The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is the standardized test used by the United States military to determine an applicant’s qualification for enlistment. The single number score often referenced is the Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) score. This AFQT score is the primary measurement used to assess an applicant’s general trainability and eligibility for service in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. A score of 50 on the AFQT places an applicant in a favorable position for military entry.
What the ASVAB Score Represents
The AFQT score is not a reflection of the percentage of questions answered correctly on the test. Instead, it is a percentile score that indicates how a test taker performed compared to a specific reference group. This reference group consists of a nationally representative sample of young adults aged 18 to 23 who took the ASVAB during a national norming study in 1997.
A score of 50 on the AFQT means the test taker performed as well as or better than 50% of that established reference population. Since the score is a percentile, a 50 is mathematically exactly average for all test takers in that group.
Meeting the Minimum Enlistment Standards
A 50 AFQT score is more than enough to meet the minimum eligibility criteria for basic entry across all branches of the military. For applicants who possess a high school diploma, the minimum AFQT score required for enlistment is typically 31 for the Army and 35 for the Navy, with the Air Force minimum set at 36. The Coast Guard generally requires the highest minimum score for high school graduates, at 40.
Applicants who hold a General Educational Development (GED) certificate instead of a high school diploma face higher minimum requirements. Most branches, including the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps, require a minimum AFQT score of 50 for GED holders. A score of 50 is therefore sufficient for basic qualification, regardless of the applicant’s education credential.
How Different Service Branches View a Score of 50
While a 50 AFQT score meets the minimum standard for all branches, its competitiveness varies depending on the service. The Army and Marine Corps have the lowest minimum score requirements for high school graduates, so a 50 is considered a strong score that may open the door to various enlistment incentives, such as bonuses. The Air Force, which is known for its high standards and technical specialization, views a 50 as a qualifying score, though it is closer to the average accepted applicant.
In the Air Force, for example, more than 90% of accepted recruits score 50 or above, with approximately three-quarters of those accepted scoring above 55. This means that while a 50 is acceptable, it is at the lower end of the Air Force’s typical recruit profile. Consequently, an average score of 50 is highly competitive for the Army and Marine Corps, but places an applicant squarely in the middle of the pool for the more selective branches like the Air Force and Navy.
The Importance of ASVAB Line Scores
The single AFQT score determines initial enlistment eligibility, but it does not determine job placement. Military occupational specialties (MOS) are instead determined by “Line Scores,” which are composite scores derived from specific combinations of the ASVAB subtests. A 50 AFQT score can be achieved with a variety of subtest results, meaning two people with a 50 may qualify for entirely different jobs based on their line scores.
For instance, the Army uses a General Technical (GT) line score, calculated from the verbal and arithmetic reasoning subtests, to qualify applicants for many technical roles. Highly specialized jobs, such as the Navy Nuclear Field program, require exceptionally high line scores. Certain intelligence roles can require a Skilled Technical (ST) line score of 115 or higher.
An applicant with a 50 AFQT score may have strong enough line scores in some areas to qualify for moderately technical jobs. However, those highly specialized fields almost always require an AFQT score corresponding to the 60th or 70th percentile to achieve the necessary line score minimums.
Career Opportunities Available with a 50 AFQT
A 50 AFQT score opens up a substantial number of military career opportunities across all service branches. This score indicates a baseline of aptitude that allows for qualification in a wide variety of non-technical and moderately technical fields. Recruits with this score can typically pursue administrative, mechanical, and general maintenance jobs.
A 50 AFQT score is sufficient to qualify for a large segment of the military’s job catalogue, offering ample choice for a career. However, the most competitive and specialized fields are generally out of reach with a 50 AFQT. Jobs like cryptologic technician or advanced intelligence analyst roles frequently have line score requirements that necessitate a much higher AFQT percentile to achieve.
Strategies for Improving Your ASVAB Score
If a 50 AFQT score does not qualify an individual for their desired military occupational specialty, the test can be retaken to improve the results. The official policy requires a waiting period before retesting, which should be used for focused study. After the initial test, an applicant must wait one calendar month before attempting a retake.
If a second retake is desired, another one-month waiting period applies. Any subsequent attempts after the second retake require a six-month waiting period between tests. The most effective study strategy is to focus specifically on the subtest areas that contribute to the line scores for the target job, rather than trying to improve all sections equally.