism
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: D. Mutualism is a relationship in which both organisms benefit.

  69. What happens to energy as it moves up a food chain?
    1. More energy appears from nothing
    2. All energy is stored perfectly
    3. Energy becomes massless
    4. Less usable energy is available at higher levels
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: D. Energy is lost as heat and used by organisms, so higher trophic levels receive less usable energy.

  70. Which weather instrument measures air pressure?
    1. Barometer
    2. Thermometer only
    3. Anemometer only
    4. Balance scale
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: A. A barometer measures atmospheric pressure.

  71. Which instrument measures wind speed?
    1. Barometer
    2. Microscope only
    3. Anemometer
    4. Graduated cylinder only
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C. An anemometer measures wind speed.

  72. Which term describes long-term average weather patterns in a region?
    1. Daily forecast only
    2. Climate
    3. Condensation
    4. Tide height
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: B. Climate describes long-term patterns, while weather describes short-term atmospheric conditions.

  73. Which cloud-related process often happens when warm moist air rises and cools?
    1. Rock melts into lava
    2. Water vapor condenses into droplets
    3. DNA copies itself
    4. Electric current stops everywhere
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: B. Rising moist air cools, and water vapor can condense into cloud droplets.

  74. Which boundary is most likely to form where two plates move apart?
    1. Divergent boundary
    2. Convergent boundary only
    3. Transform boundary only
    4. Stationary climate boundary
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: A. At divergent boundaries, plates move apart, often forming new crust.

  75. Which boundary involves plates sliding past one another?
    1. Divergent boundary only
    2. Evaporation boundary
    3. Transform boundary
    4. Chromosome boundary
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C. Transform boundaries occur where plates move horizontally past each other.

  76. Which scale is commonly used to describe earthquake magnitude?
    1. pH scale only
    2. Beaufort cell scale
    3. Genetic code scale
    4. Richter scale or moment magnitude scale
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: D. Earthquake size is commonly described by magnitude scales, including Richter in basic contexts and moment magnitude.

  77. Which statement about the Moon is correct?
    1. It is a star like the Sun
    2. It reflects sunlight rather than producing its own light
    3. It causes seasons by heating Earth directly
    4. It has no gravity at all
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: B. The Moon appears bright because it reflects sunlight.

  78. Which planet is known for prominent rings?
    1. Mercury
    2. Mars only
    3. Saturn
    4. Venus only
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C. Saturn is famous for its large, visible ring system.

  79. Which object is a star?
    1. The Sun
    2. The Moon
    3. Earth
    4. Halley's Comet only
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: A. The Sun is a star that produces energy by nuclear fusion.

  80. Which statement best describes an asteroid?
    1. A living cell organelle
    2. A type of blood vessel
    3. A pH indicator only
    4. A small rocky object orbiting the Sun
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: D. Asteroids are small rocky bodies, many of which orbit in the asteroid belt.

  81. In an experiment, what is the independent variable?
    1. The result measured only at the end
    2. Every factor kept the same
    3. A random guess with no test
    4. The factor the investigator changes on purpose
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: D. The independent variable is deliberately changed to see its effect.

  82. In an experiment, what is the dependent variable?
    1. The outcome measured in response to the change
    2. The item changed on purpose
    3. The variable kept identical only
    4. The safety goggles
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: A. The dependent variable is what is measured or observed as the outcome.

  83. Why is a control group useful?
    1. It guarantees the hypothesis is correct
    2. It removes the need for data
    3. It provides a comparison for the experimental group
    4. It changes every variable at once
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C. A control group helps show whether the tested variable made a difference.

  84. Which statement is a testable hypothesis?
    1. Science is always boring
    2. If plants receive more light, then their average height will increase
    3. This rock is prettier than all other rocks
    4. My favorite planet is best
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: B. A testable hypothesis makes a measurable prediction that evidence can support or reject.

  85. Which action is safest when a chemical splashes near the eye in a lab?
    1. Ignore it until the end of class
    2. Use the eyewash station and alert the instructor or supervisor
    3. Rub the eye with a dirty towel
    4. Smell the chemical closely
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: B. Eye exposure requires immediate flushing and notification of the responsible adult or supervisor.

