How to Read ASVAB Scores — A Guide to Your ASVAB Score Range, ASVAB Line Scores, and Military ASVAB Score Requirements

Feb 15 / Arsheena Mohamed

Embarking on the path to a distinguished career in the U.S. Armed Forces pivots on understanding a critical acronym: ASVAB. The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery is more than a mere test—it's a gateway that evaluates your potential through ASVAB scores to determine your eligibility for enlistment and guide you toward the military roles best aligned with your abilities.

In this guide, we’ll cover

Understanding your ASVAB test scores involves differentiating between standard ASVAB scores and ASVAB line scores. When reading your ASVAB test results, standard ASVAB scores describe your individual performance in each of the test's subcategories, which include:

General Science (GS)	Arithmetic Reasoning (AR)
Word Knowledge (WK)	Paragraph Comprehension (PC)
Mathematics Knowledge (MK)	Electronics Information (EI)
Auto and Shop Information (AS)	Mechanical Comprehension (MC)
Assembling Objects (AO)	*New: Coding Speed (CS)

(source: www.military.com)

These scores are presented as percentile rankings, ranging from 1 to 99, indicating how you fared compared to a normed group.

Composite scores, or ASVAB line scores, are combinations of these standard scores and directly relate to military job qualifications. Each branch of the military uses these composite scores to match you to potential roles.

For example, the Mechanical Maintenance (MM) line score, combining AS + MC + EI, could qualify you for technical positions. Whereas, the ASVAB General Technical (ASVAB GT) score, derived from WK + PC + AR, is often considered for more intellectually demanding roles.

For a more in depth breakdown of ASVAB line scores for each branch, check out our blog: What Jobs Do I Qualify for with My ASVAB Score?

The AFQT score represents how well you've done in the core areas compared to a reference group of test-takers. For instance, an AFQT score of 57 means you did better than 57 percent of the people in the norm group.

Each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces has set a minimum AFQT score requirement:

Army: Usually requires a minimum AFQT score of 31.
Navy: Typically requires a minimum AFQT score of 35.
Air Force: Often requires a minimum AFQT score of 36.
Marine Corps: Generally requires a minimum AFQT score of 32.
Coast Guard: Requires a higher AFQT score, with a minimum of 40.

It's important to note that these requirements can change based on the needs of the military and are sometimes waived for certain applicants with special skills or aptitudes.

Ultimately, your AFQT score will be the deciding factor in your qualification for enlistment. While ASVAB line scores determine the types of jobs you are eligible for, your AFQT score decides whether you're eligible to serve at all.

In this section of the ASVAB score chart, you'll find columns that provide a detailed breakdown of your ASVAB percentile scores. These scores are pivotal in understanding how your results stack up against peers in your same grade level, as well as those of the opposite gender.

Again, it's important to note that these figures don't represent the percentage of questions you answered correctly. Instead, they reflect your standing within a percentile range from 1 to 99.

For instance, looking at Verbal Skills, the male student's score matches or surpasses 97 percent of 10th-grade males, 95 percent of 10th-grade females, and 96 percent of all students in his grade.

This comparative analysis is essential when contemplating what is a good ASVAB score or considering the highest possible ASVAB score one could achieve within their demographic.

The Standard Score can be found in the far-right column of the ASVAB score chart. This ASVAB score is calibrated against the national baseline of young adults within your grade level who have undertaken the ASVAB test.

When evaluating ASVAB standard scores, it's observed that a significant portion of test-takers typically achieve scores within the 30 to 70 range.

Consequently, attaining a Standard Score of 50 places you squarely in the average range, signifying your performance aligns with the median of national test results.

On the other hand, securing a score of 65 elevates you into the above-average tier, indicating a stronger aptitude in comparison to the average ASVAB scores of your peers.

This ASVAB score chart is what you'll receive if you take the ASVAB test as an adult looking to start the enlistment process. You'll likely be taking the ASVAB at a testing center or at MEPS.

The enlistment score chart is designed to give you a comprehensive view, starting with your ASVAB standard scores in individual areas like Arithmetic Reasoning (AR) and Word Knowledge (WK), which highlight your specific skills.

The chart then synthesizes these scores into ASVAB line scores, or composite scores, which military branches use to determine your suitability for various Military Occupational Specialties (MOS). For instance, a GT score in the Army may qualify you for different positions than a GT score in the Air Force, as each branch has unique requirements and roles.

At the chart's conclusion, your AFQT percentile score solidifies your eligibility for enlistment, serving as a definitive measure of how your performance stacks up against the larger applicant pool. It's this score that will ultimately open the doors to service, guiding you toward the branch and role where you can excel.

Check out more about the jobs you qualify for in each branch at our other blog: What Jobs Do I Qualify for with My ASVAB Score?

After this read, hopefully you have a better understanding of how ASVAB scores are determined and how they can affect your military enlistment and career. No matter what ASVAB score chart you are reading, the ASVAB scores range from 1 to 99, with higher scores indicating a greater likelihood of qualifying for more specialized and advanced roles. Your ASVAB line scores can reveal the jobs within the military that align with your skill set, while your AFQT score — a subset of the ASVAB — decides your overall eligibility to serve.

What ASVAB score sheet are you looking at and how will your ASVAB score impact your military career choices?

For more ASVAB knowledge and test-taking tips, check out our other blog posts!

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