Taking the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is the first major step toward launching your military career. Your test performance directly impacts your eligibility for enlistment through your Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) score and determines which specific jobs you qualify for across the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, and Coast Guard using service-specific line scores.
Understanding how the ASVAB is structured and how your scores are calculated will help you maximize your potential and land your desired military occupation.
What is the ASVAB & AFQT?
The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) tests your knowledge of basic concepts and skills and produces two types of scores:
- AFQT Score: Determines what branch in the military you are eligible for through the Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT).
- Line Scores: Derived from subtest combinations to determine specific jobs you are qualified for.
AFQT Four Core Subtests:
-
Arithmetic Reasoning (AR)
- Word Knowledge (WK)
- Paragraph Comprehension (PC)
- Mathematics Knowledge (MK)
Note: WK and PC are combined to determine a scaled Verbal Expression (VE) Score.
AFQT Calculation & Scoring:
- Formula: 2 x WK + PC + (AR + MK) = AFQT Raw Score
- Score Interpretation: Raw scores are converted to a percentile from 1 to 99 (where 50 is the national average).
- Score Ranges: A good AFQT Score is generally between 50 and 64. Scoring 65 or higher is an excellent score that opens up specialized, technical programs.
Military Job Terms by Branch
Jobs across the different military branches are referred to using specific titles and abbreviations:
|
Branch |
Term for Job |
Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|
|
Army |
Military Occupational Specialty |
MOS |
|
Marine Corps |
Military Occupational Specialty |
MOS |
|
Air Force |
Air Force Specialty Code |
AFSC |
|
Space Force |
Space Force Specialty Code |
SFSC |
|
Navy |
Rating |
Rating |
|
Coast Guard |
Rating / Rate |
Rate |
ASVAB Subtests & Line Scores
Standard Scores are given for each of the nine sections of the ASVAB. Each military service combines skills from certain subtests to arrive at line scores (composite scores) to qualify you for specific military occupations.
ASVAB Subtests:
|
Subtest |
Description |
|---|---|
|
General Science (GS) |
Knowledge of physical and biological sciences |
|
Arithmetic Reasoning (AR) |
Ability to solve Arithmetic Word problems |
|
Word Knowledge (WK) |
Ability to select the correct meaning of Words presented in context and to identify the best synonym for a given Word |
|
Paragraph Comprehension (PC) |
Ability to obtain information from written passages |
|
Math Knowledge (MK) |
Knowledge of high school mathematics principles |
|
Electronics Information (EI) |
Knowledge of electricity and electronics |
|
Auto Information (AI)* |
Knowledge of automobile technology |
|
Shop Information (SI)* |
Knowledge of tools and shop terminology and practices |
|
Mechanical Comprehension (MC) |
Knowledge of mechanical and physical principles |
|
Assembling Objects (AO) |
Ability to determine how an object will look when its parts are put together |
*In the paper-and-pencil version of the ASVAB, AI and SI are combined into one single subtest (labeled AS), and Assembling Objects (AO) is not administered.
Which Military Jobs Do You Qualify For?
Check the links below to see which jobs you will qualify for.
Note: The data listed here is subject to change and is only an example of how ASVAB scores are related to job selections for each of the service branches listed below.
Interested in Joining the Military?
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