  86. Which lab tool measures liquid volume most directly?
    1. Graduated cylinder
    2. Triple beam balance
    3. Thermometer only
    4. Bar magnet
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: A. A graduated cylinder is designed to measure liquid volume.

  87. Which lab tool measures mass?
    1. Thermometer
    2. Anemometer
    3. Balance
    4. Voltmeter only
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C. A balance measures mass by comparing or sensing the amount of matter.

  88. Which unit commonly measures electric current?
    1. Newton
    2. Liter
    3. Gram
    4. Ampere
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: D. Electric current is measured in amperes, often shortened to amps.

  89. Which unit commonly measures electric potential difference?
    1. Kilogram
    2. Volt
    3. Meter per second
    4. Degree Celsius only
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: B. Voltage, or electric potential difference, is measured in volts.

  90. What is resistance in a circuit?
    1. The mass of the battery only
    2. The color of the wire
    3. Opposition to the flow of electric current
    4. The speed of wind
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C. Resistance limits current flow and is measured in ohms.

  91. What happens to total resistance when identical resistors are added in series?
    1. Total resistance increases
    2. Total resistance becomes zero
    3. Total resistance turns into density
    4. Total resistance changes into pH
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: A. In series, resistances add, so adding resistors increases total resistance.

  92. Which device changes electrical energy into light in a simple circuit?
    1. Barometer
    2. Beaker only
    3. Fossil
    4. Light bulb or lamp
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: D. A bulb converts electrical energy mainly into light and heat.

  93. Which form of energy is stored in food and fuels?
    1. Sound energy only
    2. Nuclear orbit only
    3. Reflected color only
    4. Chemical energy
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: D. Chemical energy is stored in bonds and released during reactions such as digestion or burning.

  94. Which form of energy is associated with motion?
    1. Kinetic energy
    2. Potential energy only
    3. Chemical formula
    4. Acid-base scale
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: A. Kinetic energy is the energy an object has because it is moving.

  95. Which form of energy can be stored because of position or shape?
    1. Kinetic energy only
    2. Condensation energy
    3. Potential energy
    4. Climate energy
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C. Potential energy is stored energy, such as gravitational energy due to height or elastic energy in a stretched spring.

  96. What does work mean in basic physics?
    1. An object has color only
    2. A force moves an object through a distance
    3. A cell divides without energy
    4. A planet reflects sunlight
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: B. Work occurs when a force causes displacement in the direction of the force.

  97. What does power measure?
    1. The number of chromosomes only
    2. How fast work is done or energy is transferred
    3. The pH of a base only
    4. The age of a fossil only
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: B. Power is the rate of doing work or transferring energy.

  98. Which statement describes Newton's first law in simple terms?
    1. An object keeps its motion unless acted on by a net force
    2. All acids have pH 14
    3. Plants do not need light
    4. Rocks contain no matter
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: A. Newton's first law is the law of inertia: motion changes only when a net force acts.

  99. Which factor would increase pressure if force stays the same?
    1. Larger contact area only
    2. Lower density always
    3. Smaller contact area
    4. Less gravity everywhere
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C. Pressure equals force divided by area, so smaller area means greater pressure for the same force.

  100. Why does a sharp knife cut better than a dull knife with the same force?
    1. The sharp knife has no mass
    2. The dull knife has no atoms
    3. The sharp knife removes friction from Earth
    4. The sharp edge applies force over a smaller area
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: D. Concentrating force over a smaller area increases pressure at the cutting edge.

  101. Which fluid property helps explain why some objects float?
    1. Chromosome number
    2. Buoyant force from displaced fluid
    3. Moon phase only
    4. Electric charge in DNA
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: B. A fluid pushes upward on an object; floating depends on weight, buoyant force, and density.

  102. Which statement about air pressure is generally true at higher altitude?
    1. Air pressure always doubles every meter
    2. Air pressure becomes pH
    3. Air pressure decreases as altitude increases
    4. Air pressure is unrelated to atmosphere
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C. Higher altitude has less air above pressing down, so air pressure is lower.

  103. Which example shows an adaptation?
    1. A cactus has thick water-storing tissue in a dry habitat
    2. A rock breaks from freezing water
    3. A metal wire conducts current
    4. Water boils in a pot
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: A. An adaptation is a trait that helps an organism survive or reproduce in its environment.

