Skip to content
Sign in
Artwork for Military Exam Prep
EducationCoursesHow To

Military Exam Prep

Ran Chen, EA, CFP®

Military Exam Prep is a free, daily podcast by OpenExamPrep covering the most in-demand military aptitude, classification, and advancement exams — including the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery), AFCT, PiCAT, AFOQT (Air Force Officer Qualifying Test), OAR (Officer Aptitude Rating), ASTB-E (Aviation Selection Test Battery), SIFT (Selection Instrument for Flight Training), DLAB and DLPT (Defense Language tests), EDPT, NAPT, DoD Cyber Test, Air Force PFE, Navy NWAE, Coast Guard SWE, and Army Promotion Board. Each 5-minute episode breaks down one exam topic with concrete examples, scoring strategies (especially the AFQT line scores that determine job eligibility), common exam traps, and memory tricks to help you pass on your first attempt. Whether you're preparing for enlistment, OCS, flight school, language school, or your next stripe, the material is built around the way the test actually scores you. This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation for everyone — from recruits at MEPS to NCOs studying for promotion to officer candidates earning their commission. For free practice questions, AI-powered explanations, flashcards, and full study guides, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/ Subscribe and listen daily — your enlistment, commission, or next rank is closer than you think.

Play
Open in
  • 35 episodes
  • daily
  • Avg 4 min
  • English

Episodes 35

NewestOldestLongest
All20Unplayed20In progress0Played0
Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.
  • Today · 4 min

    [ASVAB] 40, Technical Review and Your Next Practice Session

    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to distinguish physical phase changes like evaporation and condensation. - How to calculate circuit current using Ohm's law with voltage and resistance. - How mechanical advantage in levers affects required input effort. - How the alternator functions in automotive electrical systems. - How to structure an effective personal error-log plan for test review. This episode provides independent preparation for the ASVAB exam. Practice with additional questions at https://open-exam-prep.com/practice/asvab and watch video tutorials at https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep . Sources checked: September 28, 2026 https://www.officialasvab.com/applicants/subtests/ https://www.officialasvab.com/applicants/scores/ https://www.officialasvab.com/applicants/cat-asvab/

  • Yesterday · 4 min

    [ASVAB] 39, AFQT Skills Review: Math and Verbal Decisions

    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: • How AFQT percentile scores reflect comparison to a national norm rather than a percent-correct score. • Methods for solving unit-rate Arithmetic Reasoning problems by finding single-unit costs first. • Step-by-step techniques to solve linear equations in Mathematics Knowledge using inverse operations. • Vocabulary strategies for Word Knowledge and distinguishing stated causes from assumptions in Paragraph Comprehension. • How to avoid the method transfer trap by reading each question's prompt directly before solving. This podcast is an independent educational resource designed to support your self-study routine for the ASVAB exam; access additional prep materials at https://open-exam-prep.com/practice/asvab and watch video lessons at https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep . Sources checked: September 28, 2026 - https://www.officialasvab.com/applicants/subtests/ - https://www.officialasvab.com/applicants/scores/

  • Friday · 4 min

    [ASVAB] 38, Assembling Objects: Track Connections and Rotations

    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to track labeled connection points to join geometric shapes accurately. - Why relative positions between internal points and outer features remain constant during rotation. - How to distinguish valid two-dimensional planar rotation from invalid mirror-image reflection. - Techniques for eliminating distractor choices that match outer outlines but shift internal connection points. - Why visual, timed practice with diagrams is required alongside strategy instruction for the ASVAB Assembling Objects subtest. Prepare independently with our free ASVAB preparation resources at https://open-exam-prep.com/practice/asvab and video explanations on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep . Sources checked: September 28, 2026 https://www.officialasvab.com/applicants/subtests/ https://www.officialasvab.com/applicants/scores/

  • Thursday · 4 min

    [ASVAB] 37, Shop Information: Choose and Measure with the Right Tool

    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to distinguish common hand tools including wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, saws, files, and drills by their primary purpose. - How to select between rough measuring devices like steel rulers and high-precision instruments like micrometers or calipers. - How to calculate combined linear fractional dimensions using common denominators. - Why proper tool fit prevents damage to fasteners and why visual tool diagram identification is essential for the ASVAB. - How to avoid common exam traps involving tool terminology and personal protective equipment safety rules. Prepare independently for the ASVAB with free practice tools and video lessons at https://open-exam-prep.com/practice/asvab and https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep . Sources checked: September 28, 2026 https://www.officialasvab.com/applicants/subtests/ https://www.officialasvab.com/applicants/scores/

