The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is a comprehensive aptitude test that determines an individual’s career trajectory within the United States military. This standardized test measures a person’s potential for success in various military occupations, serving as the primary tool for matching recruits with specific job specialties across all branches. A high score opens doors to technical and specialized career fields, while a lower score limits options to roles requiring less specialized training. Understanding how your performance on this test influences your job assignment is key to a successful military career.
Understanding the ASVAB Scoring Structure
The ASVAB assesses knowledge and ability across multiple domains, including verbal, mathematical, and technical skills. The results generate two distinct types of scores, each serving a different purpose in the enlistment process.
The Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) score is the gateway to military service. It is a percentile rank derived from four specific subtests: Word Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension, Arithmetic Reasoning, and Mathematics Knowledge. This score determines a candidate’s basic eligibility to enlist in any branch of the military.
The second type, known as composite scores or line scores, determines job qualification. These scores are created by combining the results of various individual subtests relevant to a particular occupational cluster. For example, an electronics composite score may combine results from General Science, Mathematics Knowledge, and Electronics Information. Recruiters use these composite scores to match a recruit’s aptitude with the requirements of a specific military job.
Minimum Score Requirements for Enlistment
Each military branch sets a minimum acceptable AFQT score for enlistment eligibility. This score acts as the baseline requirement. For high school diploma holders, the minimum AFQT score generally falls between 31 and 35, depending on the service.
The minimum AFQT scores for high school graduates are:
Army and Air Force: 31
Marine Corps: 32
Navy: 35
Coast Guard: 40
Candidates with a General Equivalency Diploma (GED) face a higher minimum score requirement of 50 or above.
How Each Military Branch Uses ASVAB Scores
Service branches employ different methods for grouping ASVAB subtest scores to create composite scores for job qualification. The Army and Marine Corps rely on “line scores,” which categorize aptitude into specific areas. For example, the Army uses the General Technical (GT) score, combining Verbal Expression and Arithmetic Reasoning, to determine eligibility for technical and intelligence roles.
The Air Force utilizes the MAGE system: Mechanical, Administrative, General, and Electronics. Each MAGE score is a percentile derived from a unique combination of subtests. In contrast, the Navy and Coast Guard often do not use named line scores. Instead, they require a minimum combined sum of raw scores from two to four specific subtests for each rating or job specialty. This branch-specific scoring means a score qualifying a recruit for a job in one service may not be sufficient for a similar job in another.
High-Demand Military Jobs and Required Score Categories
High-demand military jobs require above-average scores in specific composite categories, reflecting the technical complexity of the roles. These scores determine a recruit’s eligibility for advanced training and specialized assignments.
Medical and Technical Fields
These fields demand high scores in the General Technical (GT) and Electronics (EL) composite categories, requiring strong performance in General Science and Mathematics Knowledge subtests. For instance, an Army Combat Medic Specialist (68W) typically requires a Skilled Technical (ST) score of 101 or higher. The Air Force’s Aerospace Medical Service Specialist (4N0X1) requires a minimum General (G) score of 50. Highly technical Navy ratings, such as Electronics Technician, often require a combined score from Arithmetic Reasoning, Mathematics Knowledge, Electronics Information, and General Science that meets a high threshold, sometimes exceeding 222 total points.
Administrative and General Fields
Administrative and general support roles require higher scores in verbal and clerical aptitude, often grouped into the Clerical (CL) or General (G) composites. An Army Human Resources Specialist (42A) generally requires a Clerical (CL) score of 90 or above. The Air Force uses the Administrative Aptitude Score (A) for jobs like Paralegal, which involves strong verbal expression and mathematical concepts. These positions emphasize strong verbal communication, attention to detail, and organizational skills, measured by the Word Knowledge and Paragraph Comprehension sections.
Combat and Mechanical Fields
Roles focused on combat, vehicle maintenance, and equipment repair rely heavily on the Mechanical Maintenance (MM), General Maintenance (GM), and Combat (CO) composite scores. A Marine Corps Motor Transport Operator (3531) may require an MM score of at least 85, derived from subtests like Auto & Shop Information and Mechanical Comprehension. Similarly, an Army Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic (91B) needs an MM score of 85 or more, showcasing aptitude in mechanical systems. Roles like Army Ammunitions Specialist (89B) require a high Skilled Technical (ST) or a combination of ST and General Technical (GT) scores, reflecting the need for technical understanding and procedural precision.
Translating Military Skills to Civilian Careers
The job training received based on ASVAB scores provides a foundation of skills highly valued in the civilian workforce. Military Occupational Codes (MOCs), such as the Army’s MOS or the Navy’s rating, often directly align with industry-recognized certifications and licenses. This alignment allows service members to transition into civilian careers with a competitive advantage.
In the technology sector, military experience in IT and cyber operations can lead directly to civilian credentials like CompTIA or Cisco certifications. Service members in aviation maintenance often have experience recognized by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) toward civilian Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) certification. For healthcare, a Combat Medic or Hospital Corpsman’s training provides a strong foundation for civilian roles like Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or paramedic, with many certifications covered by military funding programs like Credentialing Opportunities On-Line (COOL).
Maximizing Your ASVAB Score and Career Options
A low initial ASVAB score does not permanently limit a military career, as candidates are generally allowed to retest to improve their results. Strategically preparing for the specific subtests that feed into the composite score for a desired job maximizes career options. For example, an applicant aiming for a technical role should focus study efforts on Electronics Information, Mathematics Knowledge, and General Science.
Working closely with a recruiter is necessary to navigate the job selection process, as they provide the current minimum composite score requirements for specific Military Occupational Specialties (MOS) or ratings. A higher AFQT score than the minimum requirement provides a recruit with more leverage in job selection and may qualify them for enlistment incentives, such as signing bonuses or specialized training programs.