  104. What is natural selection?
    1. Rocks selecting minerals by color
    2. Clouds choosing wind speed
    3. Magnets creating new species instantly
    4. Individuals with helpful inherited traits leave more offspring over time
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: D. Natural selection changes populations when inherited traits affect survival and reproduction.

  105. Which term means the variety of species in an ecosystem?
    1. Voltage
    2. Mass number only
    3. Condensation point
    4. Biodiversity
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: D. Biodiversity is the variety of living things in an area or on Earth.

  106. Which human activity can increase carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?
    1. Burning fossil fuels
    2. Planting every forest only
    3. Freezing water into ice
    4. Measuring mass with a balance
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: A. Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas.

  107. Which cycle includes evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection?
    1. Carbon fixation only
    2. Cell cycle only
    3. Water cycle
    4. Rock cleavage only
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C. The water cycle moves water through the atmosphere, surface, and living systems.

  108. Which process changes nitrogen gas into forms many plants can use?
    1. Photosynthesis only
    2. Nitrogen fixation
    3. Evaporation only
    4. Refraction only
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: B. Nitrogen fixation converts atmospheric nitrogen into usable compounds, often by bacteria.

  109. Which term describes water soaking into the ground?
    1. Sublimation only
    2. Infiltration
    3. Combustion
    4. Mutation
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: B. Infiltration is water entering soil or porous ground.

  110. Which process changes a solid directly into a gas?
    1. Sublimation
    2. Condensation
    3. Freezing
    4. Deposition only
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: A. Sublimation is the change from solid directly to gas, such as dry ice forming gas.

  111. Which term describes gas changing directly into a solid?
    1. Sublimation
    2. Boiling
    3. Deposition
    4. Melting
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C. Deposition changes a gas directly into a solid, as in frost formation.

  112. Which factor increases the rate of dissolving a solid in a liquid?
    1. Removing all contact with liquid
    2. Keeping the solute in one large block always
    3. Turning the solvent into a vacuum
    4. Stirring or increasing surface area
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: D. Stirring and smaller pieces increase contact between solute and solvent, often speeding dissolving.

  113. Which term means the maximum amount of solute that can dissolve at a given condition?
    1. Gravity
    2. Solubility
    3. Frequency only
    4. Inheritance
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: B. Solubility describes how much solute can dissolve in a solvent under specific conditions.

  114. Which reaction between an acid and base often forms water and a salt?
    1. Photosynthesis
    2. Evaporation only
    3. Neutralization
    4. Magnetization
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C. Neutralization is an acid-base reaction that commonly produces water and a salt.

  115. Which statement best describes oxidation in basic chemistry?
    1. A substance loses electrons or reacts with oxygen in many common cases
    2. A substance becomes a moon phase
    3. A cell removes its nucleus always
    4. An object stops having volume
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: A. Oxidation can be understood as electron loss; rusting is a familiar oxidation example.

  116. Which gas do humans mainly exhale as a waste product of cellular respiration?
    1. Helium
    2. Neon
    3. Pure hydrogen only
    4. Carbon dioxide
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: D. Cellular respiration produces carbon dioxide, which is carried to the lungs and exhaled.

  117. Which gas do plants release during photosynthesis?
    1. Argon only
    2. Helium only
    3. Radon only
    4. Oxygen
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: D. Photosynthesis releases oxygen as a byproduct when water molecules are split.

  118. Which vitamin is associated with calcium absorption and bone health?
    1. Vitamin D
    2. Vitamin C only
    3. Vitamin K as a gas
    4. All vitamins are minerals
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: A. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium and supports bone health.

  119. Which mineral is a major component of bones and teeth?
    1. Neon
    2. Chlorophyll only
    3. Calcium
    4. Ozone
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C. Calcium is important for strong bones and teeth, along with other body functions.

  120. Which nutrient is the body's main quick energy source?
    1. Mineral only
    2. Carbohydrate
    3. Water vapor only
    4. Helium
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: B. Carbohydrates are commonly used as a major quick energy source.

  121. Which nutrient is especially important for building and repairing body tissues?
    1. Carbon dioxide only
    2. Protein
    3. Ozone only
    4. Quartz
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: B. Proteins provide amino acids used to build and repair tissues and make enzymes.