  • Wednesday · 4 min

    [ASVAB] 36, Auto Systems: Cooling, Lubrication, Brakes and Charging

    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How the starter, battery, and alternator share electrical duties during cranking and engine operation. - The distinction between engine oil reducing friction and coolant carrying away combustion heat. - The hydraulic function of brake fluid compared to mechanical engine lubrication. - How transmission gear ratios route torque from the engine to the drive wheels. - Common exam traps on the ASVAB Auto Information subtest regarding fluid types and electrical components. This independent study resource helps applicants review technical automotive concepts for military enlistment preparation. Practice additional questions at https://open-exam-prep.com/practice/asvab and watch video tutorials at https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep . Sources checked: September 28, 2026 https://www.officialasvab.com/applicants/subtests/ https://www.officialasvab.com/applicants/scores/

  • Tuesday · 4 min

    [ASVAB] 35, Auto Information: How an Engine Makes Power

    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: • The four-stroke gasoline engine cycle including intake, compression, power, and exhaust. • How the crankshaft transforms reciprocating linear piston motion into rotational force. • Key component distinctions between spark plugs, fuel injectors, and diesel compression ignition. • A step-by-step calculation for determining power stroke frequency from crankshaft rotations. • Essential exam terminology and energy flow concepts for the ASVAB Auto Information subtest. Prepare independently with practice tools available at https://open-exam-prep.com/practice/asvab and video lessons at https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep . Sources checked: September 28, 2026 • https://www.officialasvab.com/applicants/subtests/ • https://www.officialasvab.com/applicants/scores/

  • Monday · 4 min

    [ASVAB] 34, Fluids, Pressure, Heat and Waves

    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How pressure is calculated as force divided by surface area. - How hydraulic systems transmit pressure equally and trade force for distance. - The principles governing density and buoyant force in fluids. - Key differences between thermal conduction and fluid convection. - Fundamental differences between mechanical sound waves and electromagnetic light waves. This independent study resource helps candidates prepare for the ASVAB exam. Practice online at https://open-exam-prep.com/practice/asvab and subscribe on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep . Sources checked: September 28, 2026: - https://www.officialasvab.com/applicants/subtests/ - https://www.officialasvab.com/applicants/scores/ - https://www.officialasvab.com/applicants/cat-asvab/

  • November 1 · 4 min

    [ASVAB] 33, Levers, Pulleys and Gears

    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How torque and lever equilibrium establish force-distance tradeoffs under ideal assumptions. - How to solve balance problems with force and distance from the pivot. - Why mechanical advantage in pulleys depends on load-supporting strands rather than total visible ropes. - How tooth counts and external contact dictate speed and direction in meshed gear systems. - Key exam traps regarding energy conservation and AFQT score interpretation. This independent preparation resource is designed to support candidates preparing for military enlistment exams. Practice online at https://open-exam-prep.com/practice/asvab and subscribe on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep . Sources checked: September 28, 2026 https://www.officialasvab.com/applicants/subtests/ https://www.officialasvab.com/applicants/scores/

  • October 31 · 3 min

    [ASVAB] 32, Forces, Motion, Work and Power

    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: * How net force, mass, and acceleration interact under Newton's laws of motion. * The physical difference between mass and weight, as well as force and work. * Why constant velocity corresponds to zero net force and balanced forces. * How to calculate work in joules using force and displacement along motion. * How to calculate average power in watts as work performed per unit time. This independent study guide helps applicants build mechanical comprehension skills for the ASVAB. Access practice modules at https://open-exam-prep.com/practice/asvab and video tutorials at https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep . Sources checked: September 28, 2026: https://www.officialasvab.com/applicants/subtests/ https://www.officialasvab.com/applicants/scores/

