Is vocabulary knowledge explicitly tested in the DLAB?

The Defense Language Aptitude Battery (DLAB) primarily assesses a person's ability to learn a new language rather than testing vocabulary knowledge directly. While there are no explicit vocabulary questions in the format of asking for definitions or synonyms, vocabulary is indeed assessed indirectly through comprehension questions. These questions require test-takers to understand context, which depends on their vocabulary knowledge. This indirect assessment helps gauge a person’s ability to grasp and apply the language structure and concepts rather than focusing solely on memorizing words. Thus, the inclusion of comprehension questions acts as a means to evaluate how well potential linguists can utilize their vocabulary in understanding new linguistic information.