  122. Which statement about the scientific method is best?
    1. Evidence can support, weaken, or change an explanation
    2. A hypothesis never needs testing
    3. Data should be ignored if surprising
    4. Only opinions count as observations
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: A. Scientific explanations are judged against evidence and can change when better evidence appears.

  123. Which graph would best show how plant height changes over several weeks?
    1. Compass rose only
    2. Food web only
    3. Line graph
    4. Rock collection label
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C. A line graph is useful for showing change over time.

  124. Which graph would best compare the average heights of four plant groups at the end of an experiment?
    1. Weather satellite only
    2. Microscope slide only
    3. Planet orbit
    4. Bar graph
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: D. A bar graph is useful for comparing categories or groups.

  125. Why should an experiment be repeatable?
    1. Repeating removes all need for measurement
    2. Repeated results make evidence more reliable
    3. Repeating proves every idea automatically
    4. Repeating changes atoms into energy only
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: B. Repeatability helps confirm that results were not caused by chance, error, or one unusual trial.

  126. What is a model in science?
    1. A guaranteed perfect copy of reality
    2. A safety rule that replaces evidence
    3. A simplified representation used to explain or predict something
    4. A mineral with no atoms
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: C. Models simplify complex systems so scientists can explain, test, or predict behavior.

  127. Which statement best explains why sample size matters?
    1. Larger, well-chosen samples usually give more reliable results
    2. One measurement is always enough for every claim
    3. Sample size only matters in astronomy
    4. Sample size changes pH into mass
    Answer and explanation

    Answer: A. Larger representative samples reduce the risk that results come from random variation.

What Your Test 2 Score Means

This page gives a practice score, not an official ASVAB score. Official ASVAB scoring uses item-response and equating methods to place examinees on the ASVAB standard-score scale. Your raw count here is still useful because it tells you what to study next. Do not use this page to claim a General Science standard score, AFQT percentile, or military job qualification. For score interpretation after a real test, use the ASVAB Score Guide and ASVAB Score Calculator.

Practice score out of 127MeaningNext step
108-127Strong mixed GS practice resultMove into timed 15-question and 25-question sets; review only careless or unfamiliar misses.
89-107Good foundation with specific gapsSort misses by lane and repair the two weakest lanes before retesting.
64-88Basic recognition is formingReturn to the review sections, then retake missed questions without explanations.
Below 64Start with vocabulary and core relationshipsUse Test 1, this Test 2 review, and 20-question slow blocks before timing yourself.

Official Sources Used

The General Science scope, ASVAB domain context, CAT-ASVAB timing, paper-and-pencil timing, adaptive-test context, standard-score warning, and AFQT relationship in this page were checked against official ASVAB sources. The 127 practice questions are original NUM8ERS study questions.

Official ASVAB: General Science sample page Official ASVAB: Sample Questions Official ASVAB: Subtests Official ASVAB: CAT-ASVAB Official ASVAB: What to Expect Official ASVAB: Understanding ASVAB Scores Official ASVAB Fact Sheet PDF

ASVAB General Science Test 2 FAQs

Is this page different from the first ASVAB General Science Practice Test?

Yes. This page is a second mixed practice set with different original questions. Use Test 1 for the first pass and Test 2 for added practice, retesting, and weak-area diagnosis.

Are these real ASVAB General Science questions?

No. They are original practice questions written from the official public General Science scope. They are not copied from official ASVAB forms or official sample questions.

How many General Science questions are on the CAT-ASVAB?

Official CAT-ASVAB information lists 15 scored General Science questions and 12 minutes when no tryout questions are present. Official material also lists possible tryout questions and a longer time limit when tryouts are included.

How many General Science questions are on the paper-and-pencil ASVAB?

The official ASVAB fact sheet lists the paper-and-pencil General Science test as 25 questions in 11 minutes.

Does General Science count toward AFQT?

No. Official score guidance lists Arithmetic Reasoning, Mathematics Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension, and Word Knowledge as the four AFQT subtests. General Science can still matter for broader score profiles and some job-related composites.

What To Study After General Science Test 2

Use this second science set to confirm whether review has improved. If the misses now cluster in a technical direction, move to the more specific technical page.

Use the ASVAB Study Guide when the question is test format, timing, or study sequence.