  • October 30 · 4 min

    [ASVAB] 31, Electronic Components, Magnetism and Signals

    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - Distinguish between conductors and insulators and explain one-way diode current flow. - Compare electrostatic capacitor energy storage against chemical battery discharge mechanisms. - Explain transistor switching and electromagnet magnetic field generation principles. - Differentiate AC from steady DC and explain why transformers require changing magnetic flux. - Calculate ideal transformer turns ratios and step-down secondary voltage while avoiding common traps. Prepare independently for the ASVAB exam with practice questions and video resources at https://open-exam-prep.com/practice/asvab and https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep . Sources checked: September 28, 2026 https://www.officialasvab.com/applicants/subtests/ https://www.officialasvab.com/applicants/scores/

  • October 29 · 4 min

    [ASVAB] 30, Series and Parallel Circuits, Power and Protection

    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: * How single-path series circuits contrast with branching parallel circuits in voltage and current distribution. * How to calculate total resistance, branch current, and circuit power in DC resistor circuits. * Why parallel resistance always decreases below the value of the smallest individual resistor. * The fundamental operational difference between routine control switches and single-use protective fuses. * Key exam traps on the ASVAB Electronics Information subtest and effective problem-solving rules. This independent episode offers tailored practice for candidates preparing for the ASVAB exam. For interactive practice, Visit https://open-exam-prep.com/practice/asvab and subscribe to our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep . Sources checked: September 28, 2026: * https://www.officialasvab.com/applicants/subtests/ * https://www.officialasvab.com/applicants/scores/

  • October 28 · 4 min

    [ASVAB] 29, Electricity: Voltage, Current and Resistance

    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: • Definitions of electric charge, current, potential difference, resistance, and complete circuits • How to apply Ohm's law to calculate current when voltage or resistance changes • Key conceptual traps including why voltage does not flow and current is conserved • Plausible mathematical errors to avoid when solving circuit calculations • Assumptions of ideal resistive models tested on the ASVAB Electronics Information subtest This independent study resource helps military applicants prepare for the ASVAB. Explore practice tools at https://open-exam-prep.com/practice/asvab and video tutorials at https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep . Sources checked: September 28, 2026 https://www.officialasvab.com/applicants/subtests/ https://www.officialasvab.com/applicants/scores/

  • October 27 · 4 min

    [ASVAB] 28, Earth, Weather and the Solar System

    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: * The physical distinction between short-term weather and long-term regional climate. * How Earth's axial tilt causes opposite seasons in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. * How the water cycle demonstrates conservation of matter across phase changes. * The formation and properties of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rock types. * The gravitational organization of terrestrial planets and gas giants in the solar system. This independent prep episode helps you build essential physical science skills for the ASVAB. Explore practice questions at https://open-exam-prep.com/practice/asvab and watch video tutorials at https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep . Sources checked: September 28, 2026: * https://www.officialasvab.com/applicants/subtests/ * https://www.officialasvab.com/applicants/scores/ * https://www.officialasvab.com/applicants/cat-asvab/ https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/seasons/en/

  • October 26 · 4 min

    [ASVAB] 27, Matter, Atoms and Chemical Change

    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: • Distinction between atoms, elements, compounds, and mixtures • Difference between physical changes and chemical reactions • Conceptual properties of acids and bases without hazardous procedures • Law of conservation of mass in open versus closed systems • Exam traps involving gas production, dissolving, and boiling Prepare independently for the ASVAB exam with practice questions at https://open-exam-prep.com/practice/asvab and video tutorials at https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep . Sources checked: September 28, 2026 https://www.officialasvab.com/applicants/subtests/ https://www.officialasvab.com/applicants/scores/

  • October 25 · 4 min

    [ASVAB] 26, Ecology and the Flow of Energy

    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How producers, consumers, and decomposers interact within ecological food chains. - The fundamental metabolic differences between photosynthesis and cellular respiration. - Why matter continuously cycles through ecosystems while energy flows unidirectionally. - Reasons usable energy decreases at higher trophic levels without assuming fixed percentages. - How to separate direct ecological impacts from uncertain downstream population forecasts. This independent study resource helps candidates build core scientific knowledge for the ASVAB General Science subtest. For additional practice questions and study tools, explore https://open-exam-prep.com/practice/asvab and watch video tutorials at https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep . Sources checked: September 28, 2026 - Official ASVAB Subtests Overview: https://www.officialasvab.com/applicants/subtests/ - Official ASVAB CAT Information: https://www.officialasvab.com/applicants/cat-asvab/

  • October 24 · 4 min

    [ASVAB] 25, Life Science: Cells, Systems and Inheritance

    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - Core differences between plant and animal cell structures - How respiratory and circulatory systems cooperate during physical activity - Basic inheritance vocabulary using a single-gene model - Common exam traps regarding DNA, cell structures, and dominant alleles - Key distinctions between genetic genotype and observable phenotype This independent study resource helps learners master General Science fundamentals for the ASVAB. Practice questions are available at https://open-exam-prep.com/practice/asvab and video lessons at https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep . Sources checked: September 28, 2026 https://www.officialasvab.com/applicants/subtests/ https://www.officialasvab.com/applicants/scores/

  • October 23 · 4 min

    [ASVAB] 24, Purpose, Structure and Verbal Review

    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to classify short passage structures into explain, compare, describe, or argue using transition words. - Why comparative passages weigh alternatives without declaring one option universally superior. - How to solve Word Knowledge context questions while avoiding plausible distractor traps. - How to identify main ideas in Paragraph Comprehension without confusing quoted arguments with author endorsement. - Effective verbal test-taking strategies including scratch-paper outlining and transition tracing. Prepare independently with original practice items and explanations at https://open-exam-prep.com/practice/asvab and watch detailed video walkthroughs on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep . Sources checked: September 28, 2026 - https://www.officialasvab.com/applicants/subtests/ - https://www.officialasvab.com/applicants/scores/ - https://www.officialasvab.com/applicants/cat-asvab/

  • October 22 · 4 min

    [ASVAB] 23, Inference: What the Passage Actually Supports

    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to separate justified inferences from unsupported predictions and outside facts on ASVAB Paragraph Comprehension. - How to analyze a concrete passage scenario to identify required conditions versus unstated timelines. - Why tempting distractor choices fail by making extreme claims or assuming permanent conditions. - How to distinguish among certainty, probability, and possibility when evaluating answer options. - How to apply the Text Support Rule to avoid correlation traps and strengthen your AFQT verbal score. This podcast provides independent preparation material for the ASVAB exam. For additional practice resources, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/practice/asvab and subscribe to our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep . Sources checked: September 28, 2026 https://www.officialasvab.com/applicants/subtests/ https://www.officialasvab.com/applicants/scores/

  • October 21 · 3 min

    [ASVAB] 22, Find Details and Follow Instructions

    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to locate explicit facts, sequence, and conditions in Paragraph Comprehension passages. - Why qualifiers like only, unless, before, and after determine correct answer choices. - How to trace pronoun references accurately back to their specific antecedents. - How to avoid the trap of confusing a narrow exception with a general rule. - How to apply the exact matching decision rule to verify stated passage details. For independent practice questions and additional study resources, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/practice/asvab and subscribe to our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep . Sources checked: September 28, 2026 https://www.officialasvab.com/applicants/subtests/ https://www.officialasvab.com/applicants/scores/

  • October 20 · 4 min

    [ASVAB] 21, Paragraph Comprehension: Find the Main Idea

    This podcast is made by Ran Chen, who holds an EA license, Insurance and Securities licenses (Series 6, 63, 65), and the CFP® designation. He is passionate about opening access to high-quality exam preparation resources and helping learners prepare more effectively for professional certification exams. In this episode you will learn: - How to identify the main idea of a short reading passage using structural clues. - How to distinguish central ideas from overly narrow supporting details. - How to avoid distractors that rely on unstated outside knowledge. - The role of limiting sentences in defining passage scope. - How to apply the Umbrella Rule to select accurate ASVAB Paragraph Comprehension choices. This independent study resource helps candidates prepare for the ASVAB exam. For additional practice questions and study tools, visit https://open-exam-prep.com/practice/asvab and watch video tutorials at https://www.youtube.com/@Open-exam-prep . Sources checked: September 28, 2026 - https://www.officialasvab.com/applicants/subtests/ - https://www.officialasvab.com/applicants/scores/ - https://www.officialasvab.com/applicants/cat-asvab/

Showing 1–20 of 35 episodes